Dani Josie Announces First-Ever Headline Tour SUCKERPUNCH - Urges Youth To Reconnect Through Live Music

After a breakout year of chart success, festival stages, and a rapidly growing fanbase, Wellington pop-punk artist Dani Josie is stepping into the spotlight with her first-ever headline tour. The SUCKERPUNCH Spring Tour will hit Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland this September and October, with special guest Emerson joining the run.

At just 20, the Victoria University student (studying Finance and Marketing) has already made a name for herself with a fearless sound that blends pop hooks with punk urgency. She has been featured twice in Rolling Stone magazine, including her own profile article, cementing her place as one of Aotearoa’s most exciting new voices. Her debut single Go Go Go rocketed to #8 on the Hot Aotearoa Singles Chart in 2024, while Lovebomber and Suckerpunch won support from ZM, The Edge, and indie tastemakers nationwide. Produced by Devin Abrams (Drax Project, Six60, Fat Freddy’s Drop), Suckerpunch is a gutsy anthem written out of Dani’s own experience with bullying and emotional manipulation.

“Music became my safe space when I was 11,” Dani says. “I was going through a tough time at school, and songwriting was how I coped. My mum used to leave Taylor Swift quotes around the house reminding me to stay resilient, and one of them stuck: ‘Don’t you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that shine.’ That gave me the courage to start writing songs seriously.”

That sense of resilience and honesty now fuels her mission: to get young people reconnected through live music.

“In a world dominated by screens, gigs are one of the last places where you can really be present. Telling people to “put down their phones” isn’t about rejecting technology, it’s about reminding them to be present. When you’re at a show, you don’t need to capture every second – the real magic is in experiencing it together in the moment. That’s where the memories come from, not the videos you’ll never watch again.

For me, live music has always been about connection, freedom, and community. I want my shows to feel like safe spaces where people can forget about the pressure of being online all the time and just exist, together, in the music.”

The SUCKERPUNCH tour promises chaos and connection. Dani says fans can expect unfiltered energy, raw honesty, and a space where it’s okay to feel everything — loud, messy, and real.

"The funny thing is the idea for SUCKERPUNCH actually came from a concert. I was in the girls’ bathroom and overheard some girls whispering about me being there alone. Instead of feeling upset, I genuinely found it funny. It made me realise—some people just never grow up. All they know is how to throw a punch.

"That moment sparked the song. I love the line 'putting on a show, it don’t play' because it really captures the feeling—people can keep trying to act tough or mean to impress others, but it’s just not landing anymore. It doesn’t work."

Dani says one of the reasons she’s so passionate about live music is because it reminds us that we’re not alone.

“When you're surrounded by people who are all feeling the same thing at the same time, it creates this really powerful sense of belonging. Especially for young people who might be spending hours online, comparing themselves to others or just feeling disconnected—being at a gig offers something totally different. It’s real. It’s human. And it can make you feel seen in a way a screen never could.”

Joining her is Emerson, an alt-pop singer-songwriter whose genre-bending tracks dig into identity, resilience, and growing up under pressure. Together, the two emerging voices are set to deliver a night that’s as powerful as it is unforgettable.

SUCKERPUNCH TOUR DATES

Sept 19 – Wellington, San Fran – Final Release Available

Oct 17 – Christchurch, Space Academy – Final Release Available

Oct 18 – Dunedin, Dropkicks – Final Release Available

Oct 25 – Auckland, Tuning Fork – Final Release Available

Tickets are available at danijosie.com

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