Cliff Hedley

About Cliff Hedley

New Zealand-based artist Cliff Hedley writes catchy pop-rock tunes with the band This Paper City. Check out the music if you like edgy guitar riffs and big vocals. Auckland-based singer, guitarist and songwriter Cliff Hedley’s debut album Sink & Swim produced three NZ On Air Hitdisc singles – “Overcoat”, “Indecision” and “Down Now”. The album is a self-funded effort on Hedley's own indie label, Sonic Orange. Cliff had been living and playing in London prior to his return home to Auckland to record his first single, Overcoat, which received an NZ On Air new recording artist grant.

On his return to New Zealand, he set about forming a band to recreate his rock-driven songs live. The line-up of the Cliff Hedley Band included Andre Birt on guitar, AJ Hay on keys and backing vocals and Brent Martin on drums. Later, the band took on a fifth member, bassist Micaela Bonnar and rebranded itself as “This Paper City”.

Songs for Sink & Swim written over Hedley’s career were adapted by the band and gigged in their home town of Auckland and further afield while touring within New Zealand.

The album title Sink & Swim is a play on the phrase “sink or swim” as a comment on Cliff’s level of determination and single-mindedness to forge ahead with his musical ambitions – regardless of whether his head is above water.

This Paper City is a self-titled album, released as a follow-up to Sink & Swim. It includes more of the guitar- and vocal-driven tracks written by Hedley and developed by This Paper City. Most recently, the album was remixed and remastered, then re-released as "This Paper City (Remastered)".