Cellarr (formerly known as Maybe Rave and OpenSide) is an indie pop band from Auckland, New Zealand. It was formed under the name Maybe Rave by Jen Newton, PJ Shepherd, Harry Carter, and George Powell. Newton, the original vocalist, left in 2014 and was replaced by Possum Plows. Maybe Rave changed their name to OpenSide in 2015. In 2016, they released their debut EP, Push Back, which reached number 12 on the New Zealand Charts and number 2 on the New Zealand Music Charts. Following Plows's departure in 2020, the band changed their name again, to Cellarr, and they have since issued two EPs.
History 2012–2014: Maybe Rave Jen Newton (vocals), PJ Shepherd (guitar, vocals), Harry Carter (bass), and George Powell (drums) formed Maybe Rave in 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand. They initially uploaded covers of songs by other artists, such as "Royals" by Lorde, to YouTube, before posting a few original tracks on their Bandcamp page, including "Here Me Now" and "First Time", as well as the EP At Peace in Pieces. In 2014, Newton left the band and was replaced by Possum Plows. They toured Australia, and in March 2015, they announced that they had changed their name to OpenSide, inspired by the sport Quidditch from the Harry Potter series, where one of the positions is Openside Chaser.
2015–2020: OpenSide In March 2016, OpenSide signed with Warner Music NZ, and later that year, they released their debut EP, Push Back, which peaked at no. 2 on the New Zealand Music Albums chart and no. 12 on the New Zealand Album chart. The single "Letting it Out" reached no. 2 on the New Zealand Heatseeker Chart. In September 2016, they were chosen to open for Ellie Goulding, All Time Low, Ladyhawke, Fall Out Boy, Twenty One Pilots, and Panic! at the Disco. In August 2017, the band issued the single "I Feel Nothing". In April 2018, they followed it with "No Going Back", which peaked at no. 1 on the New Zealand Hot Singles Chart. They subsequently toured New Zealand.
In early October 2018, OpenSide released the single "Character Flaws", which peaked at no. 2 on the New Zealand Music Hot Singles Chart and no. 23 on the New Zealand Hot Singles Chart. The band later announced that they would be releasing a comic book at the 2018 Auckland Armageddon. The single was followed by the EP Episode One: Character Flaws. In December, the band performed at the Rhythm & Vines music festival.
In February 2019, OpenSide performed at Big Gay Out. In March, they released the single "Waiting for Love", from the EP Episode Two: Waiting for Love, which followed in May.
On 16 January 2020, OpenSide announced their breakup via Facebook.
2021–2023: Cellarr In May 2021, the former members of OpenSide, not including Plows, reunited under the name Cellarr and released the single "LUV". In September 2022, they issued their first EP, Better (feat. Rhys Rich). In February 2023, they released their second EP, Golden Minds Resort. In September, they published the single "Everybody Else", which reached no. 6 on the Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles chart.
Band members
Current PJ Shepherd – guitar, vocals (2012–present) George Powell – drums (2012–present) Harry Carter – bass (2012–present)
Past Jen Newton – vocals (2012–2014) Possum Plows – vocals (2014–2020)
Timeline
Discography As Maybe Rave "Here Me Now" (single, 2013) "First Time" (single, 2013) At Peace in Pieces (EP, 2013)
As OpenSide EPs Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications NZ NZ Music Push Back 2016 12 2 Episode One: Character Flaws 2018 — — — Episode Two: Waiting for Love 2019 — —— "—" denotes items that were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album NZ NZ Hot NZ Music NZ Music Hot "Worth It" 2015 — — — — "Lean On" — — — — "Letting It Out" 2016 — — — 2 Push Back "I Feel Nothing" 2017 — — 11 — "No Going Back" 2018 — — — 1 "Character Flaws" — 23 — 2 Episode One: Character Flaws "Waiting for Love" 2019 — — 11 1Episode Two: Waiting for Love "I Just Wanted You" — — — — "Kiss Me" — — — 10 "FCK U" — — — 20 "—" denotes items that were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Other charted songs Title Year Peak chart positions Album NZ Music Hot "Work Out" 2018 8 Episode One: Character Flaws "Tuesday"19 "—" denotes items that were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Music videos
Title Year Director(s) Location "Worth it" 2015 Tim van Dammen New Zealand "Branches" 2016 Mikey Rockwell Auckland, New Zealand "Letting It Out" Paul Innes "I Feel Nothing" 2017 Shae Sterling California, USA "No Going Back" 2018 Auckland, New Zealand "Character Flaws" Guangzhou, China "Waiting for Love" 2019 Auckland, New Zealand "Kiss Me" "FCK U" Carolina Cortella Los Angeles, California, USA
As Cellarr EPs Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications NZ NZ Music Better (feat. Rhys Rich) 2022 — — — Golden Minds Resort 2023 — — — "—" denotes items that were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album NZ NZ Hot NZ Music NZ Music Hot "LUV" 2021 — — — — "Serotonin feat. LA WOMEN" — 35 — 7 "Reopen" — — — 2 "Let Go feat. Lilly Carron" 2022 — — — 17 Golden Minds Resort "Transpire" — — — — "Gold feat Lora" — 20 — 6 "Everybody Else" 2023 — — — 6 "—" denotes items that were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Music videos
Title Year "Serotonin " 2021 "Let Go" 2022 "Transpire" "Gold" "Freak Out" 2023
Bibliography Comics OpenSide Episode One: Character Flaws (art by Inzunza, written by William Geradts & Possum Plows, Ink by Danny Jiménez, Lettering by Christian Docolomansky, Warner Music New Zealand, 2018)
References