New Zealand producer and musician Jonathan Bree is best known for his cinematic brand of orchestral pop. Bree’s deep baritone and musical arrangements—which often feature sliding strings and chamber instruments such as the celeste, harp, and timpani—draw inspiration from classic artists like Lee Hazlewood and Serge Gainsbourg, but are reborn as something entirely his own.
 
Gaining a cult following through extensive touring across the globe, Bree's anonymous, masked persona also extends to his live shows, where he and his band play against a backdrop of cinematic projections created specifically for each song as two dancers perform otherworldly choreography.
 
The celestial opening notes of Bree's 2023 album Pre-Code Hollywood transport listeners to a complex sonic world that celebrates classic pop of a bygone era, while experimenting with the avant-garde in a way that is distinctly modern. His fifth album exudes a nostalgic charm reminiscent of a John Hughes movie soundtrack.
While working on the album’s demos, Bree noticed a certain 1980’s aesthetic about them and sent a brave email...