Are you being served?
Following the success of Iโm Not Sure, which reached No. 1 on the 98.5 RDU Top Ten, Christchurch indie trio Trouble with Normal return with their next single, Are You Being Served.
โAre You Being Servedโ takes listeners on an elevator ride through the issues shaping modern society. From healthcare and education to justice, climate, poverty and the rising cost of living, each floor reveals another reminder of the promises, pressures and divisions that surround us.
Countering the lead vocal is the voice of the lift operator, calmly announcing a darker inventory of fear, corruption, surveillance, lies and abuse of power. Together they create an unsettling conversation between the everyday concerns of ordinary people and the forces that often lurk behind political rhetoric.
With driving guitars, infectious hooks and a healthy dose of irony, Are You Being Served doesnโt tell you what to think, who to follow, or how to cast your vote.
Instead, it asks a simple question that resonates regardless of where you stand:
โAre you being served by the leaders that we choose?โ
As with all Trouble with Normal songs, itโs wrapped in catchy, quirky indie pop, leaving listeners to decide for themselves whether the lift is heading somewhere betterโฆ or simply going up.
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RDU 98.5 FM TE AHI TOP 10
14th April 2026
Congrats to TROUBLE WITH NORMAL for taking out the top spot this week!
Demos from the West
2024 marks a return for trouble with normal, as they dive back into the creative process after a hiatus of many years.
The band spent the year writing and recording demo songs to get a feel for their new material, using a drum machine to lay down the beats. It was a stripped-back process, designed to focus on capturing the core of each track without over-complicating things.
The demo sessions allowed the band to hear how the songs fit together and explore new sonic ideas. These recordings helped refine the sound and direction they wanted to take moving forward.
From rocking the night away with “Are You Ready Now” to exploring deeper themes like self-doubt in “I’m Not Sure” and celebrating timeless beauty in “Near North,” this collection of songs tells the story of a band embracing the moment and their musical roots once more.
Expect infectious melodies and a sound thatโs both nostalgic and fresh.
About Us
A new start
trouble with normal are a three-piece alt-indie band hailing from ลtautahi / Christchurch, Aotearoa / New Zealand.
With guitar, bass, and drums driving their original sound, we create a dynamic mix of raw energy and melodic depth.
After taking a break for many years, the band is back in 2024 with a new drummer and a renewed hunger to play live and loud once again.
Yes, we are a โdad bandโ โ and weโre proud of it.
Weโve got some years on us, sure, but age has only deepened our love for making music. Playing in a band isnโt just for the young โ itโs for anyone who still feels that fire to plug in, crank it up, and let it rip.
Whether youโre 15 or 55, itโs never too early or too late to chase the joy of writing songs, jamming hard, and playing music youโd actually want to hear.
Weโre proof that you can have jobs, kids, responsibilities โ and still go out, make some noise, and have a bloody good time doing it.
Let’s go.
Latest news
trouble with normal
Wahoo. 1st week on playlist with our latest song and entered RDU 98.5 FM top ten at No. 10
Our Name
The band name “trouble with normal” is inspired by Bruce Cockburn’s 1983 album and song The Trouble with Normal. The song critiques societal complacency and the normalization of injustices, addressing issues like economic inequality, corporate greed, and political corruption. Today, Cockburn’s message feels as relevant as ever, reflecting ongoing challenges in modern society.
“It’ll all go back to normal if we put our nation first”
But the trouble with normal is it always gets worse
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