The truth is out there! And Freak Magnet are on a mission to find it!
Freak Magnet is a garage-punk two-piece band formed at Turret House in Wellington, New Zealand, featuring Sarsha Leigh-Douglas on drums, bass and vocals and Vanya Vitali on guitar and vocals. Both members are deeply rooted in the Wellington and Dunedin punk scenes, with Sarsha’s history including bands like Shortlived, Fantails, Rogernomix, Cult Of The Cobra, Shock Futuro and Natural Glow, while Vanya played in Dunedin acts Ritalin, Skaface Claw, and Blistering Tongues.
The band kicked off with a gig at Opportunity for Animals in Kilbirnie in April 2012. That August, they released their debut EP, Eurotrash, a five-song burst of grunge-punk energy reminiscent of Dead Moon, coinciding with a European tour alongside Dunedin’s Freddy Fudd Pucker. The tour, documented in Sarsha’s tour diary in Mind Lint issue 7, started with a first show at the Ramones Museum in Berlin. Back in New Zealand, they played Punkfest 2012 in Christchurch, where Sarsha also performed with Rogernomix.
Freak Magnet became a staple in Wellington’s punk scene, sharing stages with bands like Awkward Death, The Dilfs, Starving Millions, Fantails, and Rogernomix. Known for their support of animal welfare and social justice causes, they often played benefit gigs. In May 2015, they released their second self-titled EP with a launch show at Death Ray Records in Newtown.
In 2018, Sarsha and Vanya began jamming with Tony Pearson (Meth Drinker, Influence, Scab), forming the sludge trio Unruly in 2019. However, Freak Magnet’s activity slowed due to COVID disruptions and other commitments, with the band on hiatus since 2021. As of 2025, Vanya plays bass in Forced Starvation, while Sarsha performs with doom band DAHTM, leaving Freak Magnet’s raw, rebellious legacy on pause but far from forgotten. The truth is out there!
| Origin | Wellington, Turret House |
| Genre | garage punk, grunge |
| Years Active | 2012 – 2021 |
| Associated Acts | Bonecruncher, TVX, Rogernomix, Unruly |
| Current Members | Sarsha (drums, bass, vocals) Vanya (guitar, vocals) |
Releases
| Title | Date | Label | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurotrash | 2012, August 15 | EP | tape/ DL | |
| Freak Magnet | 2015, May 4 | album | tape/ DL |
Timeline
2012, April 9, Kilbirnie
2012, June 1, The Cabana
2012, June 28, Burgundy Room
2012, August 8, Ward Lane (Ham)
w/ The Outsiders
Photo: Alistar Wickens
2012, August 15, Eurotrash EP
2012, August 17 – September ?, Europe tour
Freak Magnet, Freddy Fudd Pucker
2012, October 19, Punkfest
2013
2013, April 11, Meow
2013, April 24, Mighty Mighty
2013, June 2, Bodega
2013, June 22, Mighty Mighty
2013, July 13, Kilbirnie OFA
2013, August 9, Puppies
2013, August 24, Onslaught
2013, August 30, Mighty Mighty
w/ PCP Eagles, D Burmester, Dad Jokes
2013, September 14, Medusa
2013, October 5, Puppies
2013, December 14, Whammy
2014
2014, February 6-8, Waitangi Wastefest
2014, May 24, Black Coffee
2014, October 4, Great Job
2014, October 9, Valhalla
2014, December 13, Carlucci Land
2015
2015, February 28, Take Shelter
2015, March 21, Kilbirnie
2015, May 4, Freak Magnet
2015, November 7, Death Ray
2016
2016, March 13, Wiped Out, A Tribute To The Wipers From Aotearoa And Beyond
2016, December 3, Valhalla
2017
2017, February 25, Whammy
2017, March 13, Northcote Social Club
2018
2018, March 17, Wrights Hill
2018, December 31, Long Gully Station
2021, June 5, Smash Palace
