Introducing The Sound of Summer: Ciara launches her first studio album in six years, and tells us why she believes in magic

When we think about what summer feels like—or more specifically, sounds like—we always come back to the same thing: good music, enjoyed with even better company, on long, sun-soaked days. With warmer weather on the horizon, it felt only natural to return to the roots of Remix: music, and the songs and people that make us tick.

Our cover star Ciara needs no introduction. Her music has scored our lives for more than two decades, and her latest studio album, CiCi—her first in six years and her first under her own label—feels like the culmination of everything we’ve come to know and love about this icon. We met her in her native New York, shooting on a Brooklyn rooftop on a frosty Atlantic morning, and discovered far more about her life beyond the music while we were there.

Elsewhere in the issue, because summer simply sounds that good, we speak to superstars Good Charlotte and Ruel—two acts at opposite ends of their careers—and uncover fresh perspectives on fame and music-making that transcend genre. Homegrown talents Harper Finn and Riiki Reid invite us into their adopted hometowns, sharing the rituals and resets that keep them grounded. And Don West delivers a masterclass in festival dressing—sound advice for the season ahead.

Of course, this issue is stacked with everything you love about Remix. Fashion editorials take us from beachside luxuries to soap-soaked moments, while our beauty team breaks down two essential steps for a seasonal glow (read: SPF and luminous powders). We’ve also rounded up the best new releases for the months ahead: breezy beach reads, podcasts for long road trips, and a new series to settle into when you’re ready for a break from the sun.

For the food-obsessed, our editors have mapped out the latest openings and culinary moments to note, perfectly paired with the ultimate summer itinerary to carry you through to February. And for those who can’t get enough of a quintessential New Zealand summer (both near and far), we’ve shared a few of our favourite places to escape to in the months ahead.

And if you’re feeling in the spirit (or in need of some last-minute ideas), we’ve compiled the ultimate gift guide for everyone you love in life.

From where we’re sitting, summer sounds pretty good indeed.

Tessa Patrick x

The Sound of Summer, starring Ciara, is on sale now nationwide.