It has been some year for French for Rabbits: an international record deal, a just-released full-length debut album and a highly successful European tour that has drawn rave reviews and only intensified the palpable buzz that's building around this "dream-folk" outfit from Waikuku Beach in Canterbury.
Not that founders Brooke Singer and John Fitzgerald have had much time to dwell on their burgeoning success or the reviews now trickling in for the new record, Spirits.
"They've mainly been in different languages," says Singer, laughing. "And anyway, we haven't really had a chance to look at them.
"We've been so busy because we've been touring [in Europe] since the beginning of October. We kind of just zoom around and play shows and every now and then I jump on my email and try and catch up. It's kind of crazy."
And the pace shows no sign of slowing for French for Rabbits as they gear up for the next leg of the journey - their return to New Zealand.
They will, however, be on familiar ground in a land that has undoubtedly inspired the haunting Spirits.
"It's pretty imbued with New Zealand, and travelling overseas has probably embedded the bits we miss the most about it more deeply into the songs, especially the coast and the birds and the rain, which is quite nice on a winter's day if you can sit by the fire," says Singer.
"It [New Zealand] is the place where we especially hope people will listen to the album."
The ethereal folk touches to the album hark back to the band's critically acclaimed EP, Claimed by the Sea. But as Singer explains, this is bolder, more expansive.
"There are little bits of folk still ingrained in the album. But I think what happened with this one is that I started playing piano again. On the first EP I'd stopped almost entirely. This one has a lot more piano on it and the songs are written around that."
The album opens with the floaty title track, on which Singer's vocals soar high, perfectly setting the scene for the atmospheric soundscapes that follow.
Stand-out tracks include Goat, with its delicate, lullaby qualities and by contrast, Lean, which builds to the kind of chorus that makes you want to throw your hands up in the air.
But truth be told it's impossible to pick favourites here. This is a record that needs to be heard from beginning to end if it's to have the impact Singer hopes for.
"It's really awesome to hear stories of how music overlaps with people's lives in some way. And I hope this album does that.
"Maybe it'll make someone feeling sad feel a little bit more hopeful because I think for the most part this is a sad but optimistic record."
French for Rabbits' Spirits is out now.