Jeremy Glenn and Dylan Jones, of Wellington, had just come back from Auckland after organising their visas for their forthcoming United States tour when the Queenstown Times called.
The drum and bass production outfit turned DJs have 11 US dates ahead of them, from June 4, and played a dozen shows in three weeks across Europe earlier this year.
But it's the 10-date New Zealand tour and Queenstown that have Mr Glenn excited.
"Queenstown is always really, really fun. Subculture is one of our favourite venues. The crowd is always up for it and the staff are friendly."
The Ghost Radio Tour offers a rare preview of the tunes driving the Upbeats' third album, Big Skeleton, out in August on their own Non Vogue record label.
The energetic release features collaborations with vocalist Jess Chambers and UK MC Kemo and has "a fair share of party drum and bass with a new soul influence and alternative folkish weirdness", Mr Glenn said.
"Singles are aimed at DJs, whereas with albums we like to explore and write a lot of stuff that hopefully will appeal to people listening at home."
The hardworking pair have toured extensively over the past four years and Mr Glenn puts their success on the global circuit down to luck and motivation.
Being a New Zealand act has its benefits as well.
"We played in Tokyo on the way back from Europe and they love anything to do with New Zealand, and for us to play somewhere different like Tokyo is a huge buzz."
• The Upbeats, Subculture, Saturday, May 23, doors open 9pm. Support by Downtown Brown and D-Jade. Pre-sale tickets $10 from the venue and Play It Again Records, or $15 on the door.
