NewTracks New Artist: Ella Minehan
Clearly not an artist who will allow the grass to grow under her feet, Ella Minehan has been busy moving forwards since graduating with a commercial music degree, releasing a clutch of songs from her final ...
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News
2022 Going Global Music Summit Speakers Announced
Nine additional speakers working in the international music space have been announced for Independent Music NZ's 2022 Going Global Music Summit. They will deliver the latest on how to get ahead in international pathways, advancing ideas in an ever-changing music business landscape. The new speakers join previously announced keynote speaker Che Pope whose career has seen him collaborate with legendary and visionary artists such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana and many more. The ...
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2022 Waiata Māori Music Awards Finalists
Now in its 15th year, finalists for the 2022 Waiata Māori Music Awards have been announced. The album-oriented awards will be celebrated with a live event staged at Toitoi - Hawkes Bay Arts & Events Centre on September 9. 2022 Waiata Māori Music Awards Finalists Best Te Reo Māori Album Anna Coddington - 'Mana-Wā-Hine' Puoro Mataoraora - 'Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo, Te Pae Tuku Aka' Te Kaahu - 'Te Kaahu o Rangi' Best RnB Album by a Māori Artist Mistee K - 'Melz Vs ...
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Aotearoa Touring Programme Extended
As announced by Hon Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage at the 2022 Pacific Music Awards ceremony in early August, the Government will extend the Aotearoa Touring Programme through until June 2023. It is part of the Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture & Heritage-led Arts & Culture Covid Recovery Programme, which is focused on the recovery, regeneration and revitalisation of the cultural sector. The programme which initially concluded in June 2022, supports the reinvigoration ...
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WOMEX 2022 Delegate Grants
The NZ Music Commission has opened delegate applications to attend WOMEX 2022. WOMEX is the World Music Expo, an international networking platform for the world music industry. The annual five-day event comprises a bustling trade fair, showcase festival, conference, and film programme, as well as festive opening and award ceremonies. The market has a focus on contemporary music in the world, roots, reggae, dub, contemporary soul and traditional forms. This year WOMEX will be held in Lisbon, Portugal ...
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Interviews
Rei: Running Hot
The engagingly upbeat latest single from prolific Auckland artist Callum McDougall, aka Rei, is the result of a determined chase to collaborate with the members of Drax Project. The Māori/Pākehā urban electronic musician chatted with Kat Parsons about Wera Matao and his upcoming album. Made with the support of NZ On Air Music. Already recognised with awards on the local front, there is a sense that bigger doors are now opening for versatile and determined Auckland hip hop artist Rei. “I went ...
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Mild Orange: Finding Space For Each Other
Four new friends from different corners of Aotearoa came together during their time at Otago University to form a band. Sound familiar? This version is a dream-pop, indie-rock act so chill they named themselves Mild Orange. Six years later they are living together in London and promoting their third album, ’Looking For Space’. Jemilah Ross Hayes spoke with bassist Tom Kelk and vocalist/songwriter Josh Mehrtens. Looking For Space by Mild Orange Initially just frontman Josh Mehrtens and lead ...
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NewTracks New Artist: Four32
Four32's debut single Going Home is a feel-good reggae anthem with influence from classic Kiwi tunes. The six band members come from rural coastal towns throughout the Waikato, forming Four32 through a Rangatahi Māori rōpū. Going Home is a way to tell their story of leaving their hometowns and adjusting to the more fast-paced city environment. NZ On Air Music added the song to their NewTracks compilation for July. Was any high school or other music training important to you? Kapa haka has ...
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Georgia Lines: Shaking Up The Moon Soda
Having first announced herself as one to watch at the 2014 Rockquest, it wasn’t until 2019 that singer/pianist Georgia Lines found her feet as a recording artist, timing that coincided, unfortunately, with the promotion-stifling arrival of Covid. July 2022 finds Lines releasing her sophomore EP, this one confidently badged ‘Human’, the songs reflecting on the challenges and big emotions of human life. Richard Thorne talked with the fast-climbing Mt Maunganui pop music star just ahead of her ...
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Ariana Tikao: Songs For Important Visitors
Descended from Kāi Tahu, Ariana Tikao firmly embraces her Māori ancestry through her music, weaving the instrumentation and stories of the past with the present. Her latest single Kōtuku is a Te Reo Māori version of the previously released Fly You Home. Kat Parsons chatted with her about both versions, the importance of cultural mentoring, and how the colour orange is a lie. Made with the support of the Waiata Takitahi initiative, NZ On Air Music and Te Māngai Pāho. It has been almost three ...
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NewTracks New Artist: Y Plus
Recording as Y Plus, Yaojia Chen is an indie/electronica artist living in Auckland who has already released two full EPs in 2022. The second one, 'Terminal 22', shares the common feelings of being overwhelmed and confused as a youth in their early 20s, encouraging those listening to take a step back and cut themselves some slack. NZ On Air Music has included her poignant new single You Didn't Call On My Birthday on their NewTracks compilation this July. What's your full name, where are ...
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The Black Seeds: Letting The Sun Shine Through
Five years since the release of their ‘Fabric’ album, The Black Seeds have emerged out of the bleak debris of the pandemic with multiple singles heralding their new album ‘Love & Fire’, dropping mid-June 2022 after four years in the making. With the famed Wellington band’s 25th birthday on the horizon, the eight members have necessarily adapted their writing and recording methods to meet the confines of a global pandemic, and bring new music into the world. Kat Parsons caught up with ...
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Event Guide
2022 Going Global Presents Showcase
Independent Music NZ (IMNZ) have announced the 12 local acts that will be performing at the 2022 Going Global Presents Showcase for visiting international music industry, fans and the public at in Tāmaki Makaurau's Whammy Bar and Wine Cellar on September 3. Open to the public, tickets for the Going Global Presents Showcase are on sale now >> here <<. The 12 Artists are Aidan Fine Ashy Dartz Emma Dilemma Georgia Lines Heavy Chest IA Jazmine Mary Neive Strang Proteins ...
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Free Music Marketing Seminar In Gisborne
The Music Managers Forum Aotearoa is returning to Gisborne with a free seminar on music marketing and promotion. This not-to-be-missed seminar will cover avenues of releasing, marketing and promoting music including publicity, bios, press releases, tips for pitching to media, marketing, digital marketing, social media, playlists and radio airplay. Speakers are: Tama Waipara, chief executive/artistic director - Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival Tana Tupai, self-managed artist - Tomorrow People Lisa ...
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Pathways In Music Workshops
Non-profit organisation Girls Rock Aotearoa presents Pathways In Music, a day of workshops covering pathways in music after high school to be held on August 6 at Roundhead Studios. To The Front Tāmaki Makaurau is expanding with an intern programme for 16 to 20-year-olds, with the purpose to create connections with the music industry through a series of workshops and events. More info here.
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