Somewhere deep within the NZ music scene lies a musical entity called Sorrento. In the Top 20 shortlist for the 2019 Silver Scroll Award, Sorrento made an appearance with a track called Look Up (feat. ...
READ MORE >Arlo Mac from Havelock North High School are on the path for musical success after taking first place in the 2019 Smokefree Rockquest. The national final was held at the Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland on September 14. Representing the Hawkes Bay region with some impressively mature guitar rock, the band is Joe Ledword, Harry Mason, Thomas Grant and Benjamin Bush. The second-placed band was Haven from Wakatipu High School in central Otago, justifying what had been a challenging trip north for the ...
READ MORE >Te Kākono, a group of young Māori artists who created the Te Reo compilation album 'Te Kākono’, were major league winners at the 2019 Waiata Māori Music Awards, staged in Hastings on Friday, September 13. In front of an audience of stars from the world of Māori music, Te Kākono claimed the prizes for Best Māori Traditional Album (Te Reo Māori), Best Maori Pop Artists and Best Song by a Māori Artist, for Tōrea. The winning song, Tōrea, was written by group member Pere, who ...
READ MORE >"E ora ai te reo whiua ki te ao! For the language to survive – share it with the world." That's the motto of the 2019 #1Miriona Waiata Challenge, encouraging you to sing (or even just lip-sync music) in te reo Māori and share it with the world. You have three categories to choose from: Original Waiata – If you’re a composer and you’ve got a waiata then this category is for you. Record and upload to YouTube and Facebook using the #1miriona hashtag. Covers – Whether it’s ...
READ MORE >Waimate's country-pop singer Kaylee Bell comes in second at international songwriting competition Unsigned Only 2019 with her song Keith. Kiwi semi-finalists 2019 Andrew Masseurs: Night After Night in Adult Alternative Album/Days They Come And They Go in Adult Contemporary Annie J: By My Side - Christian/Jazz Arjuna Oakes: Deep End - RnB/Hip Hop Bartells: Our Love May Go Away - Soul Jeremy Walters: Future By Design - Instrumental Levi Lights On Project's Eyes Of ...
READ MORE >It's about time to give a shout out to Auckland's Empire Records who seem to have a lot of great new talent coming through right now, including this week's 'new' artist, a stand out from NZ On Air's NewTracks compilation this September. Hawkes Bay's Cody Imua Te Waa Patea, aka Cody Wave, has recently worked on releases for the likes of TY, Smashproof, PT, Sid Diamond, Rei and Mikey Mayz. With his new single, I Love You, it's time for him to shine as main artist, performing his own hip hop ...
READ MORE >'We’ve got the mighty Southern Alps and the rugged Tasman Sea, hidden between the two is where you’ll find me.’ - aside from confirming that she remains fiercely proud to be labelled a West Coaster, that couplet from Katie Thompson’s newly released album, ‘Bittersweet’, seems a suitable metaphor for the accomplished and determined South Island country artist. First coming to attention in 2009 with the release of her debut album, Katie released her second just two years later. That one ...
READ MORE >Time & Space seems an ideal introduction to the artist we are all going to get to know as Mukukā. The (currently) Auckland-based singer has a voice of timeless qualities, and already knows plenty about the challenges of making a home in new spaces. First time lucky, she was included on NZ On Air Music's NewTracks compilation this September. What's your given name, where are you from and what instruments do you play? My full name is Mukuka Hope Musowa, I am a singer and songwriter. I was ...
READ MORE >Ghost Who Walks is the musical vehicle for the songs of Wellington singer/songwriter Sam Fowles. Mixing genres generously into a fusion of groove, soul and funk makes them one of the most engaging and energetic bands about town. Their self-titled EP has been out since 2018. Now with a newly extended band line up (to be premiered at San Fran on September 14), Ghost Who Walks have a music video for their single Walking Talking Blues to celebrate – which we're pleased to premiere for you. Hey ...
READ MORE >As August's contribution to our ongoing Vox Pops series, NZM asked around for some of your current favourite pieces of musical hardware –gadgets & gear that you couldn't (happily) live without. Here are some of the responses: Dylan Storey, Musician, Auckland My favourite piece of gear would have to be my Hiwatt Custom 50 guitar amp. It has a lovely warm tone with an unrivalled depth of sound. Unlike other many other British built amps, this amp has clean headroom, which means the sound doesn't ...
READ MORE >Waatea Music artist Sonny Maru-Habib performs under the stage name MarÜ. Hailing from Whakatane, this confident newcomer has just released his debut single Te Ora. The dance track was judged catchy enough to gain one of the few spots available on NZ On Air Music's NewTracks compilation right away. What's your full name, where are you from and what instruments do you play, if any? Ko Sonny Maru-Habib toku ingoa. Ko Ngati Rarawhati te hapu. Ko Ngati Awa te iwi. No Whakatane ahau. What high ...
READ MORE >Among no doubt plenty of other new instrument offerings, Yamaha has this year unveiled the CP73 and CP88 stage pianos, boasting new key hammer technology and an upgraded system of sounds and effects. The slick black aluminium chassis, along with dedicated realtime controls make these two keyboard models serious players in the competitive and very visible world of top stage pianos. The CP88 I have for review is the new flagship digital piano from Yamaha, retailing at $4195 rrp, with improved sounds ...
READ MORE >Those Lethals' singer Liz Cameron and guitarist Lane Twigden have been playing together since 2015 – when a friend set them up on a musical blind date. The two amalgamated their songwriting into an indie-folk sound, joined by Raj Bakker shortly after on drums, jazz graduate Guy Harrison on trumpet and keys (Troy Kingi, Balu Brigada, Avantdale Bowling Club), and classically trained Tim Shacklock (Mice on Stilts, Pachucos) on bass. Now that Liz has finished her medical imaging degree, Those Lethals ...
READ MORE >Scheduled for the end of this month is Going Global 2019, the annual music summit organised by IMNZ which always attracts a number of well-known international industry professionals willing to share their accumulated wisdom with us Kiwi wannabes. Tickets cost $110. "That sounds a bit rich – why should I go?" you may be thinking. For those in need of convincing, here are just some reasons to consider it well worth the effort: You'll get first-hand and up-to-date information about various ...
READ MORE >Harper Finn celebrated his double single release of Conversations (With The Moon) and Teenage Queen with a sold-out gig at Ding Dong Lounge in Auckland on Thursday, July 25. Postponed for a week due to a last-minute sickness, the place was nevertheless packed with a lively, cross-generational audience. The singles have only been out for a week but people in the audience are avidly singing along to Teenage Queen, an upbeat pop number that has everyone dancing — no mean feat this early in a gig. ...
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