Themed: Politics
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NewTracks New Artist: Hummucide
Hailing from the creative student lab of Te Aro in Wellington, HUMMUCIDE describe themselves as a four-piece minimalist rock-jazz group, citing influences ranging from BadBadNotGood to Aphex Twin, to ...
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News
Moodagent Music Streaming Service Launched in NZ
Moodagent, a personalised music streaming service with innovative recommendation and discovery features, launched here in NZ on July 21. Utilising AI technology to personalise the listening experience, the app gives users a new way to discover artists, and artists new ways to reach fans. Where other streaming services offer recommendations based on prior listening, editorial selections or current charts, Moodagent provides intuitive playlist curation, allowing listeners to use moods, songs or ...
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First NZMC Capability Grants Announced
The NZ Music Commission has confirmed 29 grants in the first round of the Capability Grants Programme, which closed on June 25. The programme is intended to support music industry upskilling, training and development opportunities and is part of the government’s NZ Music Covid Recovery Package and the wider Arts and Culture Recovery Programme. Music businesses, organisations, collectives and individuals are able to apply for up to $25,000 towards new initiatives or to extend and enhance existing ...
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July 2021 NewMusic Singles Funding Results
NZ On Air have announced the results of their July 2021 NewMusic Singles funding, which sees 36 acts receive $10,000 each to create and promote their new songs in the coming months, including 13 first-time funded artists. There were a total of 171 applications across a range of genres for this round. The selection panel was made up of Brad Watson (Flava), Cushla Aston (artist manager), Harriet Robinson (Radio Active), Nadia Marsh (Te Māngai Pāho), Paddy Hill (Roundhead Studios), Rose ...
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Paraoa Brewing Co ‘Social House’ Venue Opens In Whangaparaoa
Celebrating its opening on July 15, Paraoa Brewing Co is billed as a ‘social house’, indicating the role its owners hope it will play as a multi-purpose venue for residents of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and Hibiscus Coast, north of Auckland. Newly built and big enough to comfortably combine live events, an up-market Asian fusion kitchen, bar and brewhouse, it also boasts a substantial stage area with PA and lighting supplied by College Hill. Paraoa Brewing Co was officially launched with ...
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Interviews
Stephen Galvin: Jazzing Around
Releasing an album that he describes as ‘…original New Zealand jazz and contemporary music’, while taking its diverse musical cues from the famed likes of Django Reinhardt, Carlos Santana and T-Bone Walker, Auckland music teacher/composer Stephen Galvin has made lots of interesting choices, including around its digital distribution. He talked with Richard Thorne about the origins and intentions behind ‘Modal Behaviour’. As with likely millions of musicians worldwide, the confinement ...
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Kerryn Fields: Elemental Love Stories
Currently resident in Melbourne but originally from Te Kuiti, Kerryn Fields is an award-winning folk singer-songwriter with a distinctively deep, soulful voice and a penchant for confessional, storytelling songwriting. Her sophomore album ‘Water’, launched in July, is a veritable deep dive into the human experience, highly personal lyrics set against the backdrop of intimate picked guitars and lush harmonies. As she tells, Nur Lajunen-Tal, Kerryn sorted through more than 200 songs to find the ...
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Fresh Talent: Ripple Effect
In 2019, before they'd even released anything officially, Ripple Effect were approached by Hawaiian group Rebel Souljahz with a support slot opportunity. “We grew up listening to this band, so for us to get asked if we would like to open their NZ tour, that was insane!” says singer Hana Tamatea. Ripple Effect formed at Palmerston North’s UCOL campus. One of their big influences is The Black Seeds, so they were stoked to have Nigel Patterson, the Seeds’ keyboard player, as a lecturer. ...
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Video Premiere: STNDRD – Let’s Roll
The three members of South Auckland pop/RnB/hip hop group STNDRD are Johnathan Aoina (aka J), TeeRoy Leo (aka Leo) and Paul Aoina (Yannis). The Aoina brothers went to the same church as Leo, so the group basically grew up together. With a few singles under their belt, a finalist spot for Best Pacific Band in the 2021 Pacific Music Awards, significant radio airplay and a whopping (almost) 6 million streams for their video of My Uso, the mostly Australia-based trio are about to open the next chapter ...
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NewTracks new Artist: Onono
Wellington-based act ONONO dropped a self-titled album at the beginning of July, launching it alongside the release of the album’s second track, The Island, as a single. Onono is Jonathan Nott, recognisably from a family that comes close to deserving the badge of modern Kiwi music royalty. Cousin to those famous Broods siblings, Jonathan has been part of their touring team since 2015, and is one of those all-round talented types; writing, recording, producing the album’s 10 tracks, and mixing ...
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My Song: Georgia Lines – Call Me By My Name
It’s really not the case that Georgia Lines has an evidently split personality, but the video for her newly released single Call Me By My Name makes such prolific (and clever) use of split-screen effects, different settings and clothing styles, that it may seem she inhabits multiple versions. Despite her variously elegant outfits, and the song’s placid trajectory, there’s a classic flash of that Georgia Lines’ fun personality she reveals as a vibrant and spontaneous live performer, at about ...
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Fresh Talent: Cloudy
Rounding up the successful single releases of Dear Dunkin’ (2019) and last year’s Addicted To You Kiwi/Austrian artist Cloudy has delivered a debut EP titled ‘Good Grief’. Cloudy (Claudia Paine) is unapologetically herself. Kind, down to earth, the EP takes us on her journey with songs inspired by her life experiences, honest and open, unveiling her thoughts through her lyrics. A true artistic talent, Claudia also creates all her own musical artwork. “I love painting at home, as an ...
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Event Guide
2021 Pro Audio Showcase In Auckland This September
Organisers of Auckland’s 2021 Pro Audio Showcase, scheduled for Wednesday, September 15 and Thursday, September 16, say the 2021 get-together will be the biennial trade expo’s biggest of the last decade, with a dozen exhibitor stands already locked in. NZ’s own Pro Audio Showcase is an industry-led event established and supported by a trio of audio specialist suppliers – Sound Techniques, Protel and Oceania Audio Sales. In a world where almost all international shows have fallen off the ...
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Daniel Armstrong & The Monsoons, June 18, Auckland
Daniel Armstrong & The Monsoons launched their new album ‘Everything Is As It Shouldn’t Be’ at Auckland's Thirsty Dog on K’ Rd mid-June. Taylor Tutawa headed along to review it for NZM. Cramped into the small K’ Rd corner venue was an enthusiastic crowd of around 70, more than happy to enjoy the mix of sounds on the night. Opening act Wrong Things are a genre-hopping trio that needed no vocals to draw in and hammer across the point that they have collectively mastered the art of ...
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Valere Chroma Tour, Winter 2021
The last time NZM spoke to Shana Graham, aka Valere, she had just released her second EP, titled ‘Blue’. Having graduated from Auckland University's pop music degree the singer-songwriter found that the EP particularly resonated with listeners in the Phillippines, where she was born. These days Kirikiriroa/Hamilton-based, Valere’s in the middle of touring her first full album ‘Colours’, another vibrant alt-pop offering, nationwide. Time for a quick catch up! June 25, Auckland June ...
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