Before branching out into production management, Aucklander Gavin Downie worked for a number of years as a guitar tech, a job that includes looking after and maintaining equipment for musicians at live ...
READ MORE >Rachel LaFond has been awarded a silver medal at the Global Music Awards, recognising outstanding achievement for her (soon to be released) album ‘Encounters of the Beautiful Kind’. The Washington-schooled ...
READ MORE >NZ On Air Music has published the results of their May 2018 NewMusic Singles funding today. Out of 152 songs submitted to this funding round, the panel picked 30 new songs to be recorded and/or treated to visuals. Congratulations to all recipients! The May 2018 panel was made up of (from left to right) Radio Hauraki's Greg Prebble, Sarah Thomson of 95bFM, Lydia Jenkin of APRA AMCOS, NZOA's Jeff Newton, [Sarah Pearce & David Ridler, NZOA], Godfrey de Grut of University of Auckland's School ...
READ MORE >Composition and diversity look to be the buzz words around the three 2018 Jazz Tui finalists. Wellington-based saxophonist and composer Lucien Johnson has been nominated for the 2018 Best Jazz Artist for his 2017 album 'West Of The Sun’, recorded by Mike Fabulous. Alongside composing and performing with his six-piece jazz ensemble Johnson is a regular collaborator with Wellington performing arts collective Borderline Arts Ensemble, has toured internationally with The Black Seeds and Lord ...
READ MORE >The NZ Country Music Awards Finalists 2018 were announced earlier today, with Reb Fountain being nominated for both Best Album and Best Single. Recorded Music NZ Best Country Music Album Finalists Lana Doublet: 'Beautiful Human' EP Phil Doublet: 'Strength, Love, Music & Light' Reb Fountain: 'Hopeful and Hopeless' EP APRA Best Country Music Song Finalists Jenny Mitchell: Let Me Be Kaylee Bell and Brooke McClymont: Next Somebody Reb Fountain: Hopeful and Hopeless Winners ...
READ MORE >Fittingly held in NZ Music Month, the Music Managers' Forum staged the 14th annual MMF Awards at The Tuning Fork in Auckland on May 9. For the second consecutive year the Manager of the Year title and trophy went to Berlin-based Alastair Burns for his highly successful work with Marlon Williams, as well as Australian artist Julia Jacklin. His very personal videoed acceptance speech came from overseas – as did that of Breakthrough Manager of the Year Rikihana Douglas, who has himself quickly ...
READ MORE >Valentine’s Day was more than just a day for sappy cards, flowers and chocolates for four musical Wellingtonians this year. On 14 February Hex dropped their first album – ‘The Hill Temple’ – in vinyl format, with a digital version of the LP following shortly after. Briar Lawry talked with Kiki Van Newtown and Jason Erskine over coffee, the morning after the band had played the Kings Arms. On their Bandcamp, Hex describe themselves as “…the progeny of wives Kiki and GG Van Newtown, ...
READ MORE >Elusive Auckland band Model Train Wreck has recently released, 'I Want That Back', an ingenious EP with a unique indie-pop meets rock'n'roll sound. Chris Howard (guitar, vocals), Hamish Peart (saxophone, organ), Tom Healy on bass and drummer Carl Letcher are the carriages of Model Train Wreck. Erica McQueen quizzed frontman Chris on the band's inception, their captivating artwork and some other mysteries surrounding the band. Model Train Wreck has been around since late 2010. How did you come ...
READ MORE >The irony, heavy it is with this one. Formerly of Mëstar and presently The Golden Awesome, Stef Animal has quite literally gone back-to-the-future in creating a concept solo album she has branded ‘Top Gear’. Each of the 15 tracks was made using a different piece of obsolete or unfashionable music equipment, the kind of stuff that in its own distant electronic time was considered to be ‘of the future’. The 30-minute album is intrinsically playful in its naming, in its approach (with each ...
READ MORE >Pennie Black (pictured above with Katie Thompson) is perhaps most prominently known for her decade-long role as programme director at and voice on air at 95bFM. However, in 2016, she decided to part ways with radio and embark on an exciting new music venture- Pennie Black Artist Services. Now in return, her ceaseless passion for Independent NZ music and artists has earned her the 2018 MMF Achievement Award for impressive successes in managing the Echo Ohs and HEX. Ani Zulawnik chatted with her ...
READ MORE >New Zealand has indeed got talent, much of it currently based off-shore doing what talented artists need to do – challenging themselves, making a name for themselves and making a living. Colorado could hardly be described as a hotbed for Kiwi musical adventurers, but it is where Michael Hollywood caught up with Estella Dawn, a singer/songwriter of pedigree and potential. When Estella Winnie-McGee first appeared on NZ’s Got Talent as a fresh-faced 16-year old, back in 2013, judge Jason Kerrison ...
READ MORE >We've heard little from Auckland pop punk four-piece Beach Pigs since the release of their 2014 album 'Grom Warfare'. Having collaborated previously on each other's solo projects, singer Dahnu Graham and drummer (now better known as a sound engineer, producer and electronica artist in his own right) Suren Unka got into the studio together once more to work on some electronically driven pop. Recording under the name Madly, their single Cloud Nine subsequently featured on NZ On Air Music's NewTracks ...
READ MORE >Charlotte Yates is a very well respected musician, songwriter and composer who has forged an individual path in NZ music that’s seen her endeavours include a still growing catalogue of seven solo releases. She has composed music for TV, theatre and short film, and with an art-minded focus on the poetry aspect of songwriting has curated a number of brave tribute albums commemorating the work of James K Baxter, Hone Tuwhare and Whale Rider author Witi Ihimaera. Charlotte is equally an experienced ...
READ MORE >The official Music Month Summit 2018 is tackling some of the issues the music industry has been facing up to over the last year. The summit features a stellar line up of music industry professionals and speakers, who will challenge and create thought-provoking conversation around some of the industry issues that have been highlighted in the past twelve months. The day comprises of four sessions, with four speakers for each topic and an open Q&A after each session. The subjects and speakers ...
READ MORE >As every year, photographer and massive fan of local music, Trevor Villers, went to join the crowds around town for Record Store Day 2018, capturing a plethora of familiar faces on makeshift stages and around record crates around Auckland City.
READ MORE >20 Bands In 2 Hours 2018 will take place on May 18 at Galatos in Auckland. 20 acts, one song each. Tickets are available here. The idea to fill an entire radio show with live music originated as a crazy student radio folly. A few instalments later, the show moves to a larger venue for more people to enjoy, but with the very same goal - to showcase a variety of fine local music to music lovers in one fun night. The event will be streamed live thanks to the film department at SAE Institute Auckland ...
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