Six Kiwi teams/soloists are finalists across the many categories of the International Songwriting Competition 2018, with the strongest outcome notably for children's musicians. Aucklander Captain Festus McBoyle aka Rich Manic (The Little Things) and Wanaka resident Anna Van Riel (Throw Out The Grain) both managed to place in the top 14 songs written for Children. Darren Watson's Un-love Me is among the Blues category finalists, while soul voiced fellow Wellingtonian Louis Baker gained a spot ...
READ MORE >Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) has announced the finalists for the Taite Music Prize 2019. This year’s ten finalists were selected from a list of 67 nominated artists/albums: Alien Weaponry: 'Tū' Avantdale Bowling Club: 'Avantdale Bowling Club' Jonathan Bree: 'Sleepwalking' Julia Deans: 'We Light Fire' Marlon Williams: 'Make Way For Love' Mel Parsons: 'Glass Heart' Tami Neilson: 'Sassafrass!' The Beths: 'Future Me Hates Me' Unknown Mortal Orchestra: 'Sex & ...
READ MORE >Fans and friends of Derek Browne, the hardworking founder and lead singer of dDub are urged to donate to a recently established Givealittle campaign. Only 48, Derek became suddenly ill and was diagnosed with Stage IV prostate cancer in November 2018. His wife Veronica is now caring for him full-time. Very much to the fore of the live scene in the early 2000s, the seven-member dDub toured NZ extensively over 15 years, releasing two successful albums. dDub bassist and long time friend Matt Shanks ...
READ MORE >NZ On Air Music has released the list of recipients of their first one-off New Music Pasifika funding round. Out of 51 artists who submitted their songs, 14 were chosen by representatives from the Pacific Music Awards and National Pacific Radio Trust who helped NZOA make these funding decisions. Congratulations to the following artists Diggy Dupé / CI Disciple Pati / The Boy Who Cried Woman Emily Muli / No More La Coco / Back When Lani Alo / Alo I ou Faiva Mikey Mayz / Wild ...
READ MORE >You might have heard newcomer Emily Muli 's voice when she was accompanying other artists like Aaradhna and Tommy Nee on stage or in the studio, but this time the Auckland go-getter steps into the limelight with her own material. Emily's debut single, the groovy rnb track Rhythm & Truth, received funding from NZ On Air Music's inaugural NewMusic Pasifika round in February 2019 and was subsequently featured on their monthly NewTracks compilation in March. What's your full name, where are ...
READ MORE >Living in Wellington, Josie Moon is an inspired artist of indie pop who is pushing herself in every direction – production, songwriting, performing and producing videos. “Music was always around, but I didn’t really start doing it as a hobby or writing that much, until my first year of university. I really hated that degree, so in my spare time, I just started writing, giving myself something to focus on. I just kind of, went from there.” She bought a MIDI keyboard, electric guitar and ...
READ MORE >Event sponsorship is another arm of local music industry support provided by NZ On Air outside of the more familiar funding and new release promotion platforms. Mostly that sponsorship takes the form of an opportunity to professionally record a single, which is precisely the background to Estella's Break The Silence – a heartfelt, flawlessly sung indie ballad you’ll find on the February 2019 New Tracks compilation. The singer/guitarist confidently represented the Nelson region (and Nelson ...
READ MORE >With our music listening habits now largely dictated by the almighty algorithms of streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music, there is the feeling on occasions that what is closer to home is all too easily missed. Compounded by additional factors such as the immediacy many modern listeners demand, directing attention to local music is becoming increasingly problematic. A problem actioned-on by Aucklander Caine Rotherham, the founder of New Zealand’s own local music streaming platform, ...
READ MORE >When critically acclaimed Auckland five-piece The Checks called it quits in 2011, having given the European market a good but ultimately unrewarding crack, charismatic singer Ed Knowles and tone-maestro guitarist Sven Pettersen set about creating a new sound, and a new outfit. Following a year spent working on demos and ideas they were joined by former Sherpa bassist Daniel Barrett, and drummer Izaak Houston (ex-Space Creeps), and Racing came into being. As 2019 approaches that might sound a long ...
READ MORE >The new pride of Palmerston North, the two members of Fruit Juice Parade, guitarist/singer Shannen Petersen and drummer Tharushi Bowatte are still really a couple of kids. the more you don't know the less you know by fruit juice parade Like others their age, they still have a bit of the drag of NCEA to go before they are finally free from the clutches of high school. They won their region’s division of this year’s Smokefree Rockquest, have had a favourable writeup from American outlet Noisey ...
READ MORE >You might well recognise Earl Ho as the charismatic singer in Sherpa. Things have changed dramatically for him in the last 24 months. Also known as Early Sans, CHIA or Soul when in his Superorganism outfit, Earl talked recently with Ben Ruegg via Skype from London. Having just dropped his debut solo album ‘Buzz In’, it was a great opportunity to find out what led to him coinciding that with his life as a budding super- err -organism/star. Buzz In by Early Sans Earl Ho was one-fourth of the ...
READ MORE >Spread across multiple cities and venues, I attended one of the Auckland legs of Milk & Honey, at Wine Cellar and Whammy Bar on K'Rd, which was well curated, well considered and offered a unique feeling of comfort. I have been to a lot of gigs at the collection of bars and venues down St Kevin’s Arcade. This one, however, surpassed anything that has been hosted there before. The Women’s Day celebration had one key component to it – women could actually be at a gig and feel safe. While ...
READ MORE >Psychologist Grant Gunning will hold seminars on mental health and wellbeing in the music industry in Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch this March. The key aims of the session is to improve the mental health and wellbeing literacy of music managers and self managed artists, to empower our community to better monitor themselves and to reach out and give practical support to those around them, and to impart a greater understanding of the framework of assistance and support that exists for people ...
READ MORE >"Lots of smiley faces", according to photographer Trevor Villers, gathered at Pt Chevalier's Coyle Park on February 10 to celebrate the Ending HIV Big Gay Out 2019. Among the performers were Iris G, Beth Goulstone, an APO trio, White Chapel Jak, The Miltones, LEXXA, Openside, and more. Thanks for the photos, Trevor!
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