This September saw the release of the first new Hallelujah Picassos recordings for nigh on 20 years, the topically-titled EP ‘Bullet That Breaks The Key’. Listening to the EP – three songs written ...
READ MORE >The wordplay in the title is self-evident but what is not so apparent about Kody Nielson ’s new album, ‘Birthday Suite’, is that it is indeed a collection, a suite indeed, of musical tracks written ...
READ MORE >The organisers of 2018 Christmas In The Park are looking for solo singers and performance groups. Solo singers must be aged 13 years or over on July 1 this year, and all members of performance groups must be 8 years or older by the same date. More details are on their website. Audition applications must be submitted online before 5pm on June 15.
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 pianist / composer lived in Vienna as a teen, and having not long been based in Auckland says the album is largely inspired by the ups and downs of being a stranger in a new country. The Global Music Awards is an international music competition that celebrates independent musicians. LaFond’s ...
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 >Featured on the April compilation of NZOA Music's NewTracks, we'd like to introduce Melbourne-based Cantabrian Brogan Tautiri-Kerrison who creates music under the name Glencoe. Strictly speaking we could also refer to him as Lord Brogan Kerrison of Glencoe – he tells the story behind that title, and about saying "no" to a conventional career in this interview. What other projects might we know you from? Glencoe is the very first project that has actually managed to see the light of day! ...
READ MORE >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 events. Among other things he nowadays pulls together the logistics for bands, overseeing the technical side of music shows, locally and on tour. The 2018 Official NZ Music Month Summit is on the theme of confronting issues in the music industry. Consideration for health and wellbeing is essential ...
READ MORE >Indie rock/emo act Carb On Carb came together in 2012. Listing the achievements of Nicole Gaffney (vox, guitar) and James Stuteley (vox, drums) since the duo’s conception would make for a long list. They frequently play across the ditch and have toured the States, South East Asia and China. Their DIY ethos is also strong with a new self-released album due to follow their 2015 self-titled album in May. Erica McQueen caught up with James ahead of the release. Carb On Carb is emo on pop-punk. James ...
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 >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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