February/March 2017
COVER STORY
Interviews
Nadia Reid: Turning Towards The Light
It’s little more than a year since the last glowing international reviews of Nadia Reid ’s PledgeMe-funded first album, ’Listen To Formation – Look For The Signs’, were published. Though not ...
FEATURES
Fresh Talent
Fresh Talent: Hybrid Rose
Citing a range of musical influences from Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) to Lady Gaga and Marina Diamandis, to Coldplay, Blenheim resident Stefani Rose Muollo-Gray (aka Hybrid Rose) self-produces tunes that ...
Interviews
A Girl Named Mo: Who They Say You Might Be
Reasonably described as an edgy perspective on neo-soul, the music of A Girl Named Mo is an engaging combo of soulful electronica, hip hop and RnB. Slade Butler on keys and Marcus Gurtner on drums/samples ...
Get Yer Kit Off
Get Yer Kit Off: Ben Barter
Having previously been behind the kit for the likes of Kingston, No Wyld and Kidz In Space, for the last few years Aucklander Ben Barter has been from keeping time with Lorde. After relocating to LA the ...
Fresh Talent
Fresh Talent: Gromz
Gromz is a new band of twenty-somethings formed in Dunedin mid-2016. Two and a Half Days by GROMz “Gromz can be any little nippers, trying to make their mark. Grommits are just little kids running ...
Interviews
The Bollands: From Fielding To Formosa
When musicians describe their new album as ‘vulnerable’, that’s all too often code for ‘this album lacks real inspiration’. It will likely consist of slow ballads and the lyrics will be a mix ...
Interviews
The All Seeing Hand: Way Beyond The Pale
Combining a drummer with a punk/hardcore background, a champion turntablist and a Mongolian throat singing exponent The All Seeing Hand are challenging on numerous levels. Off-kilter rhythms, futuristic ...
Interviews
Abigail Knudson: Do As You Please
Little more than a year into her recording career, Dunedin native Abigail Knudson has already proven herself to be incredibly prolific, establishing a digital release profile that is elegant and darkly ...
Ex-Pat Files
Ex-Pat Files: Great Danes
Chester Travis is one of those driven, uber onto it people that started playing music and promoting shows as under age kid, before heading out to find success overseas. After a stint in London he was ready ...
Interviews
Tweed: Tightly Knit Sounds
Sparingly strummed mandolin and delicate French horn introduce ‘High-Brow Blues’, the debut album from Auckland alternative folk trio Tweed. From there it’s all meaningful lyrics and shared vocals ...
Fresh Talent
Fresh Talent: Bobandii
Hailing originally from Warkworth, Bobandii is a one man project inspired by acts like Chance The Rapper and Bon Iver. Silas McClintock sings, raps, writes, mixes and masters his own projects from his ...
Interviews
Shoutin’ Preachin’: Survival of the Hippest
The name’s genius right? Adding a sixth member to the group, Auckland brass-heavy hip hop act Shoutin’ Preachin’ announce the upcoming release of their EP ‘From The Echo Chamber’. Ally Su'a ...
Interviews
Neil Watson: Constructed in Jazz
Jazz guitarist and academic Neil Watson has a well-earned reputation as one of Auckland’s go-to sidemen. His played- and recorded-with credits traverse ground as varied as the Finn brothers, Tami Neilson, ...
Interviews
Black Science: Nurture vs Nature
Black Science was conjured up when Dylan Clarke, Alex Willi and Joss Colling joined forces in 2009 to form a raucous and robust alternative rock act with punk and psychedelic undertones. With one EP already ...
Interviews
Mikey Mayz: Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon…
Having spent his early years growing up on a boat, without a specific country to call his own, Michael Gibson has firmly established a presence in the local hip hop scene. Mikey Mayz, as he is these days ...
Interviews
Lydia Cole: Undefined Horizon
There’s a strong visual link between Lydia Cole’s 2012 debut album and this year’s sophomore release, textured, messed-with artwork in textured shades of brown, and printed on matt card. The effect ...
LESSONS
Tutors' Tutorial
Tutors’ Tutorial: Mix Buss Processing
The mix is close to being finished and it’s time to add the final touches. Time then to talk mix-buss or mix-buss processing – the plugins that are often used to finish off your mix. The overall ...
Building Blocks
Building Blocks: Stage Trek Ep 5 – Weddings
My last article left us orbiting Planet Party, and away missions visited a few lucrative locations; playing at private events, graduation shindigs, and even corporate wingdings. But the mother ship won’t ...
Finding Your Voice
Finding Your Voice: The Myth of Self – Confidence
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Is it confidence that makes you capable of performance, or performance the gives you confidence? I believe it is the latter. Confidence is NOT a prerequisite ...
X-Factory
X-Factory: Bic Runga – Close Your Eyes
Released in November 2016, ‘Close Your Eyes’ is Bic Runga’s fifth studio album, a 12-song tribute featuring interpretations of some of her favourite covers to which she also added two new original ...
Deep Thinking
Deep Thinking: The Age Of Aquarius
In this issue I am looking at a tune from a musical I saw when I was 15 years old. It was one of the reasons I became a professional musician in the ’70s, and it has been covered by some great people. ...
Guitar Cool
Guitar Cool: The Rhythm Guitarist’s Role
The role of rhythm guitarist within a band setting is often overlooked, misunderstood and undervalued amongst fellow musicians. Not many guitar players actually understand what the role entails either, ...