21/05/2024
The quirkily named Nelson duo Jola Burns placed second in the solo/duo section of 2023 Smokefree Rockquest, and there's plenty to suggest the judges would've been torn in having to decide between them and the night's other ...
12/03/2024
Deriving their name from the guitarist/lead singer's nickname at school, S-B (for Alex Scott-Billing), charismatic and eccentric heptet Esbee has brought a new jazz-variant sound onto the Te Whanganui-a-Tara scene. The ...
27/11/2023
Jordyn Rapana, who performs under the snappy moniker Jordyn with a Why, last spoke to NZM in 2022 about her second single, Brown Melodies. One year and several singles on, the singer-songwriter’s latest single, Set…Go, ...
25/10/2023
If a band pooling their creative resources to create a 'Beatles/Wiggles format indie quartet' sounds like you, meet Te Whanganui-a-Tara four-piece Macho Macho who have done just that, tearing themselves away from other local ...
27/09/2023
Formerly Fire For Glory, Tāmaki Makaurau pop punk band Stray Dogs have reinvented themselves for the release of their 2023 album 'Stay Loyal' with a rebooting of their sound from way back when. The four-piece are set to ...
13/08/2015
When we haven’t sung after a singing break, we can be disheartened when confronting our singing voice. This column deals with how to get back on the horse and ride like the wind. Having the courage to rebuild your voice ...
26/06/2015
The last few Deep Thinking columns have been funk-orientated, so I thought we might get into some prog rock in this issue and I have transcribed the opening of YYZ by the Canadian band, Rush. This track comes from their ...
23/06/2015
Fray zing... or how to get the Em-PHA-Sis right. I believe the most important element of phrasing is feeling: feeling the pulse, feeling into the 'one' to sing (swing) around it, feeling the sentiment and meaning, feeling ...
26/04/2015
Following the James Jamerson lines we looked at a few issues ago, I thought that we might look at a different side of his playing in this issue. The lines I have transcribed are from What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, which ...
16/12/2014
"Honesty is such a lonely word, ‘cause everyone is so untrue." Amen Billy. Singing requires physical honesty – songwriting requires emotional honesty. Performance requires us to have a very clear, honest intent of why ...
