Archive for April 2012

Launch Your Lyrics

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There are a lot of music competitions out there. A lot. And they all have a variety of sweet prizes for you to win. Check out Play It Strange, they have about seven different competitions for aspiring songwriters, musicians and music managers at different ages and stages.

And right now at Auckland Libraries, we have LAUNCH YOUR LYRICS!

Here's why it's worth entering:

You only need to email us a text document of your lyrics, with a quick demo of them recorded. It doesn't have to sound flash, it's the words that matter! Send them on in to launchyourlyrics@gmail.com

And for your creative endeavours, you could win (amongst other prizes) a recording session at Zeal Studios. I've been there, they're awesome people and have some nice gear. So get on to it!

Honestly, you'll do better than Courtney Stodden or any of these 'artists', I promise.

I'm sorry you had to see & hear that. But let it be encouragement, and an imperative. It is your duty to make this world a better musical place. Get your tunes out there before Rebecca Black goes near a microphone again.

RIP Levon Helm

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Sadly it's another end of an era, as Levon Helm passed away last night. The incredible multi-instrumentalist and head honcho of the hugely influential The Band was performing and recording regularly from his home in Woodstock, NY right up to his last days.

From Bob Dylan: He was my bosom buddy friend to the end, one of the last true great spirits of my or any other generation. This is just so sad to talk about. I still can remember the first day I met him and the last day I saw him. We go back pretty far and had been through some trials together. I'm going to miss him, as I'm sure a whole lot of others will too.

To find out more about him, see his Allmusic page here.

Check out this video from the famous concert: The Last Waltz, and get it out from the library if you haven't seen it! The friends that they gather together on stage is an amazing testament to the character of Levon and The Band.

And see him here in his later years at the Ryman in Nashville with John Hiatt:

John Cage: new digital archive from New York Public Library

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I just read about this at openculture.com: the New York Public Library have created John Cage Unbound: A Living Archive, "which offers visitors a chance to experience how the uniquely innovative composer’s life and work continue to affect the performance of music today."

Home Brew due

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Avondale's finest, and one of Auckland's most entertaining and imaginative hip hop groups; Home Brew have finally announced their debut (double) album, as well as a 48 hour release party.

And right now their frontman Tom Scott is talking to Kim Hill on Radio NZ National. The full podcast of the interview will be on their site here this afternoon.

Steve Earle tonight at the Kings Arms

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I still can't believe Steve Earle is playing the King's Arms tonight. It's pretty exciting to be in such a small place with one of the biggest guys in country music.

From his session songwriting days in Nashville to his rockabilly journeys with Elvis Costello and The Pogues, through addiction, incarceration, rehabilitation, pivotal roles in two of TV's best shows ever: The Wire & Treme, to short story and novel writing. Steve Earle has quite a few stories, and no better suited place to share them than The King's Arms.

If you haven't got a ticket, I highly recommend you check out his son Justin Townes Earle next week, who is proving to step out his Dad's shadow in skill and imagination.

Rufus Wainwright's new video

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Many of you will know Helena Bonham Carter as the insane Bellatrix Lestrange from the Harry Potter films, some may know her as crazy Marla from Fight Club, or weird Elizabeth in Frankenstein. She's generally regarded as a babe of gothic cinema, and has kindly lent her character to Rufus Wainwright's latest music video, where she plays a librarian. Check it out:

How to write a hit

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The latest New Yorker magazine features an insightful article on the mysterious songwriters and producers behind Rihanna's hits. Check it out here.

There's also a podcast supplement, where you hear one of the hook writers singing a track. Download it here.

Don't forget to cast your votes for your favourite local music video! See my last post here.

And wishing you all I fine weekend, I leave you with something for the season:

NZ Music Month 2012: Every vote counts

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Happy April! We are less than one month from another fine NZ Music Month, and to celebrate some local quality, whether it's NZ On Air funded or not, I will be posting your favourite NZ music videos each day through May. Or I might just post my own favourites. It depends what you request.

In other news, two excellent new albums are online and on the shelves right now for your listening pleasure. Both recorded in Auckland: Tono & The Finance Company, as I mentioned in the last post, and Cool Rainbows: Whale Rocket.

So get commenting below with your music video requests, and while you're here check out one of my favourites for inspiration:

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