Archive for July 2014

Interview: Luckless

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Last year saw Ivy Rossiter of Luckless move to the small, but vibrant creative community of Lyttelton, where she recorded her excellent new album Vindication BluesOriginally formed in 2010 as a solo projectLuckless draws inspiration from 90’s heroes like PJ Harvey, Mark Lanegan and Sparklehorse, and modern acts like The Kills and Warpaint. 

Swiftly gathering praise for Vindication Blues, Ivy took time out to answer a few questions about the album.



Hey Ivy, did I see somewhere you moved to Lyttelton?
Yes indeed, I moved to Lyttelton in the middle of last year, interspersed with some pretty steady touring on both sides of the move.  We recorded at the Sitting Room Studio in Lyttelton with Ben Edwards as well, so that was convenient for me, if not for our Auckland-based drummer Logan.

What drew you to working there?
I had made some good friends in the music community in Lyttelton through 2012, and their work ethic and motivation made a big impression on me.  There was a real focus on the getting-your-hands-dirty work of being a musician - writing songs, booking gigs, touring - and less focus on the creation (distraction) of hype or buzz around the work.  It felt like a place that would help me to focus on what is important, rather than letting myself be bothered with the business of being a social butterfly.  And also, at the time (although not so much now) it was cheaper to live down here than in Auckland.

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Watch: Courtney Barnett - Avant Gardener

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Courtney Barnett is a brilliantly clever Australian lyricist. Avant Gardener is a charming track about gardening during a heatwave and ending up in an ambulance. It's got great lines like "the paramedic thinks I'm clever because I play guitar/I think she's clever cause she stops people from dying" and the tennis umpire is a Bob Dylan lookalike, so that five minutes and twenty seconds just flies by.

Update: Barnett has just announced she's coming to New Zealand for one show at Auckland's Kings Arms on September 17. Tickets go on sale from 9am, Tuesday July 22 from Under The Radar and Real Groovy.


Read: The Problem With Music in New Zealand and How to Fix it

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Independent music promoter and all round sweet dude Blink has an enviable track record in New Zealand music. He's put on Camp A Low Hum, toured bands around the country endlessly, ran a number of successful venues and booked a number of international tours. With experience in all these areas, he's well placed to point out where things are going wrong here, and he's written a book/collection of essays on the topic. The Problem With Music in New Zealand is pretty essential reading for independent musicians. It's alternately inspiring, depressing, or a weird combination of the two. It's available as a printed book, Kindle file, or a pay what you like PDF. Definitely check this out.