It's May, which means its New Zealand music month! And what better way to celebrate New Zealand music month then going out and watching some of the awesome local live acts playing around Auckland this month.
HEX
Wellington trio Hex are releasing their debut EP- 'CALLING TO THE UNIVERSE' this week and are playing their release show up in Auckland at the Golden Dawn Tavern. I've never been much of a fan of labelling bands and putting them into genre's, but on their facebook they describe their genre as pagan folk metal, which after much listening I think it sounds like exactly that. HEX play May 13th Friday at the Golden Dawn Tavern with Civil Union and DJ Kiran Dass, show starts at 8PM.
CIVIL UNION
Auckland band Civil Union who describe their music as stadium/death rock/shore core/slob goth, are releasing their debut album 'SEASICK LOVEDRUNK' this month. Their shows are always awesomely loud with heavy bass, mad drums and a guitar that cuts through all of it like a chainsaw, so good! Civil Union are having their LP release at Whammy Bar on May 19th Thursday with Peach Milk and Guardian Singles.
CENTRE NEGATIVE
Centre Negative are one of my favourites! I've seen them play twice now and each time was a hoot with lots and lots and lots of dancing. Two synths, heavy bass and some awesome guitar playing and then Michael McClelland, who fronts the band, is a force to be reckoned with. Centre Negative play at Audio Foundation on May 14th Saturday, with a swarm of awesome local bands. Show starts at 4PM.
I.E. CRAZY
Claire Duncan aka Maggie Magee is the absolutely mesmerising i.e. crazy. Hauntingly beautiful lyrics and singing, backed by a drum machine, and her electric guitar, is an act not to be missed. i.e crazy plays May 13th Friday at The Crown Hotel in Dunedin with Seth Frightening and Terrified.
It's New Zealand Music Month, so it seems like a good time to run through some of the acts that seems likely to make a big splash in the local scene this year. There's everything from folk to garage rock to rap/EDM on this list, so hopefully there's something that'll strike your interest, though do feel free to add more recommendations in the comments if you wish.
Aldous Harding
Last year, it was the turn of Marlon Williams to be hyped as the latest, greatest artist out of the Lyttleton folk scene. Though this year it seems likely that the spotlight will return to his partner, Aldous Harding. She has a new album coming out later this year, which seems like it might add a gothic edge to the dark-folk sound of her debut self-titled album. It certainly sounds like there is a bit of PJ Harvey in the delivery of this live recording of new track, 'Horizon,' and the result is creepy and beautiful!
Lawrence Arabia
Lawrence Arabia has released very little new material since his last album, The Sparrow, came out in 2012. However he's been very busy on the live scene - playing at unusual venues such as art galleries and libraries, as well as scoring a silent film for the NZFF last year. Now there are stirrings that his new album is not too far away and a new single has emerged, which has all the playful lyricism we've come to expect from this sharp songwriter. I notice that the Youtube description mentions Flying Nun, which shows more signs of a slow return to prominence of the label over the past few years (they released Princess Chelsea's album, The great cybernetic depression, in the US and UK last year so they may again become synonymous overseas with great music from our shores).
Tiny Ruins
Hollie Fulbrook (the singer/songwriter behind Tiny Ruins) has been very busy since the release of her last full-length album, Brightly Painted One. She's currently touring through the UK and Europe as I write this, but has also been busy on the home front, mainly through her collaborations with an impressive list of highly-respected local musicians. She has toured with Bic Runga, which saw them forming a super-group from their two backing bands and playing a spread of covers and originals. She also contributed vocals to a song by Robert Scott (from The Clean) and recorded a whole EP with former Clean-drummer, Hamish Kilgour - Hurtling through. If that wasn't enough, she started this year by releasing a song that was produced by cult filmmaker, David Lynch (after Lorde recommended her music to him). Who knows what is coming next, but it's sure to be impressive. Here's the Lynch-produced track for you to check out...
Raw Nerves
The Raw Nerves are part of a recent revival of Auckland garage rock that has been instigated by the arrival of a new, vinyl-only record label, 1:12 Records. Others on the roster include: The Conjurors, Roy Irwin, and The Cavemen. Another band on the label, The Situations, will be known to many for acting as the backing band for Wanda Jackson on a recent visit to our shores, as well as working with Shaft and Ray Columbus in previous years. Nick Bollinger spoke at length about 1:12 Records on one of his recent sessions on National Radio and Grant Smithies was equally enthusiastic in his recent review of Roy Irwin - he's about to go overseas to tour from July-December, so no doubt he'll be known as NZ's answer to Kurt Vile by the end of the year (we have Irwin's first album if you want to hear how he got started).
However, my favourite among the label's band is The Raw Nerves, who seem to be bubbly with catchy hooks and gritty guitar sounds. This video also shows you how to make gourmet sausages, so hopefully that adds a bit of value for some viewers too!
Young tapz
The local hip hop scene has been bursting with talent over the last year, with Loui the Zu re-emerging as Mzwetwo and Tom Scott (from Homebrew/@Peace) starting a new group, Average Rap Band, whose focus on tongue twisting verbal dexterity has put his skills into true focus. Arriving hot on their heels has been Raiza Biza, a rapper from Hamilton who burst into the scene in 2014 with the fast-paced release of his first two albums. However the artist we're focusing on today - Young tapz - is even newer to the scene and is already looking to push out front.
Young Tapz works regularly along Mzwetwo as part of the Gallantino crew and their early achievements (along with those of Raiza Biza) led to an article on the Australian Vice website about the sudden emergence of NZ rappers originally born in Africa (and/or the Middle East). Their work is definitely worth searching out if you're interested, though be ready for some serious coarse language! (don't say I didn't warn you...)
So let's rewind the clock back slightly and look at the biggest breakthrough that Young Tapz has managed so far - dropping rhymes for "Buzz" by Aussie group, Hermitude (off their album Dark night sweet light), and thereby ending up in the Top Twenty of the Australian charts! Here's Young Tapz performing alongside Hermititude at the Australian Music Awards last year. He's sure got a lot of swagga for a twenty-year old!
As an eager new-ish migrant to New Zealand, I wanted to explore and absorb the musical cultures of my new home. Having grown up though the '80s & '90s in the UK, I have quite eclectic music tastes swinging wildly from electronica to jazz to grunge to underground house. But when it came to my knowledge of New Zealand music it pretty much began with Crowded House and Split Enz, and ended with Ladyhawke and Fat Freddy’s Drop.
Thus began my quest for enlightenment, through which I discovered the many varied and talented New Zealand musicians that never made it across the airwaves to my UK ears. My journey was one of the naive and admittedly ill-informed; it was not influenced by the social bias and peer group opinion that one’s musical conscious is usually molded by. What emerged was a list of music which reflected what I liked, what moved me, and what made me want to explore the artist more.
This Spotify list contains some of the highlights of that journey….I hope you enjoy!
Want to hear more....? Follow the links below to view each of the albums and their tracklistings on the Auckland Libraries catalogue:
We've just passed the middle of NZ Music Month and so it seems like a good time to share some new local rock tracks that have come out over the last year. I've made the list on spotify, but there's a couple of videos embedded at the bottom of this post if you'd rather check out the music via youtube.
The list includes new songs from long-time favourites like Don McGlashan, Liam Finn, and Sam Flynn Scott (from Phoenix Foundation, but here playing with Bunnies on Ponies). However there's plenty of upcoming acts too - whether it's the catchy rock of Clap Clap Riot, the electro infused sound of She's So Rad, the sixties influenced music of The Eversons or the bluesy approach taken by Streets of Laredo. I did want to put "365" off the latest Dictaphone Blues album on the list, but it's not on Spotify yet so I've chosen an older tune that it's equally great (though the library does have their new album if you want to check out my original pick).
And do have a look at all the events that Auckland Libraries are holding for NZ Music Month - there's something for all ages.
There are few pieces of what could be considered classic New Zealand rock writing. For the most part it’s perfunctory, concerned with dates and track listings and band members than feeling and passion. It’s all so dry. The exception to that rule is often found in the world of music reviews. Here you can feel the blood start to pump, the temperature begins to rise, the temper to fray.
Back in the ‘good old days’ of 'Rip It Up' the review and letters pages were a battleground. You often felt the blood being spilt might move from proverbial to literal should the wrong parties meet outside the Gluepot at closing. Since then it has all too often seemed a bit polite. Better to say nothing at all than anything that might be considered offensive.
Grant Smithies is a case in point, his music of choice is all a bit 'dad rock' in the immortal words of fellow reviewer Kiran Dass. And yet his book Soundtrack: 118 great New Zealand albums is gold. Apart from anything else it offers a good survey of the local scene. If it is a little light on the postwar years and the 60s and 70s that perhaps reflects the availability of recordings from those periods (and, lets face it, that era has been well and truly covered by Chris Bourke in his exhaustive Blue Smoke).
Our first Music Month playlist dives straight into NZ Pop, past and present. For now we'll forgive the '80s their frizzy perms and 'seated dancing' (see above) and thank them for some well-loved classic hits instead. Moving on, we bring you a short selection of our finest singer/songwriters and bands. It's not exhaustive by any measure, but hopefully enough to help you explore the genre. Enjoy..
"No matter where you are, music will always have some meaning. When you have music in your heart, it stays with you. Music will always live on" - Pixie Costello (nee Williams), January 2010. Williams is probably best known for her recording of Ruru Karaitiana's song 'Blue Smoke' in 1948, arguably New Zealand's first pop song.
With that little piece of history we welcome you to NZ Music Month, 31 days that celebrate the talents and diversity of our unique musical culture. As well as a wide range of events across the region, we at blog central will be sharing our own musical discoveries and favourites, with playlists to suit all tastes. Check back regularly for more.
May 31, and so passes another NZ Music Month. The best thing this time for me has been seeing so many different people picking up the ukulele and having a go. And so much has been happening throughout town too. I think we're so rich to have such a diverse range of good quality music in this space. So here are our final two videos to see out the end of NZMM2012, a couple of oldies but goodies:
We have six days of videos to catch up on! Ukulele classes are almost over. Our last one is tomorrow at Titirangi Library, where we'll do a special song for Samoan Language Week. And this Thursday at Zeal in Henderson, we will be awarding the Launch Your Lyrics finalists, followed by a free show from Rodney Fisher.
So here are six more favourites, including Tono & The Finance Company, who did a beautiful opening set at the Grey Lynn Library Hall on Saturday night:
So we've been trying to compete with nzmusicmonth.co.nz for best daily video post. But their one today is just too good. So here it is (intro from Bic Runga):
The best reference query I had the other day was when a young Japanese guy asked for Superette's Tiger album, and for advice on other shoegaze-or-similar local bands. We flicked through the shelves and grabbed some Arch Hill & Flying Nun stuff, and did a whole lotta Youtubing. So here are three of our favourite videos from that exploration:
I love NZ On Screen. I've recently discovered their sweet collection of music videos, old and new. Here are three to finish of our third week of NZ Music Month. Make sure you check out the Dam Native clip.
We're halfway through NZ Music Month, and there seems to be a whole lot of goodness happening. Album release parties here & there, free downloads everywhere, etc etc.
So here we go: videos for today and the two before. These are all great - but look out for Bob Parker.
Our old mate Nicky made her way over the Pacific to Bellingham, Washington, USA. Just north of Seattle. And thanks to her, the Bellingham Public Library have a New Zealand Music Month 2012 display!
It's interesting how present, and even influential, our music has been in the seedy underbelly of great American music. I remember talking to a record store guy in Athens, Georgia who was crazy about Chris Knox. Look at Knox's "Stroke" album and you can see those influences. So today's video is dedicated to him.
So ukulele classes have gone pretty well so far. We've seen and heard some incredibly talented students. But no one has quite mastered Bach's Gavotte II yet. Jamie will be teaching it tonight at New Lynn Library. Get there if you don't want to be playing Mary Had a Little Lamb for the rest of your uke-life.
It was a big weekend, with weddings & shows. And Home Brew debuted at #1!
So here are four favourites from the last couple of years, some beautiful songs with artistic direction thanks to the likes of Veronica Crockford-Pound and Joel Kefali.
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