At this years International Film Festival amongst the cornucopia of cinema from all over the world there are two of films with kiwi music connections.
Screening this week is the documentary Persuading the Baby to Float about the collaboration between poet Bill Manhire and musicians Hannah Griffin and Norman Meehan. The musicians have selected poems by Manhire to turn into songs.
One of our most talented songwriters, Lawrence Arabia, has just released his new album The Sparrow.
Also known as James Milne, The Lawrence Arabia moniker was debuted in 2006 with an album of the same name, then followed in 2009 with Chant Darling. Both albums demonstrate Milne's ability for writing nimble pop melodies and wry lyrics. Chant Darling included Silver Scroll winning song Apple Pie Bed and my personal favourite Auckland CBD part two...
"It relates to the music in that it’s done in pretty much the same way. It comes off the top of your head and you do it as fast as possible – which for me is really slow. The first idea that comes I just draw it and try not to censor anything. In a way that’s what I try to do with lyrics and guitar playing – try and keep it as fresh as the day it was written. Except with a song you’re got to repeat it – I don’t have to draw the same picture 5,000 times."
- David Mitchell, Planet Magazine, Summer 1993
Matthew's musical advice for travellers in Berlin:
I'm going to this tomorrow! Very excited, as it's free, and the Berlin Philharmonic are said to be the best in the world. Check it out if you're here, and in the meantime check out Auckland Central Library's free lunchtime concerts.
OpenCulture.com is a fantastic resource for free information of all subjects on the internet. One of their latest posts in the Music category is how the famous Hofner bass guitar is made. Check it out here:
Our wandering blogger Matthew is in Berlin and has made friends with an Estonian who introduced him to this popular local band:
Great news: the entire Awesome Feeling compilation is up for free download at The Corner!
If you want to know what's new and worth listening to, this is it.
Also, thanks Annie for sending me this link: Amplifier have made a nice easy browsing website of all the latest local music, focussed on stuff that is not yet released. Check out The Audience here.
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:
Superette: Killer Clown
Street Chant: Salad Daze
Mestar: Konked Out
In other news, Spotify is here! I just downloaded the app. Subscription music streaming. Check it out!
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.
