Thanks to Kit for answering these questions:

What can we expect to see from Pig Out over the next year?

An album release, singles, tours, shows, t shirts, videos, stickers, interviews, airplay, articles. In 2010 we'll be your face.  

What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?

Have a point of difference from everyone else out there.  

Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?

I like The Shocking Pinks. Nick's a great song writer and with the right management and advice he'd be a super star

What will your next release be?

'RAVE X' album; released 22 February.

How do you come up with your lyrics?

'They're just thoughts really' Withnail & I

Who would you most like to support live?

The Prodigy, Benga & Skream, Soulwax (again), Daft Punk or anyone with a huge following. I want to play in a stadium at least once in my life

How do you believe your band fits into the NZ music industry?

There are many facets to the industry here. It’s clear now that clubs and the dance scene account for the majority of turnover in the live music market and we’re growing in reputation within that. In terms of the traditional mainstream industry we don't fit in easily. As we span maybe 4 genres of dance music it’s harder to sell to. People only seem to appreciate visionary artists when they are from overseas, which is ironic as NZ usually support local acts. We're basically too intense for most people to handle musically and we have been ignored by most industry types for funding, festival exposure and general industry support but that isn't a surprise as most industry type people come from a conservative guitar based/indie background and don't go raving or know anything about club music or have any real idea about the dance scene at all. People in the know are aware that we are one of the few local producers doing something which is internationally groundbreaking so hopefully once 'RAVE X' comes out we will have proved our point; that we are special regardless of where we’re from or based. 

What can you never leave home without?

 A sense of purpose.

How do you describe your music?

I'd like to say its rave but it’s too ambiguous. Half of our material is 4/4 electro, house and techno influenced. The other half is 2step or garage and jungle. It all comes together by having an intense rave feel. If I'm talking to a 30-40 year old I'll say its rave influenced electro and jungle. If I'm talking to a teenager I'll say its ravey dubstep. People love micro genres and sub terms but the basis for understanding them changes from person to person

What is your favourite NZ venue?

It changes. Once it was the Dux and Double Happy in Christchurch. Now it's whoever pays the most, treats us with respect and has a good soundsystem. Coherent in Auckland understand artists more than just about anyone and are polite and always up for a party

What is the best part of being a musician?

Adding something creative to the world rather than leaching from it. Free drinks at clubs is also good 

What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?

I'd like to see more dance acts rather than DJs. There are too many DJs trading of respect that playing someone else's music. 

What is in your CD collection at home?

My records are mostly vintage indie or rare hardcore punk from America. My itunes is mostly dance music and weird things people give me over time. There's a lot of UK garage on there.

What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?

The point of Pig Out was to have fun which reduces the possibility of embarrassment so nothing comes to mind. I probably wouldn't MC on mushrooms on top of a speaker stack again but it wasn't particularly embarrassing at the time

What is your favourite place in NZ to be?

Hanging with my god kids in Lyttleton, or at any beach with friends, or making music at home in Grey Lynn.

What inspired you to start Pig Out?

Realising there was no threshold for failure except your own insecurities and we got rid of them a long time ago. We wanted to have fun on stage and breaking some boundaries with dance music. 

How did you come up with the name Pig Out?

It was a song title I wrote and Marie liked the name for a band. 

What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?

People ask that all the time and I think it’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what it is to be a musician. Musicians never ask those questions to each other. We’re always looking forward to the next show and they all have magic moments. The first was cool as it was completely new to everyone, the first European festival was an amazing atmosphere, the 4 hour Berlin show was something I never thought we could pull off and the recent show with Pitch Black was almost perfect musically and everyone was up for raving hard. I'm playing tonight and that's the most important show. Then it will be the next one.

How do you keep in contact with your fans?

Play shows, DJ on the radio. Mostly just talk to them when they come up and talk to me.

What rumour would you like to start about Pig Out?

I guess for it to have any benefit I'd say the biggest DJ in the world had said we were the best band out there and then once everyone started loving us because of someone else's opinion I'd cash in on the suckers!

Pig Out is Marie Celeste (synth programming), Kit Lawerence (MC, rhythm programming), Kris Taylor (percussion), Mark Holland (bass) and Clare Noonan (vocals).

Website Links

Muzic.net.nz Page
MySpace Page
Amplifier Page

Pig Out's second album 'RAVE X' will be out soon, and you can read the review here.

The DeSotos hit the road for their South Soundtrack Tour

The DeSotos are an Auckland-based four piece who are standout exponents of the Americana / country blues genres. They mix a blend of rootsy guitars, Hammond organ and rock solid rhythm section with three part vocal harmonies to create their distinctive sound.

After a busy summer schedule of gigs and festival appearances in and around the Auckland region, The DeSotos are hitting the road for a short tour of the lower North Island in March to celebrate the use of their album 'Cross Your Heart' in the Marcus Lush hit series "South", which had two runs on TV One late last year.

The band will perform in Wellington, Martinborough (at Te Kairanga Wines), Napier and Taupo before heading back to Auckland.

In addition, the band are playing shows at the Mangawhai Tavern and the Kings Arms with Australian ace blues guitarist Gerry Joe Weise at the end of this month.

2009 was a breakthrough year for the band with the debut album receiving a series of stunning reviews, including Manu Taylor on National Radio giving it his NZ album of the year vote. And the year was capped off with the producers of "South" selecting the track Greedy Men for use as the show's title music, while the rest of the album was used for continuity music throughout the series.

And 2010 is looking to be even bigger with the band looking to be back in the studio in the next few months to start recording their sophomore album for release later in the year. There is also a planned venture down to the South Island itself. And overseas possibilities are also being investigated.

The DeSotos are Paul Gurney (lead vocals, guitar), Stuart Mcintyre (bass, vocals), Ron Stevens (hammond organ, keyboards, acoustic guitar, vocals) and Vic Singe (drums, vocals).

Website Links

Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website
MySpace Page
Amplifier Page
YouTube Page
Twitter Page
Facebook Page
Number One Music Page
CD Baby Page

What can we expect to see from you over the next year?

I will be performing at festivals and doing some concerts in my local area over the next few months then I will return to the UK for 3 months to work on finishing arrangements for my 5th CD. I will be returning to NZ in August 2010 to do some master classes and private tuition and also preparing for an A.O.T.N.Z. tour with my band. I will be performing with the Waikato Symphony orchestra in November and will play several of my compositions that I recorded with the City of Prague Philharmonic orchestra on my last CD. December 2010 will see the recording of my 5th CD using some of New Zealand's top musicians and at the start of 2011 I will be performing my own show at the Theatre Royal in Christchurch. 

What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?

Listen to heaps of music and find out what you really love. Practice scales and enjoy yourself on stage!

What will your next release be?

A CD using amazing local musicians. It will be mainly new compositions which are based on my experiences over the past 18 months where I have travelled to the UK, Philippines and Japan. I find that most of my writing is inspired by meeting people and seeing new places.

What is the best part of being a musician?

Being able to work and play at the same time. I always feel so lucky to be doing something I love that I can make a living from. I love the challenge of new audiences and always feel amazed when the same people come back to see more of my concerts. I also love the teaching side of music as it is a special feeling when your students really love what they are learning. There are so many parts to music and the more I learn the more it scares me to discover what there is still to learn!! I find this side of music amazing as it is the never ending journey.  Being able to write music is also one of the best parts.  Being able to put down on manuscript what I hear in my head then hear it played back is one of the most rewarding joys of being a composing musician.

What is your favourite place in NZ to be?

At home in Lyttelton listening to the bell birds and playing with my puppy.

What inspired you to become a musician?

The first violinist I ever heard was Carl Pini and I was about 4 years old. That was all I needed to know that I was going to play the violin. I begged my parents for a violin and got one in my Santa stocking later that year. I am lucky as my mother is a great piano teacher and I learnt piano also for about 10 years.  This has been invaluable throughout my career.

How do you keep in contact with your fans?

Through my website and live concerts.

Website Links

Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website
MySpace Page
Amplifier Page
Facebook Page
YouTube Page

The Inaugural Taite Music Prize – Announcing the Finalists

After much deliberation and more than a few heated discussions, the finalists for the Inaugural Taite Music Prize have been decided. Named after the late Dylan Taite, one of the country's most highly respected music journalists; The Taite Music Prize has been established to champion the finest release by a New Zealand artist or group, specifically focusing on the artistic merit and creative excellence of one album released in the previous calendar year. Acknowledging creativity and musicianship regardless of sales figures or genre, it is the first of its kind in New Zealand.

The first ever finalists from a lengthy list submitted by IMNZ members are:

- The Checks - Alice by the Moon
- David Dallas - Something Awesome
- Kerretta - Vilayer
- Lawrence Arabia - Chant Darling
- Shapeshifter - The System is a Vampire

Full Article

Historic dispute inspires winning folk album

Wellington singer-songwriter Chris Prowse has taken out the 2009 Tui for Best Folk Album of the year with ‘Trouble On The Waterfront’.

Prowse conceived, wrote and produced the record, an innovative musical chronicle of Auckland’s 1951 waterfront dispute inspired by David Grant’s book ‘The Big Blue’.

The album is a collaboration of New Zealand singers, musicians and well known broadcasters who have come together like actors in a film to explore the events of the historic and bitter dispute through the medium of contemporary song.

The other finalists were Christchurch group Emeralds & Greenstone for its self-titled debut album and Mel Parsons from the West Coast for her debut album ‘Over My Shoulder’.

Recording Industry Association of New Zealand CEO Campbell Smith says Prowse’s recording is a marvellously innovative and creative account of a significant event in our country’s history.

Full Article

All fired up for the Fringe Fest 2010

The cake is out of the oven, the icing has cooled and the candles have been given the blowtorch: It's Fringe Festival time, and what a fine time it is to go nuts for arts, culture and entertainment and celebrate 20 years of the New Zealand Fringe Festival.

Featuring one of the broadest line-ups in years, Fringe 2010 officially began today February 12 to spark a three-week birthday party featuring 80 productions spanning music, dance, theatre, comedy and visual arts.

The festival was officially launched by the Running of the Fringe at 12.30, which featured colourfully costumed participants proceeding down Cuba St from Abel Smith Street to the corner of Manners Mall and Cuba Mall where the Fringe HQ was officially opened by Wellington City Councillor Ray Ahipene Mercer.

While it has a deserved reputation for serving up a diverse and sometimes obscure dish of arts and culture, this year's Fringe caters for all tastes.

"Being an open-access festival, the Fringe has always been the place for people to try out whatever they want to so the mix has always been eclectic," said Fringe producer Zelda Edwards.

"But this year we've put a lot of effort into attracting performers and artists from across the spectrum so that all people of all tastes can enjoy a slice of Fringe cake. And if they come and see something they know they'll like, they might also be exposed to something a little different or even quite wildly weird and wonderful."

Some of the first week highlights showcase this year's broad Fringe appeal - check www.fringe.co.nz for details.

Full Article

Connan Mockasin - Free Download

Connan Mockasin's debut album 'Please Turn Me Into The Snat' will be released in New Zealand on 22/02/2010. For a limited time only, you can download the new single 'It's Choade My Dear' now for free.

http://connanmockasin.bandcamp.com/

New Album for Pig Out

In the three years since Pig Out released their acclaimed mini album ‘Club Poems’, the band have hardly stopped. A dozen tours of New Zealand; shows in New York, LA, London and Sydney; two Big Day Out sets; a European tour that included headlining the Midi festival on the French Riviera, playing a rave in a container ship in Barcelona harbor, and a four hour non-stop set in a Berlin techno club, are just some of the ways Pig Out have been keeping busy before taking time out to record their new album, ‘RAVE X’, released on Monday 22 February.

Full Article

New Album for Little Bushman

Recorded live at the WellingtonTown Hall on October the 23rd 2009, this was a collaboration of historic amplitude, an unforgettable experience that is now available to all. With orchestral arrangements by NZ Composer and Laureate recipient John Psathas, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra became an orchestral tsunami behind the already electrifying psychedelic blues quartet, Little Bushman.

Full Article

New Artists

The following musicians were added to the muzic.net.nz website recently. Check them out:

Want to add yourself or your band to muzic.net.nz?
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Competitions

Congratulations to the following winners:

- L. Thomas (Auckland), S. Reed (Whangarei) and B. George (Waikato) have all won a double pass to see Tama Waipara and Maisey Rika on tour, and
- K. Clarke (Manukau), J. Britt (Christchurch), K. Dekker (Paihia) and G, Thorburn (Whangrei) will all be receiving their copy of The Body Lyre's new album very, very soon.

Enter today for your chance to win the following competitions:
Please note - you must be logged in to enter competitions.

Past competition winners can be viewed here.

Reviews

Check out our latest reviews:

- Pig Out - 'Rave X' album review

- One Love 2010

All members of muzic.net.nz can add reviews
To add a review: 1) Login 2) Go to the artist's page 3) Click on the 'Press' Link 4) Click the 'Add Review' button 5) Enter the review; and 6) Click Submit.
Reviews will then be authenticated by the muzic.net.nz team

You can read all our latest reviews here.

Tour Features

Every feature we have ever had on the site can be viewed here.

The next muzic.net.nz newsletter is going out on 28 February.

There is space available for features from this issue onwards.
If you would like to feature in a muzic.net.nz newsletter, contact Lisa for further details.
You can request a date in advance, or feature in the next available issue.
We can feature you even if you have featured in a newsletter from a previous year.
We can also feature record labels, venues, music websites and anything else that has something to do with NZ music.

Our newsletters are sent out to over 7840 members and with this number growing every day, featuring in our newsletter will provide excellent exposure for you or your band. And, as the people who receive our newsletters have subscribed to them, they are more likely to read what you have to say.

If you would like to advertise anything to do with NZ music in our newsletter and/or gig mail out, email Lisa. It is 100% FREE to feature or advertise in our newsletter and gig mail outs!

Our next gig mail out is going out on 21 February.

- The muzic.net.nz team

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