What can we expect to see from Frozen Alice over the next year?
2nd album, already half written, extensive touring of NZ & Australia.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Keep at it, even when times are hard, there's always something good around the corner.
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
Anyone who has the passion for this industry, is a bloody legend, we love all genres as long as it grooves.
What will Frozen Alice’s next release be?
A single yet to be decided, but we've nearly finished a stonker that is, not on the album, 'Emotional Landscape'.
How do you come up with your lyrics?
Mark the vocalist is a demon with the mystique and a fine lyricist, check out the album, it still gives me shivers..
Who would you most like to support live?
We just love to play live, but if I could choose one band (present) it would be Porcupine Tree.
How do you believe Frozen Alice fits into the NZ music industry?
I believe we are diverse enough to please your Daughter & your Granny
What can you never leave home without?
My Ipod!
How do you describe Frozen Alice’s music?
Eclectic, passionate, emotive, strange & out of the box.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
What is the best part of being a musician?
Commradery, and watching people digging your creations is indescribable.
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
Hollie Smith gives me chills.
What is in your CD collection at home?
I think it would be simpler to ask what isn't in my collection!! I'm a great supporter of buying, not downloading.. but fav's are Porcupine Tree, Oceansize, Karnivool, Tool, APC, Chicane, Led Zep.. anything that makes you think..
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
Having my mute button on the opening crash of first song, split second madness!! Fortunately no one noticed!!
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
Walking my dog, Honey, at Kerry Kerry beach next to Piha.
What inspired you to start Frozen Alice?
Love of music, beautiful & heavy combination, which I believe we have achieved on our first release!!
How did you come up with the name Frozen Alice?
Always loved the story as a kid & it kind of stays frozen in my memory as 'good times'.
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
We've had a few, but Basement Bar, Taranaki and Kings Arms come to mind.
Although we have just been to Sydney and played a blinder at The Excelsior, pretty amazing as no one had heard of us, and we're Kiwi, eh!!
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
Facebook & MySpace.
What rumour would you like to start about Frozen Alice?
That we have a secret chant before we go onstage, and drink 'Milo'
Frozen Alice is Clive 'Billy' Todman (bass, backing vocals), Mark Tronson (vocals), Marc Carroll (guitar) and Ryan Carroll (drums).
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Frozen Alice released their debut album 'The Torino Scale' on Sept 6 and will be on tour during September to promote it.
Press Release
Tour Dates
Muzic.net.nz album review
What can we expect to see from Run Ruby Run over the next year?
Will: An EP release, and awesome live shows.
Jimmy: Recording at York Street!
Chris: Bigger crowds, more fun.
Ron: High energy live shows across venues up and down the country.
How do you come up with your lyrics?
Will: Most of the time it's actually the same way TMV do it - take sounds, sentences, words or notes and jam along with the guys, then re-write them into shape with meaning behind them later. I guess it's like getting raw iron and shaping it into tools.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Will: Don't give in.
Ron: Take small wins.
Chris: Work hard and keep at it, and don't be afraid to try open your eyes to other music.
Jimmy: If you're a songwriter it can be hard collaborating with other people at first. But once you find the right people it actually makes for better, more diverse and original songs. Be patient and don't settle for being in a band with the wrong people, you'll just get frustrated and demotivated.
Who would you most like to support live?
Jimmy: SOAD (if they were still together).
Will: Incubus.
Ron: Breaking Benjamin.
Chris: Blink 182 , haha.
How do you describe Run Ruby Run’s music?
Ron: Punchy, Heavy and harmonious.
Will: Loud, hard, fast and fun.
Jimmy: Bad-ass yet fun.
Chris: Prog-rock with a touch of teen angst.
How do you believe Run Ruby Run fits into the NZ music industry?
Will: I think there's a middle ground in NZ that very few bands tread. There's a lot of metal and a lot of indie/pop, but not too much in between. We intend to plant a massive flag on that space.
Jimmy: Yeah, what Will said.
Ron: Run Ruby Run looks to bring high energy live acts into the NZ music industry. We don't only want to be playing in your heads phones at the gym, we want our concerts to be all the cardiovascular activity you need!
Chris: Hahaha, Ron pretty much said it, I prefer playing to crowds than recording but both are good.
What can you never leave home without?
Ron: Giving Ruby some attention.
Will: Someone asking me to get something from the supermarket.
Jimmy: The big three: wallet, phone and keys. Always do a pocket check. :P
Chris: Pants is usually a good one, although I have forgotten them a couple of times.
What is the best part of being a musician?
Will: Seeing someone enjoy your music as much as you do.
Jimmy: There's an indescribable feeling when you're playing something awesome that you came up with yourself or as a band.
Ron: Seeing others enjoy your tracks at their parties.
Chris: Being in a band is like having another family. You all speak your own language and understand each other.
What is in your CD collection at home?
Chris: AFI, Coheed & Cambria, Blink 182, Korn, JT (Timberlake), Fly My Pretties, Alexisonfire, heaps of NZ Music.
Will: Incubus, RHCP, House Vs Hurricane, The Mars Volta, All Time Low, SOTY, Pendulum, The Prodigy Maximum The Hormone.
Jimmy: SOAD, Breaking Benjamin, RATM, Muse, Old Metallica albums, Incubus, Jimmy Eat World, Korn, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, P.O.D, Weezer, Kora, Manowar!
Ron: Breaking Benjamin, Tool, Papa Roach, Fall Out Boy, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Britney Spears, Element Eighty, SOAD.
What rumour would you like to start about Run Ruby Run?
Will: "If you do something crazy and original at a gig you'll get a song written about you".
Ron: "I hear that Run Ruby Run has the best looking fans".
Jimmy: "I hear that Run Ruby Run has the best looking band members"
Chris: "Is that the band that do tornado kicks and back flips everywhere?"
Run Ruby Run is Will (vocals), James (guitar), Ron (bass) and Chris (drums).
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Thanks to Bradley for answering these questions:
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Stick to your guns.
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
There's alot of good bands out there now. I remember in the 90's NZ music wasn't really doing too well. It's only been in the last 6 years that things have really picked up. There's so many good Kiwi bands and alot of different genres are getting played at a international sound. I'm really digging the Sons of Zion crew just for their amazing musical skills. Tight band man.
What will Kora'a next release be?
That one's got stay tight to the big lady gives the O.K. haha
How do you come up with your lyrics?
That's a hard one to answer. What we've done in the past is get the beat or backing music down and then start creating lyrics. But this process is very hard. I think it's much easier to have the lyrics/story down before you even think about the backing music, unless of course if your a Hip Hop artist, which seems more based around poetry over music. Writing lyrics is an art in itself. You gotta take into account alot of things. Does the music suit the words and vice versa? Are the lyrics clich'e?..There's nothing worst than turning on the radio and hearing a song with the lyrics "Lets party on till the break off dawn" or "Keep the party moving". That's some major cheeseballs stuff going on. haha
Who would you most like to support live?
Dr Dre or Radiohead. That's some dam good music. Had the pleasure of supporting Shihad a few years back. Had great memories with those guys. I think the boys ended up calling Shihad's lead singer Hone Tumeke, which means John Toogood in maori. haha. Suits him to the T. Such a top man.
How do you believe Kora fits into the NZ music industry?
Does it? haha. We're definitely a kinda of theatrical style of band. We're just a band that plays whatever style we want and are very lucky that we ingrained that in our earlier days. There are alot of bands that have there genre and sometimes I can hear them trying to mix it up on the next album. But it's kinda hard when your known for being a country band on the first album for example. People will expect the same. Our first album was a mix match of everything. Man I don't even know what style we actually are?
What can you never leave home without?
Socks and passport.
How do you describe Kora's music?
Like I said before, everything I guess. I'm just glad we didn't put ourselves into a position of playing one style. the crazier the music, the better. Would be cool to have a song on the album being played absolutely drunk.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
Any venue in our hometown, Whakatane. Love being around friends and family, and my fat little Bulldog.
What is the best part of being a musician?
Seeing the world for starters. And just standing backstage watching other musos rip it up. I play drums, so I get to see alot of amazing drummers from backstage. There are some guys out there that need more recognition man.
What is in your CD collection at home?
Digging the fresh Dubstep sound of Benga, Dre 2001, Al Green, old school Metal, and ALOT of Daft Punk.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
There are heaps. The worst was playing in Singapore and the kick drum skin ripped. So I'm playing a whole set with no kickdrum and trying to make up for it on the floor tom.
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
Whakatane. That's my hometown. It's small, Got surf. The people are good. I tried living in Auckland and hated every second of it. I was born in Whakatane and have never left it. It's such a beautiful place.
What inspired you to become a start Kora?
We just wanted to see if we had the goods to do it. Just before Kora started, Stu, Fran, and myself were playing in alot of Metal bands. That was a while back now. Laughton and Dan were still in Queenstown jamming alot of Dub. It all started from a thought. Like most things in life.
How did you come up with the name Kora?
It's our family surname. I don't really know. It's simple and easy to remember I guess. Personally I was thinking of "Decapitated frogs".
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
Every gig I've ever done with Kora has been gold. Big Day out on the main stage was probably a major stand out. Looking back when we were kids playing with dad at the RSA's and then BDO. Left a simle for days. It's definitely a journey in life I'll cherish.
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
I guess Facebook?? haha
What rumour would you like to start about Kora?
I'm the only one that probably doesn't like doing the dishes.
Kora is Dan McGruer (keyboards, bass), Laughton Kora (guitar, keyboards), Francis Kora (bass, vocals), Stuart Kora (guitar, vocals) and Bradley Kora (drums).
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How do you come up with your lyrics?
I tend to make a lot of instrumentals first before I write the words. I have trouble writing the words without hearing the music. I'll make about 10 beats and out of those 10 I'll probably write to maybe one or two of them if I'm lucky. Once I've found a piece of music that works I try to write the lyrics really fast so I've got the whole song laid out, then I go back and change things here and there until it works.
How do you believe Tommy Ill fits into the NZ music industry?
I haven't really figured that out yet. Live I think I fit in better with the indie/alternative scene than I do with the rap crowd though. I kind of hope that people who don't usually like rap music might like my music maybe.
What can you never leave home without?
A sense of humour.
What is the best part of being a musician?
Hearing a finished song for the first time and being happy with it. It's a weird feeling. That, and also getting off stage after a really good show, meeting new people and things like that.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
I broke my tooth at a show in Auckland. I jumped into the crowd and the guy in front of me spun around, I had the microphone up to my face and he bumped it into my mouth. A big chunk of one of my front teeth came off. I kept going though and finished the show, and ACC paid for my tooth to get fixed so it was all good.
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
Anywhere that my friends are! As long as there is friends and drinks and music it's all good with me. Wellington's good though, seeing as that's where my bed is, and I can walk home from where ever.
What inspired you to become a musician?
I think it kind of happened by accident. I didn't really know I was one until recently. I've just kind of been mucking about in my bedroom making weird music on my computer for such a long time, I didn't really think "hey I should do this" I think I was just a bit bored and didn't have much to do. I think maybe I thought if I made some music people would think I was a cool guy or something, haha.
What rumour would you like to start about yourself?
I can leap across buildings in a single bound and I never sleep. I once saved one thousand orphans from a house fire.
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The APRA Silver Scroll Award, New Zealand’s most prestigious song writing award has been presented for the 45th time at a star studded event at Auckland’s Town Hall.
The winner of the Silver Scroll Award for 2010 is: Alisa Xayalith, Thom Powers & Aaron Short - The Naked & Famous for 'Young Blood'.
APRA is also proud to announce the following Awards presented at the Auckland Town Hall:
APRA Maioha Award - celebrating contemporary Maori music: Jamie Greenslade aka maitreya 'Sin City (feat. Awa)'.
SOUNZ Contemporary Award - recognising creative excellence by a contemporary composer: Chris Cree Brown 'Inner Bellow'.
Inducted in the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame were: The Fourmyula - Wayne Mason, Carl Evenson, Martin Hope, Alistair Richardson & Chris Parry
Most Performed Work in New Zealand (most played on radio and television in New Zealand): 'Cruel' by Dane Rumble, Te Awanui Reeder & Samuel King
Most Performed Work Overseas (most played on radio and television overseas): 'Don’t Dream It's Over' by Neil Finn.
Gin Wigmore, Dane Rumble, and The Phoenix Foundation feature strongly in the finalists list for the 2010 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.
Gin and Dane Rumble are finalists in six categories and the Phoenix Foundation in five. Anika Moa and J. Williams are finalists in three categories each.
The finalists were announced this evening at a function at Auckland’s Langham Hotel. The winning artists are set to be honoured at the 45th annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards when the red carpet is once again rolled out at Vector Arena in Auckland on October 7.
Behind-the-scenes work on The Phoenix Foundation’s Buffalo saw the album win three Tuis tonight in the Technical Awards sections. MAINZ Best Producer went to the band, who self produced the album; MAINZ Best Engineer went to Lee Prebble; and Best Cover to Paul Johnston.
Vodafone Album of The Year
Anika Moa – Love in Motion
Dane Rumble – The Experiment
Gin Wigmore – Holy Smoke
Shapeshifter – The System Is A Vampire
The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo
Vodafone Single of The Year
Dane Rumble – Cruel
Gin Wigmore – Oh My
J.Williams – You Got Me
Kids Of 88 – Just A Little Bit
The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo
Steinlager Pure Best Group
Shapeshifter – The System Is A Vampire
The Checks – Alice By The Moon
The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo
Best Male Solo Artist
Connan Mockasin – Please Turn Me Into The Snat
Dane Rumble – The Experiment
J.Williams – Young Love
Mazda Best Female Solo Artist
Anika Moa – Love in Motion
Gin Wigmore – Holy Smoke
Hollie Smith – Humour And The Misfortune Of Others
Pacific Blue Breakthrough Artist of The Year
Artisan Guns – Autumn
Dane Rumble – The Experiment
Gin Wigmore – Holy Smoke
PPNZ Best Rock Album
Dimmer – Degrees of Existence
The Checks – Alice By The Moon
The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo
Best Pop Album
Anika Moa – Love in Motion
Dane Rumble – The Experiment
Gin Wigmore – Holy Smoke
Best Urban / Hip Hop Album
David Dallas – Something Awesome
J.Williams – Young Love
Young Sid – What Doesn't Kill Me
Kiwi FM Best Aotearoa Roots Album
Fly My Pretties – A Story
Hollie Smith – Humour And The Misfortune Of Others
Opensouls – Standing In The Rain
C4 Best Music Video
Nathan Hickey –Buffalo (The Phoenix Foundation)
Sam Peacocke – Sleepeater (Shihad)
Tim Van Dammen – Just A Little Bit (Kids Of 88)
Best Electronica Album
Bulletproof – Soundtrack To Forever
P-Money – Everything
Shapeshifter – The System Is A Vampire
Best Gospel / Christian Album
Edwin Derricutt – Three Hours South
John Michaelz – Walk on Water
Magnify – Wonderland
Best Classical Album
John Psathas – UKIYO
NZTrio – FLOURISHES
Simon O’Neill – Father & Son: Wagner Scenes & Arias
Strike Percussion – Sketches
Vodafone Peoples’ Choice
Gin Wigmore
Dane Rumble
Kids of 88
Shapeshifter
Stan Walker
Full Article
NZ Music Awards Website
The Good Fun are the winners of the 2010 Smokefreerockquest National Final, held at The Founders Theatre in Hamilton on Saturday night in front of a sell out crowd of over 1100.
The quirky four piece indie rock band triumphed over seven other high school acts from all over New Zealand to receive the coveted first prize, which includes a NZ On Air New Recording and Music Video Grant worth $10,000, a place on the Kiwi Hit Disc and radio promotional support for a single, musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshops, recording time at York St Studio, the NZ On Air airplay award with the opportunity to be played on The Edge, video play on youth music channel C4, a photo shoot sponsored by Schick and a promotional package from Myspace New Zealand, a trip to Fiji from Unleashed Travel and mentoring from a NZ music industry legend.
The Good Fun's performance of two original songs highly impressed the judging panel of Peter Hume, the bassist from Evermore (2000 winners of Smokefreerockquest); Ross Flahive, Programme Director from The Edge radio network; Matt Barthow, Assistant Programme Director at C4; Joel Little, lead singer from Goodnight Nurse; Scott MacLachlan from Universal Music and Tania Dean from NZ on Air.
Second place in the final went to Peasants Of Eden from Garin College, Nelson, and third place to Malcolm Jack from Otumoetai College,Bay Of Plenty.
Other prizes awarded were the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship which went to Luke Aekins-Reilly from Kamo High School in Whangarei; The APRA Lyric Award which went to Theo Jacobsen from St Kentigern College in Auckland; the Lowdown Best Song Award which went to Massad Barakat-Devine from Auckland ; and the Smokefree Women's Musicianship Award which went to went to Mahalia Simpson from Marian College in Christchurch.
General Fiasco are an indie rock group from Magherafelt, Northern Ireland.
Forming in 2007, they have toured with Fighting With Wire, The Wombats, The Pigeon Detectives and The Enemy. They have also supported Snow Patrol at a show which made Northern Irish History, attracting over 45,000 people as well as playing many of the top European festivals.
On March 22, 2010 they released their debut album, Buildings, and on Friday August 13 they played a show at the Powerstation in Auckland City.
Nick Douch, co-organiser of Fill The House Tickets Project and drummer for Waikato band Eqwanox was at the show.
The Fill The House Tickets Project is a nationwide voluntary organisation that organises tickets to shows for Child Cancer Foundation network families to give them some welcome time out from the stress of dealing with a sick child. (Nick's band Eqwanox also brand and profile the Child Cancer Foundation through their Myspace and Facebook websites and at their live gigs).
Current benefits to the NZ Child Cancer Foundation of the ongoing project have exceeded $9m in commercial terms.
Check it out here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MvYnXpc7m8
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Decortica - Love Hotel Album Review
Hellborne Final Gig Review 1 - 3 Sept 10 - The Royal, Palmerston North
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