Newsletter Issue #307: 24 Oct 2010
The Black Seeds
Originating from Wellington, New Zealand, The Black Seeds have carved out their reputation through platinum selling albums, a masterful live show, and a sound that fuses infectious grooves and melodies with undiluted roots music. They answered these questions for muzic.net.nz:
What can we expect to see from The Black Seeds over the next year?
We are concentrating on releasing a new album with new material over the next little while so whether that will be released in the next year is still to be decided, we are working hard on it though and were excited about about working on new tunes!! We will be playing many shows around New Zealand however including a solid new years tour which should be accessible to hopefully everyone!!
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
I think to be a musician playing your own tunes and earning enough to do it as a job is something to be truly proud of! However, I think a common mistake is people not appreciating how much hard work is required in getting to this stage, so its truly a case of what you put in is what you get out but it is totally worth it in the long run!!!
What is your favourite NZ venue?
My personal favourite would have to be the Wellington Town Hall, such a primo venue always goes off which is great as it's our home crowd, also it's kept and maintained to a really high standard and just the history of bands that has been through there it's just a good vibe always!
What is the best part of being a musician?
Where to start, we get to play to amazing fans in amazing venues playing our own tunes, we choose our own hours and get payed to do all of the above which we are truly thankful for everyday, without our fans none of this would be possible so again we thank people for buying albums and coming to shows!!
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
We have Twitter, Facebook and our website which are all kept up to date and in the case of Facebook we will generally answer questions (sorry if we miss any questions) as we all check and run it. These are all searchable by typing The Black Seeds.
What rumour would you like to start about The Black Seeds?
That we are all brothers and our mum is our manager, she also plays all the instruments and sings on the album and we just mime when we are on stage.
That we have a foot fetish and we like wearing each others shoes.
We paint our clothes on so when we are onstage we are actually naked!!
The Black Seeds are Barnaby Weir (vocals, guitar), Daniel Weetman (vocals, percussion), Mike Fabulous (guitar, percussion), Nigel Patterson (keyboards), Jarney T Murphy (drums), Tim Jaray (bass), Jabin Ward (saxophone) and Andrew Christiansen (Trumpet).
Website Links
Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website
Amplifier Page
MySpace Page
Facebook Page
Twitter Page
Youtube Page
In September 2010 the band released 'Specials' - a collection of remixes and out-takes from the latest album 'Solid Ground'.
Crimson Rain
Hailing from Auckland, Crimson Rain consists of four members from three different nationalities who embrace the post-grunge era with heavy distortions, elegant solos, head-banging riffs, powerful beats and impressive sounds that will catch hold of your mind. Editor Note Crimson Rain is one of the most outstanding rock bands I've come across in 2010, and are definitely worth the listen - especially if you like such bands as Agent and Shihad.
Thanks to Avi for answering these questions:
What can we expect to see from Crimson Rain over the next year?
We are expecting a very busy year ahead, our main goals are the release of our debut album, a tour in Asia and growing our fanbase at home.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Never give up on your dreams and do the yards, it's 5% dreaming and 95% sheer hard work. Most of all, love what you are doing otherwise don't do it - if you don't believe in your music, don't expect others to believe in it either. You've got to have a plan in place and you've got to work towards a common goal.
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
OpShop, Blindspott, Shihad and Shotgun Alley (they've got the style). These bands have originality in their music. You know it's them whenever their stuff is played on air.
How do you come up with your lyrics?
The lyrics deal with the emotions associated with journey from adolesence to adulthood, quite often drawing on personal experience and empathy. Emphasis being on the fact that you aren't alone in these struggles.
Who would you most like to support live?
Breaking Benjamin, Evanescense, Seether, Shihad, These Four Walls, Shotgun Alley, Ethanol 58.
How do you believe Crimson Rain fits into the NZ music industry?
We come from very diverse backgrounds both musically and culturally. This reflects significantly in the songs we write, but at the same time we have the general chilled out vibe that is very NZ rock.
How do you describe Crimson Rain’s music?
The core of our music is based on simple structures, complemented by beautiful guitar solos, creative basslines and powerful drum beats. We would probably fit into the post grunge and alternative rock genres.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
Juice Bar, great bar with awesome atmosphere. The Dogs Bollix is not far away either.
What is in your CD collection at home?
Slipknot, Seether, Metallica, Nirvana, Breaking Benjamin, old school stuff like Bad Company, Scorpions and Deep Purple
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
Auckland, really happening and great underground music scene.
What inspired you to become a start Crimson Rain?
The band before they became Crimson Rain were mucking around with some songs over a Chicken Tikka Masala when inspiration struck.
How did you come up with the name Crimson Rain?
The name comes from the idea of 'Tears of Blood', Rain itself varies in intensity and form, just like our style which draws inspiration from genres as diverse as grunge, flamenco and musical theatre. Our lyrics deal with the emotions associated with the journey from adolesence to adulthood, concept of hope in the darkest of times and to appreciate the fact that you arent alone in these struggles. Thus, to represent all these concepts and our diverse inspirations, Crimson Rain was an adept name that captures the essence of the band.
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
Dogs Bollix, really good chilled out vibe, awesome sound system and a fantastic crowd.
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
Facebook, emails, Txt, gigging, the usual social network means.
What rumour would you like to start about Crimson Rain?
Some say our drummer is terrified of ducks, but all we know about him is that he's a Machine. Like the Terminator, except not as awesome with a shotgun...but pretty close!
Crimson Rain is Pras Kumar (lead vocals, guitar), Avi Pranish (lead guitar), Ben Lee (bass, backing vocals) and Matt 'Machine' Bunce (drums).
Website Links
Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website
MySpace Page
Facebook Page
Crimson Rain has recently released their debut EP 'One By One' and you can read the muzic.net.nz review here!
Crackpot Theory
Crackpot Theory is a one man band, Daniel Ashcroft writes and records all the music himself, and plays all the instruments. Crackpot Theory has been around since 2008 and in that time he has released 3 albums in 2008 and 3 albums in 2009. He is currently working on releasing his 8th album. Daniel answered these questions for muzic.net.nz:
What can we expect to see from you over the next year?
Definitely live shows, even though it's just me singing to backing tracks it's nothing like karaoke haha. The new album entitled 'Desperation' should be released in November, or maybe October :), so what was origionally going to be a quiet year for this project has turned out to be my most productive as far as getting myself out there and stuff.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
A very wise drummer by the name of Sam Sheppard told me this, "Don't practice, just play! Practice sounds like a chore".
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
Of course im a huge fan of 8 Foot Sativa, Gary Smith is one of my favourite guitarists of all time, he just writes the catchiest metal riffs I have ever heard, definitely a huge influence for me when playing guitar.
What will your next release be?
Very glad you asked. The up coming release will be entitled 'Desperation'. The best way to describe the sound of it would be a cross between Iwrestledabearonce's debut album and Rammstein's later albums with a hint of Saosin and of course all with the Crackpot vibe :)
How do you come up with your lyrics?
I always come up with a title first, once you come up with a clever title the lyrics usually start off being based on the title and then further developed into something usually that doesn't have anything to do with the title haha.
Who would you most like to support live?
8 Foot Sativa for sure, Rammstein, Cradle of Filth, I would say Megadeth but I don't think alot of their fans would be too happy about having to sit through me.
How do you believe you fit into the NZ music industry?
I don't much, I would love to be known as one of the most prestiege musicians New Zealand has ever seen, but you know I would just like to be known by anyone.
What can you never leave home without?
My hankerchief, had a pretty constant runny nose since I was about 12, it's a pain in the ass.
How do you describe your music?
Well it varies with every release, but I always try to suprise the listener, without being to out of the square with my ideas I still try to be over the top with whatever ideas I come up with. My newer stuff, mostly the brand new material, has alot of humor in it and these sort of random things that happen I guess similar to that of the jokes and clips used in Family Guy.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
The Royal, in Palmerston north.
What is the best part of being a musician?
Meeting people, the feeling of being this kinda larger than life figure when you are on stage, having people sing lyrics to you that you wrote, most importantly having a creative way of expressing youself and your individuality and sharing it.
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
8 Foot Sativa, Supergroove, Tadpole, because they are the best damn bands ever!
What is in your CD collection at home?
Alot haha, I got my black metal (Immortal, Bathory), Hair/glam metal (Def Lepard, Poison, Warrant, Van Halen), Death metal (8 Foot Sativa, Impaled, Suffocation), Alt/rock (Janes Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, Smashing Pumpkins), you get the idea.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
Can't say I have one to be honest.
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
I love Christchurch, Kaikoura becuase I love whales and sea animals so yeah haha.
What inspired you to become a musician?
I was ten years old and my older sister used to record music videos on tape from the TV, I had no interest in music whatsoever but I happend to be in the lounge one day when she was watching it. This music video came on that she wanted me to see, it was 'Otherside' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, it pretty much changed my life from that moment onwards haha.
How did you come up with the name Crackpot Theory?
Well my Dad is a tad crazy, and he comes up with these weird ideas and solutions for things, and when he tells of ideas that he has for a business or something, I would always say to him 'You and your crackpot theories' , it kinda just hit me because I guess thats what my music is, weird ideas that people dont usually understand or they don't think the idea of it is good because its not normal.
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
I would say my first live show doing the hole Crackpot thing, it was actually a couple of months ago, was the first time I was on stage I felt I was really letting myself go and sharing who I am with people without it being compromised by other band members.
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
Facebook and MySpace. I like to hang and talk with people who enjoy my music, some of my best friends are people that I have meet through them being fans of Crackpot.
What rumour would you like to start about yourself?
There were sex tapes, I did pierce my own nipple, my tea cup does not have bourbon in it!
Website Links
Muzic.net.nz Page
MySpace Page
Facebook Page
Detonate Festival
Detonate Festival - bigger, faster, harder and louder than any other New Year's Eve experience yet.
It's not your usual New Year's party. Thundering, heart stopping explosions, sky high fireballs, crazy stunts and the hottest Kiwi bands, DJs and entertainment.
While Detonate 2009 will be hard to beat, the organisers have cooked up big plans for 2010 and the guests are in for a party of epic proportions. If you are looking for something a little different from the 'franchise' New Year's Eve festival experience, you will definitely find it in Taranaki this year!
"We wanted to bring our punters a festival that was fresh and new, a party that is different from the other festivals' say organisers Mark and Nat. "Detonate is something else, it's relentless action, it's in your face, it's totally exciting. We have listened to our punters and we are delivering what they want, the best and most explosive way to see in the New Year"
An absolutely killer line-up is in store for this year: Steriogram, Autozamm, Motocade, These Four Walls, Pistol Youth, The Rabble, November Zulu and more on the main stage. In our .LTD Dance Zone, talented local and national DJs will be spinning up a storm into the early hours.
Detonate truly lives up to its name, over 50 explosive effects will be rocking the party including exploding cars, swimming pools and huge fireballs. And interactive bombs! Push the button on the Fitzroy Engineering fireball generator and let off your own explosion or write your regret on the Forget the Regret Car, if you've got the best regret, you get to blow the car to smithereens!
Detonate 2010 also has surprise stunts, a Paintball Gauntlet, three Detonate Mudslides, gyro rides, helicopter rides with Precision Helicopters, revolving interactive entertainment like Zorb, Sumo and Fly-On-The-Wall, food and drink stalls, merchandise from local suppliers, a band signing tent, an R18 licensed area and still much more. Free camping is available onsite. Or catch the bus! Buses are available to pick you up from New Plymouth and drop you back again in the New Year.
At just $80 a ticket, get in fast as they won't last long. Tickets are available at http://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2010/dec/detonate-festival/. Ticket numbers are limited so make sure that you secure yours early!
NZ Music News
RDU's Best Demo Comp is on!
After the huge success of the inaugural Best Demo Competition 2009, we’ve decided to run the beast again in 2010. RDU’s Best Demo Competition showcases what RDU will herald as the best produced track for 2010. Entries will be judged on the overall sound quality and production values and will give specific consideration to composition. The winner must be part of the production, but is not limited to playing a single role ie: composer and engineer. This competition is NOT genre specific.
RDU’s Best Demo Competition 2009 saw one-man-band powerhouse Miles McDougall aka Pikachunes take out the coveted overall prize of a trip to Red Bull Studios in Auckland to mix up a track with top NZ producer Recloose.
HOW THE COMPETITION WORKS
This is an OPEN event for producers or musicians who have recorded, mixed and produced a finished track of any genre. Anything goes but you must primarily have had involvement at one stage during the writing and production of the work. We will post notifications via our website with the winner being announced at the Dux De Lux RounDUp Grand Final on Saturday 27th November 2010.
Iconic NZ Band Launches 'The Best Poly Fonk'
Iconic Kiwi band Ardijah is releasing a definitive collection of their distinctive classic hits with a twist – the addition of four popular cover songs.
‘The Best Poly Fonk’ – in stores on November 1 – features 18 tracks including ‘Watchin’u’, ‘Moonlighting’, ‘Love So Right’ and ‘Silly Love Songs’ as well as the four covers: ‘Haere Mai’ by Sir Apirana Ngata, timeless Tui Teka tune ‘E Ipo’, an adaptation of ‘Over the Rainbow’ and the 1973 number one hit single by Gladys Knight and the Pips, ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’.
The album will be launched in Auckland on Wednesday October 27 and Wellington on Thursday October 28.
The chart-topping, award-winning band has earned enormous respect in the music industry for their consistent contribution over the past 25 years and continues to headline at concerts, festivals and private gigs both at home and overseas including the Pacific, Australia and America.
Full Article
Other NZ Music News
Gig and Tour News
Artist News
Muzic.net.nz News
New Artists
The following musicians were added to the muzic.net.nz website recently:
| Reckless Mack | Plum Green |
| Jo Little | Other |
| Dudley Benson | samRB |
Want to add yourself or your band to muzic.net.nz?
Add Artist Form
Info about filling out the add artist form
Reviews and Photos
These reviews were added to the site during the last fortnight, check them out at the links below:
- Stellar - 'Best Of' album review
- Eva Prowse - 'Youngest Child' single review
- Crimson Rain - 'One By One' EP review
- Surf Friends - 'Confusion' album review
- Vodafone NZ Music Awards 2010 review
- Eru Dangerspiel - 'Great News For The Modern Man' Auckland Gig
- Chartdisc Volume 4 album review
You can check out every single interview and review in our Articles Page.
Thanks to Amanda Ratcliffe for taking these awesome photos of the Vodafone NZ Music Awards red carpet:
- Vodafone NZ Music Awards Red Carpet Photos
Tour Features
Every feature we have ever had on the site can be viewed here.
Information about muzic.net.nz newsletters
The next muzic.net.nz newsletter is going out on 7 November
and will feature Dear Time's Waste, Barracks, Bleeding View and The Ramps.
There is space available for features from 21 November onwards.
There is only 3 issues to go for 2010!
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Our next gig mail out is going out on 31 October.
- The muzic.net.nz team
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