Earthquake
We are all aware that the last few days have been tainted with a truly horrific tragedy, an event of such an immensely huge degree that was completely beyond our control.
Moments like this can make us all feel small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. They make us realise that Mother Earth is vastly powerful and capable of creating these incomprehensible events. They can also make us realise the true importance of friends and family, and ensure we are even more appreciative of the things we have.
We have two extraordinary reviewers based in Christchurch, and I am happy and relieved to report that they and their families are safe and well. The same can be said for my friends who live in Christchurch, and for Gareth Craze (RW Entertainment), who was about to board a flight with the Melvins to Wellington when the earthquake struck.
As far as I'm aware, Christchurch's musicians, including The Bats and Tainted, escaped unscathed.
Any information regarding live music venues in and around the Christchurch area can be found here: http://www.muzic.net.nz/community/6/45518/christchurch
The muzic.net.nz team's thoughts are with everyone affected by this historical event. Our deepest sympathies also go to those who have lost loved ones. Kia Kaha.
R.I.P. Matthew 'Blaps' Hall
Unfortunately, the past fortnight has not been without other tragedies.
Matthew Hall, the lead vocalist for Backyard Burial since they formed in 1998, was brutally murdered in a place he should have felt safe, his home.
Matthew was a popular person who was loved by many. He has been described as being "kind and generous" by those who were close to him. I am sure he will always be remembered.
The muzic.net.nz team would like to express their condolences to Backyard Burial and Matthew's family, friends and fans. We hope that this doesn't spell the end of Backyard Burial, one of Wellington's greatest Metal bands.
If you have any information regarding this matter, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please tell the Police.
Eqwanox
One of New Zealand's foremost rock bands, Eqwanox, announced on 15 February that they were calling it quits. After a tremendous seven years together, with no regrets and a positive outlook, they have decided to go their separate ways to pursue their own individual ambitions.
During the time that Eqwanox has been together, they have funded and released an album, played international support shows, toured relentlessly throughout the North Island of NZ and have had the privilege to share the stage with so many great New Zealand bands.
They were also proud supporters of the The New Zealand Child Cancer Foundation and the 'Fill The House' Tickets Project - which sources tickets to shows for CCF families.
Since muzic.net.nz was formed I have seen a great number of talented bands disband, including Sommerset, Stardrunk and Epitome to name a few. Eqwanox definitely met the same high calibre as those bands did, and they will be missed.
The muzic.net.nz team would like to wish Eqwanox the best of luck with their new projects.
Official Press Release
And one last thing
Being huge Outrageous Fortune fans, this editorial would not be complete without saying something about veteran actor Frank Whitten. As many of you will know by now, Frank passed away peacefully in his sleep on 12 February. He was aged 68.
Frank was a very talented and inspirational person, and no-one could have played Ted "Grandpa" West as well as he did. R.I.P Frank.
- The muzic.net.nz team
What can we expect to see from Ivy Lies over the next year?
(Emla) We have been focusing a lot on the album release, which is really exciting and with that we plan to tour this album in May and bring out some new material towards the end of the year, we are wanting to go back over to LA to play as well.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Practice! Listen to lots of music and be yourself don't mimic other people
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
The Veils, they have beautiful songs and have a really original sound.
What will Ivy Lies' next release be?
(Emla) We have just released our 4th single of the album called 'Highway' and not to sure yet what the next release will be, maybe we will ask the fans.
How do you come up with your lyrics?
(Lisa) Mostly I write about personal experiences, but usually while I'm jamming a song I'll just kinda half sing words half ramble nonsensical sentences but usually something cool will come out of that.
Who would you most like to support live?
Jimmy Eat World are a long time love of ours and they are coming to NZ soon. We would be real keen to play support for them.
How do you believe Ivy Lies fits into the NZ music industry?
In
What can you never leave home without?
Our phones...gotta keep connected.
How do you describe Ivy Lies' music?
Straight forward pop/rock.... based on hooky choruses and honest lyrics.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
What is the best part of being a musician?
(Lisa) Touring...its so much fun getting out on the road, playing to new crowds, hanging out with friends in bands.
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
Zowie because she's a cute little pixie! Sami sisters.
What is in your CD collection at home?
Haha a million things! In the player right now though is
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
(Lisa) We played a show at a really small venue in
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
Home in
What inspired you to start Ivy Lies?
We were all really passionate about music, and we all had similar tastes in music. So playing music together worked for us and felt right, we love doing it.
How did you come up with the name Ivy Lies?
We knew this girl who stole all our boyfriends.....
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
Band Together in
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
Through Facebook, MySpace and Twitter mostly. We are lucky we have such awesome fans, they are very cool.
What rumour would you like to start about Ivy Lies?
(Lisa) We are all actually men.
Ivy Lies are Emla (guitar, vocals), Lisa (bass, backing vocals) and Rosie (drums).
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What can we expect to see from you over the next year?
Ok, well I’m currently on tour through out NZ on my Freedom Twenty Eight tour. It started on Feb 12 in Christchurch with The Black Seeds and finishes on March 5th at Homegrown!! I'm going to be very busy travelling back and forth from London and around Asia with some cool festivals, as well as writing for a brand new album that I hope to have ready for the studio towards the end of the year. I'll be back for the summer festivals in NZ and I’ll have some new and exciting material and a kick ass live show.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Never give up on your dreams, always do what you love and be original while respecting others, their creativity and individuality.
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
I had the pleasure of performing with Aaron Tokona last year - the man is an inspiration. He owns the stage and plays the guitar like it is his last gig!!
What will your next release be?
We hope to release at least one more single off the new album (we have already released 4 singles) and then it will be into the studio for the next album!
How do you come up with your lyrics?
Lyrics are like stars, you can see them at night with a clear sky, but sometimes the clouds can come along and block them from view. However, the stars are still there, you might have to wait a little while for the clouds to move on so you can see them again...otherwise a good rhyming dictionary and a theme will do the trick.
Who would you most like to support live?
I would love to support Ben Harper and hopefully he would join me on a song!!!!
How do you believe you fit into the NZ music industry?
Tricky question...I guess if I didn't eat for a few weeks I would fit into those jeans I can't get in my size...if I was in a dub or reggae band I might fit into the music scene a lot easier, but I am who I am and my music is what it is.
What can you never leave home without?
The house keys!!
How do you describe your music?
It’s acoustic roots rock.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
To play or to listen? To play, Black Barn Winery and Auckland Town Hall... to listen, The Powerstation and Hawkes Bay Opera House.
What is the best part of being a musician?
Releasing emotions and expressing yourself, which may not be easily done in day-to-day life...plus the free beer!!
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
Refer to question 3... and myself because I need to pay nappies for my son
What is in your CD collection at home?
I am regularly buying albums and have a huge range across lots of different genres from Gregorian Chant to Kylie to Tool, Ben Harper and Cairo Knife Fight.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
There's a couple, but nothing that's funny enough for your readers or that I can share!!
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
Rangiputa, Karikari Peninsula in the Far North.
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The Earlybirds are officially New Zealand rock music’s next big thing! The winners of the Jim Beam Band Search beat 120 other entries to take away the $15,000 prize pack including $5,000 cash, the all-important video grant from NZ On Air, a set on the rock stage at the Homegrown festival and guaranteed airplay on The Rock.
The final decision was a tough one with the extremely high caliber of bands in the competition. The Earlybirds rose to the top with a combination of massive public support and strong song writing.
Jim Beam Homegrown festival organiser and judge Mark Wright explains, “The judges were really impressed with The Earlybirds, their songs are tight, they had the highest amount of public votes and they’ve been working really hard to break through for the last few years. It will be great to see them on the rock stage at Jim Beam Homegrown and to follow them and the other finalists throughout the year”
Chris Caddick, one of the country’s most respected music industry leaders, is the new managing director of the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
Caddick is a former managing director of EMI in New Zealand and throughout his 33 year career has been recognised as a prominent cheer leader for local artists.
He takes over the mantle from Campbell Smith who has resigned after five years in charge to focus on his artist management and touring businesses.
RIANZ president Adam Holt says Caddick has all the credentials to lead the industry body.
“The RIANZ Board is delighted to welcome Chris in his new role as the head of RIANZ. Chris is one of the most widely experienced people in the industry and brings with him a deep love of music and strong vision about where our industry has been and where it needs to go.
“His label experience and his recent consulting roles have connected Chris to all areas of the New Zealand music industry. Through these he has a strong understanding of the issues facing RIANZ member labels today.
“While at EMI, Chris was a key player in the team responsible for initiating the new look to the New Zealand Music Awards. His energy and wealth of knowledge will ensure RIANZ continues to positively promote our industry, artists and labels.”
Chris Caddick acknowledges he has big shoes to fill but is looking forward to continuing to work for the good of New Zealand music.
Community Radio Hamilton gets loud and proud with their open day event The Big Bang! on Saturday 12 March. Featuring a line-up of drum beats from around the world, the annual celebration of Access Radio in the Waikato kicks off from 1-4pm outside the station studios in the ASB Building, 214 Collingwood Street, Hamilton.
The diverse range of acts reflects the station's eclectic sound and includes Jamaican rhythms from the CarribeaNZ Southern Stars steelpan band, upbeat tempos of ska band Jacquemo, and Pacific beats courtesy of the Hamilton Cook Island Association's musicians and dancers. The local Drum Circle will give the crowd a hands-on role in their performance, while the Hare Krishna community and Hamilton Girls High School samba band are sure to have people on their feet. There will also be a farewell performance from gumboot dance crew Swamp Stomp.
"Our open days are a fun way for us to showcase the diverse sound of Community Radio Hamilton, and the wide range of individuals and groups who are involved with the station," explains general manager Phil Grey. "Whether it's hosting your own show, or just having the chance to come in for an on-air interview. This really is 'Your Place' and we hope people will come and make themselves at home!"
Visitors will have a chance to tour the station and its live broadcast studio. There will also be some great food on offer, including a barbecue, and Latin pastries from La Rosa Bakery. A number of local organisations will also be part of a community marketplace at the event.
Individuals have been chosen to be representatives of members of the Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA). Introduced in late 2010, the Ambassador Program was launched to improve understanding of APRA's role, members' rights and their activities by members, the government, media and the wider community.
The APRA Ambassador Program has three principle aims:
To foster increased understanding of APRA's role and the scope of their activities to the membership and the wider public.
To improve APRA's awareness and understanding of issues facing the membership.
To build a community of Australasian songwriters and composers.
Ambassadors will be invited to participate in a range of APRA and related industry events and will provide feedback on key issues that affect APRA members and the wider music industry. The APRA Ambassadors will gather twice annually.
The APRA Ambassadors include Andrew McDowall, Barnaby Weir, Te Awanui Reeder, Dianne Swann, Graeme Downes, Flip Grater, Joel Little, John Psathas, Jason Kerrison, Paora Apera, Demetrius Savelio, Joost Langeveld, Mike Hall and Brooke Fraser.
The Red Bull Music Academy has circumnavigated the globe, with previous editions putting down roots in cities like Barcelona, Cape Town, Toronto, Sao Paulo, London and Melbourne. There have long been calls to hold an Academy in Tokyo - and this year, that's exactly where the Academy's headed, with the full clip of events, workshops and studio sessions coming to town from 23 October to 25 November 2011.
The Red Bull Music Academy is an international workshop, touching down in a different city each year. Over two fortnight-long 'terms', some of the finest purveyors of rhythm and sound from all over the world gather between the Academy's walls. There's always that sense of synchronicity when music lovers find music lovers. But it's even better when they get to meet up in person.
Each year, an unlimited number of applicants from New Zealand, whether they are a producer, instrumentalist, vocalist, or DJ, are chosen to be a part of the Academy in Tokyo. Red Bull invites all budding Red Bull Music Academy attendees to download an application form from http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com to be sent to Academy HQ together with a music demo by 4 April 2011.
Luger Boa's new album ‘New Hot Nights’ will be released on April 4th 2011 on STUKA RECORDS & proudly distributed in NZ by Rhythmethod.
LUGER BOA are proud to announce the release of their second long player, NEW HOT NIGHTS. NEW HOT NIGHTS will be released on April 4th 2011 and serves up a slew of deliciously twisted tales from the concrete jungle...featuring the singles LAZY, PARALYZED, and NEW HOT NIGHTS.
- Recorded in heartland NZ, in the depths of AucklandCity and in the familiar haunting ground of Melbourne.
- Recorded with Barry Palmer of Hunters & Collectors fame.
- Mixed by Mark Needham (Fleetwood Mac/Killers) in LA & Andy Baldwin in NYC.
- Under exclusive license to no one but themselves! Proudly and independently released & marketed on the bands own Stuka Records & distributed in NZ by Rhythmethod.
Soundstage is an opportunity for New Zealand musicians to showcase their sound in our theatre - Downstage, Wellington.
Since 2009, the Soundstage programme has included The Woolshed Sessions, Paul Ubana Jones, Sam F Scott, Strike & Warren Maxwell, Rhian Sheehan, Lisa Tomlins, Adam Page & John Psathas, Spartacus R, Drumdrag and The Lonesome Buckwhips.
What we are looking for:
Professional musicians and bands who are looking to extend their performance style by creating a show for an intimate theatrical environment, with a captive audience intent on listening and experiencing their music outside of a pub/club environment.
Our priority is towards those artists who are actively seeking to develop their work. This is the perfect opportunity to explore a collaboration you’ve always dreamed of, or blend different musical forms and styles, or involve theatrical or filmic elements…the possibilities are endless.
Downstage pays a small performance fee, and covers the marketing and production costs for the event. We will actively promote and profile your show to our diverse audiences, and to venue and arts festival buyers so you have the best chance of success in attracting further performance opportunities.
If you are interested in being considered for Soundstage in 2011, please contact Angela Green for a submission form on [email protected].
Submissions close 31 March 2011.
Other NZ Music News
Gig and Tour News
Artist News
These reviews were added to the site in the last two weeks, check them out at the links below:
- The Jury & The Saints - Daydreams Album Review
- Ruby Fusion - Disciplinary Hearings Album Review
- Jayson Norris - Freedom Twenty Eight Album Review
- Nevernudes - Creepy Crawlies EP Review
- Splore-City Festival, Auckland Town Hall. February 11th and 12th
- Anna Coddington - Cat & Bird Album Review
- Crash Test For Favourite Things - The Powers That Be EP Review
You can check out every single interview and review in our Articles Page.
Every feature we have ever had on the site can be viewed here.
The next muzic.net.nz newsletter is going out on 13 March.
There is feature space available from 13 March 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 8290 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.
Featuring in our newsleter is a fantastic promotional tool. Our 2010 newsletters proved to be very popular. Our newsletter archives are one of the most accessed areas on the site.
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 6 March.
- The muzic.net.nz team