Newsletter Issue #339: 19 Jun 2011
Agent
Thanks to James for answering these questions:
What can we expect to see from Agent over the next year?
More recording, gigs, video, an album, and one or two singles. There is a bit going on.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Surround yourself with positive, creative, open-minded, and motivated people.
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
Shihad because they are NZ rock legends, I Am Giant because of their great songs, Jayson Norris because he dominates an acoustic guitar like nobody else I know, old school Salmonella Dub because it reminds me of home, Shapeshifter because they kill every time I have seen them live.
What will Agent's next release be?
We are currently working on our next album which at this rate is looking like mid-2012 for release, hopefully before that! A new track 'Vondelpark' from the record will be up on www.muzic.net.nz and on our facebook (www.facebook.com/agentbandnz) very shortly.
How do you come up with your lyrics?
Life experiences good, bad, real and imagined.
Who would you most like to support live?
Tool, Muse, Karnivool, S.O.A.D, A7X.
What can you never leave home without?
I’m ashamed to say my phone.
How do you describe Agent's music?
Heavy rock with a progressive spin.
What is the best part of being a musician?
Creating something from nothing and also meeting some pretty cool people.
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
On a black sand beach in the Naki relaxing for a day.
What inspired you to start Agent?
The compulsion to release energy and communicate through music.
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
We absolutely loved KOTJ festival in London. We were on the main stage and at the start of the evening it was looking like an average turn out but by the time we went back stage and got ready then came out to see the room was full for the Agent set it was pretty awesome to see we were starting to make a small dent in the UK.
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
Mainly via www.facebook.com/agentbandnz these days, hit us up and like! J
What rumour would you like to start about Agent?
One of our band members is dating Pippa Middleton and we regularly get on the piss with Lemmy from Motorhead.
Agent is Jordan Tredray (drums), Matt Flower (bass) and James Donaldson (guitar, vocals).
Website Links
Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website
Amplifier Page
MySpace Page
Facebook Page
Twitter Page
Villainy
Thanks to James for answering these questions:
Villainy
vill·uh·nee /ˈvilənç/
Noun: 1. The actions or conduct of a villain; outrageous wickedness.
2. Maniacal rock band from Auckland, New Zealand.
Villainy create a sound that traverses musical fault lines, making dark, intricate, and engagingly well presented alternative rock. Since early 2011 the Auckland based four piece have been dividing their time between their home city and Melbourne tracking their debut album. The record, due late this year, is being crafted under the guidance of producer Tom Larkin (Shihad, Julia Deans, Calling All Cars). With the first cut 'Alligator Skin' hitting radio in June, expect to see Villainy violating a stage near you.
What can we expect to see from Villainy over the next year?
Multiple trips to Melbourne to finish off the debut album. That will mean more videos, more sleepless nights, and inevitably a tour throughout our fair land.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
The St James. It's a beautiful piece of history right in the middle of Auckland and is just in need of a lick of paint or two (and perhaps new floors).
Embrace the facebook activism: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-St-James-Theatre-Auckland/125175967508159
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
Our first show involved blowing up the stage power. Twice. This was also the same place that Neill jumped off the drum kit, fell gracefully off stage, breaking his guitar and his face in the process. The place is cursed.
What inspired you to start Villainy?
Villainy is defined as "outrageous wickedness". So, we're embracing that notion - just in musical form.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Know that 75% of the songs you write will not be that good. As a result, try to work out what makes them shit and try not to write that.
What rumour would you like to start about Villainy?
Villainy causes lesions.
Villainy is Neill Fraser (vocals, guitar), Dave Johnston (drums), James Dylan (bass) and Thomas Watts (lead guitar).
Website Links
Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website
MySpace Page
Facebook Page
Twitter Page
Youtube Page
NZ Music News
The Feelers Hope Nature Forgives Tour July/August 2011
After a six year break from the studio, The Feelers are back! Armed with a new album and boasting a new line-up, the boys are ready to hit the road again, playing live favourite Right Here Right Now, the classic Venus and new hit single Didn't Want To Fall In Love.
For nearly twenty years James Reid and Hamish Gee's musical partnership has resulted in The Feelers amassing some remarkable statistics - a quarter of a million album sales; five multi platinum albums; three number one albums and seven number one singles.
And more recently a lot has happened in the lives of James and Hamish since their last multi platinum offering 'One World'. Hamish got married, James welcomed his first child and two new arrivals have been added to complete the band line-up - guitarist Andy Lynch (formerly of Zed) and bass player Matt Short.
Their latest album HOPE NATURE FORGIVES, to be released on 1st August, is testament to the rejuvenated new look of The Feelers. With Andy and Matt on board, James and Hamish decided it was time to stop playing all instruments themselves and go back to playing as a 'real band' according to James - and the resulting album is clearly proof of that.
Mel Parsons Winter Solo Tour 2011
Tui-award finalist and nu-folk singer Mel Parsons sets out on a solo jaunt this July, heading South for the winter and playing 8 shows in intimate, small-town venues. Fresh from the studio and the recording of her new album (due out in September), Parsons is gearing up to road test the new material.
Parsons' new single 'I Won't Let You Down' will be out this winter to coincide with the tour, and will be accompanied by a new video filmed in San Francisco by Christchurch film-maker Logan McMillian of Gorilla Pictures. Parsons last toured NZ with Anika Moa on a 21-date tour in late 2010, and has recently performed with L.A-based Greg Johnson, who also features on her upcoming single.
I Am Giant new single 'And We'll Defy'
'And We'll Defy' is the new single from I Am Giant's highly anticipated debut album 'The Horrifying Truth' which was recorded in Sydney and Melbourne with acclaimed producer Forrester Savell.
Paul Matthews from I Am Giant explains the song "'And We'll Defy' is a song about the human need to believe in and belong to something that can define and guide us and about how vulnerable and easily led we can become as a consequence.”
I Am Giant have just finished playing some shows in the UK with American band Taking Back Sunday as well as Southern Sounds with Shihad. They will be headlining their own show at the Camden Barfly in London before returning to NZ for some dates in August and then heading to Australia to tour with Dead Letter Circus.
Ammp Release Debut Album
AMMP are proud to announce the release of their debut album From the Back of the Sun.
The album contains six of the seven singles released as well as some fantastic new tracks. Loads of hard work combined with a lot of fun has resulted in a must have album.
Recorded by David St George, Mike Gibson, Andrew Downes, Darryn Maynard and Mixed By Chris van de Geer (Stellar) and mastered by Simon Holloway (Dane Rumble) - Ammp has spared no expense with the album having a beautiful 12 page booklet and poster designed by Lance McMinn with photographs by Zoe Deboelhmler and Dean Zillwood - plus lyrics and production notes. Ammp have created an album that is both a joy to look at as well as listen to. It’s now available to digitally download at Bandcamp, iTunes, Digirama and Amplifier. The CD is also available from Ammp's website www.ammp.co.nz.
To celebrate the release of the album Ammp are offering a free download of their new single Day One.Download here.
God Bows To Math Release Free EP
Following two acclaimed split EPs with some of the country's finest up-and-coming bands, the Auckland based trio will be offering a sneak preview of their highly anticipated debut album with the release of a free digital EP on the June 13th 2011.
Already favourites on the live music scene, the digital EP, titled Solar Lights Don’t Work at Night, marks a move towards a more considered sound for the band. From the pounding bass and drum riff of opener 'Go Team Punx' to the waves of feedback-drenched guitar that close the final track 'Teenagers is Lazy Journalism'. god bows to math assault the ears with a wall of noise that owes much to post-hardcore heavyweights like Husker Du and Shellac whilst simultaneously propelling them forwards into an original, unapologetically anti-commercial space.
El Schlong Release Second Full Length Album
El Schlong is pleased to announce the release of their second full length album. 'Time/Place' was written during their two years in London and was recorded in New Zealand late last year. The seven songs span a range of avant-metal and there are two songs from the album up on their websites below. The album can be bought online here: http://elschlong.bigcartel.com
They will be playing a whole heap of shows around the UK and Europe between now and November to promote the album, so people can check out our gig listings for shows (not much help for NZ residents I know, but we'll be back for a tour in a couple of years).
https://www.elschlong.com
https://www.myspace.com/elschlong
http://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Schlong/108824649158761
Nadine Loren To Release New Album 'Naked 80's' On July 4th
Swiss born, Kiwi singer-songwriter Nadine Loren is set to release her sophomore album on July 4th.
The album features 11 covers of classic songs from the 80’s as well as two original tracks written by Loren herself.
Naked ‘80’s celebrates some of the decade's best songs, but gives them a modern twist, completely stripping them of all their synthesized elements. The bare songs are then reinvented to have a fresh sound with all real instrumentation. What makes these remakes even more unique is that many are hauntingly infused with opera - it's a must listen.
Naked ‘80’s is produced by the legendary hit-maker Peter Asher who has produced 12 Grammy Award Winning albums and has twice been voted “Producer of the Year” by the Grammy's. Peter was the Head of A&R for the Beatles' Apple label and former VP of Music Entertainment at Sony.
Coco Solid Goes analogue For Mixtape
The lost art of the cassette tape is enjoying a resurgence thanks to New Zealand rapper Coco Solid, who will release her new mixtape on cassette later this month while on a nationwide tour.
The mixtape, titled 'Pacific Rims', is a twelve-track release featuring previously unreleased material and new tracks by long time Coco Solid collaborators from Czech Republic, Portugal, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the UK and New Zealand.
Pacific Rims features musicians close to home, such as Wellington's Disasteradio, Auckland outifit Unitone Hi-Fi, local producers Jizmatron, Scott Detail and Coco's vocalist sister Hayley J. Hansell. The tape also features many international friends Coco made while attending the Red Bull Music Academy in Barcelona back in 2008. Says Solid, "I chose specifiic collaborators. Online mixtapes are punk in approach when you think about it but Pacific Rims is hip-hop/electronica angled too. So I asked people who understood that combination."
God Bows To Math Release Free EP
Following two acclaimed split EPs with some of the country's finest up-and-coming bands, the Auckland based trio will be offering a sneak preview of their highly anticipated debut album with the release of a free digital EP on the June 13th 2011.
Already favourites on the live music scene, the digital EP, titled Solar Lights Don’t Work at Night, marks a move towards a more considered sound for the band. From the pounding bass and drum riff of opener 'Go Team Punx' to the waves of feedback-drenched guitar that close the final track 'Teenagers is Lazy Journalism'. god bows to math assault the ears with a wall of noise that owes much to post-hardcore heavyweights like Husker Du and Shellac whilst simultaneously propelling them forwards into an original, unapologetically anti-commercial space.
Muzic.net.nz News
New Artists
The following musicians were added to the muzic.net.nz website during the last fortnight:
| Coma Q | The Yoots |
| Tiny Ruins | Oslo Brown |
| FreeDay | Known Associates |
| Warren Cate |
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These reviews were added to the site in the last two weeks, check them out at the links below:
- Antagonist A.D - Old Bones Make New Blooms EP Review
- Aly Cook - Brand New Day album review
- Crimson Rain - Why Single Review
- Sweet Az Soundsystem - Costal Connection album review
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Tour Features
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The next muzic.net.nz newsletter is going out on Sunday 3 July
and it will feature Ammp, El Schlong and Nadine Loren!
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