Newsletter Issue #374: 25 Mar 2012
Module
Thanks to Jeramiah for answering these questions:
What can we expect to see from you over the next year?
A number of things hopefully, I really want to take module into more of a live band setup and mix in the electronics elements set up a number of shows. It really depends on the demand and finding a good selection of venues around NZ where I can expand and grow the show.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Do what you love keep doing it. something will happen, and if it doesn't at least you know you tried to make something happen which means that by default you did it!
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
Ladyhawke cause she's cool, Shapeshifter cause they are awesome, The Black Seeds cause they are lovely guys, love what The Phenoix Foundation do. Head Like a Hole.
What will your next release be?
Looking at my track record it could be anything, I have done downbeat, classical, electro rock, synth pop, country, ambient. I have some rough ideas on where I want to take Module as a whole but those are not solid yet I have set up a small record label and we are doing a number of different releases which is going really well. We have a lot planned.
How do you believe you fit into the NZ music industry?
I really don't fit into the "music industry" which is a great thing. I am just a guy making my own music doing my own thing which is where I am most happy.
I really believe there is no music industry apart from the one you create for yourself. There is the "standard old school music industry "of creating music that get played on TV and radio that generate income based on exposure and placement and creating a product that will sell along with putting together a live show to generate a performance & touring income and fanbase.
And then there is your own industry which you can run how ever you like taking bits from that old industry model and doing what you like... there are no rules. Just do whatever you can for the goal is to create something that people like and want to listen to and support and making it sustainable long term so you can keep doing that.
What can you never leave home without?
iPad, USB sticks, headphones I am part of the matrix.
How do you describe your music?
I try not to have any rules any more, when I started it was down-beaty, then went all electro dance cause I started playing in clubs alot, I left that behind and seem to have created a panoramic rich sounding collection of songs, I compose on the piano, I like playing the guitar, I love most forms of music, they are all expression to serve some kind of purpose so whatever that is then I'll just do that.... mostly electronically created, although the older I get I am enjoying doing simple things... hit record done... move on.
What is the best part of being a musician?
Geekin' out on computers, jamming with people, watching people react to something you create, the magical energy between friends, collecting instruments, buzzing out on sound.
What is in your CD collection at home?
Too much Pink Floyd and David Gilmour.
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
Lyall Bay in my home studio over looking the ocean. I am a lucky ****.
What inspired you to become a musician?
I have always been one. I started making music when I was really young and had piano lessons which I did really well at and have been interested in it since.
It's crazy looking back through the vortex of time and seeing my younger self wandering around with a casino tone keyboard making music with a 4 track recorder.
How did you come up with the name Module?
In 2003 in Palmerston North my computer crashed thanks to a Windows "Module" Error I thought hey, that's a cool name.
8 years later ! :)
What is the Best/Worst gig you have ever performed at, and why?
Splore which I performed at a few times. I played straight after Shapeshifter to 6000 people but my computer crashed, rather than freak out, I just got the crowd to start clapping while I played sexy keyboard solos over top and restarted my computer with my foot (yes, I took a desktop to a gig, my laptop got stolen the night before so I had to improvise), anyway, It was magical, the whole crowd loved it and it became a highlight. My only complaint is that they then kicked me off stage because the DJ stage PA had blown up and they had a international DJ performing that they must have spent alot of money on who said to me personally as I was getting off stage much to the disappointment of the crowd. "Why are you stopping? This is awesome?". to which I said, "I have to mate, you're on next" he then took 45min to setup 2 CD DJ record players. .. which made me sad as I had spent the last bit of money I had to get up there to perform. Then I had to find a way to get home and my desktop got stolen from the car while I was catching up with a friend to borrow some money for the train home.
Ahhh touring.
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
Facebook mostly, I use to have a blog but they take too much time to maintain, Twitter is really good. Actually YouTube and Soundcloud are other great ways to build up a fanbase.
Module is Jeramiah Ross.
Website Links
Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website
Amplifier Page
MySpace Page
Facebook Page
Twitter Page
Youtube Page
Fiona Pears
Thanks to Fiona for answering these questions:
What can we expect to see from you over the next year?
I would like to hole up at home in my little music room and really do some tough practice. I really enjoy the idea of pushing myself to play the violin in different ways and discover new sounds. I have also written some rather tricky tunes that are going to take a bit of hard practice to make them sound easy! Apart from this I will be doing more concerts around NZ and looking at performing at some Aussie festivals.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Don't be scared to try new things. I was really nervous about anyone hearing my own compositions in the early days but you just have to trust your own musical instinct and go for it!
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
There are so many! I do love Split Enz and also Lorena Harding who is an amazing folk style singer/guitarist/songwriter. What never ceases to amaze me are the artists that you never hear about but are playing in local bars and are just so talented. NZ is full of original interesting artists.
What will your next release be?
Not 100% sure but I have a few ideas in the pipeline. I am thinking about going down the string quartet, solo violin, piano and percussion track... All just ideas at the moment. I would also like to put out a 1930's swing style CD in memory of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reindhart.
How do you come up with your melodies?
I get very influenced by travelling and meeting people. As I have not been travelling so much over the last few years I have found that I write a lot more about home. Moody evenings by the sea, watching my puppy dog grow up, listening to a big storm at night while I am lying in our old cottage that has a bit of a tin roof! I never know quite what will inspire a new tune but these are some of the things that I have written about lately.
Who would you most like to support live?
This is a tough one! Not another violinist! I did support for Tony Bennett which was amazing so let's stick with someone like that. On the other hand I travelled with Heather Nova doing support for her which was totally different and just loved that also... Sorry, don't know!
How do you believe you fit into the NZ music industry?
I am a bit on the outside as the violin tends to be a lot less mainstream. I hope that what I play suits many different listeners. I try to play and write something for everyone. Young or old! When you think about how many young people learn the violin only to give it up because they get bored with doing just the same music over and over again I hope to try and change that. I got very bored about the age of 13 and started to jam along with old records, (everything from Jazz to UK punk bands). This is what started me mixing together many styles of music and making the violin interesting for myself. I hope that other people can start doing this more with the violin as it is an amazing instrument with a wide range of things it can do. I always think of it like a voice without the words. You can be left as a listener to make up your own stories to the compositions.
What can you never leave home without?
I am so unromantic! After the earthquakes - My phone!
How do you describe your music?
This is a tricky one! I can't do it in one work.. It has many influences. Classical, jazz, latin, Gypsy, folk, Irish...
What is your favourite NZ venue?
Sadly a lot of musicians like myself who are based in CHCH have had to say goodbye to the beautiful old Harbour Light in Lyttelton. That was my favourite venue for many many years. There are heaps of awesome places are NZ. I am just on a NZ tour with AOTNZ at the moment and a few nights ago we played at Donavon's Store in Okarito. 36 people live there and 40 turned up to the show. It was awesome.
I guess on a larger scale I just love the old Wellington Town Hall, Royal Wanganui Opera House and the Dunedin Town Hall. I do rate our beautiful Theatre Royal in CHCH as a top venue. She will be up and running again in time so that is a good bit of news for us in CHCH.
What is the best part of being a musician?
Getting to do what I love everyday! (Don't always love the scale practice but do love the result!)
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
I guess that being an instrumentalist I would love to see more solo instruments about. I love the wide range of vocalists we have in NZ but there are so many great instrumentalists that don't really get the credit they deserve. It is just the way the industry works but maybe one day it will become easier for solo instruments to get out in the public eye more. 
What is in your CD collection at home?
Strange collection! Some of my fav's are Over the Rhine, Roby Lakatos, Pictures at an exhibition.
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
Home in Lyttelton with my hubby and doggy.
What inspired you to become a musician?
My Mother and her love of music. I knew from the age of 5 this is all I wanted to do.
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
To be honest there is not one that really stands out as I love 99% of the shows I do. A couple that were out of the ordinary for me were playing at Ronnie Scott's in London a few years ago and also performing at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Just an amazing reception from the crowd that I will never forget.
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
These days it is so easy.. Twitter, website, Facebook fan page.
Website Links
Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website
Amplifier Page
MySpace Page
Facebook Page
Youtube Page
Kieran Cooper
Since 2004, Kieran has been playing solo and in bands throughout the Auckland area.
Kieran formed Auckland band Kasium in 2008, taking on lead vocals, guitar and songwriting. He produced their 2009 EP, a music video and their 2011 debut album.
Kieran's solo career started with his self produced 2011 release 'In Search Of Reason'. These were songs that didn't fit for Kasium but kept coming back to him. As a result the album is somewhat schizophrenic, dark, rich acoustic one minute, pounding rhythm's and fuzz laden guitar leads the next. It was received warmly by reviewers:
"Awake' is bleak. Think Marilyn Manson's 'godeatgod' from Holywood, thought I dare to say Kieran Cooper has a greater vocal range than the artist formally known as Brian Warner. The music is a dreary, wind-ravaged metropolitan landscape and the Kieran's voice is the empty building on the desolate nameless street…What you just listened to was not a song; it was a piece of art and a triptych at that."
"There's so much I want to say about 'Over me', but there are so few words that could do the track justice. It is a truly beautiful work, but not in any conventional sense. It's dark and cynical… listen to the words, like really listen."
- Petros, www.muzic.net.nz (Aug 03, 2011)
Kieran's second independent album 'Yes, No, Sincerely' is being released on his website, one new track being released each week.
Thanks to Kieran for answering these questions:
What can we expect to see from you over the next year?
I'm taking some time out after my album release to work on new material and really fine tune my set. Then I'll be starting a nationwide tour, probably around August/September. I'm hoping to play anywhere and everywhere to get my music to as many people as possible, like in the good old days. I'm really looking forward to gigging and/or busking everyday! Once that's over I'll hit the studio to record my third album. I already have around 30 demos underway for it.
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
When I started finding out about more and more local artists/bands and started listening to Kiwi FM a lot I was really surprised to find out just how much was out there. And a lot of it is really great stuff.
At the moment I'm enjoying and getting influence from Fleur Jack, Tiny Ruins, the Verlaines, White Rabbit Black Monkey, Princess Chelsea, Fear Of The Dark, Decortica, The Headless Chickens, Ryan Kershaw, Jackal, Die! Die! Die!, El Bajo, The Nowhere Effect. And loads more I can't think of right now!
Oh and David Kilgour. His Sugar Mouth album is stunning. A big favourite at the moment.
What will your next release be?
I'll release another album. Probably in the same acoustic, organic style of Yes, No, Sincerely. I'm a big fan of albums. The music industry is very singles orientated at the moment and I find that very limited. You get your hit product and then move on to the next thing.
Singles are good if it's a really good song but they should leave you wanting more, wanting to hear all the work around that track. I'm hoping to appeal to people who identify with that.
How do you believe you fit into the NZ music industry?
I fit into the DIY independent musician category. And I'm proud of that because the most exciting music is often underground. Musicians can do exactly what they want, absolute creativity!
I'm not saying that being signed is bad! There are a lot of great labels like Arch Hill, Lil Chief, Flying Nun etc who release fantastic music. I just don't think it's the be all and end all when you can do it yourself in a smaller country like NZ. If you have the time and dedication!
How do you describe your music?
Alternative Singer-Songwriter. It's not truly alternative but with the narrowing mainstream scope you could say it is 'different'. My first release In Search Of Reason was written over a long period of time and has emphasis on alternative rock and almost industrial drum machines and synths.
Yes, No, Sincerely is my move into an acoustic singer-songwriter style. It feels most natural for me. There's just something about one person, an acoustic guitar and vocals. It can be so expressive and genuine.
What is the best part of being a musician?
I'm a musician for the sole purpose of writing and performing the best music I can. I don't want to be a rockstar or anything like that. So when I write music I'm proud of I feel like I'm doing the right thing. The bonus is people letting you know that they enjoy that music and get their own experience from it. The complete artistic process.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
I'll let you know when I get back from my tour :)
What inspired you to become a musician?
Everything. I can't switch it off. I tried to walk away from it once and I got really depressed. I need to express myself musically to feel complete.
Website Links
Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website
Amplifier Page
MySpace Page
Facebook Page
Twitter Page
Youtube Page
Bandcamp Page
Photo Gallery
In Search of Reason Album Review
Fly My Pretties
Led by Barnaby Weir (The Black Seeds), Fly My Pretties is a rotating collective of Kiwi musicians with an ethos of mixing well-known performers with emerging talent. In November 2011, the collective returned with a new cast, an exciting new concept, re-inspired style and re-invigorated sound. Fly My Pretties IV CD & DVD represents the best takes from the unforgettable 2011 sold out Australasian tour, performed, filmed and recorded live.
With the most diverse cast yet, the collective’s new show seamlessly encompassed everything from blues to rock, pop to psychedelia and jazz to folk music. Likewise, their stage show was re-defined and saw renowned visual/street artist Flox collaborate with the cast, finding inspiration in each song to create 16 original and dedicated pieces of art. A unifying thread throughout the show, the artworks were brought to life through projection, animation and visual trickery.
Now to launch Fly My Pretties IV CD & DVD, an exhibition comprised of original one-off works by Flox will be held in both Auckland on Krd and Wellington’s Bats Theatre during March 2012.
Photo courtesy of Georgia Schofield.
Auckland Venue: 155 K’Rd
Auckland Launch: Monday 19 March, 6pm – 9pm
Public viewing hours: Tuesday 20 March - Saturday 24 March, 10am to 6:30pm
Wellington Venue: Bats Theatre (1 Kent Tce)
Wellington Launch: Monday 26 March, 6pm – 9pm
Public viewing times: Tuesday 27 March - Saturday 1 April, 10am to 6:30pm
Website Links
Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website
Amplifier Page
MySpace Page
Facebook Page
Twitter Page
Youtube Page
Record Company Website
Soundcloud Page
NZ Music News
New Zealand Music Foundation Launched
Organisations that use music to enrich the lives of kiwis in need and members of the local music community who require emergency assistance will receive much-needed support following the formal launch of the New Zealand Music Foundation last night at Vector Arena in Auckland.
Patron Neil Finn heads the Foundation and trustees include Campbell Smith, Barbara Ward, John Cox and John Burns, Malcolm Black, musician Don McGlashan, RIANZ head Chris Caddick, APRA CEO Anthony Healey, Jana Rangooni from Mediaworks and Music Commission chief Cath Andersen.
The trustees are driven by the common belief that a huge amount of good can be achieved through music and that it can be used in all sorts of ways to improve the lives of New Zealanders.
Final Call For Applications To Red Bull Music Academy
After taking over the Spanish capital of Madrid over two fortnight long terms through October and November 2011, Red Bull Music Academy 2012 will be setting up camp in New York City from Sunday 30 September to Friday 2 November - and prospective participants have until Monday 2 April to get their applications in at http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/
Since kicking off in Berlin in 1998, this near mythical musical finishing school has traversed the globe, from London to Melbourne, Cape Town to Rome, bringing like-minded and forward-thinking producers, instrumentalists, vocalists and DJs from every conceivable genre together for an intensive semesters of workshops, concerts, club nights and studio time which relegate sleep from one of life's necessities to an optional extra.
New Zealand Musicians Band Together To 'Find A Way'
All My Brothers is an all-star musical outfit featuring some of
Including Francis Kora (Kora), Marcus Powell (Blindspott/Blacklist) and Ben Campbell (Zed, Atlas), All My Brothers is a stellar line-up who, with their first release, are throwing their weight behind a worthy cause – tackling binge drinking in young people.
‘Find A Way', featuring Sidney Diamond (formerly Young Sid of Smashproof) and Adeaze, is a soulful and honest track which speaks of the story of young people growing up in Aotearoa.
New Releases
Dane Rumble To Release New Single 'Lights Go Out' On March 26
PNC Releases New Street Album ‘Under The Influence’ On March 30th
Tour and Gig Announcements
Jo Little ‘Till the Blue Skies Come’ Album Release Tour
Legends Live – The Sons of Reggae To Play Auckland
Flight of The Conchords - Tour of NZ
Strike Elemental - Shows in Hastings, Hamilton and New Plymouth
The Black Seeds ‘Dust And Dirt release tour
Other NZ Music News
Gig and Tour News
Artist News
Muzic.net.nz News
New Artists
The following musicians have been added to the muzic.net.nz website in the last two weeks:
| Soulflex | Julien Dyne |
| The Electric Era | She's So Rad |
| Ophelias Shadow | Castlecliff Lights |
Add yourself or your band to muzic.net.nz!
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Reviews and Photos
Check out our latest reviews at the links below:
Sinate - To The Death Album Review
Julien Dyne - Live @ the San Francisco Bathhouse, Wellington - 9 March 2012
Module - Imagineering Album Review
Thanks Alistar for these awesome photos:
DJ CXL Interview
Emma asked DJ CXL some questions - you can read her interview here.
Tour Features
Every feature we have ever had on the site can be viewed here
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