This summer has been one of the most memorable so far. It was our first summer since 1994 with no Big Day Out, while Parachute celebrated it's 23rd year. There was, of course, no shortage of other music festivals which covered a wide range of genres; Laneway, Beyond the Black, Rhythm and Vines, Turbog Sounds On Festival and, taking place this weekend, Raggamuffin. Homegrown is also promising another outstanding event on the Wellington Waterfront at the start of March... summer wouldn't be complete without an exciting array of music festivals to tempt us with their sweet sounds.
Speaking of Parachute, Amanda (www.amandashootsbands.com) attended Parachute on behalf of muzic.net.nz and took some impressive photos. You can check out her photos here. It's also worth having a read of her review.
On a personal note, one of the highlights of my summer was seeing how musical my daughter (now 13 months) has become.. I love watching her squeal in delight when music is being played, while she sways from side to side and shakes her head. I wouldn't be surprised if she attends music festivals in several years' time.. who knows, she might be up on stage rocking it out with the best of them.
As you'll see from this issue, lots of things have been happening over the last couple of months - we now have over 3000 artists on our artist pages, thanks to the incredible efforts of the muzic.net.nz team. There's also several new interviews for your reading pleasure.
We've also welcomed a few new members to the muzic.net.nz team; Jay from Auckland and Chris from Christchurch. We're always on the look out for more people to join our team - more information can be found here.
It might only be February, but 2013 is already shaping up to be our biggest and best year yet.
Have a good one,
Lisa and the muzic.net.nz team.
Paper City are a young female fronted three piece Rock band. They are a tight and full sounding three piece and who play energetic pop rock that gets the crowd moving. They answered the following questions for muzic.net.nz:
Who are your role models in the NZ music industry?
I Am Giant. We met up with them at one of their shows and they were really positive people. And to be successful in the way that they are overseas is a real credit to them as a band.
Where is your favourite place to relax in NZ?
Would have to be the band room in Nelson.
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
Would probably have to be Loui The ZU. It's a totally different genre but it is exciting to see a young musician making really original world class music. (Plus he dresses really well.)
What has been your most memorable show to date?
New Year's Eve. We played on a massive pop up stage on the cathedral steps in Nelson. There was an audience of over 6 thousand standing in the street. That was probably the most memorable show for us because we had just released our single Time Will Find You and the crowd was one of the rowdiest that we have played to.
What is Paper City’s long term goal?
To make music that is meaningful to people. And to have a live show that makes the audience feel a part of what we do.
What sets you apart from other musicians/bands?
We might just be the noisiest three piece that exists.
Where do you get your inspiration to create music from?
That comes from the people giving us support and the people who come to our shows. We want to make sure that we bring them a bigger, better show every time.
What can we expect to see from Paper City over the next year?
We are in the studio at the moment recording our EP, which has producers working on it such as Ryan Beehre of Minuit, Tui award winner Andrew Buckton and Nelson producer Josh Edmonds, which will hopefully be followed up by a national tour later in the year.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Time and effort definitely pay off.
What can you never leave home without?
Guitars and longboards.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
We like to use our equipment creatively in our live sets - I (Alex) almost fell off an amp once... and Niko's drumsticks frequently go flying. But thankfully nothing too bad (yet).
What rumour would you like to start about Paper City?
Umm... That we are really good at fly fishing! Nah, but we would like people to know that our bass player Dara makes the best potato wedges… EVER.
To thank people for their support, Paper City are giving away their brand new single Time Will Find You on their facebook page, so grab a copy!
Paper City is Alex Hargreaves (guitar, vocals), Dara Copeland (bass) and Niko White (drums).
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PlasticGroove are an alternative pop / rock / indie band with a difference. With roots and a foot in the 80’s and some hard driven guitar and bass riffs. My name is Tony and I am the singer / songwriter for PlasticGroove. The only instrument I don’t play is the guitar, which is played by my good friends on the singles.
First of all I need to tell you about the masks. Why did we do it? Well I want people to judge the music first. These days it tends to be all about how you look (X-factor / NZ’s Got Talent). If your face doesn’t fit you’re out, therefore I hid my face just in case! It's like "The names have been changed to protect the innocent", except with our faces.
The 80's really interests me and thats where the idea for the cartoon characters came from, they started out as 8 bit style images and progressed from there. Music style is certainly 80's and yes people compare me to Pet Shop Boys which at first really surprised me, but I guess my voice is similar.
I have around 50 songs which I consider worthy of releasing at the moment and I am writing new stuff all the time.
The song lyrics are very important to me, I dont like happy songs or films for that matter, my theory is that if I listen to something sad or watch a depressing movie I think, “Well my Life aint so bad after all”. If I watch a happy film or listen to a happy song I think “shit my life is terrible compared to theirs and then I get depressed”.
Over the next year PlasticGroove will be releasing more singles, one every 2 months on average.
Our next single Pointless will be released later this month and I think it’s the best to date. I always try to have a very catchy hook / riff and hopefully I have achieved that again in this song.
Cheers
Tony Groove
PlasticGroove is Tony and Rory.
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Radio Interview
The website portal, the ‘Sound Mixer’ was launched today by Sounds Aotearoa, to link Māori and Pacific musicians and professionals with the music industry here in New Zealand and internationally.
Sounds Aotearoa, the Music Expo showcasing Māori and Pacific music to the global market including workshop presentations from leading international music industry professionals, is now part of the 2013 Auckland Arts Festival on 10-11 March 2013.
“Though Māori and Pacific musicians regularly appear in the charts complimenting a ‘unique New Zealand sound’ the music industry still has a long way to go in maximizing the potential of the indigenous pacific contribution”, says Sounds Aotearoa event director Emere Wano.
‘Halves’, by Auckland-based alt-country group Great North, has taken the Tui for Best Folk Album 2013.
The winner was announced today (January 27) by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) at the Auckland Folk Festival in Kumeu (West Auckland).
Great North has undergone major changes since the release of its debut album in 2010. The band has a new drummer, Ryan Attwood, after the original drummer moved to Hawaii for work and love. Also, guitarist Strahan Cole joined Avalanche City forcing him to split his time between the two groups.
‘Above the Clouds’ is the catchy new theme song for the forthcoming TVNZ comedy/drama series, Agent Anna, debuting on TV ONE on the 31st January 2013 at 8.30pm.
The song was written by Dulciana (AKA Ben King of Goldenhorse/Grand Rapids fame) and showcases the dulcet tones of singer, Little Lapin (AKA Lucy Cioffi).
“The producers of Agent Anna asked me to write the music for the show,” states King. “When they heard ‘Above The Clouds’, they couldn't believe how well it fit. They started out wanting a take on the 1960's TV themes like the Mary Tyler Moore Show, but the song took on a life of its own. The song doesn't say much lyrically because it's about a feeling, a ruthless optimism. When you see Agent Anna, it all makes sense".
New Street Chant Single
Tim Walker Releases Debut Album and New Single
New Single for Little Lapin
Coffey still hot right now!
David Dallas Releases Limited Edition Signed Buffalo Man CD + Tee
Olie Bassweight - The Ghost in the Machine
Anika, Boh & Hollie To Release Debut Album 'Peace of Mind'
Nina McSweeney Releases Debut Album
Tyree Announces the Release of Sophomore Album - Motivation
Oakley Grenell Finest Selections: The First 10 Years of Central Records
Benny Tones - Chrysalis The Remixes
Accomplished Singer-Songwriter, Maree Sheehan, To Release New Album
Popstrangers to release debut album Antipodes with a NZ tour in February
Andrew Keoghan Announces More New Zealand Shows
Flip Grater NZ Summer Tour 2013
Jackie Bristow New Zealand summer tour 2013
Paul Kelly to perform in Churches in NZ
Killing Bear and About The Deadlines Double Album Release Party
The Legendary Paul Simon Announces Two New Zealand Shows!
NZ Music News
Gig and Tour News
Artist News
The following musicians have been added to the muzic.net.nz website since the start of December 2012:
Add yourself or your band to muzic.net.nz!
Add Artist Form
Info about filling out the add artist form
Check out our latest reviews at the links below:
Parachute 2013 Review
Parachute 2013 Photos
Written by Amanda
Ekko Park - Becoming The Enemy Single Review
Written by Chris
AmosAnon - Songs of a Tortured Soul EP Review
Written by Janise
Pariah - Mass Album Review
Written by Aaron
Some Groovy PlasticGroove Singles
Written by Peter
Osmium - The Misery Harvest Album Review
Written by River
J Plates - Look Within Single Review
Written by Alistar
George FM Yearbook 2012
Written by Annemarie
Titanium - All For You Album Review
Written by Jay
David Rasmussen - Blue Sky Shining Album Review
Written by Peter
Beyond The Black NYE Festival 31/12/12
Written by Aaron
Paper City - Time Will Find You Single Review
Written by Chris
Rhythm and Vines Review
Written by River
Jamie McDell - Six Strings and a Sailboat Album Review
Written by Peter
Villainy - Mode. Set. Clear. Album Review
Written by River
Hurricane Kids @ Kings Arms Tavern 19/12/12
Written by Jay
Alizarin Lizard, Brown & Guests @ The Badcave, Palmerston North, 06/12/12
Written by Peter
Tranzmute - Awakening To The Truth Album Review
Written by Emma
The Ruby Suns - Sea Lion Album Review
Written by Chris
Silence The City - Holdfast EP review
Written by Alistar
Roadside Theory, The Rising Tide and Dobrosis @ The Royal 23/11/12
Written by Aaron
Check out our latest interviews at the links below:
The Black Seeds |
Hurricane Kids |
Osmium |
Vixen Execution |
Devile |
The Heathen Collective |
Dislocate |
Gunt |
Congratulations to D. Palmer, who won tickets to the Beyond the Black festival!
All muzic.net.nz features can be viewed here
The next muzic.net.nz newsletter is going out on Sunday 17 February
and will feature The Adventures of Mikejoffa!
Any NZ bands and musicians can feature in our newsletters
You can choose any newsletter date which suits you.
We can also feature record labels, venues, music stores, music websites
and anything else that has something to do with NZ music!
If you would like to feature in a muzic.net.nz newsletter, contact Lisa for further details.
Muzic.net.nz newsletters are currently sent out to over 8000 members!
With this number growing every day, featuring in our newsletter is an excellent promotional tool.
Our newsletter archives are one of the most accessed areas on the site.
If you would like to advertise in our newsletter and/or gig mail out, email Lisa.
The next muzic.net.nz gig mail out is going out on Sunday 10 February.
- The muzic.net.nz team