Welcome to June everyone, I hope you've all been enjoying your Queens Birthday weekend.
Winter has definitely set in, and after the glorious Summer we had, secretly it's nice for the change of season and time to bring out the winter scarves.

NZ Music Month during May was a massive success around the country, and I hope you found time to go out and support some great live music and discover some new Kiwi sounds along the way.

We have another stellar newsletter for you all this month, with features on Primacy, Rebel Sound Radio, Jackal, Violet Highway, as well as details of a brilliant podcast series, from Danny McCrum & Bobby Kennedy (OpShop). Further down we also interview Paul Matthews (I Am Giant, Stylus, Tadpole), and talk about Band Dynamics.

The abundance of musicians and bands expressing interest to be featured in Muzic.net.nz each month is always outstanding, and muzic.net.nz would not be the same without all the support we receive from bands, musicians, readers and music fans from all over the country. A big thank you to you all for this.

- Kerry and the Muzic.net.nz team.

Rebel Sound Radio formed early 2015 in Hamilton, a sleepy riverside city that has given birth to some of New Zealand's biggest artists. As both their previous bands had called it a day, a conscious decision was made by singer/guitarist/songwriter Jessie James Hanright and bass player, Craig Turner to start something new and to bring a totally different sound that would set them apart. They enlisted the help of drummer, Ashley Goodare to complete the wild, untamed, three piece and set up shop writing and molding their new found Rock n Roll sound. The band released their first single Liberation in February this year.

Liberation is a hard hitting rock song that captures the raw aggression and fresh sound that this trio enjoy to produce and sets the bar high for future efforts. The song reflects the continued growth and determination of this self funded, self produced act ­who has only been in existence for a relatively short time. They do not plan on waiting around for things to happen by chance, This song is about making the necessary changes, striving to be the best that you can be and not letting anything get in your way. Liberation was recorded at Depot Studios in Devonport by Dave Rhodes (Play it Strange, Brendon Thomas and the Vibes, John Rowles, Fire At Will, The Warratahs, the Dead Beat Boys, Static Era.) and mastered by Joe LaPorta from Sterling sound in New York (David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Three Days Grace, The Killers, Imagine Dragons).

Rebel Sound Radio are Jessie James Hanright (guitar, vocals), Craig Tuner (bass) and Ashley Goodare (drums). 

Website Links

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Rebel Sound Radio @ Diggers Bar, Hamilton 17/10/2015 (photo gallery)

Primacy is poised and very excited to release its first EP entitled Failure and Sacrifice on June 4th. The title track is essentially a song about the failures of organised religions and their seemingly declining importance in today's society. The song is about religion, not faith. Personal faith and organised religion are not synonymous - it is possible to be spiritual and have faith in a higher power, without being born into a strict religion which dictates your faith from the day you come into the world to the day you leave.

Primacy will be releasing a music video for Failure and Sacrifice to support the EP release, and it features statues of angels, still perched above the resting places of people who were part of organised religion - over a hundred years after their passing the angels remain, symbolically displaying the control religions can have over us all. But it is not a song of doom and gloom... more it is a song of hope for a new and brighter future for us all, as individuals, free to find our own beliefs and ideals from within.

They will be organising further shows to get their music out into other city centres as the year progresses, while hoping to record another release sometime in late 2017. Will answered the following questions for muzic.net.nz:

How did you become involved in music?

I was always drawn to drums, even as a baby. My mother told me I would smash on the metal rubbish bin in the garden endlessly, much to the dismay of the neighbours. I got my first kit when I was 13, and it was a mish mash of kits, covered in vinyl wrap to make them the same colour. It was an awful drum-set. I got seriously into bands etc. when I was 17.

If you could perform with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

Probably Metallica, due to the fact that as a teenager, they ruled my universe. Not so much these days, but playing with them would be a childhood dream realised.

Which one of your songs are you most proud of, and why?

I would have to say Failure and Sacrifice is probably my favourite Primacy track. The lyrics have a strong connection to me because I went to Jewish, Catholic and Christian schools during my childhood. They all pulled me this way and that, and they all had differing rules, beliefs and ideals. This contradiction showed me that it was more important for me to discover my own philosophy, than rely on other peoples interpretations of ancient scripture.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard it before?

I would define us as "open minded metal", because each of the members likes different forms of rock and metal music. Jason likes Grungy stuff, Adrian likes some Blues influences, Sadeer likes Prog based music, Jared likes a lot of modern rock, and I like a lot of extreme death metal bands. So, as a collective this means our songs have a mix of styles and influences, which keeps our sound very flexible. We have ballads, and we have ballsy.

What can we expect to see from you in the next year?

We are aiming to do small pockets of shows around the North Island. We aren't financially capable of managing South Island shows yet, but we do hope to travel further down at a later date. We will also be working on new material for the 2017 release (whatever that may be).

What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?

To be honest, I see a lot of bands as is. I film bands as a full time hobby, so there are plenty to pick from. I like to see bands that have conviction in what they do. I like to see their resolve on stage. It makes a big difference to the audience if the band is up front doing their thing with energy.

What local albums have you been enjoying recently?

Personally, I really dig Dawn of Azazel's album Tides of Damocles. Also releases from Seeds of Orbit, Seasons, Outside In, Exordium Mors, Subtract, His Master's Voice, Heterodox... the list goes on. This is just my playlist of local music though, not a reflection of the band's overall tastes in music.

What is your favourite NZ venue, and why?

Probably the Kings Arms in Auckland. The sound is always great, the staff are very cool, and for local bands, the venue is accessible. Value for money, the Kings Arms is one of the best around.

Have you got any tips for dealing with nerves before a gig?

Probably the best cure for nerves is being prepared. Practice hard and know your material. Be sure the band is a unit before you step on a stage. If someone has an issue during the show, the band can rally and recover. Check your gear and make sure you have some kind of contingency plan for equipment failure... it's a lot less stressful when you have a solid game plan. And remember that even the best have bad shows... so don't be too hard on yourself, and this will relieve the stress of the night.

How do you balance your music with other obligations; family, job etc.?

My family supports my need to play music, so it's never an issue. It's not a hobby to me, and people around me understand this.

Where do you get your inspiration to create music from?

Adrian usually comes up with a collection of riffs, and he comes to record them at my place. From there, I cut, paste and construct a viable template for the band to work on, by adding sequenced drum ideas to the riff. The song evolves from there as a collective effort. Lyrics are usually the final touch once the music is solid.

Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?

Practice. Every day. Even if you can only do 30 minutes, do that. If you can do an hour or two, then do that. Learn songs that are a little out of your comfort zone which challenge your abilities. No one ever improved their skills by sticking to safe and easy. And finally, remember every musical hero you aspire to be was terrible at some point... they just practiced a lot. Be like them. Aspire to be something more than you are today.

Primacy are Jason McIver (vocals), Adrian Brausch (lead guitar), Sadeer Kattan (bass), Jared Tobin (rhythm guitar) and Will Bloodfarm (drums).

Website Links

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iTunes Shadeblack Single
iTunes The Secret Single

Primacy - Failure and Sacrifice (press release)

Single Review: Shadeblack
Gig Review: Primacy @ Bar Eden, Auckland 7/02/2015
EP Review: Failure and Sacrifice

Last year, as Jackal were putting the final touches on their fifth album Sparkle, guitarist Will McGrath made the decision to move to LA. The Jumping Out The Window recording sessions started just three weeks after the release of Sparkle in February 2015. “I knew I was leaving by the time Sparkle had been released,” says Will. “But we had another batch of really great songs and thought we could push ourselves to get them recorded so we could have one final release. We were finishing the recording literally the day before I went to LA. I feel the songs on Jumping Out The Window reflect on me leaving and the band saying goodbye in a way.”

Jumping Out the Window consists mainly of acoustic numbers, differing from the band's previous albums. “We didn’t really set out to write more of a stripped back record," says Alec Cummins (bass). “But these quieter songs just came naturally to us at the time and we went from there. We never feel like we need to follow the sound we've done before.”

As Will is now living in the States, this may be the last recording from Jackal for some time, but the band says the door isn’t shut on more material in the future. “We’re all really proud of the EP and feel it stands up with the rest of our work we've done over the years,” says Will. "And there's always the chance Jackal will work together again in future."

Jackal are Theo McGrath (vocals, guitar), Alec Cummins (bass, backing vocals), Will McGrath (guitar)
and Hayden Keach (drums).

Website Links

Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website 
Facebook Page 
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Violet Highway is a female fronted three-piece that plies a fiery blend of Rock, Pop and Blues that will leave you torn between dancing up a storm and drunk texting your ex. They match passionate lyrics with catchy melodies and powerful instrumentation. Lead vocalist Jacqui Munro belts out a tone described by listeners as "PJ Harvey meets Joan Jett" alongside her own gritty guitar work. 

The band’s rhythm section is defined by attention grabbing bass riffs from Ant Deane and heavy, energetic drumming from James Rimmer. The band balance their time between the studio and the stage, playing fortnightly to an ever growing audience. Their debut EP was released in September 2015 and was met with excitement by their fans, described as "doing justice to the energy of their live sets". In addition to achieving airtime on BFM, NZ Musician magazine received the EP enthusiastically describing it as "everything you could want from a group of pop rocking westies" and picking their bluesy track Desire as the obvious stand out. Thanks to the help of Chillbox Creative they have just filmed their debut music video for their track Desire which is due to release June 2016.

Jacqui answered the following questions for Muzic.net.nz:

How did you become involved in music?

I was forced to learn piano at age 4 and was finally allowed to quit at age 10 and swore I'd never play an instrument again. 3 years later I picked up my Mum's guitar and started playing around with it, haven't looked back since. Thanks Mum!                      

Which one of your songs are you most proud of, and why?

I'm sure we'd all have different answers for this but I would have to say Desire - it symbolised a step away from other songs I'd written being the first Blues song. The lyrics are very emotional, it's super fun to play live - our drummer came up with this new beat at the end where we just keep speeding up to a crazy finale, the recording we did a Capgun was top quality, and the video clip we just shot for it is looking epic, I can't wait to see the final product.                      

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard it before?

Quite eclectic but ranging from grunge to blues rock a female vocalist                      

What can we expect to see from you in the next year?

Well our debut music video is being released this June, get excited! Other than that we shall be continuing to gig and are hoping to record a couple more singles shortly. Oh and world domination naturally.                      

What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?

Miss June, Dukebox, She Loves You. Just so great live and cool to see other female musicians doing their thing in a male dominated scene. Oh and I'm forever hoping that The Checks will reunite... I've seen them about 4 times and Ant around 6.                      

What is your favourite NZ venue, and why?

Depending on crowd size I'd have to say either Powerstation or Kings Arms. Great sound, cool atmosphere and you get to be right up close to the performers.                      

Have you got any tips for dealing with nerves before a gig?

.... shots! No but really make sure you get there with enough time to set up and sound check. Don't finish sound checking until you can hear everything clearly. Use that opportunity to reassure yourself of your abilities. Other than that use your nerves to help amp you up, it'll all come together once you're on stage.                      

Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?

To quote the singer from Tacocat "start a band with your friends". Stop thinking and start doing, we all start somewhere!

Violet Highway is Jacqui (vocals, guitar), Ant (bass) and James (drums).

Website Links

Muzic.net.nz Page
Facebook Page 
Youtube Page 
Bandcamp Page 
SoundCloud Page

James Donaldson spoke to producer/engineer and bassist extraordinaire (I Am Giant, Stylus, Tadpole) Paul Matthews for muzic.net.nz about where he came from and what his plans are. Here's what he had to say:

What do you have in your pockets right now?

Absolutely nothing cos my jeans are too tight.

You have been in the industry a while now, how did it all begin?

I played bass in a high school Rockquest band with my schoolmates, which later evolved into a band called Stylus. We played around Auckland for a few years and I attended both SAE and MAINZ where I studied Audio Engineering and Contemporary Music Performance.

At the end of 1999 Stylus took a break for a few years when I joined another Auckland band called Tadpole. That was my first opportunity to play in a band that was being played on the radio and playing good sized shows throughout NZ all at a time when local music was gaining momentum in NZ. It was good timing for me because Renee and Dean had been slogging it out for years and then I joined right as it all came together for Tadpole.

Let’s talk about some standout points in your career so far that some people may not know about.

The standout point of my career was actually surviving a crossbow murder attempt in 2003 when I made it onto NZ national news for the first and only time. There is nothing quite as exciting as escaping with your life.

SAE and Mainz

I studied at SAE in Auckland in 1997 and MAINZ in 1999.

I’d advocate both and in particular going to SAE straight out of high school taught me so much. I didn't even know what multi-track tape was so it gave me foundations and gave me the opportunity to spend a lot more time focusing on music. My year at MAINZ gave me the opportunity to practise the Bass a lot.. so that particular year I was able to step up my game and I think if I hadn’t had that intensive year of “practice practice practice” I wouldn’t have been good enough at the instrument to get the Tadpole gig. When I started SAE we were cutting and splicing together 1/4 inch tape to make edits, and about 90% of the recording I did at SAE was done to 2 inch 24 track tape. The other 10% was using an O2R onto ADAT which at the time was cutting edge technology.

Blindspott production

I went to school with Shelton who was the drummer for Blindspott. His best mate’s brother Chris Yong was in Tadpole with me. I’d been recording demos for the bands I was in and I’d recorded some for other local bands, one in particular, a local rap-metal band called Counteract. Shelton heard their demo, and saw me at a Fantomas gig at the Powerstation and asked if I could record his band. That was how I ended up recording Blindspott’s first track Nil By Mouth along with soon-to-be Stylus drummer Dave Rhodes. This was at the old Antenna Records studio in Auckland in 2001 who Tadpole were signed to. In 2002 we recorded the whole album mostly at York St with Clint Murphy. Dave Rhodes mixed it at York St.

Stylus writing/production/bass

I left Tadpole at the start of 2002 so I could focus more on picking back up with Stylus and my last gig with Tadpole was the Big Day Out 2002 which was a great show to finish on. I then started working on the first Stylus album Painkillers. That was a really enjoyable period, and the same year that we recorded Blindspott’s first album which went on to do really well in NZ. Stylus had a studio in Grey Lynn and we recorded our first album Painkillers in there. We signed to Murray Cammick’s label, Wildside Records, and started touring NZ. We pretty much shared production and engineering duties within the band, and Dave mixed all the Stylus stuff. He was the better, more experienced (older haha) engineer so I picked up a lot from him during those years.

Move to London in 2007

By 2005 - 2006 I realised my capacity to grow and improve as both a producer and a band guy had hit a ceiling. Purely the numbers game. With Stylus we were confined to a very small territory, very far away from the action, pushing a niche sound to a population of less than 1% of the English speaking world. All the bands we loved were coming from the US and from the UK, and NZ’s most notable musical success story at the time was Neil Finn whose success had involved being based overseas. This was also around the same time The Datsuns were getting a lot of attention in the UK, and Shihad who had moved to Melbourne previously were doing a lot up in the US. So it seemed like the right idea. 

As a producer/engineer one of the things that hit home about the limitations of being based in NZ was an emerging pattern whereby the few major label artists in NZ would fly in overseas guys to record them. Sometimes they did a good job, but others were actually worse than what us Kiwi guys could do.

And when it came time for the second Blindspott record they flew in some overseas guys. After I’d produced an album for them that put them on the map in NZ and sold over 40,000 copies, for their follow up record they picked some guys from overseas who’s total sales history in NZ wouldn’t have been a tenth of that. They were really good engineers though and there is no disputing that they were the product of being active in a much deeper talent pool. But the first Blindspott album still by far outsold the second so… shame on everyone's undies really.

Hence I made up my mind that I needed to up my game and put myself in an environment where I could do so. So I moved to London in 2007.

Would I advocate moving overseas..? Absolutely.

Is it essential? Depending on your genre, possibly not.

Since I relocated, Lorde and Joel Little trumped Neil Finn, won a Grammy and became NZ’s most notable musical success story which all happened from NZ. There have been others too like Broods and The Naked and Famous that are doing well internationally based out of NZ.

I Am Giant 

I formed I Am Giant with Shelton in 2008, and we’ve told anybody who'll listen over and over how long we were looking for a singer before we found our first singer Ed. It’s been collaborative, but it would be fair to say I’ve been the principal songwriter and lyricist from the start, mostly I think because I’m one of those 'hard outs', which I’ve been called enough that I have to concede that it’s somewhat true. Moving to London was a bit of a culture shock but we stuck it out. We did a lot with I Am Giant, played in a load of places. All through Europe, Asia and in NY and LA. NZ took to us quickly thanks in part to our history within the NZ music scene as well as winning a competition to open the rock stage at Homegrown on the back of our brand new single City Limits which the rock had started playing. We also had good management in Teresa Patterson who put together our first NZ tour with Luger Boa and Black River Drive which went well. On the back of the Homegrown gig we signed to Sony NZ. Poland also took to I Am Giant quickly and we have a good fan base there still. We've thrown around the theory that Poland is like the west Auckland of Europe so maybe there’s something in that. We recorded both of our albums with Forrester Savell. The first album, The Horrifying Truth, was a great learning curve for me as Forrester’s attention to detail was next level which he attributed to having worked in a studio in LA and seeing first-hand how all the guns over there were doing it.

Paul Matthews Engineering/Production. Tell me a bit more about PMMP business?

Initially my primary focus lay with whatever band I was in, but I’d work as a freelance Producer/Engineer to help get by while I was doing that. Eventually I got busier and busier doing that. Aside from I Am Giant and Blindspott I’ve worked with some good Kiwi artists over the years including OpShop and Six60. I recorded an EP for OpShop which included a great song called Oxygen. I still really love that song. Jason Kerrison is one of the best singers I've recorded. And for Six60 I produced, engineered and mixed their track Rise Up along with Shelton. That did amazingly well and went to number 1 and sold over 15k copies which is Platinum in NZ. I produced an album for Michael Murphy who was runner up in the first NZ Idol. Shelton and I also recorded a fantastic track for Brendon Thomas and The Vibes last year who were runners up in the last NZ XFactor but the band and their management decided it wasn’t the right direction for them.

As of recent, I have a small studio in New Malden which is close to Wimbledon in London where I’m still based most of the year round.

While I’ve been in NZ recently I’ve produced the debut EP for Christchurch band Setting Fire To Stacey. Back in London, I've been working and developing a young band from Kent called The Alchemy. Their debut EP has only just come out. With The Alchemy I’ve been taking a more long term approach and I’ve been involved in managing and mentoring them. There's a sentiment in the UK that bands take 3 albums before a band really starts getting attention. There's plenty of case studies that suggest that.

In terms of Production, from the very first album I produced (which was Blindspott), I've taken a holistic approach to the recording by starting with the song, and the lyrics first. Work with the song and get it into a state that it is as good as we can make it before we even start laying down the guides. So effectively I’ll often have a co-writing role with the artists I work with.

I’ve also been working on another project with Shelton and Laughton Kora called Kinetic which is a more electronic based project and has been a lot of fun.

Laughton would be another of the best singers I’ve recorded. I’d get the kind of Vocal take from him I’d be begging other singers for and I’d hit stop and he’d say: “Again, I can do that better”. I keep all the takes anyway just in case.

He sang our first song Living the Illusion and I comped together the best takes and sent it to him. It sounded amazing. The next time he came into the studio he said ‘I want to sing that whole song again’. Shelton and I just did the old "ah mate we haven’t got time or budget" trick on that one because it sounds great and that’s the take that is in the track now.

You have worked with and played with some big names so far. What are a few highlights for you?

Touring in Oz with Slash in 2012 was unforgettable and a landmark for me because growing up I was such a huge fan of Slash and GnR. There have been plenty of other highlights too. We toured Oz with Dead Letter Circus, they’re great guys and that was a really cool tour to be on. I'd say having a number 1 on the back of playing on XFactor is worth a mention too.

Over 15 years in the business now, how has it changed?

Oh this topic… I’m talked to/at about this so much.. for years now. I don’t even know where to start. It’s like asking how the travel industry changed with the introduction of aviation. I probably don’t want to write a thesis on it tho.. not when I could be talking about myself instead haha. I like how I can listen to pretty much any song instantly on Spotify. So for the listener it's great. Of course the value of a recording has now gone down so much that it's hard for labels to advance anything to cover the costs of recording and releasing an album when they won’t make anything back from sales anymore. People are having to find new alternatives to enable them to record.

This has a knock on effect in the industry and a number of the big recording studios in London have closed down over the past few years.

And then you have guys like Skrillex who are outputting number 1’s straight from the master bus on Ableton on his Macbook. And his stuff sounds wicked.. and even better... it sounds exciting. So... like everything, change is inevitable as is adaptation to that change.

I’d speculate that the task of getting your band noticed today, is as hard as it’s ever been, but that really great acts will still get noticed.

You have a great ear for catchy melodies and some sick lyrics where does the inspiration come from?

That’s very kind of you to say and much appreciated. I think we all pick out melodies and lyrics that we’d like to hear ourselves and that feel good to us. I think often the melodies originate from somewhere deep in your memory where they've been stored away from something we’ve heard in the past, even fleetingly. There was one lyric in particular on Science and Survival, the second I Am Giant record where I thought "surely this is the best I’ve done, this is awesome". And then about 2 years later I heard it in a Duran Duran song. I agonised over that lyric - sat on a rainy hilltop and everything. I could have just cut out the middleman and nicked it straight from Duran Duran because clearly they came up with it first.

The content of the lyrics comes from all over the place, we’ve always said in I Am Giant they’re a collection of stories, thoughts and moments.

Sometimes it’s just what comes out and sounds good over the music and you just make it fit. I don’t think a lot of writers freely admit it but I’m sure I hear it everywhere.

The Chilli Peppers song Around the World, the “nong ning nang" line in the 3rd verse.. quick just finish the verse so we can record the song.

Fame or fortune?

I’ll honestly take reversal of human impact on the planet please. 

The narcissistic fame thing doesn’t make me feel great I have to be honest, I dislike it. But fortune would be hard to turn down and would certainly alleviate the challenge of getting by.

Am I fiercely striving for any of the above? Sadly not.

What’s next for PM?

I’m in the middle of working with The Alchemy and putting together their first full length album, I’m working on a new Agent album, and Ed Martin our former IAG singer's debut solo effort is still underway.

I’m finishing up with some friends of mine in London called The Lagan who are an Irish punk outfit. They have a great, fun new track on the way.

I’m also in the middle of an EP for Tokyo Rock Machine who are a good fun 80’s style rock band.

I’ve just started working on a track for UK based kiwi singer Miss Bridget Walsh.

Coming up in the next 6 months, I have an EP planned with Jason Kerrison that I’m looking forward to working on. 

We have some more Kinetic tracks we’re going to work on.. we have 6 already so not far from having a whole albums worth. 

And.. I’ve started writing for a 3rd I Am Giant record, so depending on how that comes together with the other guys there may be something to release towards the end of the year, peoples schedules and behavioural issues permitting.

Danny McCrum and Bobby Kennedy have recently launched a podcast series where we talk to creative professionals about their careers. Musicians, producers, engineers, actors, comedians, directors and more. They spoke to muzic.net.nz about this podcast series:

We feel these industries are often misrepresented through stereotypes and marketing spin, often leading the public and up and coming creative people to a warped impression of what we all do. The fact is, creative professionals are fascinating characters who have had to work very hard and overcome many personal and professional obstacles. They are dedicated, multi-talented people who make great sacrifices and take great risks and we think this is worth celebrating.

So our agenda is to shine a light on this subject through a series of podcasts. The conversations are relaxed, unscripted and honest. We hope this will prove to be a great resource for those wanting to pursue a career in the arts and an interesting and inspiring listen for everybody else.

This is who we are:

Drummer Bobby Kennedy was a founding member of OpShop and Stereobus. OpShop became one of the most successful bands in New Zealand history and during his time in the band they toured the world and experienced all sides of the music industry. He has also played for many other greats including Neil Finn and he currently tours with AutoMatic 80s.

Guitarist Danny McCrum is a solo artist and a session musician. He has released three albums, he’s been a full time musician for over eleven years and he’s played support for many top artists including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Tommy Emmanuel, John Mayer & many more. He currently tours with The Buskers, Magnolia Memoir (LA) and AutoMatic 80s.

Find out more about us and listen to our episodes at:

http://www.dontgiveupyourdayjob.co.nz/

www.facebook.com/dontgiveupyourdayjob

Our episodes are also available on http://www.buzzsprout.com/ and iTunes

Band Dynamics
An article written by Paul Harvey from Splitrock Media Productions for muzic.net.nz.

It has often been said that the most unlikely of musical treasures has been created from some of the most diametrically opposed characters. History is littered with the rise and fall of bands with one hit wonders. They have had that one shining moment when it has all come together and the magic has happened and they have created something beautiful then all of that energy and passion and months of work has been blown away by ego’s, money, lifestyle choices and just plain lack of talent.

I guess the topic of band dynamics has not been an aspect of the industry that has eluded most musicians. I think I could safely say that we have all suffered the destructive forces and ignominy of a band’s dysfunction had they but adhered to a few tried and trusted rules.  Having been involved in the music scene for a couple of decades, and been in more bands than I care to think about I have learnt some both painful lessons and some profound truths about my industry. As I write this, we have recently watched the passing of “Prince” another celebrated and honoured musician who has passed away at the relatively early age of 57. His passing marks the departure of another entertainment celebrity who has made his indelible marks on the industry, but suffered the result of poor personal choices. This highlights for me the topic of band dynamics and the manner in which so much has been lost and destroyed by poor life choices, bad information and some people operating well and truly out of their capabilities.

Firstly let me say that there is no tried and true formula for musical perfection but rather there are some guidelines that I want to share which give good shape and direction to the decision making process. By this I mean that for both the musicians and the managers, promoters, recording studios and the music companies that make so much money out of our blood seat and tears, there is a road map to success.

Secondly despite one’s best intentions and focus, if you are working with those who are not equal to you in abilities and talent, then you are always going to suffer their inadequacies. It is not my intention to be unkind or to deliberately be hurtful here, however for those of you who are involved in this business, and mark my words it is a business. You need to understand the scope and limitations of what it means to being in a band that you don’t fit or an industry that is not gentle with the meek and mild.

Let me lift the lid on some hard facts about this business and some of the realities of being in a band. Not all musicians in a band get along, just because they are musicians, or just because they are in a band doesn’t mean they are bosom buddies. There are more than enough sad stories about bands with an amazing sound and an on stage persona, that have some of the most dysfunctional personal lives and interactions with other band members. I think the movie, The Commitments, has captured the essence of what I am saying here. It’s worth a watch just for the insight it brings to the industry irrespective of the music genre you make like.

Musical taste is as varied and as individual as the person listening to it and so too are the personalities that come to the industry with their dreams and inspirations. Therefore if you’re not prepared to accept that not all folk who pick up an instrument are going to agree or appreciate what you do or even pretend to be your friend, then maybe you should seek another hobby or career.

Read the full article here

Next issue: Recording Studio Etiquette

Winners Announced for the 2016 MMF Music Managers Awards

The MMF New Zealand, Recorded Music New Zealand, OneMusic, and the New Zealand Music Commission are proud to announce the winners of the 2016 Music Managers Awards. The Tuning Fork hosted managers, industry professionals and celebrities, as everyone came together to celebrate the people behind some of the biggest artists in the New Zealand music industry.

The MMF Music Managers Awards celebrates the very best of those New Zealand music managers who support their artists every step of the way. The awards have become one of this country's most respected music industry events, and tonight was no different.

For the second year in a row, Ashley Page took home the prestigious Recorded Music NZ Manager of the Year award for his work with the artists Broods, Joel Little, Jarryd James and Alex Hope. Ashley has continued to take his artists from strength to strength in the last year. Broods won four Tuis at the 2015 Vodafone Music Awards and played five US music festivals, while Joel Little was nominated for 3 APRA Silver Scroll Awards. Ashley also signed Jarryd James to Interscope who clocked up 40 million streams worldwide. He also started working with songwriter Alex Hope who co-produced Troye Sivans international hit EP Wild, which went to #1 on Itunes in 50 territories.

Congratulations to all winners.

Full Article

Country Music Winners Announced

The Warratahs’ Runaway Days has been selected as New Zealand’s Best Country Music Album for 2016, while Mel Parsons’ Alberta Sun has been selected as the Best Country Music Song.

Both awards have been presented this evening (June 2) at the New Zealand Country Music Awards in Gore.

Runaway Days is The Warratahs’ seventh studio album and a true testament to the group’s 25 years of critical acclaim.

The album is again a collection of Barry Saunders' songs and was primarily recorded as if live with no rehearsals in the lead in to studio time. The result is a fresh feeling recording that exemplifies the group’s stripped back brand of country/folk with a burst of ‘50s style rock and roll.

Recorded Music NZ CEO Damian Vaughan says The Warratahs are a long-standing example of the excellent country music New Zealand produces.

Full Article

Pacific Underground recognised with Lifetime Achievement Award

One of Pacific music’s most recognisable names is to be honoured with the Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award at the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards.

Scheduled to take place on June 9 at the Vodafone Events Centre in Auckland, this year’s Awards will see the twelfth time a Lifetime Achievement Award is made, this time to worthy recipient Pacific Underground.

The country’s longest running Pacific performing arts organisation, Pacific Underground (PU) is a collective which formed in Christchurch in 1993. Since then, the group has shared stories of Pasifika communities living in Aotearoa through plays, music concerts, events, CDs, tours and collaborations with artists all over the Pacific.

Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua notes that this Award recognises artists who have significantly contributed to Pacific music over an extended period of time. “That’s certainly something the community sees in Pacific Underground. Since 1993, this group has occupied a central space in the local scene and across a wide variety of mediums, including the production of music, theatre, events and more. I love that Pacific Underground started in a very humble, grassroots way, but its influence and contribution today is being recognised and honoured.” 

Full Article

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New Releases

Tokyo Rock Machine - New Ink
Miller - Shoot Me In The Heart
Kings - Don't Worry Bout It
Huia - Ata
Diaz Grimm - Isis
Mice On Stilts - Khandallah
Ladyhawke - The River
Princess Chelsea - Is It All OK?
Anemoia - Killer
Sachi - Hold On
Bakers Eddy - Wallbreaker
Primacy - Failure and Sacrifice
Sir T - Legend
Cian Lynch - The Day The Doctor Died
Yoko-Zuna - Lightning Sabres Featuring P. Digsss
Trust Punks - Paradise/Angel-wire
Blackveil - Dreams
Lawrence Arabia - A Lake
Fazerdaze - Little Uneasy
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - First World Problem
Pacific Heights - The Stillness
Yumi Zouma - Yoncalla
Gareth Thomas - Fizzy Milk
TrinityRoots - This Road
No Broadcast - Dilana After Hours
Prizegiving - No Harm Done and Vailima
Mi-Sex - My Sex Your Sex
Moana & The Tribe - Fire In Paradise
Jackie Bristow & Jason Kerrison - Warrior Spirit
Set On End - The Dark Beyond
Delete Delete - Silver Linings

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Upcoming Tours

(in no particular order)

Local

Avalanche City
9 June @ Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga - 10 June @ Great Lake Centre Theatre, Taupo -
11 June @ MTG Century Theatre, Napier - 16 June @ Theatre Royal, New Plymouth -
17 June @ The Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North and 18 June @ Opera House, Wellington
Broods
with Thomston and October
14 July @ Horncastle Arena, Christchurch - 15 July @ Vector Arena, Auckland and 17 July @ Shed 6, Wellington
Ladyhawke
21 July @ CPSA, Christchurch - 22 July @ Bodega, Wellington and 23 July @ Powerstation, Auckland
TrinityRoots
9 June @ Tuning Fork, Auckland - 10 June @ The Ferry Ale House, Christchurch
and 11 June @ San Francisco Bathhouse, Wellington
Aaradhna
11 June @ Neck of the Woods, Auckland and 17 June @ Bodega, Wellington
Fly My Pretties - String Theory
12-13 August @ Mercury Theatre, Auckland and 19-20 August @ Paramount Theatre, Wellington
Curlys Jewels
9 July @ Valhalla, Wellington
Louie Knuxx
10 June @ Las Vegas, Auckland - 11 June @ The Mayfair, New Plymouth and 12 June @ The Yot Club, Raglan
Wellington Jazz Festival
Featuring Rodger Fox Big Band, Hollie Smith, Mark Williams, Debbie Harwood and Erna Ferry
12 June @ Opera House, Wellington
The Ritual
Featuring Destitude, Insidious Wretch and Blutflek
17 June @ Valhalla, Wellington
Seth Haapu
25 June @ The Portland Public House, Auckland
Unleashing The Aggression
Featuring 8 Foot Sativa with Broken Season, Tensions Arise (AUS) and Unleash The Kraken
1 July @ Kings Arms, Auckland
Winterfest
Featuring Vargafrost, Men An Tol and Voice of the Black Pharaoh
30 July @ Darkroom, Christchurch
James Reid
15 June @ Aparima Restaurant and Bar, Riverton
Lawrence Arabia
13 July @ Grainstore Gallery, Oamaru - 14 July @ Sherwood, Queenstown - 15 July @ Coronation Hall, Dunedin -
16 July @ Blue Smoke, Christchurch - 22 July @ Cabana, Napier - 23 July @ San Francisco Bathhouse, Wellington
and 29 July @ Crystal Palace, Auckland

International

Troye Sivan
28 July @ Horncastle Arena, Christchurch - 30 & 31 July @ Town Hall, Auckland
Vengaboys
28 October @ Claudelands Arena, Hamilton and 29 October @ Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland
Steel Panther
26 June @ Powerstation, Auckland
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
28 July @ Vector Arena, Auckland and 30 July @ Horncastle Arena, Christchurch
Disturbed with Devilskin
18 November @ Vector Arena, Auckland
Drowning Pool
24 July @ Kings Arms, Auckland
Leo Sayer and Lulu
26 June @ The Civic, Auckland
Brandy
15 June @ Civic Theatre, Auckland
Steven Wilson
26 October @ Powerstation, Auckland
Li'l Chuck
18 June @ The Wine Cellar, Auckland
Craig Robinson
22 June @ Kings Arms, Auckland
Flume
19 July @ Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin - 20 July @ Horncastle Arena, Christchurch
and 22 July @ Vector Arena, Auckland
Bad Manners
18 October @ Bodega, Wellington - 19 October @ The Cabana, Napier - 20 October @ Totara Street, Tauranga -
21 October @ Altitude, Hamilton - 22 October @ Kings Arms, Auckland and 23 October @ Churchills, Christchurch
Twenty One Pilots
24 March 2017 @ TSB Bank Arena, Wellington and 25 March 2017 @ Vector Arena, Auckland
The Smith Street Band
23 June @ Kings Arms, Auckland - 24 June @ Great Job, Palmerston North and 25 June @ Moon 1, Wellington
Slipknot with Lamb of God
26 October @ Vector Arena, Auckland
The Internet
2 August @ Powerstation, Auckland and 4 August @ Shed 6, Wellington
The Hendrix Revolution Tour with Randy Hansen
10 June @ Kings Arms, Auckland
The Cure
21 July @ Vector Arena, Auckland
Snarky Puppy
11 June @ Opera House, Wellington
Henry Rollins
26 August @ Union Hall, Dunedin - 27 August @ Crystal Palace, Auckland
and 28 August @ Paramount Theatre, Wellington
The Kills
28 July @ Powerstation, Auckland and 29 July @ Shed 6, Wellington
A&AP Ferg
22 September @ Powerstation, Auckland
The Mission
18 November @ Bodega, Wellington and 19 November @ Powerstation, Auckland
Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox
29 August @ Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch - 30 August @ Town Hall, Dunedin -
1 September @ Civic Theatre, Invercargill - 2 September @ Shed 6, Wellington -
3 September @ Regent Theatre, Palmerston North - 4 September @ Municipal Theatre, Napier
and 5 September @ ASB Theatre, Auckland
Tech N9NE
15-16 November @ Bodega, Wellington and 17-18 November @ Powerstation, Auckland
Tash Sultana
11 November @ Kings Arms, Auckland
OMI
1 July @ Stampede Bar, Auckland
Fat White Family
29 July @ Kings Arms, Auckland and 30 July @ Bodega, Wellington

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Latest NZ Music News
Latest Gig and Tour Announcements

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If you think you'd like to volunteer for us, we'd love to hear from you! Email [email protected] today for more info.

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New Reviews

Check out our latest reviews at the links below:

Tokyo Rock Machine - EP Review: New Ink
Written by Andrew

Lead Us Forth - Album Review: Interlocutor
Written by James D

Sea Fog - Album Review: Raise Your Skinny Fist
Written by Peter

Zen Mantra - Album Review: Zen Mantra
Written by Crystal

Various Artists – Album Review: Ae Fond Kiss
Written by Peter

Gig Review: The Jordan Luck Band @ Kings Arms, Auckland - 14/5/16
Written by Andrew

Tempist Fujit - EP Review: No More Time
Written by James H

Yumi Zouma - Album Review: Yoncalla
Written by Ria

Red Sky Blues - Album Review: Red Sky Blues
Written by Peter

Gig Review: Shihad @ Meow, Wellington - 1/05/16
Written by Charlie

Gig Review: Shihad @ The Powerstation, Auckland - 1/5/2016
Written by Andrew

Bailey Wiley - EP Review: S.O.M.M.
Written by Crystal

Damien Binder - Album Review: A New World
Written by Peter

The Jordan Luck Band - Album Review: Not Only... But Also
Written by Andrew

Gig Review: The Jason McIver Collective & The James @ The Kings Arms, Auckland - 22/04/2016
Written by Crystal

Pales - Album Review: Don't Be So Nice
Written by Ria

The Doqument - Album Review: 509
Written by James

Nation - EP Review: Nation
Written by Crystal

Primacy - EP Review: Failure and Sacrifice
Written by Peter

Jay Clarkson - Album Review: Spur
Written by Peter

Ladyhawke - Album Review: Wild Things
Written by Crystal

Dilz - Album Review: Scrapbook
Written by James

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All of our reviews can be read here.
All our interviews can be read here.
Email [email protected] if you would like us to review your music.

New Photos

Check out our latest photos at the links below:

The Jordan Luck Band
Coridian
Photos by Grant

The Jason McIver Collective
Skinny Hobos
Quinn The Human
Photos by Lou

The Jordan Luck Band with Ekko Park
Photos by Andrew

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All of our photo galleries can all be viewed here.
Email [email protected]if you would like us to photograph you.

Tour Features

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All muzic.net.nz tour features can be viewed here
Email team@muzic.net.nz if you would like us to create a tour feature for you.

ABOUT MUZIC.NET.NZ NEWSLETTERS

The next muzic.net.nz newsletter is going out on Sunday 3 July 2016!

If you are a NZ musician and you would like to promote your music,
we would love to feature you in our newsletter
and you can choose the date which suits you

We can also feature record labels, venues, music stores, music websites...
anything that has something to do with NZ music

Check out this forum and email [email protected] for more information about our newsletters

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with this number growing every day, featuring in our newsletter is an excellent promotional tool

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- The muzic.net.nz team

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