Newsletter Issue #497: 06 Aug 2017
August Newsletter
What a year it's shaped up to be, once again, it's flying by and there have been highs and lows.Sadly, for the Rock world, we've lost another great voice, the late Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. Another shock to the system we all didn't see coming and the loss has been felt by all far and wide. I still can't believe he and Chris Cornell are now gone, and it not a moment goes by that I, along with millions of others wished they were still here. RIP to them both.
It's moment like this we appreciate what those who are no longer with us left behind - the music. Their legacy for us.
I hope you all continue to discover your love of music and it never leaves.
July wasn't all about the lows though - here at muzic.net.nz we achieved a major milestone - we now have 4000 artist listings on muzic.net.nz, making the website a substantial resource of information on NZ bands and musicians, both past and present.
We now also have our very own Instagram page, thanks to Calden - which you can check out here.
This month has another great issue filled with some fantastic features and artists.
We have a chat to our Kiwi musical export, now Ireland based, Ryan Kershaw and a chat with local talent, Hobnail.
We find out who Broken Season are and why they're the next big thing in 2017 and we also catch up again with local Hip-Hop artist, Rei.
And it wouldn't be a muzic.net.nz newsletter without all the latest music news and views.
Stay warm with what's left of winter.
Kerry & the Muzic.net.nz team
RYAN KERSHAW
One of New Zealand's best musical exports, Ryan Kershaw is a talented musician and music educator, author of 'Use Your Buzz To Play The Guitar' and creator of the Musicians Confidence Course. He has helped to strengthen the music education community in New Zealand by bringing organisations together including Music Education New Zealand Aotearoa, SmokefreeRockquest, and IMNZ. He is the founder of the New Zealand Underground Festival, which provided New Zealand underground musicians with a platform to connect with the industry, and currently writes for The Guitar Association Of New Zealand, Audioculture and Muzic.net.nz. He spoke to us recently, and here's what he had to say:
How did you become involved in music?
My earliest musical memory is stumbling around the house when I was in my first few years of life, singing Cum On Feel The Noise by Quiet Riot. I remember always being fascinated with the term 'Rock n Roll' and my big brother had a great music collection. My fathers cassette collection wasn't bad either with Pink Floyd and Led Zep, but it was when I got into Guns n Roses for the first time that it literally changed my life. After I won $8 on an instant Kiwi ticket that my Mum let me scratch, I bought my first cassette - Iron Maiden's debut album with Paul Dianno on vocals. That was in my player every day but it was GnR that made me pick up a guitar and stumble my way through songs from my first guitar teacher like Love Me Tender, The Deer Hunter and Peter Posa's The White Rabbit. I'd run home from school and learn songs by Black Sabbath by listening to them and trying to copy what I heard.
I started my first band when I was 12, and all of the bloody crazy roller-coaster ride would start from there! I was just obsessed and I knew from 8 years old that there was nothing else I was gonna be when I grew up - there was only one thing for me to be and that was a musician! Still gotta grow up but I'm doing the music thing...
If you could perform with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
That's a tough one. Sometimes the reality is not the same as the fantasy, so performing I'm not sure. I'd love to talk lyrics with Eddie Vedder, or have Dave Grohl smashing the shit out of the skins but then there's Danny Carey or Jimmy Chamberlain on drums too - or trying some twisted stuff with an orchestra or Les Baxter, or playing jazz with Bill Evans or Chet Baker... the list goes on. Now I'm picturing Motorhead back in the day or Pantera, Janis Joplin or Tommy Emmanuel. There's just too much good music. There's also some friends that passed away that would be special if we could have them back again.
Which one of your songs are you most proud of, and why?
I'm pretty critical of my own songs, but there are a few that I can't help but get into each time I play - Recovery Position or Slip Away. Even though I wrote them at a young age, I was honest in my lyrics when I wrote them so they still resonate with me. I think my latest tracks are probably the ones I'm most proud of though because in the past there were too many things I didn't fix/change when I should of. I recorded Round Her Little Finger when I probably should have put that money towards one of my unreleased tracks that is more 'me' - like Slow Motion. I always regret that, but with these latest songs: Make It Go Away and Inspiration, I recorded them more or less how I heard them in my head. I also went through a lot leading up to these songs: My old band breaking up, being ripped off in the Music Industry, facing prejudice, witnessing abuse of a neighbour, sickness and death in my family and my partners family, moving to the other side of the world, and getting MRI scans after my whole body started aching and I lost the ability to control my guitar playing like I used to. All that shit and I still did it as a self-managed artist. I wouldn't call it proud, because there are probably bigger forces at work and the other option is to give up; but at least I can say that the pessimistic bastards that judged me for no good reason can say what they want: I know where I've been and the work that I've put in and I made those recordings anyway and stuck true to my vision as a musician. They can say what they want.
How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard it before?
Well I used to call it 'buzzy music'. There was an article in the local paper when I was a teenager, and they typed it as 'fuzzy music'! ha ha. It was kinda like taking the stoner aspects of Syd Barrett era Floyd and mixing it with the riffs of Black Sabbath or Nirvana. If you listen to The Buzz Tapes, it sounds totally different to When I Die, and that sounds different again to The Lunar Sea E.P. In truth - my music covers a range of styles from classical to country to jazz to folk - but because of the way I look and the fact that yes - I did grow up on metal and rock, I'll always be looked at as a rock/metal musician. I'm not whining about it - it's just interesting that I was recently introduced by someone in the NZ Music industry as a metalhead, when if you look at my releases - half of them are acoustic! Bottom line is that I'm a musician and I play music and write music. Better that they have a listen first - then I'm sure they will label it anyway!! Probably as 'What is this shit'. Ha ha!
What can we expect to see from you in the next year?
I'm releasing a book on making your living through music tuition, called Make Money Teaching Guitar. It covers every aspect of tuition - from the finances, to branding/marketing, to social media, to dealing with tricky clients. I am also releasing two new singles - one is called Make It Go Away - it's kind of an existential crisis song, and the other is called Inspiration. Inspiration was written partly at a Tommy Emmanuel guitar camp in Australia, partly in Italy after being inspired from my Nana who unfortunately passed away, and partly in Ireland.
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
Arc of Ascent, His Masters Voice, Ed Cake, Sean Clancy... because they are all talented, true to themselves and play good music. I also have a few of my guitar students from back when I was teaching guitar in New Zealand in bands:The Inquisition, Silent Torture, Godzilla takes New York. Kieran Anstis is a former student too, and is now marketing manager at Music Planet. They are all good guitarists and nice people so it would be cool to see them all do more as the years go on.
What local albums have you been enjoying recently?
I have been playing a lot of tracks that I've listened to for a while to be honest.Orgiastic Blasphemy by Skuldom, Wheels by Peter Posa, Mars by Crafty and For the Love of It by Salmonella Dub - so it's mainly tracks. The full album by a Kiwi artist that I've been listening to the most this year is Fantastica by Russ Garcia. Pretty buzzy and I love the cover art!
What is your favourite NZ venue, and why?
Totally depends on the gig - from a jam on the side of the road or the cuzzy's garage, to Vector Arena - if the artist is good and there's a good vibe with everyone there - I'm in!
Have you got any tips for dealing with nerves before a gig?
Well I've tried the drinking until you can't put your pants on, and that doesn't work. It depends on the person and what you want from the show. For some people it'll be a ciggy or a cone and a glass of JD's and coke, and they keep it random and not choreographed... for others it will be revising the show in their head, warming up with vocal zone, a major scale ostinato sweep and limiting their interaction with the crowd beforehand. My recommendation would be the vocalzone and warm-up. The main thing though, is you just get up there and do it. You deserve to. That time on the stage is yours and it doesn't matter what the negative voices think because they are not up there... you are. Own it.
Where do you get your inspiration to create music from?
Life, death and consciousness. And a a lot of the time - unconsciousness! ha ha
How do
you balance your music with other obligations; family, job etc?
I've been at both ends of the scale: I've been unemployed and on the dole with not much going on, and I've been making a living from music successfully and too busy. They can both be hard or limiting to a musicians enjoyment. A few years ago when I first got into personal growth, I got obsessed with turning my life around and being productive. It was cool: I created a music festival, wrote my first book, taught 60 guitar students, studied 5 major courses, organised practices and shows with my band, moved house, and tried to balance that with my relationship with my partner. What happened? I burned out.
A lot of us have this dangerous thing of saying 'yeah good - busy mate'. Well I guess it's okay to be busy, but it's so easy to get too busy and that's not productive at all. I've overcommitted before to projects where I'm helping out, and in the end it just dilutes my productivity and my enjoyment of the project.
I strongly recommend studying time-management. You might not think it's very Rock n Roll, but get over it - time management is used all of the time in music - for tours, for show deadlines, for due dates with album artwork etc.
I use a few simple tricks and good habits to make sure that the morning is my time, and that means I can do more with my day without burning out. If anything it allows me to use my creativity more because I'm aware of my tendency to over-do things, and as a result can change my path before things get too insane. Here's a link to my tips for managing your time in ways where it helps your musical endeavours:
TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS - RYAN KERSHAW
1. LEARN YOUR PERCENTAGES
Managers generally take 20%, agents 10%. Anyone with a few dollars behind them can send you to the States for example, but what are you going to do once you get there, and if they are taking 50 percent for everything, you might be getting ripped off without knowing it. Start with the basics - learn what managers generally get, learn what a publicist does and does not do, learn about songwriters rights and royalty procedures. If you don't bother, you can easily end up with a dodgy agent taking your money and essentially getting you paying to play, and left with no money for other areas of your music project. Starting with the basics of what percentages are the industry standard for people that you work with is a good grounding for not getting ripped off as you go, and will also see you a little more confident in situations where business propositions are made with your music. If you leave it up to someone else to learn that stuff, you'll get shat on! End of story.
2. SEEK HELP BUT DON'T DEPEND ON IT
There are so many organisations out there, with which you can learn more to help yourself be more prepared for a career in music. Here are a few: The Music Managers Forum, Independent Music New Zealand, APRA, The New Zealand Music Commission. BUT... BUTTTT..... It is so important that you don't DEPEND on these organisations, or funding, to make your music go forward. The most helpful thing you can do is manage yourself in a good way, because even if you work with a great manager, one day - because life might happen - they will be gone and you'll be back to YOU again. It always comes back to you. So what are YOU doing to improve or learn, or enjoy what you are doing? None of these organisations guarantee anything, but they do provide a lot of useful information and the chance to meet some good people. I used to attend every seminar I could at APRA. It didn't matter if I was stuck in traffic on the way back from overseas an hour beforehand, or if something terrible happened at home, or if I felt uncomfortable. I would always step out of my comfort zone and attend the seminars and that is a big part of what helped me do what I do - I always considered myself a student, and I didn't rely on funding to make my music. If you are pissed off with no one helping you, but you can count on one hand the amount of rejections you have had in writing, then you haven't tried hard enough.
3. ENJOY THE PROCESS
I remember when my band Paradox won our regional finals for the RockQuest back in the day. I felt more relieved than excited. We had worked so hard to achieve it, and it was a kind of 'tick off the list' thing. Don't get me wrong - I appreciated the event and everything else, but sometimes it can be easy to get into a snowball where you are just chasing achievements to feel validated. The thing is - it's all a process. What if you win that award - there is still life after that award. So I'm not saying to disregard achievements, and I always recommend setting goals, but it's so important to enjoy the process, otherwise it can be all chasing. In day to day life for example, you know how easy it can be to sit down for a meal and totally rush through it because your mind is thinking about the past or the future. Try instead to just focus on that meal, and you'll enjoy it more. The same goes for making music. It all counts - your first demo, your fans will want to check that out later, and the memories surrounding that time of your life will be just as valuable as physical products, distinctions or other peoples perceptions of what you did. So, have your goals but enjoy the process as you are in it.
4. YES I DO, HERE IT IS:
I've dedicated a big part of my life to is helping other musicians. I have many articles available, as well as books, audiobooks and courses that I'd love Muzic.net.nz readers to try. Most of them include a personal growth element, and also cover practical tips and strategies for a career in music. Here's a list:
The Musicians Confidence Course
Notes of the Guitar Poster / Guitar Goals Poster
Use Your Buzz To Play The Guitar (free workbook)
Use Your Buzz to Play The Guitar Audiobook
Use Your Buzz To Play The Guitar Book
Use Your Buzz To Play The Guitar (full online course)
Make Money Teaching Guitar Book
Videos
Inspiration
Make It Go Away
More can be found on my music education website: ryan-kershaw.com including interviews with musicians and info about the one-on-one coaching and tuition I offer for artists.
Website Links
HOBNAIL
After 23 years together on a long and winding road which has seen them play venues around the world and throughout New Zealand, Blue Sky Songs – Hobnail’s 7th album - is a fine distillation of life’s lessons, well learned. Like a well-aged cognac, Blue Sky Songs is mature, complex, occasionally fiery, but with great depth and power. Rob answered the following questions for muzic.net.nz:
How did you become involved in music?
I started playing guitar when I was 16, started writing songs not long after and joined my first band not long after that. I came from a background where being a full time musician wasn't really a career option, so it wasn't until I'd reluctantly worn a suit and tie for a decade before I had the courage to leave the security of a full time job and become a career musician. It's not the easiest life, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Which
one of your songs are you most proud of, and why?
Maria's Last Words from the
Hobnail album On With The Show. We were playing a lot of bars at that stage,
and the song sounds like a drinking anthem, but it actually turns it around to
be about the damaging effects of alcohol on relationships. I've had quite a few
guys come up after a gig a ruefully tell me "that song is my life,
man."
How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard it before?
Folk/ Rock with Country and Celtic influences.
What can we expect to see from you in the next year?
We'll be making our way slowly but surely around the country touring our new album. We have a single and video just out for Every Single Day, and plan to release a second single early next year.
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
Given our musical style you would never guess it, but we are huge Shihad fans. I haven't seen them play for a few years so would love to see them again. The last time was a warm up show they did at tiny venue in Wellington with about 200 extremely happy fans. Awesome, every time.
What is your favourite NZ venue, and why?
The Mussel Inn. Andrew and Jane are excellent hosts, the audience is always great, the accommodation is amazing and all set in a beautiful corner of the world. Oh, and great beer. Special mention to Nelson Boathouse, and I will always remember the Harbourlight at Lyttelton fondly.
Have you got any tips for dealing with nerves before a gig?
Well, a little alcohol has always worked for me. I stress "a little".
How do you balance your music with other obligations; family, job etc?
That's the hardest part of the whole thing. It's why our tours tend to be spread over months rather than weeks. We typically play a 3-4 day stretch once a month, maybe longer in school holidays (we are all either music itinerants or full time teachers). We've been doing this for 23 years now, so you have to make it sustainable, which means making it fun. Dragging yourself around the country making no money and missing home is a great way to bring on a career change and kill your band.
Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?
Practice lots, don't try to be anyone
but yourself.
and Caroline Easther (drums, vocals)
Website Links
BROKEN SEASON
2017 is the most important year for Broken Season to date.
The band has spent the first half of 2017 writing and recording new material - material that showcases an evolved Broken Season. The song writing range has expanded without ambanding the trademark Groove/Metal/Rap combination that has been the backbone of Broken Season's sound.
The bands much anticipated first single Amandla was released today (6 August 2017), and is accompanied by a lyric video (The song will be available on all streaming platforms from August 11). From there Broken Season promises a follow up single and music video for the track Wolves - a song addressing the problemtatic issue of domestic abuse.
In addition, Broken Season will be releasing a cover of Kendrick Lamar song M.a.a.D City - a mash up of Groove/Metal and Hip-Hip that is sure to unite fans of these genres.
Live performances will back up these releases with tour dates to be confirmed in coming weeks.
About the new single/release Amandla
Amandla is a call for reflexion and a voice of hope. Every day we are more distant and disconnected with our true nature as caring human beings. Amandla is an honest expression of pain but an open call for love and reconciliation.
"We hate because we're taught to hate. We hate because we're ignorant. We're the product of ignorant people who have been taught an ignorant thing which is that there are four or five different races... There are not five or four different races, there is ONLY ONE RACE on the face of the Earth and we're all members of that race: THE HUMAN RACE.
But we have separated people into
races so that some of us can see ourselves as superior to the others. It's time
to get over this business. There is no gene for racism, there is no gene for
bigotry, you're not born a bigot, you have to learn to be a bigot. But anything
you learned you can unlearn; it's time to unlearn bigotry, it's time to get
over this thing and we better get over it pretty soon." - Jane Elliott
Website Links
RAP IT UP: Rei
What drives you to keep on going in the music industry?
The number one drive for me is the fact that I enjoy making music. I have fun when I create and make something out of nothing. I just want the freedom to be able to create as much as possible. To do that, I need to make a living from my music. And I’m getting there. Slowly but surely.
I notice you use marketing effectively. Do you have any advise for indie artists when it comes to marketing their music?
Decide on what type of artist you want to be online. The music/creative side is one thing but deciding on what you want your image to be is important as too. It could just be you, the honest you, in which case you wouldn’t need to be very careful with social media marketing. You can just post whatever you want when you feel like it. Others may want to have a more crafted brand, which is when you’ve got to be careful about what you post. It all comes down to what you want to get out of music really. Self promotion is hard, but it’s not meant to be easy. Most of the richest people in the world are self promoters. They’re people who have learnt Sales techniques and learned how to present themselves. Do what you’ve got to do really.
Who is Rei as a Hip-Hop artist?
The idea of rangatiratanga is central to both myself and my music. I want people to feel like chiefs when they listen to my music. I want them to know that they can be chiefs of their own environments also. When I call myself a chief in my music, I’m only trying to be a chief of my own destiny. Most of my songwriting comes from this kaupapa, and the various struggles and victories that come my way as a young man chasing his goals. So yeah, my music is grounded in where I come from and my surroundings. I love music where you can listen to it, and identify where it’s from. That’s why I use Te Reo, kiwi slang and kiwi references in my music. I want people to know where it’s from. At the same time though, you want to keep that mass appeal.
When did you start and what inspired you to make music?
I started making music when I was 13, I picked up my mum or dad’s guitar and just started writing songs with the 3 chords I’d learnt. I wrote about 5 tracks, recorded them on a burnt CD and gave it to whānau as a Christmas present. After that I downloaded Mixcraft on my Mum’s computer and just started making beats and rapping. The freedom that creating allows inspires me to make music. I can literally write a song about whatever I want, whatever I’m thinking about. That’s dope.
How would you describe your music in one sentence?
CHIEF Sound.
Which one of your songs are you most proud of, and why?
I’m probably most proud of Mix at the moment. It’s my favorite from the album at least. It’s a real personal track, resonates with me big time every time I listen to it. Hope it helps other people out too. I also like the fact that it’s an acoustic song on the middle of a Hip-Hop album.
Do you produce your own beats or do you use any particular beat maker?
I produced the album myself. I’ve been making beats for about 10 years now, and have been rapping for just as long. I produce best when I’m in the comfort of my own home and there’s no pressures around me. If I’m producing at a studio, it feels like I’ve got to come up with something great then and there. At home though, I can feel free to make something stupid, knowing that no one will ever hear it if I don’t want them to. This album was produced at my home studio. It was mixed and mastered by {Chris Chetland} of Kog Studio. He’s an awesome engineer to work with and always takes the time to teach his clients various tricks and tips of the trade.
What's your favourite and least favourite thing about Hip-Hop culture?
My favorite thing about Hip-Hop is the fact that it is a music for change. It has always been a voice for the voiceless, for minorities, for people wanting to see change in the world. The thing I don’t like is the fact that people outside of Hip-Hop still have this negative perception about it, that’s all about money, drugs, sex etc. That perception is wrong, but it still gets played out for some reason.
Tell us about your latest single and music video? Deep is the latest single from the album. The song is all about a pillow talk between lovers, where the girl wants to go deep emotionally, but her partner is just looking for a physical connection. We thought it would be cool to take this concept literally and shoot the whole thing underwater, so we did that. It was pretty challenging, but I’m happy with what we ended up with.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring rappers/producers? ‘I tell em all chief in your day to day, you can really get it if you want it’. That’s a line from one of the off cuts of the album and I believe it. Keep backing yourself 100%, be the chief of your own future, and you’ll get to where you want to be.
What can we expect to see from you over the next year? Few more videos, another album, lots of shows, some shows overseas, more collaborations. Good times ahead.
Website Links
NZ MUSIC NEWS
APRA Silver Scroll Awards - 2017 Top 20
- Close Your Eyes, written by Bic Runga and Kody Nielson, performed by Bic Runga
- Cold Steel, written and performed by Troy Kingi and Mara TK
- Don’t Worry ‘Bout It, written by Kingdon Chapple-Wilson, performed by Kings
- Green Light, written by Ella Yelich-O’Connor, Jack Antonoff, and Joel Little, performed by Lorde
- Hate Somebody written by Nick Johnston, Philip Hadfield, Brent Harris, performed by Cut Off Your Hands
- Horizon, written by Hannah Topp, performed by Aldous Harding
- Hundred Waters, written by Grayson Gilmour and Cory Champion, performed by Grayson Gilmour
- If Only, written by Te Karehana Toi, performed by Teeks
- I Know Not Where I Stand, written and performed by Shayne P Carter
- Liability, written by Ella Yelich-O’Connor and Jack Antonoff, performed by Lorde
- Life of the Party, written by Chelsea Jade Metcalf and Leroy James Clampitt, performed by Chelsea Jade
- Little Did She Know, written by INF aka Amon McGoram, SPYCC aka Daniel Latu, and SmokeyGotBeatz aka Isaiah Libeau, performed by SWIDT
- Lucky Girl, written by Amelia Murray and Gareth Thomas, performed by Fazerdaze
- O Heathcote, written by James Milne, performed by Lawrence Arabia
- One and Only, written by Brooke Singer, performed by French For Rabbits
- Rainbow, written by Louis Baker and Bradford Ellis, performed by Louis Baker
- Richard, written and performed by Nadia Reid
- Sober, written and performed by Lydia Cole
- Sunday Best, written and performed by Seth Haapu
- Urutaa written by Lewis de Jong, Henry de Jong, Ethan Trembath, performed by Alien Weaponry
Global Music Industry Influencers Join to Inspire and Scout New Zealand Musicians
Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) is excited to announce the highly anticipated return of the annual GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT, taking place at Roundhead Studios in Auckland from the 1st-2nd September 2017. Attending will be representatives from the USA’s trusted music stalwart Billboard; direct to fan changemakers Bandcamp, and A&R from highly revered indie record label 4AD with many more still to be announced.GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT 2017
Friday 1st September / Saturday 2nd September
– Roundhead Studios, Auckland, New Zealand -
Tickets Now Available https://goingglobal2017.eventbrite.co.nz
Maori Music Month 2017 Launches with the Announcement of the
10th Annual Waiata Maori Music Award Finalists
The Waiata Māori Music Awards are kicking off Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori (Māori Music Month) this August with the announcement of the 2017 awards finalists.
Now in its 10th year, the Waiata Māori Music Awards celebrate excellence in Māori music and also aim to acknowledge and honour the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers of this cultural taonga.
Acclaimed singer/songwriters Rob Ruha, Maisey Rika, Tama Waipara and Taisha Tari are the official Ambassadors of the Waiata Māori Music Awards and they will be joining the finalists as the winners are revealed at this year’s ceremony in Hastings on the evening of Friday September 15th.
Devilskin Album 'Be Like the River' Certified Gold
NZ band Devilskin’s second studio album, Be Like The River released on 11 November, 2016 debuted at #1 on the Official Album Chart on 18 November 2016 has been certified Gold.
Be Like The River features the smash singles Voices, Mountains, Pray and the recently released Believe In Me. The album is available as an 11 track album, 13 track deluxe pack and Gatefold LP vinyl edition.
Devilskin Announce NZ Tour 2017
Bulletbelt 'Cloak The Night' Documentary
In association with Hell Pizza, ‘Cloak The Night’ is a short documentary that follows Wellington metal giants Bulletbelt as they track their third studio album Nine Centuries.
Bulletbelt’s new album, Nine Centuries, is about The Burning Times and witch trials during the Dark Ages up to the nineteenth century. The band relocated to Auckland for a week and worked with engineer Cam Sinclair (ex-Diocletian / Bridge Burner) at The Lab Studio to track the album. The band was followed throughout that week by video producer Amber Beaton who documented the process through one-on-one interviews and in-studio sessions. The documentary sees its world premiere at Nga Taonga Sound & Vision in Wellington on 09 September 2017. Nine Centuries will be released late 2017 with an accompanying music video currently in pre-production.
Anouk Van Dijk wins the AMS Music, NZ Music Month Competition
Pukekawa school girl Anouk Van Dijk has taken out her second national competition for 2017 winning the AMS Music, NZ Music Month competition with her song 99 Days. Set to record her second single she will be mentored and recording with Troy Kelly from The Armoury and STL Audio in Wellington.
The 13 year old singer, songwriter started writing songs just over 18 months ago. Anouk’s songs are written straight from her heart about things, people, places and moments that are special to her, “no one judges you through songs and it’s a way of letting it all out”.
Pelagic Records Sign Spook The Horses
Spook The Horses are very excited to announce their signing with Pelagic Records (home of bands such as Cult of Luna, Mono, God is an Astronaut and The Ocean) and to announce the release of their third record People Used to Live Here – out November 10 2017. This is the follow up to 2015’s Rainmaker.
With their upcoming album People Used To Live Here to be released on November 10, New Zealand's Spook The Horses create an atmosphere of quiet desolation, raw and real, desperate and unsettling: the soundtrack to abandoned places, where people used to live... at one point in time, long ago.
New Releases
August 2017 Gigs & Tours
Local
Ekko Park, Setting Fire To Stacey, Silence The City, Written by Wolves, Armed in Advance,
Skinny Hobos, Dead Favours, Quinn The Human, Dead Beat Boys and Coridian
26 August @ Altitude, Hamilton
11 August @ Kings Arms, Auckland - 19 August @ The Embankment, Christchurch
25 August @ The Mayfair, New Plymouth
24 August @ Caroline, Wellington - 25 August @ MUSA, Palmerston North - 26 August @ Totara Street, Mt Maunganui
20 August @ Totara Street, Mt Maunganui
18 August @ Dark Room, Christchurch - 19 August @ Benessere Studios, Dunedin
31 August @ Neck of the Woods, Auckland
International
23 August @ Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland
18 August @ The Foundry, Christchurch - 19 August @ Otago University, Dunedin
12 August @ Escape Coffee, New Plymouth - 13 August @ Schnapps Bar, Ruapehu National Park
17 August @ Night Market, Rotorua - 19 August @ Old Butter Factory, Whangarei
23 August @ Charlotte's Kitchen, Paihia - 24 August @ Refreshment Room, Titirangi - 25 August @ Yot Club, Raglan
26 August @ Portland Public House, Auckland - 27 August @ Totara Street, Mt Maunganui
MUZIC.NET.NZ NEWS
New Artists
We had an astounding month for new artists, as we achieved a major milestone - we now have 4000 artist listings on muzic.net.nz! Check out the pages which were created during July:
It is 100% FREE to add yourself or your band to muzic.net.nz, and you'll get free access to update your page, as well as access to add mp3 and photo galleries:
Add Artist Form
Info about filling out the add artist form
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Useful Links
Muzic.net.nz - What we do for Musicians and Bands
Important 2017 Music Industry Dates
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Decades, Dead Favours, Bakers Eddy and Skinny Hobos Interviews
DecadesDead Favours (Inside the Music video interview)
Skinny Hobos (Inside the Music video interview, with acoustic performance)
SWIDT Interview
New Reviews
Check out our latest reviews at the below links:
Ryan Kershaw - Single Review: Make it Go Away
Written by Sarah
Oyawa - Album Review: I Don't Recall Ordering Ordinary
Written by Ria
Emma G - Single/Video Review: King For A Day
Written by Corinne
Gig Review: Dragonforce @ The Kings Arms, Auckland - 01/07/2017
Written by Alex
Valedictions - Album Review: Pieces
Written by Momoko
Theia - EP Review: Theia
Written by Corinne
Rei - Album Review: A Place To Stand
Written by James CK
Santa Barbara - Single/Video Review: Reptile Lover
Written by Corinne
Gig Review: State of Mind with MC Rolex @ Static, Hamilton - 30/06/17
Written by Kerry K
Gig Review: Alien Weaponry @ Totara St, Mount Maunganui - 8/07/2017
Written by Corinne
The AJ Crawshaw Band - EP Review: In Light And Shadow
Written by Andrew
Empire To Ashes - Single Review: My Own Phantom Limb
Written by Kerry K
Selon Recliner - EP Review: Stories of Later
Written by Corinne
Gig Review: Decades with Bakers Eddy, Dead Favours & Skinny Hobos @ Galatos, Auckland - 15/07/2017
Written by Sarah
Gig Review: Queens Of The Stone Age @ Logan Campbell, Auckland - 13/07/17
Written by Paul
Eli Moore - Album Review: Ship Life
Written by Corinne
Tony Daunt And The Dauntless @ The Incubator Jam Factory, Tauranga - 22/07/2017
Written by Corinne
Decades - Album Review: The Truth And Other People
Written by Corinne
Paul McLaney - Album Review: Play On
Written by Corinne
Will Saunders - Album Review: Hopeful Objects
Written by Peter
Bloodnut - Album Review: St. Ranga
Written by Sarah
Gig Review: Tribal State @ Kings Arms, Auckland - 28/07/2017
Written by Sarah
Valen - Single Review: C’mon Over
Written by Corinne
Mishap - Single Review: Hey, Allie!
Written by Alex
Reb Fountain - Album Review: Hopeful & Hopeless
Written by Ria
Grawlixes - Album Review: Set Free
Written by Peter
Ciaran McMeeken - Album Review: Ciaran McMeeken
Written by Ria
Mitch Alderlieste - Single Review: New Fire
Written by Alex
The Latest Fallout - Single Review: Love On The Ceiling
Written by Alex
Broken Season - Single/Video Review: Amandla (Lyric Video)
Written by Paul
Gig Review: Angelcorpse @ Whammy Bar, Auckland - 26/07/2017
Written by Matt M
Grayson Gilmour - Album Review: Otherness
Written by Corinne
SWIDT - Album Review: Stoneyhunga
Written by James C-K
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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
It's been another outstanding month for our photographers - check out all our latest photo galleries at the below links:
Dragonforce
Photos by Bradley
Theia
Alien Weaponry
Average Mars Experience
The Eternal Sea
Bliss n Eso
Photos by Jamie
Merrin
The Gentlemen Callers
Decades
Bakers Eddy
Skinny Hobos
Dead Favours
Stormzy
Photos by Reef
State of Mind
Photos by David Tooley
Decades
Dead Favours
Bakers Eddy
Skinny Hobos
Courtney Marie Andrews
Joe Pug
Sigur Ros
Aaron Carpenter and the Revelators
Dave Alley
Sandy Mill & Band
Selon Recliner
Fables
Photos by Chris Z
Grawlixes
Yukon Era
Japandroids
Photos by Neil
Albion Place
Decades
Photos by Adam
The Bads
Photos by Grant
Dead Beat Boys
She Loves You
Photos by Taylor
All of our photo galleries can all be viewed here.
Some of our photographers also take professional promo photos.
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.
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- The muzic.net.nz team
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