27 September 2016 - 0 Comments

Auckland songwriter Kiri Eriwata announces the release of her debut album Muse and Memorabilia on September 27th 2016.

Muse and Memorabilia is a collection of songs refined, considered and reflected on gives up new layers and depths on each hearing. Spending much of her time supporting and teaching other songwriters, and recording backing vocals for international artists (Sarah Blasko, Jamie Cullum, Bobby McFerrin among them) and local artists (Hollie Smith, Che Fu), Kiri draws from a lifetime of songwriting and performing to craft this release.

This wealth of experience informs the nine originals on Muse and Memorabilia, produced and recorded by Neil Baldock at Roundhead and Revolver Studios in Auckland.

Drawing on a pool of sympathetic and supportive talent — including drummer Nick Gaffaney and Willy Scott, guitarists Neil Watson, Brett Adams, Derek Solomon and Christine White, bassist Bones Hillman and keyboard players Steph Brown and Godfrey De Grut (among others, Jol Mullholland adding guitars and “weird sample noises”), the album's reach is as broad as Eriwata's background.

From the propulsive, widescreen and soulfully delivered rock of Watch Over Me and the hard-edged Hotel or Car through the emotional ache of the ballad Not My Lover and radio-friendly pop-chime of Baby Come Round to the blues yearn of Goodbye Chicago and snappy funk of Get Back Home there is a wealth of emotional and musical experience pressed into this diverse yet consistent album.

And her lyrics reflect the consideration she pays to them. “I don't think I've ever written a song purely about one incident,” she says, “because I try to grasp the intent of the emotion, and often fabricate or use some other instances to strengthen the intent. “I'm often drawn to writing with a sense of discord, friction, conflicting emotions, tension, minor drops and lilts in phrasing.”

Muse and Memorabilia defies quick or casual assessment: The mysterious Mohicans (music by Neil Baldock) works between the epic and the intimate; Goodbye Chicago may or may not be about leaving a relationship; the meaning of I Love You But as unequivocal but as loaded as its title . . .

“The title Muse and Memorabilia is the inspiration and acknowledgement of the people in my music life,” she says, “and the memories of it. I look back at it like you would a photo album … with some pretty magic shots.”

Muse and Memorabilia is now available for purchase from all good digital retail outlets including iTunes, Spotify and Bandcamp. Physical CDs also available from Bandcamp.

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