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Music News - IMNZ Top Sellers and Highlights from 2007
26 March 2008 - 0 Comments
2008 is charging along at a belting pace already – I mean Daylight Saving is nearly over! - but on a very brief pause for reflection it struck us that 2007 was a hugely eventful year for Independent Music New Zealand as an organisation, not to mention for our member labels and distributors. We made some exciting progress both at home and abroad, and we thought we’d share some of our highlights with you.
First up – here are our 20 biggest-selling albums of 2007...
Internationally, we’ve been heavily involved with the establishment of Merlin, the digital rights body set up for the benefit of independent labels worldwide. In July IMNZ Chair Mark Kneebone was voted onto the 15-person Merlin board; other board members include IODA CEO Kevin Arnold, Koch Records president Bob Frank, Tommy Boy CEO/Chairman Tom Silverman and Beggars Group chairman Martin Mills. Mark Kneebone was also invited to speak at the 2007 POPKOMM music conference in Berlin in September.
On the home front there was plenty of action too. In 2007 New Zealand became the first territory outside of Europe to have a deal struck between the independents and MTV; and IMNZ secured special rates for its members with a trans-Tasman hotel chain. And when you’re in transit, look out for the IMNZ audio show on Air New Zealand’s inflight entertainment service this May, in time for NZ Music Month. IMNZ members were also offered the chance to have their music included in a presentation on reggae music in Oceania at the Global Reggae Conference being held in Kingston, Jamaica, in February.
For our hard-working members there have been some really outstanding moments. Flight of the Conchords picked up the Grammy for Best Comedy Album, the first time this has been won by a non-American artist; previous recipients include Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin and Richard Pryor. Flight Of The Conchords' debut full-length will make its way onto American shelves on April 22, via legendary US label Sub Pop, which is also the current home of the Brunettes and the Ruby Suns, and it’s out here on April 21 via Rhythmethod.
Hollie Smith had IMNZ’s biggest-selling album of 2007 with her debut album ‘Long Player’, which went gold on debut and spent over 20 weeks in the ‘Official NZ Music Chart’ top 10; it’s now double platinum. Internationally, Hollie was signed to the prestigious Manhattan Records label, recorded in Philadelphia with acclaimed producer James Poyser (Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, The Roots, Common), and played shows in France, Canada, America and Australia. On the home front, she won a prestigious North Harbour Club AIMES Award for Music, was voted bNet Best Female Vocalist, picked up four Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, and supported Bob Dylan.
The release of the Brunettes’ ‘Structure and Cosmetics’ marked their tenth anniversary, in which they signed to Sub Pop in the US and UK, picked up a spread in sassy New York magazine BUST and the characteristically sharp Frankie Magazine, got in front of the lens of celebrity photographer Kevin Abosch (Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz), gained over 250,000 hits on YouTube for Her Hairagami Set, sold out shows on their European tour and played the Laneway Festival circuit in Australia. The Ruby Suns toured the US, UK, NZ and Australia variously with The Shins, Animal Collective and Field Music, were named "a band to watch in 2008" by UK newspaper the Independent and have just released their second full-length album, ‘Sea Lion’ in the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Pitch Black also turned ten, having played their inaugural gig at The Gathering 1996/97. Since then they’ve shared the stage with acts such as Coldcut, Kraftwerk and Underworld; they’ve released three albums, three remix discs, and embarked on six world tours. Their songs have been included on international compilations and soundtracks, and they’ve licensed tracks for CSI: Miami. They took care of the music and sound design for Sony SP game Cube, and toured their new 2007 album ‘Rude Mechanicals’ in Japan, the UK, USA, Australia and Europe. Concord Dawn continued in 2007 to play insane numbers of countries, including the Netherlands, Russia, Germany, Slovakia, Romania, the UK, Portugal – and, of course, New Zealand!
Die! Die! Die! also had a massive year. They played all the Big Days Out bar Perth; supported Wolfmother on their sold out US tour plus played UK, Swedish and German dates; supported The Gossip, Slint and Blood Brothers; and played Brighton's Great Escape Festival (with CSS, The Magic Numbers and many more). They were on the covers of Artrocker magazine (other cover artists have included Maximo Park, Kings of Leon, The Horrors and The Klaxons - and their Artrocker single comes out in April) and the CMJ New Music Report; their debut album was released in the USA, Canada and the UK; and their latest album ‘Promises Promises’ - recorded in the Walkmen’s New York studio with Shayne Carter (Dimmer) on production - came out in the US on February 5.
Cut Off Your Hands relocated to the UK and promptly inked a deal with 679 Recordings (The Streets); their first single on the label sold out in less than 24 hours. The band toured with friends/fans Foals, and played NYC’s CMJ Festival and Iceland’s Airwaves festival plus all of the Big Day Out dates. In August the band had the most-played song on Triple J in Australia and ranked as the second most-played band; and they played shows with teenagersintokyo in late August and early September. Mestar frontman John White released his second solo album ‘Mogwash’, recorded in Berlin with fellow members of itinerant NZ band Cloudboy; White also released and toured the double album in the States. After more than ten years as one of New Zealand’s electronic pioneers, Epsilon Blue played his last public performance on March 1 at the Main Divide at Canterbury’s Pegasus Bay Winery.
Te Vaka, now resident in Australia, released their fifth album ‘Olatia’ which came in at number 50 of the 150 best albums of the year on the Europe World Music Chart, as selected by world music specialists from 20 European countries; and they played before more than 10,000 people in Paris during 2 performances at the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup. The 90-minute show ended with a powerful Te Vaka haka, Oku Tupuga, delivered with the promise of a South Pacific comeback in 2011. The group also performed at the Woodford Festival in Brisbane - Australia's largest festival with 2,000 artists over 6 days. And speaking of the Rugby World Cup, local indie label LOOP Recordings Ao(tea)roa released ‘All Blacks - The Music’, which was officially licensed under the All Black brand, and which brought together a range of Kiwi favourites selected by members of the All Blacks’ squad - artists included Nesian Mystik, Katchafire, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga, Evermore, Pluto, Dave Dobbyn and included a new song by Che Fu written for the All Blacks.
dDub played to 13,000 people at Rhythm and Vines, bringing in the New Year on the Main Stage; and they toured Australia for the third time. On their travels they received good press in the Sydney Morning Herald, and picked up play on Channel 10's Video Hits (which has 1 million viewers per play).They also signed an album licensing deal with Shock Records for their album 'Awake at Dawn' with options for a further 2 albums; and they performed at the Netball World finals in November 2007. Breakin Wreckwordz celebrated their 5th birthday in May 25, and picked up Red Eye Society (R.E.S.), who were invited to perform at Australia’s Homebake festival in Australia. Louie Knuxx moved to Melbourne to promote the Australian release of his debut album 'Wasted Youth' and the launch of Breakin Wreckwordz Australia – the label showcased Red Eye Society, Tourettes, The Usual Suspects, Cyphanetik and DJ Substance in Sydney and Melbourne. In further trans-Tasman news, Charmaine Ford, winner of the 2007 Best Jazz Album of the Year for ‘Busy Silence’, and part of the ‘Live at Sandwiches’ trio with Nick Tipping and Richard Wise, has relocated to Sydney.
Shona Laing released her first album of new material for 10 years, entitled ‘Pass the Whisper’. She’ll Be Right Records turned ten and the label’s head honcho Trillion released a well-received tribute to Sir Ed Hillary, Humble Mountain Man. Kora’s debut album ‘Kora’ shot to number one upon release, and went platinum, and whilst certainly not forgetting their Kiwi fans they’re increasingly being invited to play festivals in Australia and further afield, such as the Sydney Festival and the international Womad circuit. Their debut EP 'Volume' also went platinum last year. The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra is a bit of a uke super group which pulls together the likes of Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords), Age Pryor, Daniel Yeabsley (Twinset and more), Gemma Gracewood and Andy Morley-Hall. Their version of OutKast’s Hey Ya! was a YouTube hit; they were named 91ZM’s pick of NZ Music Month 2007, taught Jacquie Brown ukulele on Campbell Live, attracted no less than 73 uke enthusiasts to a mass uke-in for the Wellington Fringe Festival, and they appeared at Splore and WOMAD 2008.
Ten years after the birth of the Parachute Band the mantle was passed to a new generation, with a young lineup and a new album, ‘Roadmaps and Revelations’. The Parachute Band has sold over 200,000 albums worldwide since it began, and this album is being released via Integrity Music (one of the world’s biggest record companies in the Christian/Worship genre) in 160 countries. The boys have already toured twice throughout the US and are headed to South Africa, the UK and Asia before the end of this year. The Parachute Festival ran January 26 and 27 this year, featuring 170 bands performing on 9 different stages over 4 days, making it the biggest Christian festival in the Southern hemisphere.
David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights’ album 'The Far Now' was released in New Zealand, Australia and the US, and Kilgour and his Heavy Eights played a sold out Australian tour with Yo La Tengo, with their own side shows along the way. Kilgour also did an extensive tour of the US to promote the album. White Swan Black Swan’s forthcoming ‘double mini album’ got the mix treatment in the US from Mark Nevers (David Kilgour, Calexico, Lambchop, Will Oldham and others); and the Haints of Dean Hall played several Australian shows, supported Jose Gonzales and were on high rotate on New York’s main College Radio station WFMU. Don McGlashan and the Seven Sisters played to an estimated 60,000 people at the launch of AK07 in March at the Auckland Domain; the track Harbour Bridge from McGlashan’s album ‘Warm Hand’ was selected to go with a CD on the cover of UK music magazine The Word in their February ’07 edition; and he was one of seven Aucklanders recognised by then-Mayor Dick Hubbard as a "living legend” for his contribution to the community. Surf was up in 2007 for Surf City, who won the $17,000 Burgerfuel BARF music fund which came from burgers sold in NZ Music Month.
Ethical recorded his album ‘Ages Turn’ in New York (this is due for release here April 7 2008); he also toured Asia as Roc Raider's hype man, visiting China, Japan, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Smashproof member Young Sid’s debut solo album ‘The Truth’ was released in New Zealand and Australia; it was recorded last year in New York City with Cochise (Remy Ma, Beatnuts) producing; Sid is joined on the album by label/bandmate Tyree and US rapper Chamillionaire. The Datsuns signed to US label DRT Entertainment for the North American release of their album ‘Smoke and Mirrors’. Jakob’s ‘Solace’ was released in April 2007 throughout Europe via Forte Records, and in May in North America; the band just celebrated their 10th birthday and have scored the European support slot for metal monsters Isis. Intergalactic continued to run the World Battle of the Bands internationally; representing New Zealand are Faster She Said from the Kapiti Coast.
Shapeshifter released ‘Soulstice’ in Australia in January with the first run of albums selling out in less than a week. They played all of the Big Days Out and a sold out Sydney Festival show; at Tool’s request they supported the band at their side show in Melbourne; and headlined an Australian tour. Having sold out two London shows and an Amsterdam show, and receiving rave reviews around Europe, Shapeshifter were then a headline act for Australia’s Parklife Festival in October alongside M.I.A. and Justice.
Ardijah played the Native American Business Conference showcase in Las Vegas, a Seminole Tribe show in Florida, the Aloha Festival in Phoenix plus a series of club gigs throughout March 2007. Christchurch’s Dukes won the NZ leg of the Australasian MTV ‘Kickstart’ competition, and they performed in an MTV Mile High Gig on a sold-out plane en route to the MTV Australian Video Awards. Following The Magic Numbers’ Auckland show last year, support act The Nudie Suits impressed so much that they were invited to join the Numbers on a future UK tour.
4 Corners performed in Laos (South East Asia), and telco Millicom Laos featured the crew in their branding campaign; plus they recorded with one of Laos’ top rap groups, the L.O.Gs. They released their debut album ‘The Foundations’ in Australia through Grindin' Records (under the Central Station umbrella) and completed an Australian tour. Bulletproof (aka Jay Cyanide) took to the road across New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Eastern Europe, Russia, the UK and France to promote the release of ‘Shake the Foundations’ on Concord Dawn’s Uprising label.
Following the release of ‘Lucky One’ Miriam Clancy headed to the US to follow up on curiosity for her recorded material from people with connections to Kenny Rogers, Robbie Robertson and Nashville producer Billy Block; and whilst in the States, Miriam was interviewed and lauded as "the next biggest thing to hit Nashville" on nationwide G.A.C. TV show, Edge of Country. Flip Grater’s track Long Awaited Sigh, from her album ‘Cage for a Song’, was licensed to play in the popular US TV show Brothers and Sisters. OMC’s first single in several years, 4 All of Us, featuring Lucy Lawless, was released in March and his second single Please has just been released; this track features Lucy Lawless and BoyC from 3 the Hard Way.
Dawn Raid’s return last year brought with it some great movie placements; Aaradhna’s Faith features in Ken Loach’s new movie It's A Free World which picked up Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival and is receiving rave review overseas; My Lady by Mareko and Capitial S.A by Alphrisk featuring Savage were in the US box office hit Superbad, which debuted at # 1 on the US movie chart, earning $33m in its opening weekend; and Savage's hit Swing appearing in Knocked Up earlier in the year.
The Sneaks released their self-titled album and the band snuck off on a one-way ticket to London in July. Sugarlicks released the debut 12” from legendary New Zealand DJ and producer, Manuel Bundy - 'Manuel Bundy Presents the Solephonic EP'; and after only 72 hours in digital circulation, EP track Jazzybizz had reached #1 on respected NYC-based dance site Dancetracks Digital's weekly picks. Tim Guy played showcases with Anika Moa in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in August; and his album ‘Hummabyes’ is out here and in Australia now. Monkey Records also licensed a Onelung track to Yves St Laurent in Korea for an ad campaign and signed a distribution deal in that territory to release Onelung's last two albums.
Bill Direen reappeared on the New Zealand scene with a new album ‘Human Kindness’ and a successful national tour with Otis Mace. Keith Pendergrast of the Pirongia Mountain Men is one the artists featured in Lee Pritchard’s book ‘Hotel Cabana Though the Decades’. Kog and the Peace Foundation joined forces to release the CD/DVD compilation ‘Nuclear Free Nation’ to mark New Zealand’s 20th anniversary of being nuclear free; it includes Herbs, Anika Moa, Hollie Smith, Verse Two with Ladi6, Don McGlashan, Minuit, Kora and many more.
Minuit had a triumphant tour of Europe and the UK (and they may now have a vodka shot named after them in St Petersburg); and with the release of several remix 12”s in the UK, and the imminent release of their album there in 2008, they’ve received support from breakbeat pioneers Adam Freeland, FreQ Nasty, Tayo and Rennie Pilgrim. Their live sets for Annie Nightingale's Radio 1 show and for BBC's 6 Music aired in December; and their website, designed by RESN in Wellington, beat all other contenders (including The Pet Shop Boys!) to receive the top prize for Best Music Website at the prestigious Pixel Design Awards in the US.
So So Modern toured Europe pretty much non stop from August through December (there were 79 dates listed on their website, many with The Robocop Kraus); and they released their album ‘Friendly Fires’ in the UK as a series of 7" records on Transgressive Records (home of Iron and Wine and Foals). They’re back in New Zealand now and have shows lined up this month. Pig Out made their first foray Europe, playing the MIDI Festival in France with Animal Collective, Thieves Like Us and Radio Dept. in July; they played Hallowe'en in New York too; and ‘Club Poems’ and ‘BAK 2 XTACY RUSH’ were championed by staff at Rough Trade. They played the inaugural ‘V’ Block Party alongside The Midnight Juggernauts, and ‘V’ has been helping the band get to SXSW and make a documentary about their experiences.
Scribe’s 2007 album ‘Rhymebook’ debuted in both the NZ and Australian Top 10s the week of release (no. 4 in NZ and no. 9 in Australia) - a rare feat for a New Zealand artist; and he co-headlined an Australian tour with hip hop legend Talib Kweli. Neil Sparkes (UK producer, poet and painter) produced the debut album 'Rhythm & Rhyme' for local Brazilian/hip hop outfit Batucada Sound Machine; his production/writing partners have included Natasha Atlas, Peter Gabriel, The Last Poets, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Los de Abajo. Since their beginnings in 2004, The Upbeats have released material through BC Presents, Ed Rush & Optical’s Virus Recordings, Soul:R and others; they’ve also toured Europe 4 times, the US 3 times, stopped off in Japan and made numerous trips around NZ and Australia. Along the way they’ve played alongside some worthy names in international drum and bass, notably Grooverider, Andy C, Roni Size, Pendulum, DJ Hype, Zinc, DieselBoy, Concord Dawn, Shapeshifter and Bad Company; and in late 2007 they released their debut album ‘Nobody’s Out There’.
From 833 Records, Young Sid’s older brother Mr Sicc’s track Ear to the Street was featured on DJ Peter Gunz’ ‘Represent’ mix CD in Australia, he toured Europe in July and released his ‘official pre-album’ album ‘Home Invasion’. Mixed and mastered by Kenny MacDonald – Texas, Wu Tang Clan, Fugees, El Presidente – it features additional vocals from Yukmouth of The Luniz and Monsta Ganjah, SmashProof, The Movement, and production from Killanoize, Unknown Productions, Rahxx amongst others.
LA-based Kiwi singer-songwriter Jackie Bristow returned to New Zealand to release her album ‘Crazy Love’, which includes international luminaries Mark Punch (Renee Geyer), Larry Klein (bass - Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel), Tim Pierce (guitar - Tom Petty, Tracy Chapman, Rod Stewart), to name but a few; on the live performance front, Bristow has toured with Daniel Lanois, Art Garfunkel, Madeleine Peyroux, Renee Geyer, Bic Runga, Mark Seymour and others. Bristow was also playlisted across 7,000 Starbucks stores in the USA. Paul McLaney’s second album on LOOP, 'Diamond Side', was recorded in LA with producer/engineer Michael Frondelli (Crowded House, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones). Steriogram charted in the Top 10 on the US specialty radio show charts, picking up test play at WXDX Pittsburgh, WEDG Buffalo, WAVF Charleston SC, WQXA York PA, WTFX Louisville and WLZX Springfield MA among many others; and they also had their single Just Like You licensed for EA game FIFA 2008.
Recliner’s track Ugly was ‘Track of the Week’ on garageband.com in October and Makes No Sense aired on MTV's Real World; this comes after having secured nine licensing deals with US Networks that have added their album ‘Rest Room’ to their music libraries. On the home front, Hannah Curwood’s album was licensed for use on Shortland St. New digital distributors Digital Rights Management NZ had their first top 40 single with The Exiles’ The One; it was possibly the first digital-only independent single and the first independently aggregated single to hit the top 40. Following the release of their album 'Minutes Last for Years' in late last year, Auckland band Tourist lined up performances in overseas territories included Los Angeles, London and Stockholm.
New music distribution company SAM (Serious About Music) launched in August 2007 as an extension of Mai Music, with Dean Lawton (ex-Tadpole drummer and manager) brought in to the team. Whirimako Black had a successful year, selling out solo shows from AK07 to the Christchurch Jazz Festival releasing her 4th album in 4 years – her fastest-selling to date. Katchafire were nominated as finalists in the Reggae Album of the Year category at the 2007 Hawaiian Music Awards. Mai/SAM signed House of Shem, who got to share a bill with UB40 in one their last performances with singer Ali Campbell; and Maxi Priest’s management were so impressed with the band that they’ve booked them for European dates.
Jakob, James Duncan, HDU, the Fanatics, the Mint Chicks, Straitjacket Fits and Shihad are among the artists appearing on two slabs of Czech vinyl housed in a full colour gatefold sleeve which was released by The Kingsland Vinyl Appreciation Society. The album collects 13 tracks, many of which hadn’t been released before, and is named ‘A Flip and Two Twisters’ after a Len Lye sculpture. Recorded between London and Auckland, Nathan Haines’ new album ‘Right Now’ features British artists Ty, Marlena Shaw, Vanessa Freeman and Mike Patto, with Kiwis Chris Cox, Tama Waipara, Kevin Field, Joel Haines and others contributing. He also spent much of the northern hemisphere summer touring with Marlena Shaw, including opening for the Beastie Boys at the famed Isle of Wight Festival and a 3 night stint at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club.
And finally, three cheers for members of the IMNZ whanau who picked up awards last year. Tuis were collected by John Psathas, Richard Nunns and the late Hirini Melbourne with the ‘Te Whaiao: Te Ku Te Whe’ remixers, Hollie Smith, PNC, Shapeshifter and Charmaine Ford. Vodafone Juice TV Awards were claimed by videomakers who made clips for IMNZ artists Scribe, Shapeshifter, Katchafire and Duchess. Charmaine Ford’s ‘Busy Silence’ was named the New Zealand Music Awards Best Jazz Album of the Year at the Wellington International Jazz Festival. Our bNet winners were Little Bushman, Coco Solid, Die! Die! Die!, Pig Out, Shapeshifter, So So Modern, Hollie Smith, Collapsing Cities, David Kilgour, Bachelorette, Sean Donnelly (SJD) and The Brunettes. A number of IMNZ artists also picked up awards at the 2007 Australasian Urban Music Awards, including Tyree (Best Male Artist), DJ Sir-Vere (Best NZ DJ), P-Money (Best Producer), Moana Maniapoto and Michael Houston were among the five artists honoured for their achievements at the eighth annual Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Awards on November 21; and Michael Houstoun released his new album ‘Inland’ on December 7, which realised of recording the music of composers he respects and with whom he has forged close relationships.
Rank | Artist | Title | Label/Distributor |
1 | Hollie Smith | Long Player | Soundsmith |
2 | Kora | Kora | Kora/Border Music |
3 | Shapeshifter | Shapeshifter Live | TrueTone/Rhythmethod |
4 | Tiki | Past, Present, Future | Dirty Dub/Rhythmethod |
5 | Flight Of The Conchords | Distant Future EP | Rhythmethod |
6 | Pitch Black | Rude Mechanicals | Rhythmethod |
7 | Fat Freddy's Drop | Based On A True Story | Rhythmethod |
8 | SJD | Songs From A Dictaphone | Round Trip Mars |
9 | Little Bushman | The Onus Of Sand | Rhythmethod |
10 | Little Bushman | Pendulum | Rhythmethod |
11 | Cornerstone Roots | Free Yourself | Rhythmethod |
12 | Adi Dick | Our Place | LOOP/Border |
13 | So So Modern | Friendly Fires | Rhythmethod |
14 | David Kilgour | The Far Now | Arch Hill/Rhythmethod |
15 | Age Pryor | Shanks' Pony | Rhythmethod |
16 | Various | Conscious Roots III | Moving Production |
17 | Brunettes, The | Structure And Cosmetics | Lil' Chief/Rhythmethod |
18 | Tahuna Breaks | Reflections | Rhythmethod |
19 | TrinityRoots | Home Land And Sea | Border Music |
20 | The Upbeats | Nobody's Out There | Rhythmethod |
Thanks to www.indies.co.nz for this story.
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