The Music Managers Forum Aotearoa (MMF) is proud to announce the return of Back to Basics, a free seminar series designed for those in the early stages of artist management — including self-managed artists — who are building the foundations of their music careers.
Back to Basics explores the essentials of artist development, release planning, and the business of music, with practical insights and first-hand experiences from artists and managers working across Aotearoa.
Guest speakers include:
MĀ – Artist (Pōneke | Wellington)
Bella Bavin – Self-managing artist, Coast Arcade (Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland)
Audrey Siataga – Manager, Christoph El Truento, Ladi6, Mokomokai (Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland)
The sessions will be led by MMF Chair and Mentor, Cushla Aston (Manager – Louis Baker).
This year’s series is dedicated to the memory of Lorraine Barry, a long-time MMF advocate who passed away earlier this year. Lorraine led Back to Basics for many years and was deeply committed to helping emerging artists and managers gain the knowledge and confidence to navigate the industry.
A huge mihi to NZ On Air, Recorded Music New Zealand, APRA, and the New Zealand Music Commission for their continued support in bringing this important kaupapa to life.
Further sessions will be announced soon for Dunedin, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, and Ōtautahi in early 2026.
BACK TO BASICS
PŌNEKE | WELLINGTON
When: Monday 3 November
Time: 6pm – 7.30pm
Venue: The Cinema, Block 10 Tokomaru, Massey University
Former Dominion Museum, Wellington 6021
(Enter through Pukeahu Park Entrance D at the top of Tory St)
Guest Speaker: MĀ – Artist
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Somewhere between a singer, rapper, spoken word poet, beatmaker, producer, and bandleader, MĀ is an autodidact Māori musician and artist from Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa.
Since releasing her self-produced debut album, Breakfast With Hades, she has been celebrated by Radio New Zealand, Rolling Stone, and Vice, toured with Avantdale Bowling Club, and opened for Ice Cube, Souls of Mischief, Clear Path Ensemble, and Homebrew.
In April 2025, MĀ completed her first headline tour across five cities in Aotearoa, selling out four out of five shows. She also toured internationally, performing three shows in Wales in May and appearing in Sydney in June.
Over the last three years, MĀ has won over audiences around her home country with a distinctly Indigenous blend of abstract downtempo rap, DIY neo-soul, and lush ambient music. Born from grief, self-love, and an attentive awareness of the natural world, her songs value te taiao, whakapapa, manaakitanga, humour, and emotional honesty.
She has been performing at various events and shows since Matariki at the end of June, with several more booked throughout the year. MĀ is currently working on a new album set for release in November 2025, which she will tour across Aotearoa over the summer.
Her waiata “Pūhā Me Te Porohewa” is a finalist for the Maioha Award, recognising excellence in waiata reo Māori.
Cushla Aston (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pikiao) is the founder of Aston Rd, a boutique artist management company representing soulful singer-songwriter Louis Baker.
Cushla is the current Chair of the Music Managers Forum Aotearoa, a Senior Lecturer in the Bachelor of Commercial Music at Massey University, and a former mentor for Te Māngai Pāho's Māori music development programme.
After a decade living in the UK, she returned home in 2011 and immersed herself in the local independent music scene, working with platinum-selling artists such as Fat Freddy’s Drop, Kora, and Trinity Roots. In 2012, she was awarded MMF’s 'Upcoming Manager of the Year' and was a finalist for 'Manager of the Year' in 2014.
Her artists have achieved APRA Silver Scroll nominations, Critics Choice Awards recognition, and independently released albums charting in New Zealand’s Top 10. They’ve toured internationally across the UK, Europe, Polynesia, South Africa, and Australia.