THOMAS OLIVER 'SHINE LIKE THE SUN'

New Zealand singer-songwriter and local Weissenborn meistro, Thomas Oliver (Cushla Aston) has shared his brand new single 'Shine Like The Sun' and announced the release date of his second studio album, Floating In The Darkness coming out 28th April 2017.

'Shine Like The Sun' is "a song of longing for love" wrapped up in a warm, slow-building groove, backed by healthy bursts of horns, features Louis Baker on backing vocals/electric guitar, Sam Notman (drums), Johnny Lawrence (bass), Ed Zuccollo (Hammond organ, Rhodes), Adam Page (tenor/alto sax, clarinet, flute) and Ariel Bamborough (backing vocals).

Floating In The Darkness (featuring his Silver Scroll award-winning song "If I Move To Mars") is a deep and raw, reflective body of work, largely self-produced, written and mixed by Thomas himself, with an additional soul-stirring collaboration with renowned producer and composer, Rhian Sheehan ("Let It Be This One"), input from Grammy Award-winning mix engineer, Trina Shoemaker, and mastering by Vlado Meller. As a result, he sees the songs on Floating In The Darkness as an intimate and honest reflection of himself - "a product of a whole lot of searching for the magic zone."

Thomas Oliver is a New Zealand singer-songwriter, internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading players of the Weissenborn lap-steel guitar. Thomas released the world's first full-length, all instrumental, all Weissenborn album in 2013, titled Beneath The Weissenborn. The album debuted at #6 on the NZ charts, received 5 star reviews with sold out shows across the nation.
 
With over two million views on his YouTube channel, Thomas has developed an international audience from his home base in New Zealand, and has performed throughout New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Vietnam, and has toured and shared the stage with such legends as Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton and Fat Freddy's Drop. 
 
His vast diversity in his vocal delivery has also earned him a reputation as a vocalist in Drum & Bass and other electronic music, and his list of collaborations includes some of DnB's most respected producers, including Black Sun Empire, Rido, Concord Dawn and Urbandawn, and boasts releases on prestigious labels, including Andy C's RAM Records, Goldie's Metalheadz. More recently, his single “If I Move To Mars” was remixed by Urbandawn and released on Hospital Records in January this year.
 
October 2015 saw the release of his much-loved (and critically appraised) single “If I Move To Mars”, which would go onto win the prestigious APRA AMCOS Silver Scroll award a year later. With airplay support from ZM, The Hits and The Edge, it nabbed a place in the Official NZ Music Chart for 5 weeks. 
 
“If I Move To Mars” gave us a glance into the melting pot of Thomas’ largely self-produced, written and mixed new album, Floating In The Darkness, which was finished with the love and support of a successful crowd-funding campaign. The pledge reached $22,500, which was $5,000 over its $17,500 target from fans and supporters, locally and worldwide allowing Thomas to finish the album he had conceptualized with the help of a few friends along the way such as Rhian Sheehan, Grammy Award-winning engineer, Trina Shoemaker, Louis Baker (b/v’s on “Shine Like The Sun”), Vlado Meller and more.
 
Following his Silver Scroll win, Thomas released an acoustic version of “If I Move To Mars” and added to the star-studded Bob Marley tribute album, Stir It Up – Aotearoa’s Tribute To Bob Marley, with his spiritual, airy rendition of “Is This Love”. 

 

P-Money co-writer/co-producer on fast rising global hit “Call On Me”.

Over 80 million streams, #1 in Sweden and a Billboard Hot100 chart appearance for “Call On Me” by Starley, co-written and produced by P-Money.

"Call On Me" is the debut single from Australian singer Starley. The song was written by Starley and Peter Wadams (aka P-Money). It was first made available for digital download on 29th July through Australian indie label Tinted Records and then picked up by Epic Records and re-released for the USA on the 13th October.

The original, acoustic and remixed versions have racked up an astronomical 84,000,000 streams on Spotify (averaging 1.7 million plays per day), with the Ryan Riback remix proving most popular amongst listeners on the streaming platform. 

Global Singles charts are also heating up with the single scoring a Number One in Sweden and Top 20 positions in 7 countries.
#1 Sweden
#4 Norway
#8 Belgium
#16 Finland
#18 Spotify Global Top 50
#19 New Zealand
#19 Czech Republic
#20 Germany
#99 Billboard Hot100 (week ending Dec 3rd)

The single has been recently serviced to US Radio and is performing very well on American radio landing at #44 on the Mediabase HOT AC airplay chart this week, up 4 spots from last week.

LORD ECHO 'JUST DO YOU'

Just Do You is the first single from underground super-producer Lord Echo's (Craig Pearce) hotly anticipated 3rd album 'Harmonies'. So long has it's gestation been that it has reached a status reserved only for the mythical and the absurd. Some say it will never be finished with the album devouring its host creator and assuming a life of its own - but this first single proves other wise.

Lord Echo emerges from the darkness with a gleaming diamond in his hand - a slice of pure disco dub indulgence with all the rough trimmings that have made him a cult favourite from Tokyo to Trinidad.

With the real life concerns of the DJ always foremost in his mind, this 12" has something for every occasion with two different vocals and a radical excursion into the realm of left field disco dub that record collectors sweat over in feverish night dreams of cult record acquisition.

Both vocalists are long time Lord Echo collaborators : Electric Wire Hustles' Mara TK and Fat Freddies Drop's Toby Laing. 

Mara's version sees the golden voiced visionary wax lyrical on a night time affair stemming from a tiresome diplomatic function in a sweaty, exotic location deep in the recess' of your mind.  Toby's vocal was recorded in a hotel room in France on one of Fat Freddies Drop's sweeping European Tours and features some of the most obtuse yet deeply penetrating lines in contemporary songbook narrative.

Just Do You 12”

Side A
Just Do You feat. Mara TK
Just Do Dub

SIde B
Only You feat. Toby Laing
Just Do You Instrumental

TAMI NEILSON 'LOCO MAMA'

After an electrifying performance at the NZ Music Awards, The TAMI Show returns with "Loco Mama”,  from the  VNZMA "Album of the Year" nominated "Don't Be Afraid". 

"Loco Mama" was filmed on one camera, in one breathless take...because when you're a Loco Mama, that's all you've got time for! 

In the words of Elmore Magazine (USA), "Loco Mama shakes and smokes...Mexicali spice in both the music, and Neilson’s voice..." 


Recently returned from touring Canada, Showcasing at the Nashville Americana Fest and hitting the US Americana Charts Top 40, Tami Neilson has had a busy year!

Internationally, 2016 has seen Tami play to sold out shows in Canada, hit the US Americana Charts Top 40, have a song from “Don’t Be Afraid” placed on the TV Series “Nashville”, hold prime-time interviews on CBC Canada and gain airplay on several BBC Stations.

In New Zealand she has gone on to score the TV Series “Brokenwood Mysteries 2“ and play host of shows including performing at the 2015 & 2016 Vodafone Music Awards, Womad NZ ,Auckland City Limits and National Tour with her longtime collaborators Delaney Davidson and Marlon Williams.

“Quite simply, this is killer stuff. Your jaw will drop at first listen to the voice belting it out on the opening cut "Walk (Back To Your Arms)”.” 9 out of 10 Review
Kerry Doole ~ EXCLAIM! Magazine Canada

"With a soulful voice straight from the golden age of country and rockabilly music, Tami Neilson has been described as "A red-hot honky-tonker, somewhere between Patsy Cline and Wanda Jackson with perhaps just a little bit of Peggy Lee sophistication.” 
Nick Bollinger, NZ National Radio

Singing her heart out along endless roads and stages, from her days as a young girl in Canada touring with the Neilson Family band, opening for the likes of Johnny Cash, to her full blossoming in New Zealand as a formidable talent in her own right, Tami Neilson has won the Tui Award for each of her past four albums.

In 2014, Tami was also awarded the APRA Silver Scroll, New Zealand's most prestigious music award for excellence in songwriting, for her song “Walk (Back to Your Arms)”, 
as well as “Best Female Artist” at the National Country Music Awards and APRA’s
“Best Country Song” at the NZ Country Music Awards. The release of her explosive album “Dynamite!” received rave reviews in MOJO, The Guardian (named “Top 10 Best Country Music Album”), climbed to #1 on the NZ Music Charts, and winning the title of 2015’s “Best Country Music Album”.

A 5 Star review in the NZ Herald claimed “This world-class album is a major statement from an artist at the top of her lyrical and vocal game.”

Just 18 months after “Dynamite!”, this prolific artist released her follow-up album, 
“Don’t Be Afraid” to critical acclaim, debuting on the NZ Album Charts and the Independent Music Charts at #1, proving that the powerhouse that is Tami Neilson is a force to be reckoned with.

New Zealand media were all in agreement on the strength “Don’t Be Afraid”, with the album going rave reviews from all corners - 4.5 & 5 Star reviews from the NZ Herald, NZ Listener, Sunday Star Times, Rip It Up, Dominion Post and Radio New Zealand just to mention a few.

“It’s not often that you’ll come across an album that grabs you by the arm, reaches down your throat and wrenches your heart like this one..”
 Lydia Jenkin, NZ Herald5 Stars

SKINNY HOBOS 'JOKERS AND FOOLS'

Two-piece noise merchants Skinny Hobos (Sam Holdom) have released their stomping second single ‘Jokers & Fools’.

An anthem for the modern day, Jokers & Fools represents a shift in style for the two-piece while maintaining the level of groove and noise that has become their signature sound. The single was added to NZ On Air’s NewTracks playlist and is currently on rotation on The Rock FM’s Kiwi Rock Soundcheck segment.

The duo are playing at the NZ Tattoo & Art Festival in New Plymouth this Sunday before hitting the road with Cheshire Grimm and Devilskin to see the year out.

SUMMER THIEVES 'COAST ROAD'

Produced by multi-platinum, award-winning producer Tiki Taane (Ninakaye Taane Tinorau) , 'Coast Roads'  by Summer Thieves (Tim Couch and Jason Schroeder) is the latest offering from their forthcoming debut album which will be released via Universal Music.

The release is timed perfectly to celebrate the arrival of summer and a string of shows across the country where fans will be able to witness the new single in the flesh; including sets at Rhythm & Vines and Bay Dreams.
Coast Roads is a summer jam about growing up as a beach kid and constantly looking for waves. Lyrically it reflects the fact that as a band Summer Thieves all have different musical influences and this has created a melting pot of genres and influences that they both feed off and gain inspiration from.
 
'The idea of the track was to emulate how sick it is being on road trips with your boys.. heading to festivals, surf trips, or whatever. Growing up, when we went out looking for waves we always buzzed out at how epic the Dunedin coastline is... thats what 'Coast Roads' is about.' - Jake Barton

Rising from the dusty rinsed streets of 'Scarfieville', Dunedin's Summer Thieves are a melting pot of reggae, hip-hop, rock, and funk.

“We’re just laid back guys who put on parties, we don’t take ourselves too seriously”, the band’s vocalist Jake Barton says.  “We want everyone to have a good time.”  

 
It’s a laidback approach, that’s proven dangerously effective too, with the band comprised of Johnny Ward (Drums and Vocals), Adam Spencer (Bass), Angus Cleland (Keys, Samples and Percussion) and Jake Barton (Guitar and Vocals) amassing a legion of breathers nationwide.  
 
This release tops off a huge year for the boys who were also selected to join friends and spiritual braddas Sticky Fingers on their sold-out NZ tour; adding another name to the huge list of acts they’ve shared the stage with including Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Six60, Ocean Alley, Katchafire and many more.

KAYLEE BELL – GETTING CLOSER

Kaylee Bell is delighted to release her latest country-pop infused single, Getting Closer – a must-listen for those long roadtrips over summer.

An empowering anthem, Getting Closer is instantly relatable for anyone who has felt trapped in a toxic relationship. The open honest lyrics speak of the importance of relying on your friends to tell you when something isn’t right, and know they have your best interests at heart.

Getting Closer was written in Nashville with her good friend and fellow country artist Morgan Evans and produced by Lindsay Rimes, who most recently had a Billboard #1 charting single with LOCASH.

Already making a name for herself Kaylee Bell has won Best Female Artist at the National Country Music Awards in 2013, and the Tui for Best Country Music Album in 2014.  It’s not just New Zealand where Kaylee has been making waves, enjoying twelve Top 10 Singles on the Australian Country Music Radio Charts as both a performer and songwriter, three of which went to #1.

A prolific live performer, Kaylee has played at some of world’s biggest festivals including three appearances at CMC Rocks, in Nashville at both the Global Artist Showcase and the famous Bluebird Café, and shared stages with the likes of Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and Keith Urban – including joining Keith to perform a duet each night on his last Australian tour.

Following in his country superstar footsteps, Kaylee became the first Kiwi since Keith to win the Toyota Star Maker Australia competition in 2013, and is the only person outside the USA to become the overall winner in the US Unsigned Only songwriting competition in 2015 for her song with Jared Porter, Pieces.

Getting Closer is the first single from Kaylee Bell’s new album, due for release in 2017.

LOUIS BAKER 'FADE'

Following on from his breathtakingly beautiful single “Rainbow”, 27-year old singer songwriter, Louis Baker (Cushla Aston) shares “Fade”: another leaf out of his anticipated songbook of forthcoming music. The new song, co-written with Bradford Ellis and Jemma Cooke, is a modern throwback to the golden era of Motown balladeering, Fade is a slow-burn soul number that first sets Louis Baker’s rich, resonant voice to sparse piano, before layers of guitar, drums, keys and warm backing vocals weigh in to support his sentimental tribute to long-distance love.

The journey of “Fade” as a song began in Albert Einstein's first home in Bern, Switzerland. “After playing a small and intimate set at this apartment, and being encored 3 times, I ran out of songs so decided to make one up on the spot,” says Louis. “Perhaps his creativity sparked something in me. The following week I travelled to London and “Fade” was born.” 

Reflecting on the creation process of the song, producer and co-writer, Bradford Ellis says: “It was brilliant collaborating with Louis on “Fade”. He has a timeless and extremely versatile voice and is a bloody good bloke. NZ has a habit of producing great soulful artists. Louis feels like the next.”

Praise for Louis:

 “A glorious song this – sad and sparse, wise and true, with a restraint to the vocal that suits the vulnerability of the love-lorn lyric. Recorded in London with Big Brad from The Nextmen, it’s the best thing Baker has done to date, as raw and tender as a fresh wound, and when his voice swoops up to falsetto over a tangle of slowly unspooling guitar…well, no, those are not tears. I think I just got something in my eye.” – Grant Smithies, Sunday Star Times [“Rainbow”]

"To crafted songs like Birds, Back on my Feet and now his new single Rainbow, Louis Baker has brought a rare sense of persuasive intimacy and a soulful conviction where you believe every syllable he sings  . . . because you know he does too. And although there is a confidence to his vocal range he also offers an emotional fragility in songs that speak to the heart. He stops me every time and makes me listen, and that is a gift." – Graham Reid, Elsewhere [“Rainbow”]

“Many soul singers might wishfully compare themselves to Marvin Gaye or Otis Redding, but for Louis Baker, the comparison is truly deserved.” – Lydia Jenkin, New Zealand Herald

Louis has been away from home over the last few months, spending considerable time in Los Angeles for writing sessions with fellow songwriters, and more recently attending ASCAP’s Songwriter Retreat – a prestigious songwriting camp held at the Château Marouatte castle in Southern France during the latter half of September. Previous attendees have included Ellie Goulding, James Bay, Mika, Mike Posner, Dougy Mandagi (The Temper Trap) and Tom Higgenson (Plain White T’s) to name a few. The remainder of the year is looking bright for the young singer songwriter, as he plans to release more fresh material into the new year.