DECADES HIT THE ROAD IN JULY WITH SKINNY HOBOS, DEAD FAVOURS AND BAKERS EDDY

Four of New Zealand’s most exciting and emerging rock acts hit the road this July, playing in five centres across the country.
 
Decades, Skinny Hobos (Sam Holdom), Dead Favours and Bakers Eddy (Claire Gormly) are the newest generation of NZ rock royalty and kick off the nationwide ALL OUR TRUTHS tour in Hamilton on July 14, before heading to Auckland on July 15, Wellington July 22, Christchurch July 28, then winding up in Dunedin on July 29.
 
Presented by Brent Eccles Entertainment, in conjunction with The Rock, tickets go on sale Thursday June 1 at 12pm from www.wearedecades.com

Headlining the ALL OUR TRUTHS tour is Christchurch band, Decades. Made up of four long-time friends; Emma Cameron (guitar, vocals, songwriter), Liam Muir (guitar, songwriter), Daniel Perry (drums), and Curtis Booth (bass, beard); Decades has just announced the release date of their debut album, THE TRUTH AND OTHER PEOPLE(July 14) and are looking forward to playing the new tracks live. The album features The Rock favourites ‘Terrified’ and ‘If It Kills Me’, along with new single, ‘Get Me Home’.

Joining Decades are Skinny Hobos, Dead Favours and Bakers Eddy. 

Skinny Hobos are a two-piece alternative rock band from Auckland, who have earned a reputation for being one of the hardest working bands in town. With a mesmerising live performance, Alex Elvis (guitar) and Texas Holdom (drums) produce a full gritty full rock sound. Skinny Hobos release their new single, ‘Suburban Living’ on June 9.

Dead Favours formed in 2016 with members originating from bands including Grammy-nominees Steriogram, Fire at Will, Bloodnut, Eqwanox, and Kara Gordon’s Wreckage among others. Dead Favours’ debut EP, produced by Tom Larkin, is due for release this July and features their current Rock radio hit, ‘Dig’. 

The energetic and always exciting Bakers Eddy are looking forward to playing on home soil. The four-piece are one of the most in-demand rock bands around, opening last year for Highly Suspect, Gang of Youths and The Rubens. Originally from Wellington and now based in Melbourne, Bakers Eddy are currently working with Tom Larkin, creating their debut album, and are looking forward to introducing fans to some of their new work and will be releasing a single in July to coincide with the tour.

ALL OUR TRUTHS tour – featuring Decades, Skinny Hobos, Dead Favours and Bakers Eddy - on sale Thursday June 1 at 12pm from

www.wearedecades.com

Friday 14 July - Gravity Bar, HAMILTON
Saturday 15 July - Galatos, AUCKLAND
Saturday 22 July - Meow, WELLINGTON
Friday 28 July- Blue Smoke, CHRISTCHURCH
Saturday 29 July - Refuel, DUNEDIN

TEEKS RELEASES HIS DEBUT SINGLE 'IF ONLY'

Kiwi singer-songwriter Teeks (Cilla Ruha) has today released his much-anticipated debut single ‘If Only’, accompanied by a powerful video, shot and directed by the award-winning Shae Sterling.

Steeped in old-school soul and yet brimming with the confidence and strength of youth, ‘If Only’ is a stirring ballad about unrequited love. “You know when someone has strong feelings for you but no matter how hard you try, you just don’t feel the same way? That’s what this song is about. Usually songs are written from the other person’s point of view but I wanted to change it up and hear the other side of the story.”

Written by Teeks in his bedroom, with his guitar, the song was recorded and produced by Jeremy Most (Emily King) in New York. It is the first release from the Auckland-based artist’s upcoming EP, THE GRAPEFRUIT SKIES, which will be released on June 23.

The video for ‘If Only’ stays true to the song’s nostalgic and dreamy vibe.

“We wanted to capture that era but at the same time not be restricted to it. The whole time I was thinking about my koro and what he might have been like when he was young. I used this photo of him for reference,” says Teeks.

Hailing from Northland, Teeks (real name Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi) grew up surrounded by music and performance. Raised with strong Kapa Haka influences, Teeks got his first big break when he was selected to participate in the late Dr Hirini Melbourne’s development initiative, Pao Pao Pao, for emerging and establishing Māori artists.

Teeks – ‘If Only’ out today from Spotify and iTunes

ELECTRO-POP PRINCESS THEIA ANNOUNCES FIRST HEADLINE TOUR

Kiwi electro-pop princess Theia (Nicole Thomas and Paula Yeoman) has announced her first headline tour of New Zealand to celebrate the upcoming release of her highly-anticipated debut EP.
 
Proudly presented by ZM and Eccles Entertainment, Theia and her band will play Neck of the Woods in Auckland on Thursday, July 6; Meow in Wellington on Friday, July 7 and Blue Smoke in Christchurch on July 8.
 
It will be the first time Theia has played shows for the public in Auckland, Wellington and in her home-town of Christchurch. Special guests will open for Theia in each city.
 
The tour marks the June 30 release of Theia’s self-titled EP, which contains her hit song ‘Roam’, as well as the soaring anthem ‘Champagne Supernova’ and her current single ‘Treat You’. 
 
Click HERE to watch the video for ‘Treat You’, which has just dropped!

The six-track record captures Theia at a career-defining moment in time and establishes the young Kiwi singer as a rare talent with a glittering future ahead of her.
 
Over summer 2016/2017, Theia performed her first-ever lives shows on the Electric Coastline Tour with Broods and Kings. She then played her first Australian tour in April, supporting electro act The Kite String Tangle in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. She’s now just returned from Los Angeles, where she was invited to play an industry showcase at the prestigious MUSEXPO.
 
Don’t miss your chance to see one of New Zealand’s brightest emerging acts in three intimate venues this July.
 
Tickets on sale NOW - www.ticketmaster.co.nz

NATION 'AIR' PRE-RELEASE SHOW

Wellington’s Nation (Jack Williment) have returned with a fresh new single ‘Air’, launching the track with an exclusive pre-release show at the Prefab Hall on May 19th, before its official release a week later.

Tickets are now available from Undertheradar, with a physical copy of 'Air' being given away with every pre-sale, upon entrance to the show.

‘Air' is produced by TKO and was recorded at Wellington’s The Armoury studio, and follows the band’s acclaimed self-titled debut EP, delivering a seamless blend of soul, funk, rock and pop. Supporting Nation at their pre-release show will be the multi-talented Lisa Tomlins.

Nation moved to the capital in 2016, quickly making waves in the local music scene. Miharo Gregory plays the keys and delivers soulful vocals. Ngarewa Reid brings his love of metal to Nation’s intricate guitar lines, while Dhanesh Parmar brings the grooves with his beautifully written bass lines. The band’s foundations are held strong by the rhythmic versatility and skill of drummer Marcus Gurtner.

The band have continued to grow their fanbase with a successful South Island Tour in early 2017 (including double shows in Invercargill and Dunedin), a full house as part of Wellington’s Meridian Gardens Magic Summer City programme, support slots at sold out shows around Wellington, as well as their own successful headline gigs. With more new music in the works, North Island shows set for this year, and an Australian tour in 2018, great things are on the horizon for Nation.

Get your tickets now to receive your free copy of 'Air', (including bonus material) upon arrival at the show.

Nation – ‘Air’ pre-release show, with support from Lisa Tomlins.
Friday May 19th, 8pm
The Prefab Hall
14 Jessie Street
Wellington
Tickets from UTR goo.gl/Bc542m

VALLKYRIE 'LOST SOUL'

Vallkyrie (Shae Sterling) – taking their name from the female warriors of Norse mythology – consist of Rebel Reid and Omer Gilroy as the powerhouse behind the industrial storm that is this new age girl power band.  Add Brandon Haru as their Viking drummer and you have a Norse force to be reckoned with.

Today Vallkyrie are very pleased to announce the release of their brand new single LOST SOUL.

Born out of an all-night jam session with the three Valkyries’, Lost Soul began with Rebel playing chords that transported the room to the 1970’s.  Brandon added some military style beats and Omer sprinkled soulful chants of “I lost my soul in this rock and roll”, all laid down on a distinctly 2000’s smartphone voice memo recording.

Incidentally, the demo was forgotten about for a week before the trio stumbled across the recording and decided in amongst the guitars at the Manukau Rock Shop that Lost Soul was going to be a single, and the next step towards releasing their debut album.

Chris Chetland at Kog worked his voodoo magic on the demo to transform the song into the soulful rock infused track you can stream and purchase today.

The groundbreaking video for Lost Soul – directed by Shae Sterling – is one of only three other music videos in existence worldwide, to be filmed in infrared.

With filming taking place over two months in stunning New Zealand locations; the video tells another story of the song, with the trio joining forces with Catherine McKay from the Auckland Academy of Dance whose students helped bring the song to visually stunning life

MEET THE NEW KIWI SOUL SENSATION - TEEKS

There are some singers who command the utmost respect and attention the second you hear that very first note. The voice grabs you; it holds you. You’ve discovered something rare and precious. You’ll always remember that moment.

Meet the new Kiwi singer-songwriter who is about to stop you in your tracks - TEEKS (Cilla Ruha).

The young artist, who hails from Northland, will release his debut EP THE GRAPEFRUIT SKIES, recorded in New Zealand and New York, on June 23. But before that he’s giving you a taste of the magic to come with his stunning debut single, the soulful ‘If Only’, due out on May 26.
 

“Teeks has the kind of voice people whisper about. When you’re lucky enough to hear him sing, your jaw will drop a little. Or your eyes will widen and you’ll say something about shivers under your breath or point at the tiny goosebumps forming on your forearms…” Lydia Jenkin, Paperboy
 

Prepare to be impressed. TEEKS’ music makes a powerful statement that boldly introduces New Zealand to one of our next great talents.

For a sneak peek, click here

MANGERE'S NZ MUSIC MONTH CELEBRATIONS

MĀNGERE LOVE | 27 May, 10am-12.30pm | Māngere Town Centre Courtyard (next to the Library)

The annual Māngere Love concert this year doubles as Māngere’s official NZ Music Month celebrations; held within the popular Māngere Town Centre courtyard, it’s an opportunity for our local music community and youth to hone their skills in front of a large appreciative audience, and to also connect with music industry professionals they might not normally have access to.

The live concert features performances by local up and coming talent including SUPA Performing Arts, CMPA Students of Te Wānanga O Aotearoa and many more, alongside feature artists Swiss, Poetik and LaCoco.

MĀNGERE LOVE: FROM LYRIC PAGE TO THE STAGE WORKSHOPS | 27 May, 12.30pm – 4.30pm | Māngere Arts Centre

This year, the Māngere Love concert will be followed by a complimentary series of invaluable music workshops at the Māngere Arts Centre called “From Lyric Page to the Stage”.

Carefully curated with the help of award winning local Music & Sound Producer Anonymouz, these free workshops will cover the main skills required to excel and flourish in the New Zealand Music Industry today, delivered by well-known industry practitioners at the top of their craft.  

PROGRAMME:

12.30pm – 12.45pm: “SONGWRITING” – Feleti Strickson-Pua (Nesian Mystik) & SWISS

NZ Music stars Swiss (Reggae) & Feleti Strickson-Pua (Hip Hop) both discuss various insights and tips into how they approach the art of songwriting.

12.50pm – 1.35pm: “MUSIC PRODUCTION” - KINGS

Producer/ Artist Kings will have some of his studio gear on hand to dissect his number one Hit “Don’t Worry Bout It” live on screen. A brilliant opportunity to see first hand what elements and techniques went into creating a proven successful track.

1.40pm – 2.25pm: “MUSIC VIDEO PRODUCTION” - MARK ARONA & TATSUYA SASAKI

An ever increasingly important part of the industry these days is making sure your music has a visual presence out in the media/ content dominant audience landscape. These two veterans who’ve delivered many professional videos for Illegal Muzik share tips on how to maximise results in this realm.

2.30pm – 3.15pm: “AIRPLAY” - NIU FM & MAI FM (Nadia Marsh & Philip Bell)

Pacific Media Network & Mai FM share invaluable information about how to prepare and present your music for it’s best shot at getting played on air.

3.20pm – 4.25pm: “LIVE PERFORMANCE” CHARLIE POME’E (THREE HOUSES DOWN)

With skills honed over many local and international tours over many years, veteran frontman Charlie Pome’e from the famed Three Houses Down shares insights and tips on how to effectively connect to and engage a crowd.

Admission: FREE

Brought to you with the support of:

·         Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Arts

·         Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board

·         Māngere Town Centre

·         Māngere Arts Centre

·         Zeal Eventbox

·         Niu FM

·         RAN Events

THOMAS OLIVER 'FLOATING IN THE DARKNESS'

After a long wait, Thomas Oliver (Cushla Aston) has released his highly anticipated new album Floating In The Darkness, before embarking on his full New Zealand album tour (dates below)! To celebrate the album's release, Thomas also shares the brand new single and album opening track "Tenderly". Listen to the new track here.

Weighing in with 10 new songs that touch upon love, loss and the autobiographical, Floating In The Darkness features the Silver Scroll award-winning song "If I Move To Mars", the upbeat heart-warmer "Shine Like The Sun" and his recent single "Losin" (in case you missed it, watch the captivating Aston Rd Session here).

Recorded with the help of a few musical friends, the album is a raw, reflective body of work. Largely self-produced, written and mixed by Thomas himself, the album features 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.
 

Listen to Floating In The Darkness:
Listen / Purchase on Apple Music / iTunes HERE
Listen on Spotify HERE
Listen / Puchase on Google Play HERE
or pick up from a good record store near you!

As New Zealand Music Month kicks off next week, Thomas will begin his album tour of Aotearoa between May 5 - May 28. He will be accompanied by his full band (Sam Notman, Ed Zuccollo, Johnny Lawrence, Bella Florence) for the first four legs (Auckland, Leigh, Wellington & Christchurch) before hitting the road solo to round off his Floating In The Darkness NZ Tour. Make sure to see him in a town near you, before he crosses the ditch for a full Australian tour in June!

Thomas Oliver - Floating In The Darkness NZ Tour:
Tickets from thomasoliver.co.nz
 

Fri 5 May - The Tuning Fork, Auckland
Sat 6 May - Leigh Sawmill, Leigh
Fri 12 May - Blue Smoke, Christchurch
Sat 13 May - San Fran, Wellington
Weds 24 May - Mussell Inn, Takaka*
Fri 26 May - The Sherwood, Queenstown*
Sat 27 May - Repertory House, Invercargill*
Sun 28 May - Pequeno Lounge Bar, Dunedin*