CHIKA 'GIVE IT TO DEM BAD'

“I stunt and hustle on repeat and I do it on the back of Afro beat so you know I give it to dem bad” Chika to release her first Ep project In my head featuring her unique blend of Rnb and Afro beat this July

The project reflects the space of mind the singer was in before she say’s she “woke the f*** up” (her words exactly). You really get a sense of the creative mind of the artist as the listener is taken through a 5 track ‘dip and dive’ of a ride.

Give It To Dem Bad is a single from the EP, released today. Listeners can also look forward to the music video for this song. The idea for the music video came after her most recent trip to Nigeria. The music video pays homage to key feelings that brought Chika to the mind space of this project. It is fun and light yet riddled with plenty deep and meaningfuls.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria at age 10 Chika, her mother and siblings left Nigeria to join their dad in Auckland New Zealand. Still based in Auckland and very much a kiwi now Chika still feels a strong connection to Africa this is very evident in the singer’s style.

Chika discovered she wanted to be a singer at the age of 7 eager to join the choir at her church then in Lagos but being too young. At age 12 she discovered a love for soul music as her father would blast music of the likes of Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Whitney Huston and other soul Queens regularly in the house.

Her music is a blend warm and vibrant soulful melodies on Afro beat and RNB groves. Some of Chika’s musical influences are Burna Boy, Beyonce, Adele, and Niniola. The singer has two prior releases. After the release of her single Breathe in 2018 the singer spent a lot of time questioning her sound and style and who she is as an artist. The single was meant to be a part of a body of work that she created but later felt very disconnected to. She loves the EP project In My Head so much and is proud to share it with the world as she says “it just looks and feels like me all over!”

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TIJAY 'BLAME'

Bass swells and synth grooves to the fore, as Tijay releases ‘Blame' ahead of her forthcoming EP.

It's a track of deep reflection and checked expectations, set to an infectious groove that was finished during lockdown.

"Blame for me was and is a start of a new era. It paved the way for the likes of Dizzy, and the majority of the other songs you’ll be hearing on my E.P. A palate cleanser, almost. As I sat at my little Casio with my fingers fumbling over the keys I knew I was on the brink of something when I sang the lines “I’ve been blaming you for what I don’t like in this world, I’ve been shaming you for what I don’t like in myself”

“I think a lot of us can relate to the feeling of being disappointed by the state of the world. When I was writing blame I realised I had been allowing those frustrations to settle in blaming others for it. This song, is a changing of tides for me and I hope it might be for someone else too.”

Production is a tag team by local legends Timon Martin and Nic Manders. Celebrate local this music month and check out ‘Blame’ today! Out now across all platforms.

CALILEO MAKES IMPRESSIVE DEBUT WITH INDIE-ROCK SINGLE ‘WEIGHTLESS’

Auckland artist, songwriter and producer Calileo has today released his debut single ‘Weightless’ – a catchy indie-rock tune with melancholic undertones, which is all about belonging, being yourself and releasing yourself from the things you don’t need in your life.

Calileo - AKA Callum Martin, who first made his mark in Auckland’s renowned and now defunct indie-rock band The Checks – recorded ‘Weightless’ partly in his bedroom in Auckland. The track was finished at The Lab in Auckland with mixing and engineering by Tom Healy.

He describes ‘Weightless’ as feeling like the bittersweet “last day of the festival” and adds “The vibe is like a sonic smoothie of your favourite sounds, blended and served. It's fun to sing and sounds a bit like if Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) started a band with Dr Dre and Nelly Furtado.”

‘Weightless’ is the first single from Callum who says he settled on the artist name of Calileo as a homage to the historic character, Galileo.

“I'm inspired by great explorers and artists who approach creativity with curiosity. I played classical music as a youngster and studied pop music after the band finished. I love the scored lineages and silent musical languages that are the backdrops between genres. I think this is a reason I'm drawn to writing and producing music. I have a natural curiosity and love artists who are not afraid to push the boundaries and bend genres, artists such as Outkast, Talking Heads; James Blake; and Four Tet. I also thought Galileo was a cool character who presented some very progressive (although not necessarily initially popular) ideas which pushed us forward as a group of humans, as well as challenged the powers that were prominent during that time,” says Callum.

As a songwriter and guitarist in the 2000s for The Checks, Callum developed an ear for production from a young age. The band spent 10 years together, and found themselves opening for and touring with international heavyweights such as REM, The Killers, The Hives,  AC/DC, Muse, and Oasis.

Now a decade on, and with a master’s degree in music therapy under his belt, Callum is ready to reveal Calileo and his lush harmonies dipped in heartbreak to the world.

“I wanted to create something unapologetically different that people can sing to and that is fun to play live.” 

New Miranda Easten Single Follows Australian Chart Success

Country singer-songwriter Miranda Easten today launches her latest single, Only One, recorded with world-renowned producer Greg Haver( Melanie C, Kimbra), at Roundhead Studios in Auckland.

The new track will appear on the Christchurch-based musician’s debut album, set for release later this year. Collaborators on the project include Greg Haver and New Zealand band, Tiny Ruins. As excitement builds, Miranda’s first single, Cowboy Lullaby, released in April, continues to attract media attention and acclaim across the Tasman, jumping to #16 on the Australian Official Top 40 Country Music Chart.

The production throughout Only One is multi-layered, featuring a hand-picked team of musicians playing acoustic and electric guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and even omnichord. “It’s an uplifting song about proclaiming an unbreakable love for someone, when it feels like no words are adequate or worthy enough,” Miranda says. “I’m a sucker for love and other people will find the song very relatable. It’s a classic love song.”

Written in under an hour, Miranda says working on the track with Greg Haver and the team at Roundhead Studios was amazing. “I had to keep pinching myself,” she says. “I had a lot of input into the single and, even though it was the first time we had worked together, Greg knew how I wanted it to sound.”

Miranda is mentored by Sacha Vee, founder of SOLE Music Academy, who has been helping her establish herself as an artist and to bring her vision to life. After studying Contemporary Music & Performance at Ara Institute of Canterbury Music Arts, Miranda and Vanessa Kelly (Deep Obsession), formed the duo The Manuka Set, in 2014.

Recently, Miranda has been working alongside LA-based, New Zealand singer-songwriter and producer Greg Johnson. Miranda was the executive producer for his album, Swing The Lantern, and collaborated with him on both Stay and Stars & Dreams, released in 2019.

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MARINA BLOOM UNCOVERS EDGY SINGLE TO COMPLETE SONGS OF ISOLATION

This week Marina Bloom released the 5th and final track in the 'Songs of Isolation' series with a new music video for 'Let's Pretend'. 

The series has seen five songs released at weekly intervals during lockdown - each song exploring a different feeling many will relate to during this COVID-19 pandemic.

The final song of the series is an apt climax - a story of passion, dance, playing in the shadows - a portrait of the darkness and desperation of our time. 

The song has a neo-noir feel mixed with industrial rhythm. Think high heels & car headlights, Sin City & 50 Shades of Gray crossover with Imogen Heap-like vocals and you’re almost there.

More controversial than Marina's usually upbeat content, she suspects many will secretly relate to the edgier lyrics,

"Everyone has a darker side, even if they don't show it to the world, we all like a bit of excitement every now and then."

Perhaps in these strange times of social distancing and restrictions on our usual movements, a bit of neo-noir excitement is exactly what the Doctor ordered.

Listen to the current releases in the Songs of Isolation series here, and follow her Facebook page for further updates.

SIT DOWN IN FRONT Unveil New Single, 'First World Problems'

After tasting chart success with their last two singles, young Gisborne Punk Rockers, Sit Down In Front are back with their new single 'First World Problems'. The eagerly anticipated lead-in single to their new album Confessions Of A Pie Thief due for release Friday, 26th June. 

Written all about problems that aren’t really problems, and why people should stop complaining about small things that don’t matter. It’s another fast tempo gritty foot-stomping number that has proved a favourite with fans lucky enough to have had an advanced listen live.

Since forming in January 2017, The Gisborne Punk-Rock band Sit Down In Front, whose members are all still in high school have been impressing fans in Aotearoa and abroad. 

The four-piece is comprised of; frontman and lyrist Cory Newman (16), who uses a wheelchair due to his Cerebral Palsy, guitarist Jackson Clarke (16), bassist Roman Benson (14) and Rikki Noble (16).

They self-produced their 2018 debut album Red Light Runner in the small-town of Wairoa, New Zealand, the first single from the album 'Runaway Chair' quickly racked up over 45,000 streams on Spotify. After placing first in the 2019 Smokefreerockquest East Coast regional final they went on to be placed third nationally in the band category of Smokefreerockquest and since have performed and toured Aotearoa with some of their favourite artists including Jimmy Barnes, Cold Chisel, Villainy, Aussie shed-rockers The Chats, Skinny Hobos, John Toogood, The D4 and Head Like A Hole. Sit Down In Front closed out a successful 2019 with a performance on the Garden Stage at Rhythm & Vines. 

Their second album Confessions Of A Pie Thief set for release June, 26th 2020, was recorded at Roundhead studios under the expert guidance of renown International producer Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Opshop, Feelers). The two singles from the forthcoming album ‘Rain’ and 'What Comes Around' featured on the New Zealand Rock Radioscope Charts, 'Rain' received mainstream radio play in Brazil and across college and community stations in the United States and Europe and was streamed in over 72 countries in 2019. 

Sit Down in Front’s brand of rock is built on the foundations of classic punk rock, they successfully capture the essence and energy of the old while creating their own, new, exciting, youthful sound. Lyrically the album centres around real-life situations, straightforward songs about stealing pies from the school tuck shop, karma, burning sausages on the BBQ or just having a bad day. Collectively, the band are inspired by a wide range of genres from the 60s rock of the Rolling Stones and Beatles to punk bands like Sex Pistols and Green Day to the modern-day rock of Foo Fighters and Rage Against The Machine. New Zealand artists, Villainy, Shihad, Devil Skin, and Alien Weaponry have also all had a huge influence on the band growing up. 

"Magically capturing the essence of a young Johnny Rotten (Sex Pistols)" - Ambient Light  

“Never in my years as a tour photographer have, I witnessed a crowd reaction to an opener like I did last night.  Sit Down In Front finishing their set at the Powerstation to a screaming crowd wanting more.  Shouting for one more song..” - Chris Morgan, Photographer, (Villiany, Powerstation) 

“My hope for punk in Aotearoa has returned knowing it is in the hands of such youth" –  Ambient Light 

Team Dynamite announce their return with 'Who?' ft Diggy Dupé from forthcoming LP

Team Dynamite announce their return with ‘Who?’ ft Diggy Dupé, the lead single from their forthcoming album. The track introduces fans to the new Team Dynamite - older, more focused, and ready to show the scene their new material.

“It’s a 16 bar motivational anthem to myself, where I am trying to convince myself that I am good - in this case it's about making music,” says Tony Teez. “I’m talking to myself and anyone else who might find it relatable. I think it’s a warning shot and reminder with a subtle wussup to our lovely peers in the industry and to all our supporters, letting everyone know that Team Dynamite is still here alive and winning."

“The beats are more advanced boom bap and the boys are more mature lyrically, physically and mentally but have still got that Dynamite sound that everyone knows,” Haz Beats says.

It's been a long wait for new Team Dynamite music, with 'Who?' a teaser for what's to come on the full album, due to be released on digitally via DRM and on vinyl by Years Gone By Records this August.

“I’m proud of the fact we made songs that people have enjoyed,” says Lucky Lance. “We’re brothers first, music comes second we just had to figure out if we were all still on the same page musically... We are.” 

‘Who?’ is out today on streaming services.

Alt-pop queen Theia releases new banger ‘Celebrity’ from her 99% Angel mixtape

Alt-pop artist Theia has today released ‘Celebrity’ – the fourth and final song from her 99% Angel mixtape. Listen here.

The video premiered yesterday on US site Billboard.

Delivered with Theia’s unmistakable vocals, set against an epic and edgy soundscape with hard-hitting lyricism, ‘Celebrity’ is the mixtape’s tour de force.

“It’s all about the idea of selling your soul to the cult of celebrity - people who would do anything to be seen as famous or successful even if it means losing themselves in the process,” explains Theia, who wrote and recorded her mixtape in Sydney.

The concept for the song’s video takes its inspiration from the dark fantasy subgenre and was developed across continents, laptops and iPhones – with Theia in Sydney and the film’s DOP Nas Nixx (an emerging photographer in LA’s fantasy scene) in the United States.

“My vision for the video was for this elf-like girl to be tainted by groupies and the glam Hollywood, as she transforms into a succubus,” says Nas. “The greed takes her soul; she’s surrounded by groupies but she’s still lonely,” adds Theia.

Theia arrived in LA in early March to shoot the video but within a week, the COVID crisis had deepened.“We discussed pulling the plug but we really wanted for it to be set in LA. Hollywood is the perfect metaphor for the values society places on image. It’s so symbolic of the obsession we have with fame,” says Theia. “Nas was so determined to make it work and that’s what happened! She pulled together the most incredible team – smaller than we’d originally planned - but we got it done before I made a mad dash for LAX and flew back to NZ and straight into quarantine.”

‘Celebrity’ follows the tracks Kitty Kat, Frat Boyz and 99% Angel, completing Theia’s third body of work, the 99% Angel mixtape, which cleverly showcases the two world in which she co-exists – hooky mainstream pop, alongside experimental and edgy, alt-pop; and always with a powerful message.

“[Frat Boyz is] a sonic collage with a bass that will rattle your bones… powerful lyricism that elevates the track beyond its genre. All crafted to protest the ongoing misogyny and sexism that plagues society” – Uniquely Aligned

“Bad ass attitude that doesn't f around” – triple j Unearthed

To celebrate the release of the mixtape Theia is partnering up with North American promoter Strawberry Gothcake for a 99% Angel Cyber Zoom Party on May 24 (AEST/NZ) – line-up times still TBC. Theia will perform the mixtape back-to-back, with Australian DJ/producer Oh Boy; LA-based artist Gurldoll; NZ-based artist Babyzionov and US DJ Deathbysanrio all on the bill.

Theia first made a splash in 2016 with her debut single ‘Roam’. Her self-titled debut EP earned her three nominations at the 2017 NZ Music Awards; while her second NOT YOUR PRINCESS was nominated for two awards at the 2019 Waiata Music Awards. Theia has twice been a finalist in the pop category of the International Songwriting Competition – this year winning a third place and an honorable mention with her song ‘Not Your Princess’ in the unpublished and Top/40 categories.

Theia has headlined her own tours and played at many of NZ’s biggest festivals. She has opened for Sia; Mika, LEON, Portugal. The Man, The Kite String Tangle and Tones And I. Earlier this year she also performed alongside Dorian Electra at the Heaps Gay Pardi Gras as part of Sydney Mardi Gras.

Find Theia here:

Instagram / Facebook / Website
Spotify / Apple / YouTube