RIQI HARAWIRA 'RUAPEKAPEKA'

RIQI HARAWIRA is a lot of things. A Guitarist, a Counselor, a Storyteller. He’s a former Addict who practises his rehab daily, a Teacher, a Survivor and a Warrior.

He is both Māori and Pakeha, he is a New Zealander who is proud of all that he is and of his nation. Riqi strives to be a unifying force through his teaching and his music. He wields his guitar like a taiaha (Guitaiaha) and melds Rock, Funk and Reggae as he tells both his story and ours.

“Ruapekapeka” is his latest offering, a powerful Guitaiaha driven rock anthem with tribal chorus chants that hook you immediately. It’s laden with beautifully executed playing that weaves into your being.

The song carries a palpable mana with it that reminds us of the famous northern battle between the colonials under Governor General Grey and the combined forces of Kawiti and Hone Heke. The former DEAD FLOWERS lead guitarist has found his voice too, stepping in front of the microphone and unleashing a mighty tone every bit as striking as his work on the fretboard.

In “Ruapekapeka” Riqi has delivered a truly striking piece of work that will have crowds pumping their fists in the air and straining their vocal chords like some contemporary national anthem.

Riqi Harawira is many things but first and foremost he is the Creative Nātive and this is the first taste of what is to come from his third solo album.

PRINS 'STAY AWAY'

PRINS is without question one of the most exciting dance-pop acts making music in New Zealand right now. She firms up this reputation with the second single from her debut EP, ’Stay Away’. PRINS wrote ’Stay Away’ as a 'note to self’… don’t slip back into old habits!. “There’s many times in our lives where we are consciously aware that we are making wrong choices but we continue to do so anyway” she says. “This song is the trigger for me and a brutal reminder that I am in control”. 

Following on from her successful single, ‘Magnetic’ she has kicked off 2020 with a bang playing in The Edge NYE Festival in Hagley Park, Christchurch with a record audience of 22,000 people. Recently returning from Auckland where she played alongside International acts in Highlifes’s sold out Sunsetters Festival, she’s been gearing up for her much anticipated dance-pop EP which shows a brand new side to the PRINS we’ve already seen.

SHOTTAZ 'CHIMBAMBAIRA RELOADED'

Zodom Area are proud to share the release of Shottaz’ remix EP of the single “Chimbambaira”. The EP, titled Chimbambaira Reloaded, sees the Shottaz team up with top producers from various genres who have reworked the song to great effect. The producer line-up features established and upcoming producers from the Australasian region, including Shottaz very own MC turned producer Hlats.

This Melbourne based Afro Dancehall crew is made up of MCs Hlats and Max Shotta. Having started working together in a crew called Yung Shottaz (YS), Hlats and Max have built themselves a reputation of delivering hard hitting lyrics combined with energetic live performances. Since relocating to Melbourne in 2018, the crew quickly established themselves in the local dancehall/reggae scene which saw them getting nominated for a Music Victoria award in 2019. For more information regarding Shottaz please visit www.theshottaz.com.

RIIKI 'SHARE YOUR LOVE'

New face RIIKI has been steadily establishing herself as a fixture in the pop scene in her home country of New Zealand, as well across the pond in Australia. She has hit 2020 running with her third single, “Share Your Luv”, a groove-laden track that showcases RIIKI’s gorgeous vocal tone, and effortless talent for creating pop hooks.

Delving into the feeling of being on the receiving end of a drastic and unexpected change of heart, the track is a heartfelt exploration of heartache and longing, while also being a celebration of the realisation that you have the strength to get by on your own. 

“I’m usually the friend helping people I know around me in these situations,” said RIIKI. “But it just feels so damn real when you’re in it and you truly experience that really sad feeling you never saw coming. Although, it is so important that if you fall into that situation you remind yourself ‘you were never the problem or held responsible, they were’. Don’t blame yourself, instead have a lil boogie, because this only made you way stronger.”

With a refreshing blend of elegance meets edge, Raquel Abolins-Reid is indie-pop newcomer RIIKI. Raised in New Zealand’s creative capital city and now aged 20, RIIKI is still young, but has many stories to tell. 

Her second single “High Heights” is testament to the raw skill in her songwriting. Co-produced by Simon Gooding (P!nk, Dua Lipa and Migos), the track made an appearance on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Charts for a number of weeks, as well as making it onto Apple Music’s A-list Pop and New Music Daily playlists, and featuring on Spotify’s Pop Edge and New Music Friday playlists in NZ/AU, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Norway.

With a sharpened and groovy spin on the indie-pop genre that has earnt her comparisons to streaming sensation Benee, RIIKI is a multi-disciplined artist, showcasing skill in choreography, production, visual direction, poetry, photography, and much more. 

Over the course of just a few singles, and now with a brand new shiny deal signed with Global agency WME, RIIKI has already developed a strong presence with pop tastemakers, garnering praise from Coup De Main, The Interns and PileRats, and snagging opening slots for the likes of Keith and Otium. 

Her musical craft is infused by a diverse range of influences, from James Blake and Jeff Buckley, to Toro y moi and Jorja Smith. RIIKI produces every aspect of her music herself, hoping to inspire and relate to others experiencing the same realms of young adulthood.

“Share Your Luv” is available to stream on all platforms now!

THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION CELEBRATE THEIR ICONIC ALBUM WITH THE RELEASE OF BUFFALO (10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

In celebration of the 10 Year Anniversary of Buffalo, The Phoenix Foundation today release a reissue of the acclaimed album with the addition of seven previously unreleased tracks from the Buffalo-era.

Featuring many the group’s most enduring songs - from the gently psychedelic drift of opener 'Eventually' to the idiosyncratic title track ‘Buffalo - the reissue also collates music from a missing herd of Buffalo’s Children to now include track such as ‘Wave Machine’, ‘One Million Rainbows’ and ‘Easter’.

To celebrate the release, it was also made available in a limited edition of 500 ocean blue-coloured vinyl LPs (350 in NZ).

All Stock sold out in a matter of days via the bands Bandcamp site, however some key retailers will still have limited stock.

HINA 'LIBERTINE'

Sharing her name with a lunar deity known throughout Polynesia, HINA has released her debut single, 'Libertine' to coincide with the full moon. Born and raised in Auckland, HINA is a self-taught producer and classically trained multi-instrumentalist. Raised from a young age on an eclectic musical diet, she started writing songs in her mid-teens and has matured into her early twenties with a sound that is both careful and casual. HINA explores young adulthood with mellow harmonies and intimate lyrics.

Conceived last year as autumn was turning to winter, 'Libertine' is a wary love song, a sort of 'proceed with caution'. Written, recorded and produced from her bedroom, this vintage soul-infused track delivers an intimate introduction into the mind of the developing young artist.

"I'm always hesitant to be vulnerable, even though I know it's what makes us all human. This song is me letting in the person I love while allowing a bit of that mind clutter to tumble out too."

'Libertine' is now available on all streaming platforms. HINA has plans to release more music in the coming months - keep in touch, @hinabeaming on Instagram and Facebook.

Merv Pinny releases the second of his lockdown 2020 recordings

Pinny's hit single I Feel Like a Prisoner struck a cord with people all over the world when it was first released two years ago. Fast forward to today and this is very much a song for the times we are living in, as we have all felt like a prisoner at times while going through the Covid19 lockdown.

While at home during the lockdown in New Zealand, Pinny recorded a solo live performance of his top-selling track from his lounge room and posted it up on Facebook. With his new acoustic version proving so popular with fans, Pinny has now decided to release this on Spotify and iTunes.

Merv Pinny has a big year lined up on the back of his chart success in South Africa, Canada and the USA from his last two track releases. His last single, Pink Elephants, most notably hitting Number 1 in the Top 200 tracks on iTunes in South Africa and Number 12 across all genres.

There's more singles on the horizon, the release of a brand new album and the possibility of more live performances too.
 

Watch this space!

SONIC DELUSION 'DON'T LET LOVE MAKE ME A FOOL'

Sonic Delusion’s single “Don’t Let Love Make a Fool” is his latest release and it’s also an interactive murder mystery!

The funky indie pop song hides clues in the lyrics and in the official music video that will help anybody wanting to solve this awful crime.

Here is the story:
The victim was discovered on Friday 05/06/2020 at 9pm on a full moon night with 2 diamonds in his pocket and was identified as Andre Manella aka Sonic Delusion.
It wasn’t unusual for the Swiss/Kiwi musician to leave early for soundcheck.
When the rest of the band arrived they found him lying motionless on the ground.
The funk bass that used to belong to his french bass player Severin Thiebaut was to his right side, Andre’s tiny 36-key pop keyboard was above his head, his brand new funky u-bass to his left side and he’s still holding on to his beloved acoustic guitar, a Takamine TSF40C.
Sonic Delusion created this extremely contagious indie pop song in his own lab before it escaped into the world on Friday 5th June 2020. Can the team of 5 million solve this musical crime?

The video was filmed during lockdown with Andre’s whole family involved in the making of the music video. The song is available on Spotify, Itunes, Apple Music etc.