ABRZY - Live and On Tour

To support his latest project and further grow his fanbase, ABRZY is embarking on a domestic tour in summer 2023. ABRZY has successfully received funding from the NZ Music Commission to support this tour.

ABRZY is an energetic performer with fierce production accompanying him. He has an electric stage presence and excellent command of the crowd. With numerous sold out shows in his home city under his belt, he taps into that experience to ensure an incredible time for his audience.

The tour will touch down in 3 cities with local musicians as the opener and ABRZY as the headliner. He will play with a live band and have stunning visuals for his 45 minute set. He is expected to shift 500+ tickets and is confident in the success of the tour.

TURKEY THE BIRD IN NEW PLYMOUTH

Turkey The Bird are putting on a very special performance with several special guests at Mike's Brewery Bistro in New Plymouth this Saturday 4th Feb.

The NZ folk trio is joined by Krissy Jackson on fiddle, Geoff Notman on drums, Matt Sturgess on guitar and Wayne Morris on washboard. 

New Zealand's folk trio "Turkey The Bird" will remind you of the famous Margarita cocktail infused with a hint of "Simon & Garfunkel", 2 ounces of "Mumford and Sons", a splash of banjo and served on ice on a sunny day.
Catchy folk songs with stunning rich melodies and effortless smooth lyrics. Songs that tell uplifting stories about love and life.
Hailing from the New Zealand left coast town New Plymouth, this uplifting band will hit you with beautiful three part harmonies and toe tapping rhythms.
The bearded trio features Andre Manella from Switzerland on guitar, bass and percussion, Adrian Whelan from Ireland on guitar, mandolin, bass and spoons, and Sol Bear Coulton, the token kiwi, on Banjo and slide guitar.

Doors open at 9pm and entry is $25 (cash only)

Ms. Mia - Strange Life

Ms. Mia releases her debut single with ‘Strange Life’ - a sonic snapshot of her lockdown experience.

"Strange Life" is a personal reflection of Ms. Mia's life during Auckland's 2021 lockdowns. A time when she grieved the life she used to live and struggled with feeling like she had lost herself. 

“ I wrote this song while looking back at my life when I was traveling around Europe, out having fun and adventures, compared to being stuck at home in Auckland’s second 2021 lockdown and other big responsibilities, which made me feel lost and overwhelmed…. I remember feeling like somewhere along the way I lost myself.. And at times I wish I was still care-free, traveling the world and not having to work an unfulfilling job - but that life also had its own challenges, and I find myself glamourising it as more than it actually was”. - Ms. Mia

"Strange Life" It is a sonic page in the diary of Ms.Mia’s journey during lockdown and it serves as a relatable and honest reflection of the emotions and experiences that many faced during that time.

‘Ms. Mia is an emerging artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Known for her ability to create catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics that explore a wide range of emotions and themes. Her music delves into the complexities of love, loss, belonging, self-discovery, and finding one's own path. Her singing is often described as wistful and longing, adding to the impact of her emotive storytelling.

SUN VEINS 'THE HEARD'

"layers of beautiful melodies and chords make the new Sun Veins single 'The Heard' a track to remember, and a coming sign of the album that will resonate" - Dave Borrie, Programme Director for Radio One 91fm

Ōtepoti/Dunedin four-piece Sun Veins are excited to announce the release of their new single “The Heard”, available on all platforms from the 1st of February 2023. The Heard is a soaring ballad featuring stacks of harmonies and reverb soaked piano, representing a new side to the band than we have seen thus far. The Heard is the second single from Sun Veins’ upcoming debut album “Show Me The Way”.

“Show Me The Way” is the result of 5 years work, starting on a laptop in a dingy student flat and ending up in professional studios across New Zealand. “The Heard” was recorded at Sublime Studio in the Waitaki Valley alongside engineer Tom Harvard, and features Studio owner Steve Harrop on bass guitar. Auckland based producer André Theis of Carlyle Studios worked alongside the band on the mix, with mastering by friend of the band Peter Jack aka “The Whip Man”. “The Heard” can be pre-saved to spotify and itunes now at this link:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sunveins/the-heard

Rising artist CRYSTAL reflects on lockdown in new single ‘Skin’

Listen HERE

Rising alternative pop artist and producer CRYSTAL sets the scene for an exciting year ahead on new single ‘Skin’.

Following on from anthemic pop track ‘Expectations Suck!’, her latest offering ‘Skin’ is an exploration of thoughts and experiences endured after spending too much time inside. Written in a music session on zoom during Auckland’s 107-day lockdown at the end of 2021, the song is a way of escapism as CRYSTAL dreams up what her ideal holiday would look like once freedom is finally returned to her.  

“I remember feeling like lockdown would never end. Each week, we’d watch the updates on the news hoping we’d be allowed out like the rest of the country… but it just kept going. Everyone’s mental health was slowly deteriorating, and at times it was unbearable. Most days, I’d go for a walk around the neighborhood, usually to the nearby bay to clear my head and jot down my thoughts. I lived for these moments. Some days I’d write and write, and other days, nothing. Having this time gave me perspective, and allowed me to appreciate the simple joys I had taken for granted. I would dream up all these plans of what I would do once lockdown was over, and it gave me hope for what was to eventually come”.

‘Skin’ was co-written and co-produced by CRYSTAL and key collaborator Joel Jones. As CRYSTAL recalls “the song came together in a matter of hours. I’d been living, and writing the song unknowingly for weeks, so when it came to doing my first session in lockdown, everything came together so fast. It’s been really exciting developing and refining the production over the past year with Joel”.

Te-Whanganui-A-Tara/Wellington-raised and Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland-based CRYSTAL made her live music debut in 2019 while studying Commercial Music at Massey University, playing Wellington festivals, Cuba Dupa and Newtown Festival, and supporting Australian artist KIAN, before ever having released music online.  Her debut single, ‘My Flowers Are Dead’ featured on TVNZ’s body swap comedy series ‘Life Is Easy’, while her previous release ‘Expectations Suck!’ landed on Spotify's 'New Music Friday AU & NZ', 'Pop n Fresh', and ‘EQUAL AU & NZ’ playlists and featured on ZM’s Late Night Show. The release of ‘Expectations Suck!’ and ‘Skin’ marks the beginning of a new era for CRYSTAL, as she refines her sound and solidifies herself as one to watch. 

Kaylee Bell Support For Ed Sheeran NZ Tour Announced!

New Zealand’s Country Pop sensation Kaylee Bell announces she will be joining international superstar Ed Sheeran for the NZ leg of his 2023 Tour.

 "I am blown away to be joining Ed Sheeran for six shows on the biggest tour in the world right now. I am so excited to be starting 2023 on such a high.
Ed Sheeran is someone I have idolised my whole life, from his DIY attitude to his monster talent and songwriting ability...some of my favourite songs on radio are written by Ed, he is one of my favourite Pop writers and artists of all time."  - Kaylee 

You won't want to Kaylee performing these stadium shows along side Ed Sheeran this January and February.

Show Dates: 

• Wellington - The Opera House Wellington - January 24th, 25th & 26th

• Wellington  - Sky Stadium - 2nd February

• Auckland - Eden Park - February 10th &11th

SYNTHONY IN THE DOMAIN: SECOND LINE-UP ANNOUNCEMENT!

A MUSIC FESTIVAL LIKE NO OTHER! 

7+ HOURS OF LIVE MUSIC | 2 STAGES | 15+ ACTS

SYNTHONY IN THE DOMAIN reveals its second-round announcement of stellar artists set to join the already incredible line-up for SATURDAY 1st APRIL 2023, when Tāmaki Makarau’s iconic Pukekawa/Auckland Domain will transform into a one-of-a-kind music festival - a multi-sensory fusion of electronic dance music, live internationally acclaimed acts, live orchestra, special guest vocalists, DJ’s, and spectacular visuals.

Exciting additions include a full live set from D&B heavy-weights SHAPESHIFTER, pop songstress KIMBRA, beloved singer-song-writing legend SIR DAVE DOBBYN & BAND, and Australian vibe setters SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM, join the already announced home-grown chart-topping dance-duo SACHI.

Also joining the star-studded line-up of guest vocalists and instrumentalists performing as part of the world debut of SYNTHONY No.4 are KIMBRA, SIR DAVE DOBBYN, MISS CONNIE, TIKI TAANE and LEWIS MCCALLUM on sax, making this the biggest SYNTHONY ensemble to date!

SYNTHONY No.4’s SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMER LINE-UP: 

KIMBRA, SIR DAVE DOBBYN, MISS CONNIE (Sneaky Sound System) TIKI TAANE, ILAN KIDRON (The Potbelleez), SAVAGE, ELLA MONNERY, JEREMY REDMORE, BELLA KALOLO, saxophonist LEWIS MCCALLUM

with the AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA and acclaimed conductor SARAH-GRACE WILLIAMS.

Each year, a brand new SYNTHONY set list debuts, and this year’s world premiere of SYNTHONY No.4 is once again curated by DJ DICK JOHNSON with musical arrangements by master composer RYAN YOUENS. Synthony itself will be hosted by DJ AROHA, with the overall event MC duties delivered by ZM DJ CLINT ROBERTS.

TICKETS TO SYNTHONY IN THE DOMAIN ARE ON SALE NOW FROM www.synthonyfestival.com

Testament to its wide universal appeal, SYNTHONY continues to spread its wings and looks set to go truly global. Since 2017, the original SYNTHONY No. 1 has gone from one sell-out show in Auckland, to annual New Zealand-wide sell-out tours with SYNTHONY No.2 and SYNTHONY No.3 respectively. 2021 saw the extravaganza expand into a full multi-city outdoor Australian SYNTHONY No.1 tour, and in 2022, the show expanded into South East Asia for the very first time with a debut performance in Singapore, with further growth impending for SYNTHONY in 2023.

Now, for this inaugural SYNTHONY IN THE DOMAIN, a new festival experience has been established across two stages that combine the original Synthony format of orchestra and special guest vocalists and instrumentalists, with additional standalone live performances from other epic live acts on the bill. This will be a festival like no other!

In 2023, New Zealand’s SYNTHONY No.4 will harness the power of the full 46-piece Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra featuring special guest vocal performances from Sir Dave Dobbyn, Kimbra, Miss Connie (Sneaky Sound System), Ilan Kidron (The Potbelleez), Savage, Tiki Taane, Ella Monnery, Jeremy Redmore and Bella Kalolo.

SYNTHONY IN THE DOMAIN will also feature full live sets from special guest artists Shapeshifter, performing their only Auckland summer show, Kimbra, also her exclusive Auckland show, Sir Dave Dobbyn & Band, Sachi and Sneaky Sound System.

Inspired by the annual Hyde Park summer concert series in London, SYNTHONY IN THE DOMAIN is a unique music event which utilises and showcases our own iconic venue, Pukekawa/Auckland Domain, in the heart of Auckland city.

Duco Touring Founder and MD David Higgins says: “There’s a plethora of national music festivals for teenagers and young adults, and this market is very well served, but we noted that our very own iconic Pukekawa hasn’t been properly utilised for that purpose yet.

It’s great to partner up with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited to make the Domain available for a one-day ‘Hyde Park’ style event in our own back yard for a more grown-up audience looking for a festival experience without all the palaver – no driving out of town, no camping, no AWOP hassles. Purchase premium food and beverage options with your bank or credit card, bring your picnic blanket and deck chair and relax with the family on one of the large expanses of green areas in Pukekawa. Or upgrade to take advantage of the R18 VIP areas. A perfect day out for a sophisticated music experience in the centre of Auckland.

We plan to grow SYNTHONY IN THE DOMAIN year upon year, aiming to build it over time to become a premium, iconic music event for Australasia, South East Asia and beyond. As an annual music festival founded in New Zealand, SYNTHONY IN THE DOMAIN Auckland will, in effect, be the world-wide debut of each SYNTHONY set-list for the year, every year.”

With its central location, rich history, expansive gardens and natural amphitheatre, Pukekawa is completely simpatico with the Hyde Park series. The perfect location to sign off summer with friends and whānau in the elegant and lush greenfield spaces of the domain. Fans can relax under the stars in our General Admission Area (All Ages), or choose to dance on the grass in our Premium Area (18+).

Visit our Stonewood Homes Artisan Wine, Food and Cocktail Village, with bespoke pop-up bars, lighting activations, and a vast array of food and beverage options. Or for those that prefer to opt for the luxe experience, try our General Capital VIP Garden.

SYNTHONY IN THE DOMAIN  is already off to a roaring start with first release General Admission and Premium General Admission tickets selling out in a matter of hours. VIP tickets are on third and final release with over 75% of capacity SOLD OUT. With the announcement of this incredibly well rounded and diversified line-up of artists, tickets are expected to sell fast – so don’t miss out!

Having cemented itself as a high-end, must-see celebratory event, SYNTHONY has earned a solid reputation for continually delivering a visually magnificent and sonically opulent experience – a reputation that is set to grow even further with the new incarnation that is SYNTHONY IN THE DOMAIN.

This 2023 nationally exclusive show will not be touring elsewhere. Lock the date in your diary, round up your friends and whānau, and secure your tickets to experience SYNTHONY IN THE DOMAIN 2023, the perfect way to send off summer!

THIS IS ONE TRULY MAGICAL EVENT YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS, SECURE YOUR TICKETS NOW!

TICKETS ON SALE HERE

Miriam Clancy delivers dynamic, 80s-influenced single/video "Black Heart"

Listen to the single "Black Heart"

New album Black Heart out 3 February 2023. Pre-save here!

 
Miriam Clancy's single "Black Heart" continues the thematic trajectory of deeply personal narratives featured on her forthcoming album, Black Heart, out on 3 February 2023.
"Black Heart" transports the listener back in time to an 80s-esque musical capsule - urgent, haunting vocals deliver naked and imploring lyrics, its big synth-heavy chorus crescendos, then pulls back like a wave on the sand, called back to the ocean. Miriam speaks to a man who ended up living alone with his WWII-scarred psyche, fortified with thick emotional walls - Miriam's grandfather, Ivan Miriam says, "Black Heart" is a sonic document about being a part of a war machine, becoming collateral damage on a road that you cannot reverse. These events are felt down the generational line with broken relationships and social dysfunction - they can tattoo a heart black with loss and hardship. My grandfather sailed on the ships of war and I wrote this with him on my heart."

Black Heart was recorded in Mason Jar Studios, Brooklyn with Miriam's band, Jeremy McDonald, Will Graefe and Mike Riddleberger. Miriam says, "We found the arrow of the song shooting into stark, syncopated territory with room to gasp between furies of motion and vocals, building and releasing."

"Black Heart" - The video
The video for "Black Heart" invites us into a world of juxtaposition - graceful, fluid dance vs the chaos of war; dynamic songwriting vs unified battle-marching; urgent clarity vs grainy WWII footage. The messaging is complex, driven through Miriam's finesse and the foundational melange of cultural and historical influences.

Miriam says, "The music video flows from my love of ballet and modern dance, and it's inspired by the indelible teenage experience of seeing Marcel Marceau perform live, David Bowie's hair in Labyrinth, Anna Pavlova's fragile dying swan, Kate Bush's Babooshka, Edgar Dega's ballerinas, Vyvyan Basterd from The Young Ones, every tulle skirt or piece of ballet couture in existence - and ANZAC soldiers and the cautionary tales, the ravages of war.

"I began the choreography a year ago in various empty dance studios - spurred on by professional choreographer pal Elizabeth Dishman in NYC. We filmed over two days in a beautiful old church in Kutztown, PA, which has a long history of supporting the arts with work by Keith Haring and music with Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed and Philip Glass performing in its sacred space. 

"WWI scenes from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in Anzac Cove and on the battlefield are scattered, overlayed to aim the emotions where they need to be - the past that informs our future: Ka mua, ka muri."