Phoebe Vic 'Strange Ritual'

Ōtautahi artist Phoebe Vic releases new track ‘Strange Ritual’, off of her upcoming EP ‘Strange Rituals’.

An accomplished singer and musician based in Ōtautahi, Phoebe Vic is steadily gaining recognition among peers and audience alike for her pop sensibilities, powerful vocal and dynamic performance.

Her latest single, ‘Strange Ritual’,  is an ode to the self-fulfilling prophecy of catastrophizing.

“I wanted to describe the immense anxiety I was experiencing at the time” says Vic. “When something starts to feel out of my control, my nervous system kicks in and starts playing out every worst-case scenario. Hence “pressure makes the diamond” - the mining for a solution and the illusion of control. But it’s ultimately a destructive pattern that only serves to hurt me more”.
‘Strange Ritual’ was created alongside producer, musician and APRA Silver Scroll nominee Emily C. Browning, with thanks to the NZ On Air New Music Development grant

“When Phoebe and I made Strange Ritual, our biggest reference was 80s style synth pop with those big Genesis-style gated reverb snares.” reflects Emily. “I remember her singing little melodic synth hooks that ended up becoming the catchiest parts of the tune. The chord progression and overall vibe is warm, uplifting but also reflective - especially within Phoebe’s lyrical themes of anxiety and spiralling.”

‘Strange Ritual’ is the final single off of her upcoming EP ‘Strange Rituals’, which is due for release in May of this year. It follows on from anthemic track ‘Closure’, which made it on the highly coveted Spotify playlist ‘New Music Friday AU/NZ’, as well as ‘Fresh Cuts AU/NZ’ the same week of release.
‘Strange Ritual’ will be available on all streaming platforms from April 21st.

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RISING R&B SINGER TEI., REVEALS SULTRY NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘PRIMAL’

Tāmaki Makarau alt-R&B songstress TEI. drops latest single ‘PRIMAL’, a smoothly addictive track driven by a hypnotic beat + silky velvet vocal.

LISTEN / STREAM 'PRIMAL' HERE

Tei delivers a slinky, sinister, introspective vibe with the moody ‘Primal’, a song shining a light on the darker aspects of being in an unbalanced, unhealthy relationship and the choices that need to be made. 

Says Tei, “’Primal’ is about the jealousy and insecurity that kept occurring with an ex, where they would become extremely jealous when I was just out at the club working and performing or seeing my friends. I think it’s a mood many people have experienced, where they’re being loyal while just trying to have fun and get lit.  

But some people, maybe a partner, bring a heavy energy in their lives and try to bring them down. In which case, you either need to find a balance and make the most of the situation, or just escape!”

Over the last few years, Tei has developed her singer/song-writing skills while simultaneously finessing her self-taught recording and production skills via numerous collabs with other like-minded musical souls.

With ‘Primal’, the 26-year-old independent artist embraced co-producing duties with regular collaborator Auto Angel (FKA Bbgurl) at the helm as Producer, as well as co-directing the accompanying video, directed by Benji Taylor.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH 'PRIMAL'

Since bursting onto the scene in 2017, Tei, has been continually honing her craft within the underground Auckland music scene and beyond, releasing critically acclaimed self-produced mixtapes OMW and The Alone One, and 2019’s single ‘Britney’ which blew up on Youtube garnering over 660,000 views despite not having a music video.

The singer/songwriter, classically trained pianist, and multi-instrumentalist that makes up Tei, continues her exploration of self through her relatable stories about the twists and turns of life, all the while happily paving her own uniquely bold musical path with her soulful sound and alternative audio-scapes.

Proving to be one to watch, keep your eyes peeled and ears to the ground as Tei’s rising star deserves to be firmly on your radar.

BRIAN BAKER RELEASES NEW SINGLE - “BROKEN”

New Zealand singer-songwriter BRIAN BAKER celebrates the release of his latest single, “BROKEN”,  produced and recorded at his New Zealand based studio facility.

LISTEN TO "BROKEN" HERE

A song of resilience, made for those 3am drifters, wide awake with minds grinding down the same old highways.

From Brian; “From a dark beginning, this track grows and then lifts the listener toward the resolution. When the song was conceived it was nearly country in flavour but it’s grown and flourished I think. I played it at a Pat Pattison Masterclass (Songwriting professor at the Berkley School of Music in Boston) and I was very pleased with his glowing review. Songwriting is a passion of mine and this is one I’m very happy with. “Broken” could be covered by anybody, it might even particularly suit a female vocal. Having said that I worked very hard on the lead vocal track delivery and think I’ve managed to really get into the emotional side of the lyric. I loved playing with this gentle funk groove, even managed to squeeze in a couple of sneaky guitar licks. Hope you enjoy!”

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ABOUT BRIAN BAKER

The consummate journeyman musician is also a laid-back bohemian life-styler, living off-the-grid on his permaculture farm in the picturesque heart of the Kaipara. It’s a busy combination, as Baker balances life between running the farm with using his considerable musical talents recording and producing his own music, plus other artists in his production studio, ‘The Bakery’.

A naturally gifted musician, Baker can lay claim to a catalogue of songs sure to warm the musical soul of any audience member. Now he’s made a return to performing live in support of it. He’s created a fantastic live show highlighting his uplifting vocals and amazing guitar skills, so keep a look out for his tour dates and make sure you check out this talented guitarist/singer-songwriter.

ASHY signs Worldwide Co-Management Deal

An incredibly successful SXSW experience for ASHY was sealed with the signing of a co-management deal between herself and the much-respected boutique US management company, Arcana Management. 

This worldwide deal is already set to firmly establish ASHY in international markets and continue to build upon the foundation that Ashy has set for herself alongside her manager Cary Caldwell of the 212 Music Group. 

Arcana CEO, Honora McCormack says, "As someone that has been working in the dance music realm for some time now, I am thrilled at the opportunity to work with a powerful force like ASHY in the world of pop music."
SXSW saw Ashy and her new backing band, Emily C. Browning and Phoebe Hurst, perform 8 shows during the event. These performances have led to talks with US & EU industry which will ultimately lead to substantial international opportunities.

Somebody Do Something’s highly anticipated debut album ‘As Rome Burns’ is here!

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Ōtautahi band ‘Somebody Do Something’ hits the ground running this autumn with their debut album, ‘As Rome Burns’, released Friday 14th April; an ecstatic showcase of the bands versatility and musical prowess. Independently recorded and produced by Jacob Patchett, the album features ten unique tracks that range from R&B grooves to anthemic rock hits. ‘As Rome Burns’ is genre-bending and innovative, drawing on an array of musical influences ranging from heavy metal to classical, resulting in a blend of songs that are both emotionally powerful and technically impressive.

Formed in 2020, Somebody Do Something is a six-piece unit with a soul-fuelled jungle of sound. Since formation they have been making waves in the Aotearoa music scene with their unique alt-rock bangers and dynamic live performances. After their recent nation-wide tours, RDU Live-to-Air, recurring top ten features on RDU 98.5FM weekly Te Ahi Top 10, and being featured on the NZ Music Month ‘Celebrating Wahine’ playlist, Somebody Do Something are beyond excited to share their highly anticipated debut album with the world.

The sound of Somebody Do Something is characterised by the interweaving of the saxophone and violin with a traditional rock quartet. This brings to the mix a diverse range of textures and melodies, adding an almost orchestral quality to the rhythmic funk-rock sound-world of Somebody Do Something.

‘As Rome Burns’ was a true labour of love for the band, who spent the past one and a half years crafting the album. The recording process was partly funded by the band’s 2021 Boosted NZ Campaign, where with the help of their supporters they generated 110% of their $8000 fundraising goal. ‘As Rome Burns’ is available now on all major streaming platforms, as well as on CD.

Meghan Meraki releases debut R&B/Pop single, Good Riddance

Sassy, self-producing RnB artist, Meghan Meraki is stepping into her own in the Christchurch music scene. With a strong belief in self-love and appreciating yourself, listeners can expect to feel a boost of confidence after listening to Meghan’s music. 

Writing and producing her own music means Meghan is able to make her music connect and flow. Meghan uses music as her cathartic outlet which allows her to turn sometimes negative situations into positives. 

Good Riddance, both written and produced by Meghan Meraki, is all about saying good riddance to all the things in your life that are no longer serving you any good. It’s a reminder that it’s okay to get rid of things that are weighing you down and that you will feel so much relief when those things are gone. Meghan wrote Good Riddance whilst in a bad place and made the decision to get rid of the things that were weighing her down and stopping her from being at her best. With so much anticipation for her first ever release, Meghan can’t wait for Good Riddance to be out for everyone on April 21st!!! 
Through development and working on her musical craft over the past couple years, Meghan has been able to find out who she is, who she wants to be and what message she wants to send to people listening to her music. Meghan has spent the past few years at Sole Music Academy where she has developed in terms of songwriting, production and overall artist development. Through Sacha Vee and other mentors at Sole Music Academy, Meghan has been given guidance in the music industry and a pathway forward in her music career. 

Recently, Meghan Meraki performed a 20 minute set at Wunderbar in Lyttelton where she received great feedback and was able to broaden her audience. Meghan also had the opportunity to talk with Liam Donnelly from RDU and sing an original of her own, live on air. 

Make sure to follow Meghan’s socials, linked down below, to keep up with her upcoming shows and single releases. Meghan Meraki is one to watch for sure. 

Connect with Meghan Meraki: INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK 

THE RVMES NEWEST SINGLE SAY SOMETHING

Fresh off the road from their Simple Things album tour, The RVMES (pronounced ‘The Rooms’) announce their new single ‘Say Something’. The track is a soft conclusion to their tour and this year’s questionable Summer before they disappear into the Winter mist to start planning the next one.

Giving off a warm and sweet mood of reggae, Say Something sings about how easy it is to hang on to every word and every moment of a new love or a new lust. Richard Moore lays down a complimenting bed of smooth jazz chords on guitar for his debut release with the band, and as a cherry on top, the whole track was run through tape for some extra warm tonality.

Say Something was recorded in Huntly with Casey and John Messent from the upcoming Wardrobe Studios, mixed by legendary and recent free-lancer Jamie Crerar and finally mastered by Luke Finlay at Primal Mastering.

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Warming up these autumn days! Valley Kids release summer soaked single + fun video ‘Otherside’

LISTEN HERE HERE

WATCH HERE

The wait is over! Valley Kids have today released their new summer-soaked reggae single + video ‘Otherside’.

A feel-good song designed to uplift, ‘Otherside’ started life as a jam that lead singer Nai McGregor started playing out of the blue at a writing session. “It basically wrote itself!” says Valley Kids - which is made up of Nai (Te Atihaunui-a-paparangi, Ngati Maniapoto) - vocals, Peter Riley (Ngaruahine, Ngati Manuhiakai) - bass, Daniel Sugrue - guitar/vocals, and Ihaka Tukapua (Muaūpoko, Ngati Kahungunu) - Keyboard/Vocals. “‘Otherside’ is a song about the positive emotions that uplifting music can give you and that when you’re feeling down, there is always a different way to view your situation in a more favourable light.”

Following on from their 2021 debut single ‘Money’, sophomore ‘Make Me Feel’ (produced by DJ Mu a.k.a Fitchie, Fat Freddys Drop at Bay's Studio) and te reo Māori adaptation ‘Moni’,  ‘Otherside’ is yet another single that showcases the bands range, skilful songwriting abilities and musicianship. Made with the support of NZ On Air, it was recorded at ‘HiViz Jamz HQ in Upper Hutt/Wellington, then mixed and mastered in-house by Thomas Te Taite.

The video for ‘Otherside’ was directed by Will Wrag, edited by Lee Gingold and is a fun must-watch. “We found that with a lot of Aotearoa-based summer reggae songs, the video concepts were based around cars and/or road-tripping with friends. We wanted to do our own spin on that and include our individual, comedic personalities within the video treatment.” The video succeeds in capturing the light-heartedness and positive message of the song but also the quintessential Valley Kids essence of not taking themselves too seriously.

Formed by Daniel and Peter in late 2020, Valley Kids have already made a significant splash on the Aotearoa music scene with their full and energetic arrangements which move over solid soul, RnB, reggae and rock grooves. They’ve released 3 singles, multiple live material and performed shows all across Aotearoa. Fans are also familiar with seeing Daniel (Tomorrow People, Sons of Zion, 1814), Peter (AJA, NLC, Creative Natives) and Nai (Creative Natives)  performing with other Aotearoa standouts. With more writing and recording in the works, there’s still lots more to watch out for - so make sure you’re following Valley Kids!

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