Celia Hapaira 'Choose to Heal'
In this powerful and introspective song, Celia Hapaira delivers an emotional journey of self-discovery and resilience. The lyrics poignantly explore themes of overcoming past traumas, facing inner demons, and choosing to heal. The captivating melody and heartfelt vocals make this song a captivating experience for listeners.
In this powerful and introspective song, Celia Hapaira delivers an emotional journey of self-discovery and resilience. The lyrics poignantly explore themes of overcoming past traumas, facing inner demons, and choosing to heal. The captivating melody and heartfelt vocals make this song a captivating experience for listeners.
"Choose to heal" takes listeners on a soul-searching voyage, delving into the depths of personal struggles and growth. With raw honesty, Celia portrays deep dark places, in which we can all relate to at some point in our lives. The journey of healing is conveyed through a potent combination of evocative lyrics and a memorable melody.
Celia's music is influenced by a diverse range of genres, incorporating elements of alternative rock and soulful vocals. The songwriting reflects a blend of introspection and storytelling, capturing the essence of the human experience.
Celia Hapaira is a multi-talented artist hailing from New Zealand. With a passion for celebrating diversity and embracing individuality, Celia's music seamlessly blends multiple genres, from country and jazz to soul and pop. Her unique vocals and heartfelt narratives have captivated audiences across the world.
Celia's musical journey started in 2019 when she discovered her talent as a singer, songwriter, and musician. Despite her non-musical upbringing and shy personality, Celia's dedication to her craft has propelled her to new heights.
With a story that will touch your heart, Celia dedicated over two years to the recording 2 of what would have been her debut albums, only to have it fall apart due to a disagreement with her producer. Undeterred, Celia took control and now writes, records and produces her music independently, collaborating with trusted partners to bring her vision to life. “Choose to heal” is her 4th official release, with many more releases planned.
https://linktr.ee/celiahapairamusic
Wellington’s TOI return with uplifting new single, ‘We Got This’
Wellington seven-piece TOI are back with the second single off their upcoming new full-length album, today unveiling the feelgood track ‘We Got This’.
Wellington seven-piece TOI are back with the second single off their upcoming new full-length album, today unveiling the feelgood track ‘We Got This’.
Listen to ‘We Got This’ HERE
Spacious guitars, soulful hooks, a killer bass line and laid back vocals are central to ‘We Got This’; with TOI’s signature style of R&B-meets-funk-meets-soul on full display. Darker undertones emerge particularly within the bridge, before emerging back out into the track’s feel-good, hopeful vibe; sonically mirroring the lyrical message throughout the song.
“‘We Got This’ is about keeping your head up and never losing hope in yourself,” explains TOI. “It’s a message of resilience, self-belief, and the importance of staying true to oneself despite challenges and external pressures.”
“We wrote this tune right in the heat of covid lockdowns and were sharing a sort of distorted uneasy feeling of the current reality and change of the social climate. Covid had a heavy effect on everyone's lives and we felt this hardship. But we also felt that it wouldn’t last, and that we needed to keep our heads up and not lose our sense of self and hope.”
With Ben O’Leary on production, Neil MacLeod on mixing, Benny Tones on mastering and the whole TOI whānau offering invaluable support, TOI says the single came together with a “supportive community around us, helping us foster the track’s message and expression.”
“We go through hard times too, but are lucky to have a medium like music to express ourselves,” reflects TOI. “We want to give a big shout out to our crew that helped us to bring this tune and message to fruition - we couldn’t do this without you all!”
‘We Got This’ is the second single to be released off TOI’s upcoming album, following the soulful track ‘Essence’ which received widespread radio support across Aotearoa, including ZM, The Edge, Sun FM and more. The new music comes after TOI’s 2022 single ‘Way That We Feel’ featuring Zoe Moon and their 2021 self-titled EP, which saw them exploring indie-pop landscapes with tracks such as ‘I Want You’, ‘Tangerine’ and ‘Thinking Too Much’. The EP amassed more than three million streams on Spotify alone and saw the band embark on a headline New Zealand tour.
With a hard-earned reputation as one of the tightest bands around, TOI has traveled the breadth and width of the country performing their own headlining shows; playing killer sets at festivals and sharing stages with heavyweights such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ocean Alley, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Katchafire, L.A.B. and Tash Sultana.
‘We Got This’ gives an exciting preview of the upcoming album, which is being made with support from NZ On Air. Keep your eyes peeled and get ready; today’s release is “just the start of what we think is an exciting and diverse collection of music to come”.
Listen to ‘We Got This’ HERE
Athens-based producer, DJ and artist BABYNYMPH turns Theia’s Girls! into a dreamy, euphoric hyper-pop anthem
Theia’s indie-rock 90s-influenced banger ‘Girls!’ has been given a remake by Anthens-based artist and producer, BABYNYMPH.
Theia’s indie-rock 90s-influenced banger ‘Girls!’ has been given a remake by Anthens-based artist and producer, BABYNYMPH.
Listen to the ‘Girls! (BABYNYMPH Remix)’ HERE
Listen to the original version of ‘Girls!’ HERE
BABYNYMPH - best known for her work with SOPHIE and Chase Icon - takes the original song, which has a driving drum beat and grunge-coded guitar riffs (all played live in the studio) and sprinkles it with dreamy synths and an addictive bassline, creating a euphoric, low-key hyper-pop club anthem.
Theia wrote ‘Girls!’ - a sweet love song for girls who love girls - after being inspired by some of the most iconic names in music. “I’d been listening to a lot of my favourite 90s women when I wrote Girls! - artists like Sinead O’Connor, The Cranberries and Alanis Morissette, says Theia.
Theia is currently based in LA where she’s recently performed at LA Pride and a string of club shows. She has also been touring her reo Māori side project TE KAAHU in Canada.
Expect new music from Theia in the coming months. She’s also headlining the Sum of Us Festival in California in September, before returning home to New Zealand - watch this space for an exciting announcement soon.
Find Theia:
Brooke X Starce 'All You Need'
Brooke & Starce, previously known as The Oneill Twins are Maori Pakeha and grew up in Manurewa, South Auckland. They are globally known for their dancing but are no strangers to the music industry. The emerging R&B-hip hop duo are excited to announce the release of their debut Single ‘All You Need’. The song is easy listening, romantic and gets you in the feels!
Brooke & Starce, previously known as The Oneill Twins are Maori Pakeha and grew up in Manurewa, South Auckland. They are globally known for their dancing but are no strangers to the music industry. The emerging R&B-hip hop duo are excited to announce the release of their debut Single ‘All You Need’. The song is easy listening, romantic and gets you in the feels!
Brooke & Starce wrote "All You Need" after Starce was inspired to play the guitar. Starce covered the production while Brooke focused on the songwriting, this being their usual creative process. 1 year later, the twins decided to revisit the song but invited Singer, Song writer Lavina Williams into their session to help with vocal arrangement and counter melodies. "We were at a stand still and couldn't seem to finish the song, it wasn't until Lavina totally upgraded the song that we could finally say, It's finished". The very last touch was having Chris Chetland from Kog studio add his spice as he mastered the track.
Over the last few years, the girls have honed their skills in music production, mixing, singing & songwriting and are proud to be pursuing their music career as Independent Artists. They say "this is only a taste of what's to come".
Trilingual Kids Music EP, “Kōwhai: Kōrero Mai” featuring Suzy Cato, releasing September
A very special EP, Kōwhai: Kōrero Mai, from Loopy Tunes Music, made in collaboration with Ko Taku Reo - Deaf Education NZ, featuring NZ Children's Music royalty, Suzy Cato, with the support of New Zealand on Air Music, will be launching 8 September, 2023.
A very special EP, Kōwhai: Kōrero Mai, from Loopy Tunes Music, made in collaboration with Ko Taku Reo - Deaf Education NZ, featuring NZ Children's Music royalty, Suzy Cato, with the support of New Zealand on Air Music, will be launching 8 September, 2023.
Kōwhai: Kōrero Mai is a fun and interactive set of four trilingual waiata, featuring English and te reo Māori lyrics, and NZ Sign Language in the accompanying music videos.
The first singles "Kia Ora E Hoa", "Māori Animal Alphabet" and "Toro Like A Kākiroa" will be released August 18, 25 and September 1, respectively. "Māori Vowels", the final single, will be released on the same day the full EP is launched, on September 8. This will also be the day that the three trilingual music videos, produced by the team at Ko Taku Reo - Deaf Education NZ, will be released on TuriTV and YouTube.
This EP has been created for preschool and primary school music lovers and their whānau. “We wrote these songs for 4-8 year olds in mind because they are learning to read, engage, and embrace, te reo Māori in their school setting, so we wanted this to complement what they are already learning” shares Siu Williams-Lemi, from the musical sister duo, Loopy Tunes.
“We created this EP to encourage the use of te reo Māori basics, in a fun and interactive way!” adds Loopy Tunes co-founder, Leah Williams-Partington.
“A key thing about learning te reo Māori is mastering the vowels, so we are constantly telling people, ‘When you're starting out, focus on those vowels, master them, and you’ll be speaking beautifully in no time!’” encourages the duo. “We hope people find these songs useful and fun to sing along to.”
Suzy Cato shares her part in the project. “I approached Siu & Leah, earlier in the year, about joining with them to create an echo song incorporating te reo Māori” says Suzy. “Both Siu and Leah were very open to the opportunity and happened to be in the midst of creating an EP of songs about learning Māori. They invited me to join them on the rest of the EP and immersed me in their creative process, completely, which was wonderful!”
“From that initial idea, to shared documents online and melodies sung through the phone and recorded on smart devices; to recording in Siu’s studio, filming the music videos with the Ko Taku Reo multimedia team, and preparing for the launch parties – Siu and Leah have been wonderful to work and play with, and I can’t wait for these songs to be out in the world and enjoyed by tamariki everywhere.”
Loopy Tunes worked with Ko Taku Reo - Deaf Education NZ to create music videos in NZ Sign Language (NZSL), starring three amazing tamariki turi to help make these songs more widely inclusive and accessible. “Providing the music videos is an added bonus that enables a trilingual resource that can be enjoyed by so many more people,” share Siu and Leah.
"This collaboration offers us a remarkable chance to create resources that will captivate our learners,” says Ko Taku Reo Acting Executive Principal, Dr Denise Powell. “By combining music with NZSL, we are able to make a fun and enjoyable experience for all Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. Furthermore, these resources will also serve as valuable tools for our stakeholders, helping them foster inclusivity and understanding in their communities."
This is the first project of its kind and an exciting collaboration for Aotearoa Children’s Music, showcasing the three official languages of New Zealand. “We are excited about the potential impact this project can have in promoting early language access in environments where tamariki learn alongside their families and whānau,” say Ko Taku Reo - Deaf Education NZ.“Through these collaborative videos, we also hope to inspire and empower educators to create inclusive learning environments and foster a greater appreciation for NZSL.”
Working in this new space did provide some challenges. “Something that has come up in the project is that there are some words where there isn’t a Māori sign for it yet, for example, arewhana|elephant,” share Siu and Leah. “In the ‘Māori Animal Alphabet’ song, we repeat the word elephant three times - once in Māori, followed by echoes of the word in Māori and then English. Because there isn’t a sign for the word ‘arewhana’, a solution was created using images of the animals, having the kids point, and then finishing with the NZSL sign for elephant.”
Loopy Tunes also worked closely with Māori translator, Kaycee Soutar. “Even though these are simple bilingual waiata, we knew it was important to ensure that we were using the kupu in the right way and using the right structures. Kaycee was awesome to work with and was always open to discussing how we could simplify things, while also ensuring that we weren’t taking away from the language,” explains Siu.
This is the third album being added to the Loopy Tunes "Rainbow" Collection of children's music, following their 2019 debut album "Kākāriki: Simply Us", and bilingual (Māori and Tongan) Christmas album “Whero: Kirihimete|Kilisimasi", released last year. "We chose 'Kōwhai' for this EP because we wanted it to be like a ray of sunshine in people's reo Māori journey, supporting them to 'Kōrero Mai'!” shares Siu.
Loopy Tunes and Suzy will perform four ticketed shows as part of a double EP launch on Friday, 8 September, in Christchurch, and then Saturday, 9 September, in Auckland, to celebrate the release of Kōwhai: Kōrero Mai.
Christchurch EP Launch - 8 September, at Tūranga Tautoru|TSB Space
9.30am and 11am shows - tickets from $3-$10pp, available through Humanitix
Afternoon shows at two local schools
Auckland EP Launch - 9 September, at Te Manawa Community Hub Auditorium and Te Atatū Peninsula Community Centre
JUJULIPPS presents ‘Airplane Mode' single & video
The track fuses African rhythms and energetic horn melodies and showcases a new sound for Jujulipps as she seamlessly intertwines English and Swahili lyrics. A rebellion against hustle culture and the relentless pressure to be available 24/7, it’s as if the world has been begging for a track like this.
"The ultimate Afrobeat switch-off anthem"
Jujulipps, the über talented and larger than life Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland, New Zealand) based hip-hop artist, is back!
On August 18, 2023, her latest single and music video ‘Airplane Mode’ will be released to the world, described by the artist as “the ultimate Afrobeat switch off anthem.” The track fuses African rhythms and energetic horn melodies and showcases a new sound for Jujulipps as she seamlessly intertwines English and Swahili lyrics. A rebellion against hustle culture and the relentless pressure to be available 24/7, it’s as if the world has been begging for a track like this.
Much like the artist, ‘Airplane Mode’ is effortlessly cool and driven along by an infectious beat. “It’s a hold-my-bag moment,” says Jujulipps. “A hold-my-worries-while-I-go-and-dance-like-there's-no-tomorrow-for-the-next-2:26-minutes moment.” Honestly, count us in.
The music video (directed by the talented Ezra Simons, alongside assistant director Oscar Keys from Sunbed Films) bursts with life and fun in a way that is totally hypnotising.
The ‘Airplane Mode’ video pays homage to the iconic South African musical and film Sarafina (1992), evoking a sense of nostalgia and cultural heritage for Jujulipps. The opening scene, reminiscent of the beloved motion picture, showcases Jujulipps in her school uniform, providing a heartfelt nod to the cherished memories that shaped her childhood.
“I wanted the music video to show parts of home and the girl I am now with my friends and the people that mean the most to me. I wanted to be dressed in familiar African attire and in the clothes I wear everyday." The beautiful dresses were made by the talented Fiona Tariro Chimwayange at Rivylle Clothing.
Singing lines such as "you want to stress me, please don't jealous me," Jujulipps taps into the universal experiences of African kids, echoing the phrases they hear in music, movies and their peers. The intention behind each shot and each verse makes it abundantly clear that the lush visuals perfectly compliment Jujulipps’ artistry, making the whole project incredibly special to witness.
‘Airplane Mode’ is produced by Abraham Kunin, co-written by Takunda Muzondiwa, Abraham Kunin, Tom Scott, with Joost Langeveld on bass, Thabani Gapara on saxophone, and mixed by Nick Krill.
‘Airplane Mode’ offers a sneak peek into Jujulipps’ upcoming EP Get That Shot. The track showcases a different style and sound giving listeners a taste of the diverse sonic exploration Jujulipps offers. So sit back, relax and enjoy the latest from Jujulipps. You deserve it.
LITTLE HEARTS SHINE THE BRIGHTEST ON CLAUDIA ROBIN GUNN'S NEW CHILDREN'S ALBUM FIREFLY
2023 Tui Best Children’s Artist nominee and self managed artist Claudia Robin Gunn is excited to announce pre-orders are open for the limited edition vinyl run of her 6th children’s album Firefly, produced by Grammy winner Dean Jones (NY) and created with help from NZ On Air Music.
2023 Tui Best Children’s Artist nominee and self managed artist Claudia Robin Gunn is excited to announce pre-orders are open for the limited edition vinyl run of her 6th children’s album Firefly, produced by Grammy winner Dean Jones (NY) and created with help from NZ On Air Music.
She will be pressing locally with Holiday Records in Auckland. With two singles out already, and the album releasing to streaming platforms on September 8th via AWAL, the vinyl run will ship out late October in time for the holiday season, with a linocut art print and firefly stickers as a bonus for pre-orders.
Firefly the album is light hearted and yet grounded, covering themes from perseverance to food puns in a tangy audio collection for littles with big lights to shine, and parents who love to hear real instruments in the bops their kids play over, and over and over again.
Production took place virtually between Claudia’s Cockle Bay, Auckland studio and Dean’s Hudson Valley, NY haybale studio starting in late 2021 with a pilot track (Little by Little) proving to be a winning combination. This led to a grant to produce the full collection. All songs feature Dean Jones on harmonies and instruments, as well as guest artists Suzi Shelton (NY) and Little Miss Ann (Chicago) making an appearance second single 'Colours’.
With her indie label Little Wild Music a handcrafted operation despite recently clocking 10,000,000 Spotify streams of her music, Claudia has illustrated the cover art with a mix of watercolour and digital (procreate) and set up a spare room studio to shoot the music videos. The first video Hope is a Verb, released this week, features signs made of crayon and paint on cardboard, in a nod to climate protest placards seen around the world, and the words of youth leader Greta Thunberg and poet Amanda Gorman.
AIM: SANDPIT - Empowering a new Generation
Following on from the success of AIM:SANDBOX – Asians In Music co-founders Clarissa Chai and Mia Caintic have created a new programme that takes Pan-Asian-Kiwi (PAK) musical talent to the next level.
Asians in Music (AIM) in partnership with Where The Asians At‽ present:
AIM: SANDPIT - Empowering a new Generation
Following on from the success of AIM:SANDBOX – Asians In Music co-founders Clarissa Chai and Mia Caintic have created a new programme that takes Pan-Asian-Kiwi (PAK) musical talent to the next level.
AIM: SANDPIT – brewing a new generation of Pan-Asian-Kiwi (PAK) musical talent. Apply now to join the development programme. Five new or emerging artists will level up by getting a producer to get their demo song professionally recorded, mixed and mastered - ready for release. They will then get guidance from PR mentors on releasing their song.
AIM: SANDPIT is a next-level opportunity for Pan-Asian-Kiwi (PAK) bands and artists. Level up with a professionally mixed and mastered track and get mentoring in production and PR, getting your song ready for release. You’ll work with an established PAK producer mentor who will help you prepare for a studio recording session. You will then record your song with a recording engineer and with your producer mentor guiding you through the whole process. Your track will then be professionally mixed and mastered, ready for release. It doesn’t end there, we want you to level up your PR to take your next release to the next level! You will have three PR sessions with PR mentors to guide you on releasing your professionally recorded, mixed and mastered track.
There are five (5) spots for artists and/or bands and a participation fee of $50 if selected. Applicants must whakapapa (have a sense of belonging) to Asia, and be new or emerging artists. See more details below:
APPLY NOW - here’s the link to the form: Application form or go to www.asiansinmusic.nz
● What is included in the AIM: SANDPIT Programme? - READ MORE
● Who can apply? - READ MORE
● To apply you will need a finished song written by you/your band - READ MORE
Applications close: Sunday August 27th at 8 pm
Please share the Application form to all your PAK musician friends ASAP to help us launch a new generation of PAK musicians to the next level.
AND Join the Asians in Music Facebook group to get updates about AIM: SANDPIT and future opportunities.
