MIDWAVE BREAKS Deliver a triple-scoop treat to see out the summer with their New EP ‘Standing Inside Out’

The Tauranga Alt-Rock duo have gone full waffle cone, 3 scoops, with choc dip on their latest offering, taking time to deliver the full-production flavour, reinforcing Midwave Breaks infectious sound, seamlessly blending familiar Rock sensibilities, with their distinctive modern flair.

The first radio single from the trio of tracks is All She Was, essentially a love song from lead-singer Bruce to his wife, stylistically channeling some Bruce-Springsteen energy, with a typically catchy chorus, and up-beat rousing instrumental outro.

The title track Standing Inside Out is a high energy flavour combo, with elements of 1970’s guitar motifs, modern Pop-Rock flow, and an unapologetic nod to the multi-layered anthemic vocal styling of their late-80’s youth.

The vision behind the track Here We Go, was to create a captivating opener for their live performance, building through repeated sonic layers, hinting at what’s to come, culminating in an explosive display of energy, which promises to set a powerful scene for their live show.

Standing Inside Out is available NOW on all streaming platforms!

BYLLIE-JEAN RELEASES DEBUT EP FILTER

Multi-disciplinary Māori artist Byllie-jean (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Pahauwera) has released her debut solo EP Filter featuring the focus track of the same name. Out via Distrokid, Filter is an experimental sonic journey of contrast and drama from starlight to the swamp – the grimy and the ethereal effortlessly combining with sides of satire. According to Byllie-jean, these are the sounds from her world as an island dweller, a jungle lover and indigenous storyteller in her colonised country of Aotearoa.

As well as focus track ‘Filter’, Filter features previously released singles ‘Desperate Fools’ (2023), a spine-tingling noir ballad; beat-driven single ‘Running Amuck’ (2023), which boldly speaks to the history of Māori land loss; and ‘Heck’ (2021), a track in the style of a hiphop fairytale. You can now also listen to ‘E moko’ feat. Marlon Williams and author/poet Isla Huia. The stunning waiata is an ode to tīpuna and mokopuna using taonga puoro and electric synth. The EP also features unusual interlude ‘Korimako’ feat. Pōneke / Wellington RnB artist Aja.

“There's healing in these songs for me, and stories within stories, they are recorded snapshots of moments in time – lots of blood and water and bush and memory and suburbia. This collection of completed songs was grown and documented from a friendship come recording project with producer Chris Wethey; we would met each Thursday and a sound soon emerged that was acoustic and clean as well as electronically muddy and hard-hitting due to my partiality to 808s.” Byllie-jean

Byllie-jean has been raising her whānau, studying and working – she has performed live, produced shows and composed prolifically. At this stage in her life she finds herself with the capacity, experience and guts to tell her stories as a wahine Māori, whaea, kuia and artist in Aotearoa. She won the 2022 APRA Maioha Award for her song with Aja ‘Te Iho’, and has been creating and releasing visual and sonic content steadily ever since.

TESS LIAUTAUD Releases New Single & Video 'GOLD DIGGER' + Announces Aotearoa Tour

Today Franco-American artist Tess Liautaud releases a rockin’ alt-country banger.

The recipe for any country hit worth its weight is a catchy hook and a healthy measure of wry wit, all rolled up with swagger and aplomb.

Liautaud wrote Gold Digger in Otago while imagining a song that John Prine might sing, and though the result is uniquely her own, there is a throughline; honest truths cloaked in humorous word play and a simple melody.

After releasing her debut album in 2022, Gold Digger is bursting with crunchy guitars and that Americana feel-good delivery, a taste of good things to come.

The song is paired with a playful, old-timey music video filmed in the wilds of Arthur’s Pass and Otira. Tess and her band will celebrate its release with a tour of Aotearoa.

'Gold Digger' Tour tickets are on sale now at Undertheradar.co.nz 

- full tour dates below.

TESS LIAUTAUD - GOLD DIGGER TOUR
AOTEAROA 2024

MAY 02 - Featherston / Common Ground

MAY 03 - Wellington / Rogue & Vagabond

MAY 04 - Auckland / Wine Cellar

MAY 17 - Ophir / Peace Memorial Hall

MAY 18 - Oamaru / Grainstore Gallery

MAY 24 - Pigeon Bay / Pigeon Bay Social Club

MAY 25 - Lyttelton / Wunderbar

MAY 31 - Mapua / The Playhouse

JUN 01 - Onekaka / Mussel Inn

Tickets from undertheradar.co.nz

Ersha Island 二沙岛 proudly present their highly anticipated debut EP "Back To Our Roots"

Ersha Island 二沙岛 proudly presents their highly anticipated debut EP, "Back To Our Roots," marking a significant milestone for the indie-folk sibling duo. This beautiful EP serves as an audio and visual feast, exploring themes of identity, biracial upbringing, and the cultural bridge connecting Ersha Island 二沙岛 to Aotearoa and China.

Out today, the EP’s kaupapa involved working with an Asian-led team, produced by EDYONTHEBEAT (Edward Liu), and features artists Geoff Ong and Iris Zhang. Alongside the EP, a mini-documentary by Cadby Kong chronicles the duo’s journey during the creation of the work as they searched inward and gathered stories of other Asian New Zealanders who have inspired the EP.

Listen to Back To Our Roots Here

Elsewhere, singles like “My Mother’s Mountains and My Father’s Sea 母亲的山，父亲的海” delve into the acceptance of their cultural journey, and the lead bilingual single "Beijing 北京" strips things back to the bare essentials of piano, violin, voice, telling the story of their experience living in Beijing during 2012-2014. They studied full time as classical musicians at the Beijing Conservatory of Music, a dark and lonely time in their childhood that left a lasting impact on their lives, identities, and relationships.

The EP also comes with two music videos directed by Hong Kong-New Zealand director Daryl J. Wong with a primarily Pan-Asian crew.

In a genre-blurring blend of sounds, Ersha Island 二沙岛 invites listeners on an emotive voyage through their personal experiences, painting a vivid sonic landscape of the challenges and beauty of straddling two worlds.

On what their EP means for them, the siblings shared, “This EP is an exploration into our Chinese and mixed-race identity, a celebration of culture, and empowerment by heritage. Drawing inspiration from our 爷爷's (Grandfather) recorded stories and experimenting with Chinese traditional instruments, we've woven these elements into our contemporary sound.”

“Back To Our Roots” promises a captivating fusion of folk instruments, pop sensibilities, and poetic lyricism, all delivered with the duo's unique Kiwi-Chinese perspective. With their thought-provoking songs, Ersha Island 二沙岛 invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences of navigating the intricate tapestry of cultural identity.

Follow Ersha Island 二沙岛  for updates here: https://linktr.ee/ershaisland

RISING SOUL SENSATION TO CASUALLY HEAL AOTEAROA WITH FRESH REGGAE ANTHEM ‘UP AND DOWN’ FROM UPCOMING ALBUM ‘DRIFTWOOD’

Casual Healing (AKA Nikau Te Huki) has released the fourth single, 'Up & Down,' from his debut album, 'DRIFTWOOD’.

Nikau Te Huki fondly refers to ‘Up and Down’ as his “golden child”, with an upbeat, melancholic anthem taking us through the highs and lows of the human experience. In this track, Casual Healing shares a “story of life” to uplift, inspire and call out those elements of life that we all battle with, referencing childhood simplicity and freedom. Casual Healing shares a flawless and robust message, reminding humanity that hitting rock bottom and reaching new heights are all part of our emotional holistic pilgrimage.

This song's roots, rock, and reggae fusion instantly earns it the status of a classic; with its creamy chorus-drenched guitar and punchy-crunchy tape-sounding drums, ‘Up and Down’ has Casual Healing’s signature production style written all over it. The sound of Casual Healing is impeccably paired with Te Huki’s boyish charisma and endowed with the power and sense of meaningful dialogue that can only originate from a seasoned mind. For Te Huki, the tidings of life become blends of seasonal change through those wavering intervals of observation and life tuition, emerging sensitively through his lyrics and sound.

Brilliantly captured by Mason Rudd, Kerry Pulham, and Francesca Sewell, the accompanying music video walks us through ‘up and down’ concepts in a retro broadcast style woven with delicious contrasting visuals. The video encapsulates that sense of winning and losing and the holistic lessons we learn whilst pulling ourselves back out of the doldrums. These positive messages hit those nerves of reality when adversity leaves us flapping around like a fish out of water. Rudds' team captures vibes of high and low tides, representing the fluctuations of life through insightful winter-summer variance. Te Huki is a natural storyteller who shares his interpretation of life through an authentic and personal lens.

Casual Healing believes in creating a “golden-era sound” as part of his mission and journey to heal generations through musical kōrero. Te Huki frames this crazy world in a simple message of hope and desire to pick ourselves up and grow a sense of knowing that life will always fluctuate. The waiata of Casual Healing urges life lessons of aroha, peace and harmony through powerful lyrical scribe woven into smooth reggae soul rhythm.

In April 2024, Casual Healing will release his debut album ‘DRIFTWOOD’. This represents four years of Nikau’s most personal and intimate recordings compiled into a collection of Soul, Folk, Hip-Hop, Dub, Trap, R&B and Marae-style tracks. In 2023, Casual Healing released 'Mauri Tau' in October, initiating the drip-feed release for 'DRIFTWOOD' with 'Hori House' following in December, and most recently, 'Chasing Rainbows'. These tracks have achieved notable success, securing positions on the NZ Official Hot Singles chart and garnering substantial airplay on radio and various Spotify editorial playlists, including Fresh Finds AU/NZ, Waiata Reo Māori, Dinner Mood, R&B Feels, and Apple Music’s New Music Daily, Late Night Menu, ALT-R&B, R&B Now, Glow and The Sound.

On behalf of Casual Healing, Nikau Te Huki and the C*H*u*R whanau, we thank you for tuning in and supporting this local independent artist. We look forward to hearing these sounds resonate through the streets of Aotearoa and beyond. CHUR.

BACK TO BASICS SEMINAR DEBUTS IN NEW PLYMOUTH

Music Managers Forum Aotearoa, with support from Recorded Music New Zealand, New Zealand Music Commission and NZ On Air, is proud to announce our Back to Basics seminar is travelling to Taranaki for the very first time!  The seminar will take place in Ngāmotu | New Plymouth, on Tuesday 26 March 2024.   

Aimed at all who are in the early stages of artist management, including self-managed artists, this seminar explores the fundamentals and inner workings of the music industry. Topics will cover planning a release, artist development and the business of music.

Lorraine Barry (manager of Sir Dave Dobbyn, Avantdale Bowling Club, Aaradhna, Aidan Fine, Home Brew, Rizvan) will be joined by Barnaby Weir (songwriter/performer/producer).

They will present and share their indispensable knowledge, and answer questions from attendees.

Back to Basics Seminar New Plymouth

When: Tuesday 26 March 2024

Time:  6.00pm - 7.30pm

Venue: Bryan Robb Lounge, TSB Showplace, 92-100 Devon Street West, New Plymouth

Lorraine Barry began working with Sir Dave Dobbyn 19 years ago. Avantdale Bowling Club, Aidan Fine, Home Brew, Rizvan and Aaradhna complete her current roster.

She’s a keen mentor for the MMF Aotearoa and sits on the Board of the Music Commission. 

In her former life at Virgin Records in London she was International Marketing Manager for acts including Ice T, Spice Girls, Massive Attack, Neneh Cherry, Placebo and The Verve before taking on the role of running the International Department.

Barnaby Weir Wellington-born long-time musician and songwriter Barnaby Weir is a founding member of well-loved bands, Fly My Pretties and The Black Seeds. Also well known as a songwriter and producer in his own right, Barnaby’s professional musical career spans more than 23 years, performing in almost 20 countries and writing and producing on over 24 albums. 

With a number of award-winning and multi-platinum albums under his belt and a reputation for engaging stage performances, Barnaby’s regular solo performances are the culmination of all his musical treasures. Weir also brings his wealth of experience as a music mentor with frequent appearances and workshops at YAMI in Wanaka and similar education offerings around Aotearoa.

Barnaby and The Black Seeds are currently working on their 8th studio album and playing summer shows across NZ and Australia.

FREE ENTRY to all (come armed with your questions!). RSVP to admin@mmf.co.nz is essential.
Email here to secure your seat.

Music Managers Forum Aotearoa is the collective voice for music managers and self-managed artists, both signed and independent. The MMF Aotearoa is an independent, non-profit trade association dedicated to helping grow artist manager businesses through education, networking and advocacy.
The MMF Aotearoa work towards a fairer, honest and more transparent music industry which operates with the highest of integrity in the interests of the artists our members represent.  We aim to represent the wide diversity of voices and backgrounds of music managers and their artists.

Recorded Music NZ® represents recording artists and right holders in Aotearoa through licensing, advocacy and promotion.  Recorded Music collects broadcast and public performance income from music users and distributes it to right holders and recording artists, advocates to government and others on behalf of recording artists and right holders and promotes artists and recorded music through initiatives such as the Aotearoa Music Awards.
Recorded Music NZ also operates The Official NZ Music Charts® and data analysis services and supports the wider music community through collaborations and its music grant programme. 

The New Zealand Music Commission Te Reo Reka O Aotearoa is a government funded organisation that promotes music from New Zealand and supports the growth of New Zealand music businesses – both culturally and economically, at home and abroad. The hub of NZ Music Month, the Music Commission also deliver contemporary music programmes in schools, including the Musicians Mentoring in Schools Programme; provides music upskilling tools and resources; and runs the international market development & trade show programme Outward Sound.

NZ On Air is an independent government funding agency that funds the development, recording and promotion of single songs and multi-song projects that reflect Aotearoa New Zealand and have the potential to reach both significant broadcast and online audiences. We do this by funding artists and musicians to professionally record and create content that resonates and engages with audiences. Alongside New Music Single and New Music Project funding streams, NZ On Air Music also offers Waiata Takitahi, New Music Pasifika, Pan Asian and Kids focused funding rounds.

The Fuzzy Robes release second single COLLECT FOR MIDDAY

Enigmatic spiritual-meets-psychedelic group The Fuzzy Robes release second single Collect For Midday ahead of sophomore effort Midday Prayers.

Following a surprise return with single Invocation, prayer-psychedelia group The Fuzzy Robes today release their second single Collect for Midday ahead of their new album Midday Prayers, a continuation of the group’s efforts to adapt the New Zealand Prayer Book, He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa into modern musical metaphor.

Collect for Midday summons simple melodies and optimistic strings to wrap around the literal collect observed at midday, inviting us all to be loving and caring despite the contrasting imagery of Jesus suspended on the cross. The track is moody but simultaneously buoyant with hopeful energy in its instrumental section, allowing time for reflection in prayer at midday.

Midday Prayers releases on Holy Wednesday (27th March, 2024) via Ōtautahi’s Winegum Records. Pre-orders for vinyl are available now on Bandcamp.

ZED DELIVER SUMMER SINGLE ‘MEANT TO BE’

ZED’s hot summer  single, "Meant To Be," featuring a special collaboration with Kiwi icon, Kings is out today. This highly anticipated third track off their upcoming full-length album offers fans a taste of what's to come on release in July 24. .

‘Meant To Be’ has already become a crowd favourite, resonating with audiences coming out to see Zed play on their recent tour across Aotearoa. 

Collaborating with the Kiwi legend Kings on this track brought a fresh perspective and challenged the band to explore new sonic realms. Frontman Nathan King shares, "Kings threw the seed of an idea at us to have a play with He has a great ear for a hook, so it felt good from the get-go and within 48 hours, the tune was born.” 

Collaborating with someone from a different genre of music challenges you to try new things and engage in raw and spontaneous creativity. "

As ZED continues to unveil more from their forthcoming album, fans can expect a diverse and dynamic collection of tracks that showcase the band's evolution and musical prowess. The band will continue to share exclusive behind-the-scenes content and lift the lid on their musical journey on their social media channels. Stay tuned for updates and mark your calendars for the full-length album release in July.

The captivating  full length music video created by Mat Beck and the creative team at Orly Creative in Ōtautahi, will be released alongside the single next week. 

Made with the support of NZ On Air, ‘Meant To Be’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

Listen to ‘Meant To Be’

https://ffm.to/zedmeanttobe

FIND ZED

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