Jenny Mitchell unveils North Island Tour
This Autumn, Jenny Mitchell is set to play a string of intimate shows in Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North and Whangārei before headlining Paihia’s Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival (May 10th – 12th).
This Autumn, Jenny Mitchell is set to play a string of intimate shows in Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North and Whangārei before headlining Paihia’s Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival (May 10th – 12th). The shows will feature special guest Fables, Maddison Connor and Jenny’s sisters, The Mitchell Twins.
Alongside working on new songs, Jenny has spent the past two years directing a documentary about the history of country music in her hometown of Gore (with Dunedin based filmmakers Scrambler). The film, Capital of Country Music, is set to premiere in Gore on May 30th during the town’s 10-day country music festival; Tussock Country.
Tickets for Jenny’s North Island shows are available now from www.jennymitchell.co.nz/tour
ADV's ‘Trust Issues’ Presents Eight Music Videos
Prepare to be transported into the world of ADV as his debut album, ‘Trust Issues ’(an audiovisual album), unveils eight stunning music videos.
Prepare to be transported into the world of ADV as his debut album, ‘Trust Issues’(an audiovisual album), today unveils eight stunning music videos. The visual release is a beautiful testament to ADV's authentic and heartfelt storytelling, celebrating love, diversity, and the human experience.
With raw honesty, South African-born, Auckland local ADV fearlessly explores the complexities of relationships and the nuances of queer love in this genre-defying body of work. Released on 2 February 2024, ‘Trust Issues' blends Soul, RnB, Pop, and Funk, offering a powerful and resonant narrative that speaks to the queer experience.
Accompanied by a zine titled ‘The Trust Issue,’ designed by Lulu Qiu, featuring work from photographers, lyrics, credits, a poetic letter from ADV, and a foreword by renowned poet and playwright Nathan Joe, this audiovisual album demands to be shared, embraced, and cherished by all who experience it..
CONNECT WITH ADV: LINKTREE
Raglan artist Reiki Ruawai delivers summery single and video, ‘All I Need’
New Zealand’s rising R&B/soul sensation Reiki Ruawai continues to ride the wave with his new single ‘All I Need’. To celebrate the release, Reiki is also embarking on a two-date tour, playing in Auckland on Thursday April 25 at the Wine Cellar and at The Yard in Raglan on Friday April 26.
Aotearoa, New Zealand’s rising R&B/soul sensation Reiki Ruawai continues to ride the wave with his new single ‘All I Need’. Listen to ‘All I Need’ HERE.
To celebrate the release, Reiki is also embarking on a two-date tour, playing in Auckland on Thursday April 25 at the Wine Cellar and at The Yard in Raglan on Friday April 26. Tickets for both shows are on sale at 9am Monday March 18 at www.undertheradar.co.nz
Oozing with Reiki’s laid-back, soulful signature style with pop undertones, ‘All I Need’ builds around a tribal shuffle beat, with layers of heavenly backing vocals and hypnotic synths.
‘All I Need’ was written at APRA New Zealand’s Songhubs curated by critically acclaimed NZ-born, London-based songwriter and producer Jordan Rakei, which Reiki was selected to take part in. The young Raglan native says he spent time “geeking out” at the fact that he was getting to work with Jordan - one of his favourite artists.
Reiki adds that ‘All I Need’ began life as a much poppier demo but in the studio working with producer and engineer Joel Jones, they found themselves taking a slightly more experimental route. “We took ages trying to find some random noises and ended up finding a sample of a Putatara (conch shell) - that’s what ended up giving that tribal feel,” he says.
It’s what gives ‘All I Need’ its refreshingly unique quality and also aptly sums up that feeling of there being no place like home. Reiki explains that on the day he wrote the track on Songhubs with Jordan, Alistair Ross, and Francesca Emily Chesney Colwill; he told the others he was really longing to get back to his hometown - the world famous surfing town on the North Island’s Waikato coast.
“I mentioned that I needed a day back in Raglan where I could head down to the skatepark with a beer and hang with friends - just be with each other, skating and having fun.”
The same sentiment is captured in the video for ‘All I Need’, which serves as the perfect visual backdrop. Filmed by Luke Penny in Riverhead near Auckland, it’s a simple one-take shot as the sun sets.
Watch the video HERE.
“The video gives off more of the energy of the song,” says Reiki. “I wanted to feel like myself and be myself - as natural as I could be. Doing the one-take captures that.”
Listen to ‘All I Need’ HERE / Watch the video HERE
Catch Reiki Ruawai live:
Thursday April 25 - Wine Cellar, Auckland
Friday April 26 - The Yard, Raglan
Tickets on sale 9am Monday March 18 at www.undertheradar.co.nz
NEIL MACLEOD Fear
Neil MacLeod is an artist who is steadfast in their vision. he has released his new single ‘Fear,’ a watershed moment in the ongoing artistic evolution of the 24-year-old Ōtautahi/ Christchurch born New Zealand singer-songwriter, producer, engineer, and artist.
Neil MacLeod is an artist who is steadfast in their vision. On Friday the 15th of March, he will release new single ‘Fear,’ a watershed moment in the ongoing artistic evolution of the 24-year-old Ōtautahi/ Christchurch born New Zealand singer-songwriter, producer, engineer, and artist.
A decade on from when a young MacLeod first uploaded his early music to SoundCloud, Neil has honed his craft from singer-songwriter demos to widescreen productions, born from introspection, reflection, and masterfully curated self-expression.
His new single ‘Fear’ is a result of this process. Sonically, it is an amalgamation of MacLeod’s instinct and skill, and lyrically an exploration of the subconscious.
“Like many people, I’ve allowed fear to influence my life,” says MacLeod. “At one stage, I developed quite a fearful relationship with my dreams. I’d been exploring dream interpretation and lucid dreaming and found myself increasingly anxious about going to sleep. In retrospect, I can see that I was just too close and obsessed with the whole thing. I was reading meaning into my dreams without any help or support, and it was messing with my sense of reality. I’m someone who relentlessly seeks self improvement, and at times I think this mentality can create more problems than it solves - such as how my relationship to dreams ended up. This song gets into all of that. In essence, it’s exploring the fear that I might lose myself on the journey to finding myself.”
It’s a song that showcases MacLeod’s unique sonic identity. The sharpness and fullness of the soundscape paired with the haunting fragility of MacLeod’s vocals creates a hypnotic tension. MacLeod muses on the recording process.
“I made the instrumental first, following my nose until I felt inspired to sing. The first verse flowed out of me in a freestyle - melodies and words. I never changed the verse after that. The chorus flowed out, too - although only in its melodic form. I put the song away for a while, and over the course of a year or so I slowly figured out what my subconscious was trying to say in those freestyles. Once I’d figured that out, I finished the song in a matter of days.”
For MacLeod, the visual world of song holds acute importance, and the visualiser accompanying ‘Fear’ is mysterious, beguiling, and a taste of the things to come from MacLeod which wait in the wings.
“The video is an introduction to the wider visual world of my next EP ‘I Need a Battle’. The floating object you see is a vessel, from which reflective, gooey black liquid escapes. These are symbols which play an important part in the story. For now, simply soak it up.”
Nourished by a musical diet of atmospheric electronica artists such as Bon Iver, Burial, James Blake, Floating Points, Kiasmos, Arca, and Björk, MacLeod is well on his way to establishing himself as a pillar in the electronic music landscape of Aotearoa. His EP We Have Known Lost Days (Remixed) was nominated for Te Tohu Hopunga Puoro Mariu (Favourite EP / Mixtape) at the 2023 Student Radio Network Awards, and received recognition from outlets such as Dazed, Acid Stag, and NZ Musician.
Reflecting on the upcoming release of ‘Fear,’ MacLeod says it feels “like a relief. The music has been done for a long time, and it’s been a labour of love to build the visual world that surrounds it. I can let this song go now, and slowly move on to the next thing.”
Geoff Ong’s new single captures the journey of growing up and unpacks big feelings
Tāmaki Makaurau-based indie-pop delight Geoff Ong has today released his latest single ‘When it Gets Easy’.
Tāmaki Makaurau-based indie-pop delight Geoff Ong has today released his latest single ‘When it Gets Easy’.
‘When it Gets Easy’ delves into intimate reflections on the journey of growing up and unpacking big feelings. “As a kid I always assumed things would suddenly get simpler, that my emotions would get less difficult and my mental health would finally begin to thrive,” explains Geoff. “I’ve since realised that any progress means going through a deliberate, purposeful process, rather than just a sudden moment of effortless change. And I think that, slowly, it does get easier.”
Geoff’s knack for catchy pop hooks, paired with a driving beat and bright guitar licks, have built what he hopes will become an “upbeat and hopeful anthem for people who are also wondering when it gets easier.”
No stranger to exploring the complexities of mental health in his songwriting, Geoff is known for his soul-bearing and vulnerable lyrics, which have engaged listeners around the country (RNZ, ZM, The Edge). Made with the support of NZ On Air and teasing an evolving sound, Geoff says today’s release explores his “indie rock influences” which we can expect more of from his upcoming EP in late 2024.
The video for ‘When It Gets Easy’ - directed by long-time collaborator Lochana Wijesundera - depicts Geoff parting with “the emotional weight” tangled up with his hair. This happens in the most literal and palpable sense and serves as a powerful representation of dealing with big change, in real time: “We felt like it would be really impactful and meaningful if I had my close friends and family help with this - because having a good group of support around you is such a huge help when you’re processing heavy emotions,” says Geoff, who adds that filming the emotionally-charged clip was one of the favourite things he’s ever done.
About Geoff Ong
A self-proclaimed “popstar for dorks”, Geoff Ong has spent the last four years cultivating a passionate fan base through a combination of online engagement, electric live performances, and his own brand of quirky pop songwriting. Recognition for Geoff’s art is catching like wildfire: with five songs from his 2020 debut album MAYBE IT’LL BE ALRIGHT placing in the Official NZ Music Charts Top 5, consistent radio airplay across Aotearoa, and a featured performance for the Exploding Rainbow Orchestra in 2023 - writing and performing alongside such musical legends as Hollie Fulbrook (Tiny Ruins), Don McGlashan, and Steph Brown (Lips). Much of Geoff’s mahi within the Aotearoa music industry weaves together with his advocacy for greater Asian representation and racial diversity in mainstream media, performing at Asian(SOUND)Scapes music festivals and serving as a mentor for Asians In Music NZ.
FIND GEOFF ON
Ōtautahi-based RnB artist CH!EF unveils infectious new single + video ‘Love You Like I Should’
Fijian-born, Ōtautahi-based RnB artist CH!EF (Ratu Cokanasiga) has today released his feel-good new single ‘Love You Like I Should’.
Listen to ‘single’ HERE
Watch video HERE
Fijian-born, Ōtautahi-based RnB artist CH!EF (Ratu Cokanasiga) has today released his feel-good new single ‘Love You Like I Should’.
Following 2023 singles 'It's You’ (Spotify ‘Island Time’ Playlist) and ‘Until We Meet Again’ (NZ Hot Single Chart), CH!EF is continuing to build a discography surrounding his unique and soulful RnB sound, with Pasifika Reggae influences. Still in the early phases of what is set to be a long and successful career, he is already making waves across Australia and Aotearoa (CADA, Niu FM).
‘Love You Like I Should’ features upbeat instrumentation, paired with CH!EF’s stunning vocals and heartfelt lyrics - which speak to true love prevailing in the face of adversity. “It’s about taking a chance on love under the worst of circumstances,” explains CH!EF.
Made with the support of NZ On Air, the single was co-written and produced by friend and mentor Vince Harder (Stan Walker, P Money, Scribe, PopStars), at the local legend’s home studio in Tāmaki Makaurau. Speaking to the creative process, CH!EF says, “Vince just radiates a creative energy that's contagious, it's such a driving factor in my writing sessions.”
No stranger to working with such accomplished musicians and producers, he's previously worked as a backing vocalist with Vince, Stan Walker and Marley Sola.
Also released today is a music video filmed and directed by Ethan Harris from Lucent Films in CH!EF’s hometown of Ōtautahi. “We wanted to revisit old school comedy-romance style videos, while keeping the message relevant for listeners,” says CH!EF. The video portrays an adorable narrative of new love, with a sense of humour that complements the bouncy track.
With fresh music in the works and more soulful sounds to be expected soon, CH!EF is already establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the Aotearoa RnB scene!
Find CH!EF:
day13n takes off in a bold new direction with fresh collaborator TAMiii, the nostalgic summer anthem 'Growing Pains'
2024 has day13n hitting the ground running, and he shows no signs of slowing down. It reminds us once again that he’s an artist who can’t be classified, as he always comes out the gate with the unexpected. As is perfectly exemplified by his bold new pop single “Growing Pains” which has already caused a stir on social media.
Experimental artist day13n had a big year in 2023, as he burst onto the scene, drawing attention across the industry, bringing us two mixtapes, and a series of live shows, spanning multiple genres. He has become a pioneer in creating inclusive spaces for people across the diverse Auckland music scenes to come together in mutual respect and creative collaboration.
2024 has day13n hitting the ground running, and he shows no signs of slowing down. It reminds us once again that he’s an artist who can’t be classified, as he always comes out the gate with the unexpected. As is perfectly exemplified by his bold new pop single “Growing Pains” which has already caused a stir on social media.
Growing Pains is a love letter to the bygone era of synthpop club music that raised 2009 tweens, and was the soundtrack to their coming-of-age. A nostalgic reminiscence about innocence lost that dominates today’s zeitgeist, as people yearn for a simpler time.
This is more than a song, it’s a call to action - to get back in touch with our roots, care for our inner children, and make a commitment to change - all wrapped up in a bouncy pop tune. The sonics convey an underlying twinge of melancholy as we reflect together on what was, and what could have been, before looking forward with hope for what we can build for our own children.
Teaming up with TAMiii - a fierce presence in the Aotearoa music scene who is already drumming up hype with her distinct musical style, that caught the attention of Jess B through social media back in 2023, the pair deliver firecracker flows over a distinctly nostalgic 2000s style beat, complete with an incredibly catchy and belt-worthy chorus that you’ll find yourself singing in the shower for weeks to come…..The single is the first off their upcoming collaborative EP, which is due for release in August of this year.
The creative vision exhibited by this pair is fresh and exciting, while drawing from the roots of the pop music that built their generation. This is a song that people of all ages will appreciate, and it’s exactly what the Aotearoa music scene has been missing.
Follow 'day13n' journey:
day13n | Twitter, Instagram, TikTok | Linktree
Greta O'Leary Debut Australia Shows!
Spook-folk sweetheart Greta O'Leary is dipping back across the ditch for some intimate autumn shows, around the corner from her old share house.
Spook-folk sweetheart Greta O'Leary (nz) is dipping back across the ditch for some intimate autumn shows, around the corner from her old share house. Joining her in her self-made universe of alternative-folk is Oscar LaDell on guitar and Davin Ojala on bass. Music to sway to, cry and laugh to.
Melbourne - 11 April @ The Merri Creek Tavern
Castlemaine - 9 April (House Concert)
Having observed much of life one step removed, Greta O'Leary has developed an unmistakably specific lens on the world. A precise blend of cutting grief and unshakable optimism, the breakthrough offerings from this up and coming artist are quite a trip; hypnotic, relentless and poised in a world of their own. Think Angel Olsen meets Vashti Bunyan (down-under)..
“Acoustic, with a free-thinking aesthetic and a refusal to conform”- Muzic.net
O’Leary released her debut singles “Honey babe”, “Outnumbered” and “Body, Now” in 2022, charting on numerous independent radio stations across New Zealand, showcased on national radio, and gained 140,000 views on a self directed music video. Quickly establishing herself as a rising force in the local music scene, Greta was recently the recipient of APRA’s Aotearoa Artist Mentoring programme, and is currently working with mentor Tom Healy (Jen Cloher, Marlon Williams) and a heavy-hitting team on her new recordings. She has played all around Aotearoa with her live band and featured at NZ’s biggest street festival (Newtown Festival), Wellington’s Gardens Magic and Earthbeat Festival.
“A real fragility” - Nz Musician Magazine
“O’Leary’s voice is reminiscent of a hāngī pit, imbued with earthy, smokey tones” - UTR
Tickets
https://www.eventfinda.com.au/2024/greta-oleary-melbourne-at-merri-creek-tav/melbourne/northcote
https://www.eventfinda.com.au/2024/greta-oleary-castlemaine-house-concert/greater-bendigo-region
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