TESS LIAUTAUD Releases New Single & Video 'HERE GO THE LOVERS' + Announces Sophomore Album

WATCH HERE
LISTEN HERE

Sometimes a song comes in on the breeze and slides like ice into your heart.
The likes of a lost John Lennon track or something you missed off Bob Dylan’s New Morning. A song that sounds like it’s always existed, warmly
familiar but not quite like anything else.

Part Jackson Browne, part Springsteen, part Lucinda and all Tess,
Here Go The Lovers is a major highlight from her freshly announced
sophomore album, 'Blue Mind' out October 18th. 

"I've waited on that train of desperation,
living every day from station to station, before I hit the road,
here go the lovers"

Today's single release is paired with a sentimental, autumnal video directed by
Robyn Jordaan and Caleb MacDonald.
''It's almost like there's something inevitable you expected but there's something
dramatic and cinematic about it'' - TL


Tess Liautaud, currently on tour in Aotearoa.
Dates & Tickets below

TESS LIAUTAUD - GOLD DIGGER TOUR
AOTEAROA 2024

MAY 17 - Ophir / Peace Memorial Hall
w/ support fro Just Janie

MAY 18 - Oamaru / Grainstore Gallery
w/ support from Jessie Rose Shanks

MAY 19 - Dunedin / Folk club
w/ support from Jessie Rose Shanks

MAY 24 - Pigeon Bay / Pigeon Bay Social Club
w/ support from Jessie Rose Shanks

MAY 25 - Lyttelton / Wunderbar
w/ support from Ryan Fisherman

MAY 31 - Mapua / The Playhouse
w/ support from Jessie Rose Shanks

JUN 01 - Onekaka / Mussel Inn

Tickets from undertheradar.co.nz

The music of Franco-American singer-songwriter Tess Liautaud can not be easily defined. It hangs in the balance of her voice, warm like honey; it carries a depth of raw emotion, delivered with melodic grace and country soul. 

Her songs are easy listening, in that Jackson Browne, dreaming of Laurel Canyon, Americana sort of way, so it would make some kind of sense that she’s found a home on the east side of Ōtautahi, among the folk singers and the rock'n'rollers.

Together with her band (Adam Hattaway, Frankie Daly, Elmore Jones and Michael Kime) Liautaud creates a sound steeped in classic Wilco 'esque' guitar twang, good old honky tonk piano and big organ washes. This is music that will grow roots in your heart and lift you up, the way it is supposed to. 

Tess cut her teeth in the Paris music scene for the better part of a decade, honing her live performances and endearing herself to the hearts of audiences and fellow musicians alike. She has toured in Ireland and places beyond and eventually curiosity led her to Aotearoa in 2019. Burgeoning friendships and collaborations swayed her to stay and now two albums and five years deep she has become an endeared part of our musical landscape. As well as leading her own band Tess sings and plays with Adam Hattaway and The Haunters and The Eastern.

Liautaud recorded her debut, self-titled album in Kurow at Sublime Studios. A collection of songs that are an ode to change, reflection, nature, saying goodbye, and the grief that follows. ''This journey is a long one, as all journeys turn out to be, you never really arrive, but along the way, a lot is bound to change. And change makes me want to write'' 

“It is warm and giving, open and true, devoid of pretension, gentle and full of heart, It sounds beautiful and everything is in its right place . A special balm for jolting times.'' - Adam McGrath

And now Tess has new music in the pipeline, these recordings mark an expansion in her songwriting and a move toward a bigger band sound.

Tess Liautaud online
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify

Miki Rapu Waiata: Pikipiki

Pikipiki is the upcoming single by Geneva AM featuring Samara Alofa, Hawkins, Rewi McLay and Mara TK.

This song is about overcoming obstacles with the intention to uplift listeners through the challenges of day to day life.

Pikipiki was created as part of the Waiata Takitahi Fund.Ngā mihi nui ki Te Māngai Paho & NZ on Air.

Miki Rapu Waiata: Pikipiki, Launch Event, Saturday 11 May, 1pm 

The Winter Gardens, Auckland Domain.

Miki Rapu Waiata: Pikipiki is a virtual listening party made to celebrate the latest single Pikipiki by Geneva AM featuring Samara Alofa, Hawkins, Rewi McLay and Mara TK.

This mobile experience will  feature music by Geneva AM, Samara Alofa, Hawkins, Kiko, Mara TK and Ngāsti.

This is a free, whanau friendly experience where the audience is invited to explore the Winter Gardens at the Auckland Domain in search of songs that have been ‘hidden’ in this physical space.

“My mother and I have many fond memories admiring the vibrant colours, scents and plant life here in The Winter Gardens”

This experience will be made available to the public from Saturday 11 May, 2024 and will continue throughout NZ Music Month. It can be accessed on a phone browser or downloaded via a link that will be made available closer to the time. 

Pickpath is an affordable and flexible tool that supports creative projects throughout a wide array of applications. There will be a chance at the end of this experience to volunteer your feedback which would be greatly appreciated. 

The experience is estimated to last 30 minutes however, we recommend that you allocate a bit more time if you decide to take a slower approach. 

The Winter Gardens opening hours are:

9am- 4:30pm, 7 days a week.

Award-winning Holly Arrowsmith shares mesmerising single 'Neon Bright' - second release from new album

Award-winning Aotearoa-based Alt-Country and Contemporary Folk songwriter Holly Arrowsmith releases her mesmerising track 'Neon Bright', continuing to define the Americana landscape in Aotearoa through the beauty and excellence of her craft.

Holly is a master at pairing dark and weighty topics with lighter, sometimes danceable music, and Neon Bright guides us through the gravity of depression with a toe-tapping, memorable tune. Holly says, “I like towing the line between serious and a little irreverent, and I think making fun of my own tendencies helps me work with them. ‘Sadness wants to talk? Well, put her on the line. Sadness at the door so I let her inside.’ 

Led by accomplished producer Tom Healy (Marlon Williams, Bic Runga), and accompanied by an all-star cast of New Zealand musicians (Cass Basil, Anita Clark, Alex Freer), Holly has composed yet another winning work with Neon Bright. The song has a an Alt-Pop lean which was newly explored territory for Holly, drawing on styles like that of Kurt Vile meshed with a circling, alt-country vibe accentuated by Holly's playing of the Dobro (resonator guitar.) 

The video for Neon Bright brings us into a world where feelings have literally taken control of the movement of Holly, as the main character. "I had this idea of being manoeuvred around by other hands, helping me to play the instruments, fix my face, stand up, and look ahead. I wanted to show the loss of vitality in this character: The feelings aren’t bad, they are just trying to serve a purpose. In the end I have a standoff with Delaney Davidson, the perfect cowboy villain, whose attempts to intimidate me go unnoticed. I love this trope in Western movies, and we gave it our own design with a spinning plinth instead of a dusty street. The heroine finds courage again, to turn face to face with this charading character, to see it for what it is."

Sam Fowles & The Experience to Debut Electrifying Psychedelic Soul Set.

Sam Fowles is thrilled to announce his upcoming performance with his band, The Experience, promising an exhilarating blend of psychedelic soul at Vogelmorn Upstairs in Wellington on Friday, May 31st, 2024.

This event marks the celebration of Fowles's recent debut single release, 'Butterfly Baby.' It serves as his first official gig with The Experience and offers a sneak peek into songs from his forthcoming album, 'After Dark,' slated for release later this year.

Fronted by the charismatic Fowles, who brings his soulful voice and magnetic stage presence, The Experience is a collective of talented musicians assembled by him to perform his psychedelic grooves. Drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of soul, funk, and blues, and infused with a modern psychedelic twist, he has crafted a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly original. This is music that makes you feel, but, man, does it make you move.

The night will feature support from Ferry, Like the Boat, a newly formed band performing Victoria Ferry’s soulful folk music

Expect a groove-filled evening brimming with soulful magic as Fowles and his five-piece band, The Experience, are prepared to deliver a swashbuckling performance packed with passion and raw, foot-stomping energy

“I’m super excited to be playing these songs live, after spending so much time crafting them in the studio. It feels right to let them out into the wild for a night. I’m looking forward to grooving out!” - Says Fowles

Tickets are available from Under The Radar:

- $15 (Unwaged)

- $20 (Waged)

- $30 (Support the artist)

Doors open at 7:00 PM, with the show starting at 7:50 PM.

ISLA NOON Her

An introspective yet expansive alt-pop gem, the brand new single 'Her' from Aotearoa New Zealand artist Isla Noon is a driving new outing, also fittingly accompanied today by an intimate and energetic music video. 

Unflinching and forgiving, ‘Her’ shows Isla Noon at her most candid, with a song that drives forward leaving you hanging on every word.

“‘Her’ is about my younger self,” explains Noon. “Life often ends up taking you down a whole lot of roads you could not have anticipated when you were young. I didn’t want to lose my child self in adulthood, because I still have a lot of the same dreams I’ve had since I was a little kid. In a way, I felt like I owed that little kid, like she was counting on me. Writing this song allowed me to open a dialogue with my younger self and let her know; “You can trust me to take over now. It won’t be perfect, and some of the things you thought you wanted will change, but you’ll be happy”.”

The 'Her' music was directed by talented and artful film maker Oshara Ardelean, director of multiple viral music videos for Kiki Rockwell. This is not the first time Noon and Ardelean have worked together, collaborating on Noon’s 2023 track ‘Body.’ The video shows Noon interacting with her younger self (played by the absolutely joyous Scarlett Ewen), and also features members of her live band, Maude Minnie Morris and Swap Gomez. 

"I wrote the music video concept the same day I wrote the song. They exist in tandem. The fake car in the video is a nod to the driving metaphor throughout the song, but also a metaphor for my life and the way in which I felt I was being driven by a younger self that had high hopes for me. It was a really personal shoot. Full of laughter and also a few emotional moments."

'Her' was made with Noon’s long time collaborator Maude Minnie Morris, as well as Chris van de Geer. 

"I was sitting on the couch behind Maude, recording in the demo vocal, and I just remember her turning her chair around when the song ended and looking at me like she was about to cry. It only really struck me then that anyone else would understand what I was feeling or connect with the song, it just felt so incredibly personal when I wrote it."

Drawing influences from artists such as Sam Fender, Holly Humberstone, and MUNA, Noon has received both local and international acclaim, with previous releases ‘Body’ featuring in Rolling Stone, and premieres on Pilerats and Backseat Mafia.

On the release of ‘Her,’ Noon says “It feels quite freeing. I wrote ‘Her’ alone, at home with my guitar. It’s me at my most candid and conversational. I’m describing feelings as if I were trying to explain them to a friend. It felt like a gift to myself to write, and releasing it feels like passing that gift on to anyone who may have ever felt that they were falling behind in some way, or struggling to reconcile expectations that their younger self may have had about where they “should” be in life.”
Follow Isla Noon
Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Website

Emerging Whangārei star TIMO releases 80’s synth-pop debut single ‘Waiting For You’

Listen to ‘Waiting For You’ HERE

Watch the video HERE

Whangārei-based emerging artist TIMO has today released his upbeat and catchy debut single and video ‘Waiting for You’.

The freshest face on the Aotearoa music scene, Tim Bell is bringing the 80’s vibes with his 80’s-inspired, infectious new project TIMO. Tim has previously written music for a range of fashion and dance shows and Children’s fitness DVD ‘Beat The Feet’. He also wrote the full-length musical ‘Not Another High School Musical’ which debuted in Whangarei in 2020. Now, he’s gearing up to make a name for his feel good, nostalgic music and today's release does just that.

Produced, mixed and mastered in Tāmaki Makaurau by Scott Seabright, ‘Waiting For You’ was originally written during Tim’s time in Brisbane. “It’s about a girl I met while working at the Hilton in Brisbane about 13 years ago, who joked that we should get married at The Hilton so she could get a British passport,” says Tim. “I said I’d write the wedding song… so I did! And we lived happily ever after, albeit not together or in each others’ lives.”

Also released today is a brand new music video, which captures an equally charming narrative as the song lyrics. Made in collaboration with friends and established directors Kevin Etherington and Pepe de Hoyos, the video was filmed across both Tāmaki Makaurau and Tim’s hometown of Whangarei.

Find TIMO

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | iTunes

Rising Māori queer creative ARDON ENGLAND unveils ground-breaking debut EP THAT’S CAMP

LISTEN TO THAT’S CAMP HERE

Multifaceted, queer creative ARDON ENGLAND (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Ati Awa, Kahuranaki Marae) has today released his highly anticipated debut EP THAT’S CAMP, alongside ethereal new single ‘Neon World’!

A fusion of electronic music and the artists signature, genre-bending sound - todays release solidifies ARDON ENGLAND’s place as a pioneer for all things camp-house in the Aotearoa music scene.

Written and produced alongside Kez Emm in ARDON’s hometown of Whanganui, THAT’S CAMP explores themes that are deeply personal to the artist, but connect with his community - such as previously released single ‘F.E.M Man’ (Radio Control, The Most FM, Kick Ons, Juice TV) which confronts the impact religion can have on LGBTQI+ individuals.

“It's about acknowledging these struggles and celebrating resilience,” says ARDON.  “These are integral parts of my journey and It’s important to honour those in the queer community who have navigated similar challenges.”

This unapologetic soundtrack of self expression includes previously released singles ‘Leather Daddy’ (2023) and ‘Plastic’ (2024 - featuring rising Aotearoa rap star Krisy Erin. Now, ARDON is unveiling another epic collaboration with his new single, and closing track of the EP, ‘Neon World’ - featuring RnB singer Keisha. Inspired by an out-of-body experience, ARDON hopes the diaphanous dance track will do the same in transporting listeners through a fully-immersive listening experience.

To celebrate the launch of THAT’S CAMP, ARDON is hitting the road for his EP release tour!

EP Release Party - Wellington - May 10 -

Ardon England - That's Camp EP Release - Secret Location, Wellington - Fri, 10 May 2024

With today's release, ARDON ENGLAND celebrates the diverse and complex queer experience, by reclaiming narratives and challenging stereotypes. The journey of THAT’S CAMP  is telling of the artist’s formative experiences leading him to this release, and an exciting career ahead. “The EP represents not only a musical endeavor, but also a testament to perseverance, creativity, and the power of self-expression.”

About ARDON ENGLAND

A dynamic, queer, Māori creative, ARDON ENGLAND has represented Aotearoa as a dancer, and also worked alongside some of NZ’s best dancers, entertainers & choreographers. He released his debut single ‘Leather Daddy’ in early 2023, followed by singles ‘F.E.M Man’, ‘Plastic’ and now his debut EP THAT’S CAMP. With each release, ARDON has been gathering enthusiastic fans across the motu, and making a name for himself within the music community. His music is inspired by his own experiences as a queer person in Aotearoa, and he aims to be the diverse, queer & inclusive representation in NZ’s House/Dance & electronic music scene.

Find ARDON ENGLAND

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Spotify | Apple

Turkey The Bird Announce Their Latest Single & Tour "Lady Who?" - A Whimsical Journey Through Rural New Zealand

The enchanting New Zealand folk trio, Turkey The Bird, is thrilled to announce the release of their latest single, "Lady Who," available on all major streaming platforms from Friday 10th May 2024. Known for their captivating harmonies and delightful storytelling, Turkey The Bird continues to charm audiences all across Aotearoa with their unique blend of folk music infused with a touch of humor and heart.

"Lady Who" unfolds the humorous tale of a man who, captivated by the fleeting glimpse of a beautiful woman, decides to uproot his life and move to a quaint, rural New Zealand town in pursuit of love. As the story unravels with Turkey The Bird's signature lyrical wit and melodic prowess, listeners are taken on a whimsical journey only to discover that the mysterious lady never actually resided in the town. This lighthearted narrative, enriched by the trio's harmonious vocals and acoustic brilliance, evokes both the beauty of New Zealand's landscapes and the quixotic nature of its protagonist's quest.

Speaking about the inspiration behind "Lady Who," the band shares, "This song is a celebration of the unexpected journeys we embark on in the pursuit of love, and the humorous twists life throws at us. It's a tribute to the beauty of New Zealand's countryside and the intriguing tales hidden in its nooks and crannies. We hope 'Lady Who' brings a smile to your face and warmth to your heart, as you tap along to its rhythm."

To celebrate the release of "Lady Who," Turkey The Bird will be hosting a series of live shows in Leigh, Auckland, Inglewood, Te Awamutu, Rotorua and Tauranga. offering fans an intimate experience with their new music and beloved classics.

For details and ticket information, please visit: www.turkeythebird.co.nz