MOUSEY Releases New Single 'Dog Park'
“Sometimes the most harmful thing someone has said to me has been quite forgettable for the person who said it. The axe forgets, but the tree remembers. I wrote this song in about 10 minutes—it just fell out, without even a thought of references. I felt it and went from there. It’s quite simple, there’s not much to it.”
PRAISE FOR MOUSEY
“Why isn’t this Christchurch indie-pop artist huge already? Sarena Close is clearly a solid songwriter with range, depth, and a great voice to boot.” - RNZ
“Close’s faultless vocals hold your hand and walk you through a dozen sunny, folk-pop cuts.” - Under the Radar
“Even just a cursory listen would tell you there is a great depth of lyrical, vocal and songwriting talent here.” - Elsewhere.co.nz
“Her voice is thick as maple syrup, coloring with dark supple shades of amber that is as haunting as it is necessary.” - B-Sides & Badlands
Since her surprisingly fully formed and beautifully surprising debut album Lemon Law landed in 2019, Mousey - the songwriting nom de plume of Ōtautahi’s Sarena Close - has been slowly but surely honing her craft. Her 2022’s album My Friends drew praise from all corners, with Rolling Stone Australia noting “Mousey’s lyricism and songwriting are excellent, bolstered by the album’s phenomenal production”.
Now, once dubbed by Radio New Zealand as “one of the brighter young talents on the New Zealand music scene”, this APRA Silver Scroll nominee returns with her first utterance since My Friends with her new single, 'Dog Park,' showcases Mousey's raw emotional depth and unique musical style.
Mousey offers insight into the genesis of 'Dog Park,' stating, “Sometimes the most harmful thing someone has said to me has been quite forgettable for the person who said it. The axe forgets, but the tree remembers. I wrote this song in about 10 minutes—it just fell out, without even a thought of references. I felt it and went from there. It’s quite simple, there’s not much to it.”
She continues, “I love the moody, brooding feel of this song. It sounds like how I feel on the inside. I know that’s super cheesy, but whatever. The title is a dig at a family member for making me feel disposable compared to the family dog.”
Ōtautahi producer Will McGillivray (There's a Tuesday, The Butlers) lent his expertise to 'Dog Park,' enhancing its moody atmosphere and bringing Mousey's vision to life.
In celebration of launching new music, Mousey has shared one more track today, intended as a digital B-Side titled, ‘Opener’. “I just wanted to try it out! I really appreciate when other artists do it. It lets you start building a style, and Opener really goes hand in hand with Dog Park in terms of that dark and moody, brooding side of my current songwriting.”
Anna Coddington releases collaboration with Troy Kingi ahead of her album release, TE WHAKAMIHA, out on Matariki
A collaboration with Troy Kingi, ‘Honey Back’ shows a soulful side of the album, with Coddington and Kingi playing both sides of a (fictional) relationship gone wrong.
Pre-save and purchase limited edition vinyl here
Ahead of her new album release on Matariki (Friday June 28), Anna Coddington drops another taste of the album and its funk-filled sound.
A collaboration with Troy Kingi, ‘Honey Back’ shows a soulful side of the album, with Coddington and Kingi playing both sides of a (fictional) relationship gone wrong. It arrives with a video again created by band member Fen Ikner, capturing heartfelt performances from both vocalists.
‘Honey Back’ is just one of the highlights from an album full of them. TE WHAKAMIHA, a bilingual body of work in te reo Māori and English, features the previously released single ‘Kātuarehe’, and is released this Friday, June 28, on Matariki.
The album moves effortlessly from te reo Māori to English, bringing a sound that Coddington has herself described loosely as “Māori funk”. Across eight tracks, the album encompasses Prince-inspired funk, neo-soul, R&B and disco vibes, presenting te reo Māori in a unique style and sound. Playful throughout with memorable hooks and singalong choruses in both te reo and English, TE WHAKAMIHA is a release with its own vibe and style, yet distinctly belongs to Coddington.
The album’s title TE WHAKAMIHA comes from a rough translation of the name of Coddington’s longtime band - The Appreciations. The name also expresses gratitude to Coddington’s dual journeys in music and in te reo Māori. After spending years studying te reo Māori, 2021 saw Coddington release MANA-WĀ-HINE, an award-winning release featuring tracks from the album BEAMS translated into te reo Māori. TE WHAKAMIHA is Coddington’s first entirely new project created in te reo Māori, with sprinklings of English throughout.
Black Comet ‘Sleep’
Following on from the release of ‘Ooh Yeah Baby’, the first single of their upcoming album ‘Episode One: Looking For a New Planet’, Black Comet bring you a smoky remix of ‘Sleep’.
Following on from the release of ‘Ooh Yeah Baby’, the first single of their upcoming album ‘Episode One: Looking For a New Planet’, Black Comet bring you a smoky remix of ‘Sleep’.
Frontman Laughton Kora describes ‘Sleep’ as “Being with someone or something you love. And not to be able to lay in the same bed together would be the end of their world! Wanting to stay in the dream state for as long as possible”.
With the addition of vocals from Louis Baker, this remix takes the already smooth tune into a whole different dimension.
‘Episode 1: Looking For a New Planet’ will be landing on August 2nd. Supporting the release Black Comet will be hitting the road doing a 9-date tour with Wanaka being sold out already! Tickets available from Undertheradar.co.nz.
Seeing Black Comet live will have your body hypnotised into grooving by the funky vibes.
Pre-save Link:
YAHYAH Releases Whetū Rere
Celebrating Matariki, YAHYAH drops Whetū Rere, a stunning Waiata that was written as part of Te Reo Songhubs
Celebrating Matariki, YAHYAH drops Whetū Rere, a stunning Waiata that was written as part of Te Reo Songhubs(Curated by Bic Runga).
"Whetū Rere is a song about returning home. Finding meaning in the stars to guide you back to what truly matters. Family. Your roots. Back to the earth that cultivated the very being of who you are. It’s acknowledging the impact of your homeland and for me, coming back home was a decision to be refreshed and renewed and closer to whānau. It’s been exactly what my soul and mental health has needed. This song is a reminder of what’s important to me and hopefully it will resonate and encourage others". - YAHYAH
Whetū Rere is out Thursday 27th June. The music video directed by Tom Grut will drop the week following.
https://ffm.to/wheturere
FIND YAHYAH
ZED RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘PLAY’
Zed’s latest single uses a playful melody and lyrics to explore the risks of deciding to bet on someone that has already let you down.
Is it worth playing a game with someone that doesn’t play by the rules?
Zed’s latest single uses a playful melody and lyrics to explore the risks of deciding to bet on someone that has already let you down.
Ben says “putting a song to Andy’s funky disco inspired grooves was such a treat, we’re stoked with where this track ended up, exploring something of a new sonic direction for Zed. It’s gonna be very fun to play live”.
Play is out now, with the album Future Memory out this August.
https://ffm.to/zedplay
FIND ZED
Troy Kingi releases Silicone Booby Trap single from forthcoming album ‘Leatherman & the Mojave Green’
Album no.8 ‘Leatherman & the Mojave Green’ is a homecoming of sorts for Troy, returning to the genre of music that ultimately enticed him in to the music industry, rock music.
Album No.8 ‘Leatherman & the Mojave Green’ for release August 16th 2024
For Media - Stream / Download “Silicone Booby Trap”
Album no.8 ‘Leatherman & the Mojave Green’ is a homecoming of sorts for Troy, returning to the genre of music that ultimately enticed him in to the music industry, rock music.
Inspired in his mid teens by so many artists that have come from or created in the Mojave Desert regions ( Kyuss, QOTSA, Eagles of Death Metal) it was an easy decision for Troy to record this album in the home of Desert Rock: Joshua Tree, in a studio synonymous with that sound 'Rancho de la Luna'.
Rancho is run by Dave Catching,a legend in his right(QOTSA, Eagles of Death Metal, The Mojave Lords etc), and being entrenched in that environment with such deep folklore and rich rocky tapestry, Troys album seemingly formed itself - borrowing sweaty heat from the sandy desert, eclectic melodies from the sunlit mountains, ancient rhythms from sacred caves and a sharp pointy punch from the Joshua Tree Cactus.
In the midst of song writing Troy was asked to write and perform a song with Dave Catching on the forthcoming Rancho De La Lunas 30th Anniversary Album along side many of Troys musical Heroes. In addition, he will now be playing shows in Vegas and LA, along side those same legends.
Troy Kingi is a story teller, each album immersed in rich worlds, which inform the writing. ‘Leatherman & the Mojave Green’ takes us out into the desert, where we hear a myriad of stories, one in particular talking of the Sunshine Community Cult tattooing their eyeballs allowing them to stare at the sun and receive its many blessings.
The album, is accompanied by a 4 part documentary series “Troy Kingi’s Desert Hikoi”, directed by Tom Hern (The Panthers, The Dark Horse, Guns Akimbo, Shadow in the Clouds), featuring Serj Tankian, Brant Bjork, Dave Catching and many many more OG's of the Califiornian Rock scene. “Troy Kingi’s Desert Hikoi” Premiers on TVNZ+ on demand in May 1st.
Troy Kingi, on his time in the Mojave Desert
“The trip to Joshua Tree was a timely Godsend - at a pivotal point where I had hit a wall, a blockage, I was waning, struggling creatively with were to go to next with my music, the whole 10/10/10 thing, had it finally broken me?
Being in this place - one of the holiest of holys for me, the birthplace of the greatest rock album of all time ‘ songs for the deaf’ - it was hard not to be inspired by it all - by the crazy Martian like landscape, the people, the foreign-ness, songs started forming in my dreams, rushing to me from the heated horizon, I found my thing again - and it seemed to flow easily like it once did when I first started my journey 8 years ago. The sound we found is definitely different, it’s the most aggressive sound I’ve ever created. “ Troy Kingi
Produced with long time collaborator TeMatera Smith, AllGood Absolute Alternative Records (AAARecords). Ocelli is out May 24th on all Digital Platforms
“Leatherman & the Mojave Green ” is out August 16th 2024
CD / LP through AllGood Absolute Alternative Records (AAARecords) / Border and available on all digital platforms.
Lazy Fifty – Sitting In The Shadows
This song is pure rock. Kick back, blow up that air guitar and let loose. Sitting In The Shadows is telling you to own it.
Kiwi rockers Lazy Fifty release
another banging rock anthem with
new single Sitting In The Shadows
Sitting In The Shadows is “a song that wakes you up” says composer and frontman Adrian Athy.
“I love the intro’s feel, it’s a hybrid of Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden.”
Adrian says “the lyrics are about releasing your ego and doing what you want to do without worrying about what others think.”
“‘Makes no sense to the asinine, they’re walking blind’ refers to the fact that so many of us waste time worrying about what “they” think. But who are “they” and are “they” thinking at all.”
Thoughtful lyrics, melodic guitar phrasing and memorable choruses combine to create a rock anthem that by the second chorus you’re singing along.
This song is pure rock. Kick back, blow up that air guitar and let loose. Sitting In The Shadows is telling you to own it.
Sitting In the Shadows is the fourth single off Lazy Fifty’s upcoming album Neighbour of the Beast. This album is the second collaboration between Adrian and renowned producer Greg “not my problem” Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Tom Jones (Reload), Catatonia, Bullet For My Valentine, Devilskin).
Greg says “it was great to revisit the world of Lazy Fifty again after previously working on their ‘2021: A LAZY ODYSSEY’ album.
“It’s always encouraging to see a band refresh and continue on their musical journey, a path that Adrian constantly treads in his desire to expand his virtuosity and push the boundaries of the genre.”
Adrian wrote all of the songs, sang lead and backing vocals, played lead, rhythm and bass guitar on the new album.
In addition to producing the album Greg also performed drums and percussion, bringing a huge sound with the help of his vintage Ludwig kit and Zildjian ‘crash of doom’ cymbal.
Neighbour of the Beast was recorded at Roundhead Studios, Auckland, New Zealand (owned by Neil Finn Crowded House/Fleetwood Mac)
ALLANA Goldsmith Unveils Waiata for Matariki: MANAAKITIA
Contemporary Māori artist ALLANA Goldsmith releases ‘MANAAKITIA’, a beat-heavy waiata (song) produced by Juse. True to herself, the singer and songwriter once again transcends genre boundaries, letting the story of ‘MANAAKITIA’ unfold through beautifully woven lyrics, imbued with integrity and mana throughout the track.
Contemporary Māori artist ALLANA Goldsmith releases ‘MANAAKITIA’, a beat-heavy waiata (song) produced by Juse. True to herself, the singer and songwriter once again transcends genre boundaries, letting the story of ‘MANAAKITIA’ unfold through beautifully woven lyrics, imbued with integrity and mana throughout the track.
Stream MANAAKITIA here
The waiata is a call to cherish and care for one another and for all of us. It speaks of te aka matua, the parent vine that Tāwhaki climbed to reach the heavens. To nurture our taonga—precious tangible and intangible treasures—so we are never lost, e kore e ngaro. ALLANA shares, “This single is for you to feel secure and embraced in eternal threads that bind us all. You’re invited to soak up metaphors of well-known and ancient wisdoms passed down over generations. This soothing waiata is a powerful message speaking to us all through the unity of mankind, ngā tāngata katoa”.
Accompanying the release is a stunningly intimate music video directed by Shivani Karan and filmed in Auckland at Unitec’s Te Noho Kōtahitanga Marae and Te Rangimārie Pā Harakeke. The visuals introduce us to ALLANA’s taonga, her whānau, and feature them making putiputi (flax flowers) on the mahau (front of the wharenui).
Today’s Matariki release is the first of three te reo Māori singles all funded by Te Māngai Pāho, due for release this year ahead of ALLANA’s trip to Mundial Festival (Canada) as a creative New Zealand delegate.
MUSIC VIDEO launch party for MANAAKITIA
3rd July 2024. At TE NOHO KOTAHITANGA MARAE, Unitec.
Hosted by UNITEC.
Matariki Celebration - Puna Kōrero: HERE