Psycho Gab share lush and infectious debut EP, CRAZY TALK + focus single ‘Masterpiece’
Step into the world of Psycho Gab - the chart-topping Aotearoa neo-soul collective have just dropped their damn good debut EP CRAZY TALK!
Listen HERE
Step into the world of Psycho Gab - the chart-topping Aotearoa neo-soul collective have just dropped their damn good debut EP CRAZY TALK!
A mix of smooth and chaotic jazz and r&b, this 6-track EP is a well-curated and magical debut from Rosetta Stone (vocals), Orlando Cooper (bass, production), Caleb Wong (keyboards, production), Max Henley (guitar) and Finn Mcneill (drums).
“It's our debut body of work!” exclaims Rosetta. “A cocktail of our individual influences and styles, it documents how those styles collide into a sound that none of us would reach on our own. It’s the chaotic and exciting reality of five full-time students, with lots on the go, making music together. It’s also a reflection of our community - all those in Aotearoa music who inspire and support us.”
With themes of navigating young relationships, codependency, taking in the world around you, and being resilient when things don’t go to plan - the release of CRAZY TALK follows the success of Psycho Gab’s 2023 debut single ‘Messy’ (Radioscope, SRN), and more recently, singles ‘Gabben’ (SRN Top 10, #1 Radio Active Top 11) and ‘Pianomen’ (NZOA NewTracks, #1 SRN Top 10, RDU Top 10, Radio Active Top 11).
Joining these singles is the group's dreamy and romantic new single ‘Masterpiece’ - a song that contemplates the beginning of a relationship. “Falling in love with your best friend is so inconvenient and risky and off-script, but happens so naturally it's pretty much impossible to avoid,” says Rosetta. “It first came to me as an acapella melody, before Caleb reharmonized the chords and we went through lots of different versions before settling on the lush RnB slow jam.”
CRAZY TALK was written, recorded and mixed across Psycho Gab’s flats, Caleb and Orlando’s home studio - Bilbo’s Clubhouse, BIG FAN (during Caleb’s residency) and The Lab recording studio with award-winning engineer Olly Harmer.
“All of our songs are entirely self-produced, mixed and mastered, which has felt really important to upholding the integrity of our sound and that ‘stream of consciousness,’” explains Rosetta. “We’re blessed to have a lovely community of talented musicians through the UoA School of Music. Our mates Iggy Palmero Epstein (percussion) and James Dawes (saxophone) jumped on ‘Orchid Samba’, and we couldn’t have made the EP without the help and support of Olly at The Lab. He’s an absolute legend, and put up with our antics to get a bunch of live instrumentation done for ‘Masterpiece’, ‘Orchid Samba’ and ‘Pianomen’ - giving us the beautiful live sound we needed to make the tracks feel true to us.”
To celebrate the release of CRAZY TALK, Psycho Gab are heading on tour!
Tāmaki Makaurau - July 13 @ Whammy Bar w/ Zola Nova + SPDRTWNBBY - tickets @ UTR
Pōneke - July 25 @ Rogue and Vagabond w/ Groove Council + Veg Trio - koha entry
Pōneke - July 26 @ Meow w/ Doma Cyno + Crumbly Jack - tickets @ Moshtix
Ōtautahi - July 27 @ Darkroom w/ Tay Renee + Chicks From Corea - tickets @ UTR
Barely a year old, Psycho Gab have already received great local support from radio, industry and fans alike. Their growing fanbase also come from the band’s year of electric live performances - including being semi-finalists at Dig The Gig Auckland, and finalists at Burgerfuel Battle of the Bands. Now is definitely the time to press play on CRAZY TALK and jump aboard the Psycho Gab tour train!
Find Psycho Gab
Serebii Live: An evening ‘Inside’
After a two year hiatus from performance Serebii returns to the world of live music for a very special evening in Tāmaki Makaurau, featuring tracks from his 2023 debut album ‘Inside’.
After a two year hiatus from performance Serebii returns to the world of live music for a very special evening in Tāmaki Makaurau, featuring tracks from his 2023 debut album ‘Inside’. Since the album's debut, Serebii has been immersed in his studio in Titirangi, experimenting with various musical processes while undoubtedly developing a more refined sound. Now, accompanied by a dexterous troupe of musicians he promises an evening filled with warmth and groove. Opening up the evening with soulful articulation and harmonic intricacies the wonderful Elisa will be performing original music.
Tickets Available Via UnderTheRadar: HERE
Serebii has worked alongside artists such as Leisure, Arjuna Oakes and Dr. Reknaw. He has played the festival and touring circuits in New Zealand including opening for Moonchild & Allen Stone alongside Arjuna Oakes. In 2021 and 2022 he released collaborations through LA-based record label Innovative Leisure (BADBADNOTGOOD, Allah-Las). His 2021 release ‘First Nights’ debuted at #5 on KCRW's top 30 Albums chart and has had extensive play on BBC6 and BBC1xtra.
Listen to 'Inside': https://spoti.fi/3Lczpge
Follow Serebii: https://bit.ly/3VPePY8
Arli Liberman presents Portal
Critically acclaimed musician and film composer Arli Liberman announces the release of his new 9 track album titled 'Portal' - out now on all platforms.
Critically acclaimed musician and film composer Arli Liberman announces the release of his new 9 track album titled 'Portal' - out now on all platforms.
Arli is known for his evocative, boundary pushing atmospheric soundscapes, that effortlessly blur the lines between vision and sound. With Portal he extends this auditory journey, discovering subsonic textures and exploring those subtle sound spaces that fall between the notes.
Reflecting on the evolution of his music, Liberman shares, “Portal has been a slow-cooking project. Initially, it manifested as a breakup album, but it turned out to be a much more pure and personal undertaking. It morphed into a process of creating shifting frequencies, transitioning the listener between spaces - somewhat akin to passing through sonic portals.”
Portal has been a long time in the making with initial composition and recordings beginning with engineer Rich Bryan at Bigpop studios. Following an extended hiatus those earlier laid foundations were dusted off and the creation process re-ignited in 2022 - and completed the album's tracks in early 2024 - with Jacob Rush and Chris van de Geer at Drake Street studios in Tāmaki Makaurau. The album was mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at Black Knoll studio in New York, USA.
Portal is a captivating auditory experience that transcends traditional genres, weaving together lush orchestral style arrangements infused with ambience, depth and emotive intention. Each track invites listeners to enter into a different sonic realm, exploring the profound intersections between sound, passion, and imagination. "The sonic portals are more like reflections of personal life lessons and challenges I have encountered over the last decade. It reflects my ongoing journey of personal and artistic growth whilst experimenting with different emotions and expressions," Liberman explains.
Creating Portal has been a sincerely introspective journey for Liberman. The album explores themes of transition, migration and loss, - which generously provide the foundations for these portals to open which presents new opportunities and phases in life - delving deeply into core concepts of change and renewal. “One of the lessons I learnt is to openly embrace change and evolution. My perspectives and tastes have expanded since I started work on this album, so it's about absorbing that expansion rather than dwelling solely on lingering past experiences.”
Liberman’s artistic evolutions are abundantly perceptible through every note of this album. He has deftly crafted a sound that is both universally relatable and deeply personal. It is a true testament of Liberman's ability to evoke powerful emotions and stories without words. “It's challenging without lyrics or a script, but I focus on abstract sensations and experiences. I build layers of sound that evoke these emotions, creating immersive worlds that listeners can relate to on a deeper individual level.”
Portal's storytelling is primarily achieved through the intricate layering of Liberman's exquisite musicianship but it also introduces vocal textures, provided by avant-garde producer Missy (Abigail Knudson) on the song ‘Sentience’ and Coco-Grace Kora on ‘Portal’.
Liberman elaborates on his creative process, stating, “When creating a piece about falling in love or appreciating the beauty of our environment, I don’t think about the object itself but the sensation in my body. I try to experience it in the most abstract ways possible. Each layer of sound has orbit qualities, creating a wide world full of particles where everything can go anywhere at any time.”
Notable visual collaborations include Australian aerial photographer/artist Paul Hoelen (who contributed the stunning cover art image), and acclaimed VFX and Flame artist Puck Murphy who created the visualiser for the song ‘Sentience’. With visuals created and generated wholy in response to the music - presenting an understated yet intensely beautiful masterclass in ‘action/reaction’. “Puck is an incredibly talented artist I've known for years. His visuals expand the world of Portal, creating temporary realities that encourage imaginative exploration, akin to a playground of sights and sounds.”
Portal is Arli Liberman’s third artist release within the Bigpop label family. It follows Fata Morgana (2015) and Allegra (2016).
Liberman is celebrated not only for his solo work but is also in high demand as a screen composer. His distinctive approach to sound-making enriches storytelling by bringing emotional soundscapes to life, uniquely tailored for each project.
As a screen composer, Arli has worked on a wide range of films, including scoring Sam Kelly's acclaimed gang movie 'Savage', which earned him the 2021 APRA award for Best Original Music in a Film. He scored 'Stylebender', a documentary directed by Zoe MacIntosh about Israel Adesanya - which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival 2023. Most recently he has composed the score, with Tiki Taane, for the historical Māori drama ‘Ka Whawhai Tonu’ directed by Mike Jonathan. Liberman is currently working on the score for the film 'Kōkā' directed by Kath Akuhata-Brown.
Portal is out now, via Aotearoa’s independent label Bigpop Records. Listeners can expect a mesmerising journey into the evocative world of Arli Liberman.
Louis TM 'I Thought It Was Love'
From backing the likes of Ria Hall, Barnaby Weir, Laughton Kora and many more over the years on the keys, the first single off Louis TM's upcoming debut album arrives today.
From backing the likes of Ria Hall, Barnaby Weir, Laughton Kora and many more over the years on the keys, the first single off Louis TM's upcoming debut album arrives Friday 12th July. Inspired by modern soul revival, classic soul cannon, R&B, funk and indie, Louis TM brings his unique style of soul from Aotearoa New Zealand to the world. Recorded with the authentic soul approach with legendary (Dr.) Lee Prebble of The Surgery (The Black Seeds, Phoenix Foundation) and mastered by JJ Golden in Ventura California (Black Pumas, Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley) this release is the first off his upcoming first full length album released on Diver Records.
“Louis is a force to be reckoned with on Aotearoa’s incredible soul scene” - Muzic.net.nz
I Thought it was Love - single out now on all digital platforms. Full length album coming soon on digital and vinyl release.
TESS LIAUTAUD Announces Pre-orders for Sophomore Album 'BLUE MIND' + Releases New Single written with Adam Hattaway 'THE WAY IT'S MEANT TO RAIN'
After recent releases 'Gold Digger' and 'Here Go The Lovers', Tess Liautaud has announced pre-orders for her upcoming sophomore album 'Blue Mind' - out October 25th
After recent releases 'Gold Digger' and 'Here Go The Lovers', Tess Liautaud has announced pre-orders for her upcoming sophomore album 'Blue Mind' - out October 25th
Available via Kickstarter, this album takes a leap from the previous indie-folk warmth of her self-titled debut into the natural conclusion of all Liautaud has to offer. While her song-writing stems from the same reflective place she now leads her band into thunder clouds, bringing this collection of songs alive in all their folk, roots and rock & roll glory.
In celebration of today's pre-order, Tess has released another taster from the upcoming album, leaning into the storm of a big band sound ‘The Way It’s Meant to Rain’ was co-written with Adam Hattaway and came swinging to life in the studio.
Upbeat yet tender, this track showcases the raw, unbridled energy of the band playing live together and became a favourite during their recent 12 date tour of Aotearoa.
“Washed away the past for a promise in the rain
Well it won’t last but be sure to start again
The Way It’s Meant to Rain”
Tess Liautaud online
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify
Keira Wallace announces New Single Leap/Landing with two intimate shows to celebrate
Once in a blue moon, an artist comes along whose songwriting craft feels as if it arrives fully formed. With heartfelt and intricate songs that display an emotional intelligence that defy expectations of one so young, Ōtepoti singer and songwriter Keira Wallace is such an artist.
Once in a blue moon, an artist comes along whose songwriting craft feels as if it arrives fully formed. With heartfelt and intricate songs that display an emotional intelligence that defy expectations of one so young, Ōtepoti singer and songwriter Keira Wallace is such an artist.
At only 17 years old, Keira (they/them) has already been hand-picked to play in their home city with the likes of Mount Eerie (USA), Ebony Lamb, Tiny Ruins, Luke Buda, and more, playing well over a hundred shows to date. Now it is time for the rest of Aotearoa to be enchanted by the songs of Keira Wallace, with the announcement of their brand new single Leap / Landing.
Written during SongHubs Ōtepoti, Keira (lead songwriter) was the youngest ever NZ SongHubs participant and worked with co-writers Calla Knudson and Tinayeishe Zimba (ZËxÏÏ) and producer Abigail Knudson (MISSY) to write and record the demo in just one day. Keira finished the recording with Abigail at Parachute Studios and the carefully crafted result is an extremely powerful song.
Gig Info:
Tamaki Makaurau: https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/gig/90565/Keira-Wallace-Single-Release-With-Calla.utr
Ōtepoti: https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/ticket/24891/Keira-Wallace-Single-Release-With-Leigham-Fitzpatrick-And-Jesse-Hanan.utr
Find Keira: https://linktr.ee/keirawallacemusic
Song: https://noisehive.ffm.to/leap_landing
T. G. Shand paints lush soundscape with new single, ‘Scenes’ + shares innovative visual treats
Ōtautahi-based shoegaze artist T. G. Shand has today released her latest sonic treasure ‘Scenes’ - alongside a stunning animated music video and a living digital art visualizer!
Listen to ‘Scenes’ HERE
Watch the video HERE
Ōtautahi-based shoegaze artist T. G. Shand has today released her latest sonic treasure ‘Scenes’ - alongside a stunning animated music video and a living digital art visualizer!
Blurring the lines between dream-pop, shoegaze, lo-fi and alternative, T. G. Shand aka Annemarie Duff, is inviting listeners back into her unique soundscape with this gentle and reflective single. ‘Scenes’ is a warm bath of tender poetry, bright guitars, shimmery vocal layers and a gently uplifting rhythm section. The self-produced single joins previously released EPs GOLDEN HOUR and CINNAMON - a discography that has landed the artist some impressive achievements, including SRN 2023 Best EP for the latter, and recently opening for celebrated alt artist Blonde Redhead.
“‘Scenes’ attempts to layer various concepts of observing the warm routines of communities,” explains Annemarie, “being ok with not feeling connected to those natural rituals, absorbing the feeling of community through observing it, and a long hot summer day as it fades into the concrete.”
Made with the support of NZ On Air, the ‘Scenes’ music video was made by visual artist Spencer Hall, based on the concept of “flying over the hills from the perspective of the wind.” A stunning result of Spencer and Annemarie’s reflections on perspective and community, the video follows the abstract imagery of an egg dissolving into the world around it, and ends with “pieces of houses floating around as if they’re crystals in the middle of space.”
“To me, that conveys the song theme - the fond observing of humans in community and family, and home, despite feeling separated from it like many of us do. Then feeling the warmness of that fade into a sense of calm.”
Watch the video HERE
Alongside today’s track and music video, is a groundbreaking living digital visualiser - also illustrated by Spencer, but controlled by real-time weather data from Lyttelton via the MetService API. Each day, at sunrise and sunset, the music video for ‘Scenes’ plays. Developed by Annemarie’s Cusp Art Studio, it uses art to connect the audience with real-time weather patterns in Banks Peninsula.
This new art tech team aims to make live data more accessible to the public, facilitating better data literacy, understanding and transparency. Endless possibilities await these creative data visualisations, such as the illustration of real-time impacts of climate change, and equipping consumers with a better understanding of corporations' sustainability measures.
Watch the livestream HERE
With the release of ‘Scenes’, the launch of Cusp Art Studio, and a range of exciting creative projects on the horizon, T. G. Shand is proving to be a pioneering figure in the Aotearoa alternative music and visual space!
Find T.G Shand
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
Spotify | Apple | TikTok | SoundCloud | Bandcamp
‘MUSE AND MUSICIAN’ NEW SINGLE FROM AOTEAROA ARTIST JUST JANIE
Just Janie’s Muse and Musician is “at its core, an appreciation of what it means to be a musician.” Janie shares “I wanted to explore the idea of what creating art and sharing that art does to one's psyche.”
South Island artist Just Janie releases her beautiful new single ‘Muse and Musician’ today (July 5).
Just Janie’s Muse and Musician is “at its core, an appreciation of what it means to be a musician.” Janie shares “I wanted to explore the idea of what creating art and sharing that art does to one's psyche.”
“Muse and Musician was loosely inspired by Fleetwood Mac, as well as many women (and men) who have been considered a muse when they have a unique talent of their own. In Fleetwood Mac's case, the musicians wrote songs about one another and then performed these songs together, sharing their experiences for the whole world. That's an incredibly vulnerable and intense ability to give yourself in that way to your music”.
“When I first write a song, it often hurts” Janie elaborates. “It breaks my heart to sing some of my songs initially, but it is healing at the same time. Eventually you learn to live with and cope with those memories. And so, the song takes on a new meaning, for someone else.”
Just Janie's captivating and tender music draws inspiration from the folk scene of the late sixties and early seventies. Janie describes herself as a “folk singer songwriter, with a case of nostalgia for the Laurel Canyon daydream.” Her lyrical landscapes offer an intimate raw window into her experiences of love and loss, the disillusion of rose-tinted memories, and what it means to write and perform music.
Speaking to the lyrical meaning of ‘Muse and Musician’ Janie shares “I have many muses, but I also think my idea of a muse is different from its original meaning. In Greek mythology, it was often seen as the source of inspiration, but the Muse was just that, the source. People who I view as a muse often inspire my art because of the incredible work they do, whether that is music, art, or something else entirely. They are their own individual with ideas and depth. That translates into the song as well. The ‘Muse’ isn’t just someone else's inspiration.”
Janie writes music as a form of creative therapy, and a way to release her thoughts and feelings into another place. “My grandma Suey used to say that you should write your worries onto a piece of paper, then throw the paper in the bin. I’ve carried this idea with me throughout my life, and I bring this approach into my song writing.”
This cathartic process has been so transformative in Janie's life it led her to study a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Therapy at Whitecliffe College and a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Education and Minoring in Psychology and Writing, at the University of Otago. “I wanted to share the way the arts had helped me with others,” says Janie.
Her passion has led her to work in mental health and arts, working as a facilitator of Central Otago’s Creative Outreach Programme, a non-profit organisation which works to help individuals struggling with their mental wellbeing post covid to find connection with creativity in their communities. Most recently Janie has stepped into a role working at Ōtautahi Creative Wellbeing as an artworker, providing equitable access for creative wellbeing in the community.
'Muse and Musician' music video was filmed in Central Otago by Seung Woo Hong. “I wrote the song here in Cambrian, and so it felt complete to film the video at home, in my world” says Janie.
'Muse and Musician' is the third and final single on Just Janie's EP release, following 'Love Letter to Myself' (released January 5) and 'Nostalgia' (released March 29) recorded in the Blue Mountains with Australian producers Rick Turnock and Abby Smith (Smith and Jones).
Just Janie’s single and music video 'Muse and Musician’ is available now (July 5) from all streaming platforms.