Holly Arrowsmith shares Americana opus Blue Dreams and announces Aotearoa and Australia tour

Holly Arrowsmith releases Americana opus Blue Dreams, a ten-track triumph that showcases Holly's ascent into songwriting mastery. Blue Dreams includes the award-winning "Desert Dove", and charting singles "Neon Bright" and "Blue Dreams"; in a buoyant departure from more weighty themes, “Swan Dive” is the album-capping focus track and an uplifting way to seal the record. 

Blue Dreams is available on vinyl and CD at all good record stores and globally via all streaming platforms on Friday 26 July 2024.
 

Click here for tour dates.

Recorded and produced over a three-year span, Blue Dreams was mostly written before and during the early stages of the pandemic, evolving into a sublime rotation around birth and death, faith and doubt, and hoping for better from life from a self-professed ‘disillusioned dreamer’. Holly began recording at seven months pregnant, initially worried that her changing physiology might affect her ability to sing; however, she discovered a rich lower register in her voice, effectively expanding her vocal range. Throughout the creation of these deeply personal songs which explore themes of depression, anxiety, new parenthood and losing loved ones and ideals. Holly courageously pulls back the curtain, holding to her conviction that the personal is the universal or as Joni Mitchell said ‘People deserve to know how other people feel.’ 

Blue Dreams was conceptualised as an album of two halves. The first half is energised and driven, a departure from Holly's previous work. Tapping into a well of emotions that had been exposed through the pandemic and pregnancy, the tracks are permeated with a sense of drama and intensity.  Holly is an ardent reader of poetry, which often moves her to write: ‘‘Could’ve Been a River" was inspired by Wendell Berry’s poem ‘Canticle’, while Holly directly cites Mary Oliver ("Could’ve Been a River") and New Zealand’s own Janet Frame ("Swan Dive".)

Holly's keen sense of humour shines in "Womb of Venus", in which she is lost in contemplation of what it might feel like to be in utero, then looks out the window to see that not only is the washing still out on the line, it’s now frozen. Holly questions being a musician in "Red Lit Room", detailing a disappointing show and the comedy of errors that unfold ‘’But come on, what did you expect? We’re all earnest and unrewarded!’ Confessing that you’ve got to be a little deluded to keep ‘singing your sad songs.’ Producer Tom Healy and Holly used references like Mazzy Star for the loose, layered nylon guitar strings and glittering chimes in ‘Something Small’, and the rich vocals of Weyes Blood and The Weather Station. 
 

Side two strips things back, with the strong alt-country lean throughout the record taking on a more traditional tone. Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison filled the studio during the creative process, nods to their talent just noticeable throughout. Track "Blue Dreams" showcases 1970s California folk twang, where the stripped-back "Mountain Lion" tells a tender story in which Holly visits an elderly loved one for the last time. "Night Flight" shares Holly's dream about being a bird, flying down the Avon River at dusk, the mood enhanced with Anita Clark’s gorgeous string arrangements in accompaniment. The record finishes on an uplifting note with "Swan Dive", a Vashti Bunyan-inspired track where Holly implores a loved one to hold onto hope in life, reminding them (and herself) that ‘Just when you think that you’ll never laugh again’ you’ll swan dive into life’s delight and beauty once more.

Holly's innate and honed songwriting talents were celebrated in May, the second time she has taken home the coveted APRA Country Music Song of the Year; on this occasion, Holly's song 'Desert Dove', also on Blue Dreams, nabbed the award.

Blue Dreams is produced by Tom Healy (Marlon Williams, Bic Runga), and accompanied by an all-star cast of New Zealand musicians (Cass Basil, Anita Clark, Alex Freer, Tom Healy).

TOUR DATES! NOTE - ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS LINK

AUSTRALIA

17 August - Castlemaine, VIC - the Taproom - GET TICKETS

18 - August - Melbourne, VIC Wesley Anne - GET TICKETS
 

AOTEAROA

12 October - Christchurch, Saint Michael and All Angels with Jessie Shanks - GET TICKETS

27 October - Wellington, Meow with Michaela Tempers - GET TICKETS

2 November - Auckland, Tuning Fork with Arahi - GET TICKETS

3 November - Waiheke Island, Artworks Theatre with Marmalade - GET TICKETS

Blue Dreams is available on vinyl and CD at all good record stores and globally via all streaming platforms on Friday 26 July 2024.

BIG FAN ANNOUNCES TWO NEW INTAKES OF IGNITE PROGRAMME IN WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND

Not-for-profit, multi-purpose music space BIG FAN is thrilled to announce the next two Ignite programme intakes.

Ignite is dedicated to nurturing and empowering people with a passion for music and events through their eight-week industry specific training programme, that spans across three streams - Event Management, Event Production and Music Production. The programme provides one-on-one mentoring from industry professionals, upskilling opportunities, hands-on experience, and the chance to apply learned skills in practice. This not only benefits the programme participants but also engages the wider community through self-produced shows and music as well as providing valuable opportunities for young and emerging artists.

The two new rounds highlight audiences that Ignite will be working with for the first time in Pōneke, Wellington, and for those 18-25 years old in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

IGNITE PŌNEKE - 15-18 YEAR OLDS

BIG FAN has partnered with the Toi Rauwhārangi at Massey University to pilot Ignite in Pōneke for the first time. Having successfully run multiple intakes in Tāmaki Makaurau, Ignite has fostered the growth of creative rangatahi for the previous six years. This collaboration aims to bring the same opportunities to nurture the next generation of creative professionals in Pōneke.

Savina Fountain, General Manager of Big Fan addresses the importance of welcoming Ignite to Wellington. “Since founding Ignite in 2016 in Tāmaki Makaurau, we have seen a number of our alumni move down to Pōneke to take up study at Massey, where they’ve further honed their skills and landed jobs in the creative industries. We are beyond excited to solidify this pathway to further education and provide these transformative opportunities for rangatahi. It’s a significant milestone for BIG FAN to expand our offering beyond our own four walls for the very first time, and with the partnership with Massey University, we are thrilled to have such a perfect home in Pōneke”.

Blake Johnston, Commercial Music Programme Leader at Massey says: “We see these young people as the future leaders of the music industry, and Ignite stands as an excellent pathway for those rangatahi to develop their skills and get opportunities to create, promote, develop, and perform new music. We hope that our support can help to strengthen the already vibrant music scene in Wellington, and music communities within Massey.”

This round of Ignite will be run by on-ground Programme Manager, Bianca Bailey. A Te Whanganui-a-Tara based event producer, musician and songwriter, Bianca has a keen eye for all things project management - having done work across notable events such as CubaDupa and Auckland Folk Festival. She’s now ensemble managing for contemporary classical group Stroma, touring Irish folk band Gráda and most recently joining the Performance Arcade as Music Curator. When she’s not working she can be caught around Wellington either rocking the drums in local bands Lilith and F.A.I.R.Y, or sporting a guitar for her indie riff-rock solo project Wiri Donna. Participants will be in excellent hands with Bianca’s wealth of knowledge and experience.

IGNITE TĀMAKI MAKAURAU - 18-25 YEAR OLDS

Another first that Ignite will be offering is an intake in Auckland for those aged 18-25. The team at BIG FAN aim to offer creatives in this age range that any time is the perfect time to enter the industry, and growing a community of people with the passion and skillset to become game changers is vital with the state of the industry at the moment.

As a contribution to the programme, there is a small fee to take part in the 18-25 round of Ignite - however scholarship placements for those experiencing financial hardship are available.

Programme Manager at Big Fan, Cuillin Hearty is excited to spearhead this initiative for 18-25 year olds in Auckland, saying: “It’s really exciting to be able to offer IGNITE to an older age group, it’s never too late to get into the industry, and right now we need as many young and passionate people to get involved.”

BIG FAN is continuing to cement their aim to open doors for music creatives from all walks of life, by offering these two programmes to new audiences from 18-25 years old, and in Pōneke, Wellington. Ignite has a unique aim to teach not only creativity but also the complementary skills supporting the music industry, exposing the incredible breadth of career pathways and opportunities within it. With no prior skills or experience necessary to apply for Ignite, this is the perfect opportunity to upskill no matter what stage of your journey you are at.

IGNITE is made possible with the support of the Ministry of Culture & Heritage, and in partnership with Toi Rauwhārangi at Massey University for IGNITE Pōneke.

KEY DATES

IGNITE PŌNEKE

Streams in Event Management & Music Production

Open to rangatahi aged 15 to 18 years old, based in and around Pōneke Wellington

The 8-week programme runs Sunday 1 September to Wednesday 23 Oct

IGNITE TĀMAKI MAKAURAU

Streams in Event Management, Music Production & Event Production

Open to anyone aged 18 to 25 years old, based in Tāmaki Makaurau

The 8-week programme runs Sunday 1 September – Tuesday 22 October

Applications Open: Tuesday 23 July 2024 at 10am

Applications Close: Sunday 4 Aug 2024 at 10pm

More information can be found at bigfan.co.nz

JUDI CRANSTON 'TIME FOR MUSIC'

It’s always a great time for music with kids with Judi Cranston and kindyRock! Especially when there is a new EP on the way. 

Judi Cranston is the founder of kindyRock, a music education company based in New Zealand making music for early childhood educators to help them run their music sessions. 

Her fun and simple musical resources help little kids learn through music, and they also help big people use music in ways that enhance and improve learning. 

In 2024, Judi won APRA Best Children’s Song (Preschool) along with her co-writer Levity Beet. Her top song on Spotify, Wibble Wobble, has nearly 7,500,000 streams. 

The new songs on Time for Music help kids with fine motor skills as a focus, and have been paired with 5 new music videos. 

Auckland-based Judi worked with Levity Beet and his Wild Beet productions in Golden Bay to create the audio and video for this project, and photographer Charlie Rose in Christchurch, making Time for Music a truly Aotearoa-wide project. Distributed by DRM NZ and supported by NZ On Air Music. 

Time for Music will release August 2nd, adding 5x singalong tracks to the 5 singles already released, with Pre Save details here:

https://music.drm.co.nz/time-for-music

Sonic Delusion's 8th Europe Tour

Sonic Delusion embarks on his 8th Europe tour next week! This European summer, Andre Manella will light up stages across Switzerland with his electrifying live performances. The tour features six shows, including intimate garden gigs, lively festivals, and vibrant bar concerts, showcasing the unique blend of upbeat folk and indie pop that Sonic Delusion is known for.

Adding an extra layer of excitement, German saxophonist Chris Kawa will join Sonic Delusion for two special shows, promising a fusion of sounds that will leave audiences mesmerized. 

Throughout August people can experience the magic of Sonic Delusion live, as he brings his infectious energy and soulful melodies to Switzerland once again.

LOUIS BAKER releases soul-stirring new track, ‘Fools Expectation’

Soulful Wellington artist Louis Baker returns with new track ‘Fools Expectation’.

Listen HERE / Watch Video HERE

As a fresh offering, Louis Baker releases ‘Fools Expectation’, a sweet-soul ballad that blends both retro influences with modern sonics and draws from the rich stylings of Al Green and The Delfonics. The track features a tape-saturated 6/8 drum groove, Motown-style bass lines, vibrolux-tremolo guitars, and Baker’s timeless and evocative voice.

Baker reflects on the inspiration of the song, “When the well was running dry, the rain came pouring down. This first line of the song describes how I was feeling about the world at that time. Sometimes you run out of energy or will power. You get down. Then things change. You get through. You remember everyone is having their own unique challenges and you put everything into perspective. You feel grateful for necessities like food, shelter and water.”

Recorded at his beachside studio, ‘Fools Expectation’ features Baker's talent on all instruments, including bass, guitar, vocals, drum programming and production. The track was mixed by Simon Gooding and mastered by Mike Gibson.

‘Fools Expectation’ follows the success of his revered release, ‘Been and Gone’ featuring Wellington songstress Wallace, which has garnered over 800,000 Spotify streams and was recently named one of the APRA Silver Scrolls Top 20 songs. The track received high praise from Rolling Stone, which remarked, "Sounding like if Khruangbin were fronted by two blue-eyed soul crooners”.

Baker has released two EPs, his debut album Open and several well-loved singles, including his cult hit ‘Rainbow.’ Open (2019) earned a Taite Music Prize nomination and 

Aotearoa Music Awards nominations for Best Soul Artist and Best Māori Artist. Singles like ‘Back On My Feet’ (2014), ‘Rainbow’ (2016), ‘Black Crow’ (2018), and ‘Been and Gone’ feat. Wallace (2024) have received APRA Silver Scroll nominations, showcasing his songwriting excellence.

Along the way, he’s entertained ever-growing audiences at festivals and venues across New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and the UK while sharing stages with Jordan Rakei, Allen Stone, Jamie Lidell, and Fat Freddy’s Drop.  

‘Fools Expectation’ marks the beginning of a series of releases for Baker. Anticipate more music and tour announcements as he continues to deliver his signature offering, indie-soul for the people."

‘Fools Expectation’ is available now on all major streaming outlets via his independent label, Ngākau Records.

FOLLOW LOUIS BAKER

INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK / TIK TOK / YOUTUBE /

SPOTIFY / APPLE

SOL FIDE 'EASY FOR YOU'

Following the successful release of their debut EP “The Hermit”, Pōneke indie rock band Sol Fide are riding the wave with their new single “Easy For You”, which adds a new sound to their ever-expanding discography.

Preceding this latest release, Sol Fide proved their quality with their single “Ruby” charting in the Student Radio Network Top 10 as well as taking out the top spot in RDU’s Te Ahi Top 10 for two consecutive weeks.

So far this year, Sol Fide have graced the stages of some of Pōneke’s most iconic alternative venues, such as San Fran, Meow and Valhalla. ‘Easy For You’ is available for your listening pleasure on all streaming platforms on July 26th.

 Listen to Sol Fide on Spotify or Apple Music

Acclaimed Aotearoa artists Barnaby Weir and Andy Christiansen release debut album from new band TRiPS

TRiPS is an exciting new musical collaboration from Andrew Christiansen and ear fellow Barnaby Weir. The dynamic duo release their self-titled debut album today, July 24.

On TRiPS self-titled album there’s a glaze of psychedelic calm in the eyes of the new songs that resonate on top of familiar, classic and experimental rock and pop fusion. Steady and juicy drum tones lead the way for Christiansen’s incredible acid soaked riffs and provide comfortable grooves for Weirs and other vocalists intriguing lyrics and vocal delivery.

Christiansen and Weir first met when they both played in the iconic NZ band The Black Seeds “we have known each other for 20 years and played music for many of those touring the world” shares Christiansen. 

This new collaboration was organically created between the friends on a weekend away with their young families. “One weekend I rented a house in the Wairarapa and we took both families over, the guitar came out and we were talking about Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and rock radio and music in general, then we just started writing with no destination for any songs” says Christiansen. “We had maybe 6 ideas in about an hour and so I booked The Surgery and a month or two later we started working on music.” 

For this 10 track album, the rules are set aside without boundaries of a usual band existence and the fresh air is impossible to ignore. Hats are tipped or tripped towards the roots of rock n roll with hand shakes from the 70’s tape heavy quality in sound and hi-fives with tones from the future. 

“On this album we are most proud of the fact that the music is our truth, we ignored any mitigation from the worries of having to fit in a style” shares TRiPS. 

Christiansen adds “I hope for listeners to be grabbed straight away, but also to fall in love with it more on the second or third listen and so on. The song offerings are quite diverse, but there is far more connection between the songs than you may get from the first listen. There has been a lot of thought put into this track listing and the connections than you may first get. It really is a 10 song story and not just an album.” 

Synonymous with well-loved bands, Fly My Pretties and The Black Seeds, long-time musician and songwriter Barnaby Weir’s professional musical career spans more than 23 years. An acclaimed songwriter and producer in his own right, Barnaby has performed  in almost 20 countries and contributed song-writing and producing on over 24 albums. Weir played a strong hand in production, conceptual ideas & vision of TRiPS. His voice can also be heard on songs "Way of my Flow", "I'm on fire" & "Let's go out". 

Fellow Black Seed (2007-2012) multi-instrumentalist Andy Christiansen has a diverse musical career. A New Zealand fixture on trumpet for many bands, genre hopping along the way, he has played at some of the world's biggest festivals & contributed to multiple albums. Andy is currently Managing Director of Goodtime Music Academy, NZ's largest private music school. Christiansen wrote or co-wrote every song on the album. You will feel fully immersed in Andy's creative vision, & hear his hand on the majority of instruments being played.

Creative freedom and collaboration is at the heart of this album. The pair joined forces with multi-award winning producer Lee Prebble and esteemed New Zealand artists Daniel Weetman (The Black Seeds) whose voice can be heard on "Wishes" & "Modern Thinking", Elan Van-Mills (Paslode) on "Beat the Horse" and Iris Little  (Deva Mahal, Bret McKenzie & ONONO) whose vocals can be heard on many songs throughout the album. 

“Being able to work with singers we admire and push them into a direction that people may not expect, whilst also celebrating what we love about their voices was inspiring” shares TRiPS. “We really tried to push the comfort zones a little which was amazing and everyone was willing and receptive which further solidified our decision that they were the right choice of cohorts.” 

The long term working friendship between Weir, Christiansen and veteran engineer Prebble, was confirmed inside of the intensive studio sessions. “His attention to the tracking and mixing process played out like a sculptor of tone” share the band.  “There were, at times, too many laughs per hour, sending all three of us into a distracted state of awesomeness.” The recordings and mixes came to life over 2021 and 2022 with Weir and Christiansen carefully part time crafting the riffs into order.

TRiPS is that feeling of exhilaration when you “step outside yourself and unwind this daily mess” it’s the sound of musical freedom on the back of a mind altering day dream, new vivid colours and open skies as you set out into the unknown. 

“The satisfaction of musical day TRiPS forever stays in our hearts and minds, our own soundtrack to life through the lens of this original Kaleidoscope.” conclude Weir and Christiansen.

TRiPS SELF TITLED ALBUM RELEASES JULY 24, 2024 

Aotearoa Music Award winner Claudia Robin Gunn invites families to look, listen and learn in her upcoming Little Wild Music release Little Wild Learning.

Launching with the single How to Make a Friend with ARIA nominee Benny Time (Sydney) last weekend, the 7th kids album from this Cockle Bay mum tackles one of early childhoods biggest transitions ~ starting kindy, and starting school. 

While it’s a few years since her own children made those leaps (now facing NCEA and graduation years) it’s a time when Claudia was writing constantly but not yet in swing of recording, so expect to hear some sweet memories from her

kindy era songwriting journal approx 2014! Plus more fun, cute and helpful songs for this precious age group, including collaborations with fellow kindie songwriter Angie Who (Sydney) and Claudia’s childhood friend, actress Jenny Freed (Auckland).

Today you’ll find the second single I Love Books streaming everywhere. This project is supported by NZ On Air’s New Music Kids fund and produced by Marshall Smith and Tom Fox at The Sound Room.

Www.claudiarobingunn.com