Goodnight My Darling shares stunning music video for widely adored indie track ‘Ruby’

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

LISTEN HERE

Pōneke-based indie star Goodnight My Darling (Maxine Macaulay) has today shared a mesmerizing music video to accompany her most recent single ‘Ruby’.

The track - a tender reflection on creative repression, motherhood and female empowerment - has unsurprisingly seen love from across Aotearoa - notably being a resident in the Radioscope alt chart for 6 weeks in a row. ‘Ruby’ was written after the Black Ferns epic 2022 Rugby World Cup win, and the new music video continues to celebrate our wāhine toa - this time, platforming the Wellington Synchro team!

“The video was a true collaboration,” says director Belle Gwilliam. “I had ideas for the look, like specific camera angles and a unique colour scheme, and Maxine had a certain style in mind - but the choreography was all the Synchro girls; Amelia Livingston and Justine Carter really led the way.”

Impressive underwater filming was achieved alongside Kristine Zipfel, adding what Belle describes as an ‘extra layer of magic’ to the sport and artform. The music video displays passionate people doing what they love, as a team, and is a process and product emblematic of what inspired ‘Ruby’.

‘Ruby’ follows Goodnight My Darling’s celebrated performance at CubaDupa earlier this year; her 2023 single ‘Empress’, and her 2022 self-titled debut album. Amidst all this, the artist has embarked on a new journey this year - motherhood - a theme beautifully unpacked in ‘Ruby’.

With the widespread aroha of ‘Ruby’ and today's inspiring reflection on uplifting Aotearoa women, now is the perfect time to dive into the world of Goodnight My Darling!

Find Goodnight My Darling:

Linktree | Instagram |Facebook | Youtube | ​Spotify |Apple | Bandcamp

False Heights create a lasting impression with breathtaking cover of ‘Zombie’

Definitive Taupō Rock duo False Heights today reveal the release date for their explosive adaption of the immortal 90’s Cranberries song, Zombie.

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Set for release on the same day that the original turns 30 – 19 September 2024 - April and Ashley Pirie bring Zombie to a whole new level with racing guitars, thrashing drums and expressive vocals.

Injecting the iconic protest song with their own unique blend of fast-paced and fierce punk-rock, False Heights have paid homage to the timeless classic by adding in their own personalised heavier alternative edge

“Channelling the beautifully haunting vocal melodies of Dolores O’Riordon, False Heights supercharged pop punk take on The Cranberries’ ‘Zombie’ pulses with an intense new life while capturing the emotional ride of the original.” - Kris Raven, Muzic.net.nz

False Heights are known for bringing a theatrical alternative edge to the mainstream world. Their material offers a uniquely independent feel, melding the 2000’s rock sound of Jimmy Eat World and Blink182, to the commercial singer-songwriter energies of Taylor Swift and Paramore.

Co-produced, tracked and mixed by Evan Pope at Studio11b in Mt Maunganui, and mastered by Joshua Llewellyn of Downbeat Mastering, Zombie follows False Heights’ previous releases Inside Your Head and A Little Bit More. With another single set to drop later this year, False Heights are a band worth keeping an eye on.

False Heights’ Zombie is set for release this coming 19 September, 2024.
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GOODWILL ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM + SINGLE ‘OBAMAS’ OUT NOW

Fresh from last month’s single Plans, Ōtautahi songwriter/producer Goodwill (Will McGillivray) today releases his latest single Obamas, and officially announces his debut full-length album, KIND HANDS.

Stark in its honesty and told by Will’s low baritone, Obamas is his most arresting song yet. Leaning on nothing other than pure lyricism and melody, the power of restraint is at full potential as Will delivers the crushing chorus “I’m so happy I could die”. True to the Goodwill back catalog, the crescendo eventually sees the collision of elements both organic and other-worldly.

Will shares his thoughts on the song: “I’ve shown this song to friends and had some people find it really sad and others find it more on the hopeful side of town, I like that there’s some ambiguity to that line ‘I’m so happy I could die’ - I won’t say which way I feel, but I can say that when I first wrote and sung that chorus it was probably the most elation I’ve felt from writing a song.”

KIND HANDS, due October 4th via Winegum Records, is Goodwill’s debut full-length album, featuring all previous singles Obamas, Plans, Goner and title track Kind Hands. Vinylheads, keep your eyes peeled for an announcement soon!

STREAM ‘OBAMAS’ HERE

DIGITAL ALBUM PRE-ORDERS

Goodwill is the solo project of award-nominated producer and songwriter Will McGillivray. Leaning into a love of dissonant guitars, droning analog synths, grainy lo-fi and longing melody, Goodwill’s music is thoughtful and honest. He has worked with esteemed Aotearoa artists such as There’s a Tuesday and Mousey, meanwhile using Goodwill as the vehicle for his own creative output

Following the release of debut EP ‘Incontrol’ featuring singles ‘Get Angry’, ‘Getting Better’ and ‘Clinging Onto You’ Goodwill’s sound earned him an instant nomination for ‘Best New Artist’ at the Rolling Stone NZ Awards, multiple Top 3 chart placements on the Hot NZ Singles chart, countless top spots on over 17 significant international Spotify editorial playlists, over 700,000 streams, extensive radio play in New Zealand and Australia, and an article in the August AU + NZ Rolling Stone Issue. 

Inspired by artists like Alex G and Bon Iver, Goodwill’s upcoming debut record (due October 2024) is an indie/alternative full-length LP with songs from the last 2 years of writing since the completion of Goodwill’s self-produced 2022 EP ‘Incontrol’. Touching on themes of gratitude, luck and commitment, Goodwill shakes off the angst and dissonance from ‘Incontrol’ to bring the light at the end of the tunnel to the forefront of the writing.

Auckland Rock Band CAPRICORE release J.A.F.A - “a song about jafas written by jafas”

Taking a strong stylistic change from their debut pop-rock single Dreamer, J.A.F.A punches its audience with satirical aggression, rap-like vocals, and punk driven instrumentation. The song paints a brutal realism of what it's like to live in Auckland City, commenting on a wide range of subjects – from its culture around substance abuse, to the city’s ugly transportation system. “It's pretty much just a list of my observations of the city,” states vocalist Aidan Ripley - “its a song about jafas written by one.”

The band explained that with J.A.F.A they’d set out to capture the untamed energy of their live performances on the track’s studio recording. “With Dreamer it was all about creating something that sounded beautiful in the studio, but with J.A.F.A it was all about getting a good representation of how we play live. When you hear Capricore live, we’re raw, punky, and theatrical… very humorous too. We felt that we really got that all down with this track – it shows our audience what to expect coming to our shows.” The single was recorded in BeatSpun Studios, produced by Corey Friedlander (of City Of Souls fame) and Elton Noyer (pka  Scizzorhands). 

The band weren't exaggerating when mentioning their theatricality. Capricore has often been described by critics as a modern and punkier version of Split Enz, with similar oddball-energy and quirky characteristics to the kiwi-classic group. There is also a major visual element that often comes into play.  In the instance of J.A.F.A, keyboardist James Zambucka sets the crowd into a massive chant during the bridge by pulling out a large sign with the letters “J” “A” “F” “A'' printed on the face. It is almost as though the band is reclaiming the jafa slur for Aucklanders themselves.

LADI6 ALOFA: THE HEARTBEAT TOUR

Established Kiwi icon Ladi6 is set to re-establish herself in the music scene by releasing her highly anticipated single, Alofa. The track will be available on all major streaming platforms starting on her birthday on Nov 7th, 2024 with her nationwide tour starting the next day in her hometown of Otautahi, Christchurch alongside her long-time collaborators and producers of "Alofa," Brent ‘Parks’ Park-Tamati and Brandon ‘Bharu’ Haru.

Alofa is a vibrant blend of Kraftwerk-esque breakbeat synth electronica, dreamy arpeggio synths, and soulful vibrations. It encapsulates the essence of self-love through the tragedy of relationship breakups. Uplifting despite its melancholy lyrics, with its infectious melody and rhythmic beats, the single is poised to become a staple on playlists worldwide.

Ladi6 is well known for her authentic and innovative approach to music. She draws inspiration from her own experiences and Moana heritage. Her unique sound and heartfelt lyrics resonate with listeners, offering a refreshing perspective in the soul/pop/electronica genre.

"I wanted to create a song that expressed the devastation of relationship break ups while simultaneously creating an atmosphere of musical resonance that expresses a kind of joy and peace in the transition of knowing you did the best you could and that's all you can hope for, and that is enough...you tried."

Ladi6 is an iconic Aotearoa artist whose music reflects her penchant for emotional authenticity and visionary musical trend-bending. With a hip hop history as founding member of Aotearoa’s first all female hip hop crew, Sheelahroc, a passion for storytelling and a commitment to self-exploration, Ladi6 makes a unique mark in the music industry, gaining a loyal following and critical acclaim.

Friday 8 November - The Church, Christchurch
Saturday 9 November - The Sawmill Cafe, Leigh
Thursday 14 November - San Fran, Wellington
Friday 15 November - Catacombs, Dunedin
Friday 29 November - Totara St, Mount Maunganui
Saturday 30 November - The Others Way, Auckland

Pre-sale tickets - 10AM, Friday 6 September
General tickets - 10AM, Monday 9 September
Tickets from www.banishedmusic.com 
 

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Country-Pop Artist, Murphy Moore, Reveals Her Sophomore Single

Aotearoa's newest country pop talent, Murphy Moore, has released her catchy new single, ‘Break the Line’. This up-beat track encapsulates what it means to break boundaries and truly live in the moment.

An anthem for the hopeless romantics, ‘Break the Line’ takes you on a musical journey exploring escapism, wanderlust and spontaneity. Inspired by the notion of seeking constant change in order to feel content, Murphy wrote ‘Break the Line’ for those who lust after a similar way of life. “Some people thrive in a routine, but I’ve never been like that. I’m in my element when my surroundings are constantly changing, my plans are non-existent and I’m free to chase whatever my heart desires”. This song encourages its listeners to live life in a playful, whimsical way.

‘Break the Line’ was recorded at Roundhead Studios with a full live band. Multi-instrumentalist, engineer and producer, Christian Tjandrawinata, worked collaboratively with Murphy on the track, creating a feel-good, uplifting country tune, worthy of blasting at full volume on your next roadtrip. 

Murphy is due to release the accompanying cinematic music video on Thursday 4th September, via YouTube. The music video, shot by Stanley Hannington, follows the journey of a thrill-seeking, exuberant couple as they ‘paint the town red’. Murphy’s desire for the music video is to leave the viewers “inspired to take their lover by the hand, run away and live life extravagantly”. 

‘Break the Line’ is OUT NOW on all streaming platforms. 

Julia Belle shares gentle and determined new single ‘rockstar’

Listen to ‘rockstar’ HERE

Watch the video HERE

Rising Pōneke-based indie-pop/folk artist Julia Belle has today released her captivating and catchy new single ‘rockstar’!

An empowering love letter to ‘sad girl’ music, through folk-infused acoustic guitars, a gentle rhythm section, and tongue-in-cheek songwriting - “you’re so classic rock and I’m just too pop-culture” - ‘rockstar’ offers a delicate, playful and defiant antidote to the misogyny and hypocrisy faced by wāhine in pop.

“The song stemmed from an interaction where a friend made me watch a 14 minute video of a rock band’s drummer,” says Julia. “After making a joke about making them watch Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well’ short film, the conversation veered very nasty and they made a comment about how women can’t make good music.”

Reminiscent of the aforementioned world-star’s early sound, ‘rockstar’ skillfully manages to hint at pop-icon influences while showcasing Julia’s unique sound that has garnered her in playlists such as Fresh Finds Spotify and Apple New Music Daily, and set her apart early on in her career. In late 2020, Julia won a competition run by Toby Lloyd (Stan Walker, Hollie Smith, Shapeshifter) by submitting a demo of what would become her debut single ‘no way i can sleep’, completed with the celebrated producer.

Now, ‘rockstar’ is an exciting continuation of the duo’s creative friendship. Produced and mixed by Toby at Tiny Triumph Recordings in Johnsonville, the single was then mastered by Robin Schmidt. 

“I’ve always been told that my music is too sad and too slow, so this song is also a playful jab at that, asking: would you like me better as a rockstar?”

Also released today is a sparkly new music video, made alongside Taylor Nixon, which showcases Julia performing as her true self - regardless of what people say.

A defiant picture of girl power, and an artist coming into her own, ‘rockstar’ will no doubt win over fans across the motu - proving the rising star one to watch!

Christchurch-Based artist Emma Rutherford, releases soulful new single ‘Indigo’.

‘Indigo’ explores the journey of moving on and feeling empowered. With its rich, emotive vocals and poignant lyrics, ‘Indigo’ will resonate with anyone that is navigating their own path to healing.

Ōtautahi pop/soul artist Emma Rutherford announces the release of her latest single and music video ‘Indigo’. Exploring the journey of moving on and finding empowerment, this song captures personal exploration of healing and self-reclamation.

The release of ‘Indigo’ is complemented by a visually stunning music video, layered with symbolism that enhances the song’s emotional depth. ‘Indigo’ resonates with listeners navigating their own paths to recovery and strength.

Emma Rutherford, based in Christchurch, continues to make her mark in the pop scene, drawing inspiration from artists such as Adele, Elton John, and Billy Joel. Emma's music combines emotional depth with contemporary pop influences, creating a unique sound that resonates with listeners. ‘Indigo’ marks a significant milestone in the evolution of her musical journey.

Emma will be opening for ‘The Lost Knights’ for their ‘New Zealand and Back Again Tour’ in Wellington and Auckland in September.