THE SPINES 'QUEEN OF THE RAIN'
The new release from a band that’s been around for 43 years. And the third album from this current lineup of Jon McLeary, Hannah Fraser, Les Knight and Malky Taylor with help from Tim Robinson on extra percussion.
A bit of history:
Jon McLeary (guitar, vocals, songs) formed the Spines in 1981 in Wellington with Caroline Easther (drums) and Rob Mahoney (bass). They recorded “Fishing” for Ripper Records and appeared on Radio With Pictures that same year. A change in line-up to Ross Burge (drums), Neill Duncan (sax) and Wendy Calder (bass) saw them go on to record albums for Jayrem (The Moon, Your Body Stays, Act Your Age) and Flying Nun (Idiot Sun). This version toured the country and lasted into the late 1980’s.
In the 1990’s Andy Craig joined on bass and Ant Donaldson on drums and continued the Spines tradition playing McLeary’s unique songs live and in the studio.
They continued on into this century with Les Knight on bass and various drummers including Riki Gooch and recorded the album Blood Monster.
The current Spines line-up has been together several years with Jon is Les Knight on bass, Hannah Fraser on violin, keys and vocals and Malky James Taylor on drums.
The Spines album Dreamboat was released in 2019.
Riki Gooch played all the drum tracks and Les Knight the bass parts then Hannah Fraser, her piano and violin and Jon guitars.
Queen of the Rain
The new release from a band that’s been around for 43 years. And the third album from this current lineup of Jon McLeary, Hannah Fraser, Les Knight and Malky Taylor with help from Tim Robinson on extra percussion.
McLeary’s songs are the key factor to the bands longevity. They continue to have relevance and are evolving all the time along with the band’s stage presence.
The Queen of the Rain songs are all elemental and/or emotional little stories that link up backwards and are a fine addition to the Spines cannon.
NIGEL MARSHALL 'SHINE ON'
Part archive, time capsule, and storybook, Shine On captures the evolution of a man and his music. Covering four decades, Shine On is a collection of original songs, recording his early life in Naenae, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, onto his time in Ruatoria, Tolaga Bay, West Auckland, and Gisborne.
Part archive, time capsule, and storybook, Shine On captures the evolution of a man and his music. Covering four decades, Shine On is a collection of original songs, recording his early life in Naenae, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, onto his time in Ruatoria, Tolaga Bay, West Auckland, and Gisborne.
“This has been a fantastic opportunity to recraft these old songs," said Marshall. "A lot of the creativity, instead of the writing new songs, has gone into the recording of them." Marshall collaborated with an ensemble of Wellington musicians giving the album a unified jazz feel to the album, connecting songs written decades apart.
The album is a musical time capsule featuring songs dating back to Marshall's time in Ruatoria. The earliest gem Tūī, penned around 1980 is about the encroaching forestry industry and the damage it posed to the East Coast environment.
The album was recorded in Maurice Priestley’s PriMau Productions recording studio in Newtown, Wellington. Priestley, who played on and recorded early versions of some of the songs when he operated Capture Recording Studio in Gisborne in the ‘80s, suggested the project to record Marshall’s previously unrecorded songs.
Priestley used his contacts in the music scene to bring together an impressive ensemble of musicians, including pianist Don Franks, horn player Oscar Lavën, bass player Peter Gregory, cajon player Sean O’Connor, drummers Nic Deighton and Tim Robinson, strings arranger-player Cath Haley, and backing vocalists Sarah Grant and Susan Ngawati, Nigel's wife.
The most recent song on the album, Hand of God, also talks about the overwhelming effects of cyclones in Aotearoa. The songs are as relevant today as they were when they were written, with forestry causing much of the damage from cyclones Hale and Gabrielle on the East Coast, by what the insurance companies call “An Act of God”.
About Nigel Marshall
Nigel Marshall is a seasoned musician based in Gisborne, New Zealand, known for his eclectic musical journey spanning four decades. From his early days in Ruatoria to collaborations in Auckland, Gisborne, and Wellington. Marshall lives in Tairāwhiti with his wife, Susan Ngawati.
“Music has been a fine way of not just expressing myself but engaging in a magical way with people in my community both as fellow artists and by interacting with audiences who have given me the great honour of appreciating my music,” says Marshall. “It remains to this day a truly beautiful gift to be counted among the friends I have played with over the years.”
Revulva will play a nationwide tour this October and November!
Over the last five years, Wellington octet Revulva has won over audiences around New Zealand with their impassioned tracks Bush Bash, Beep Beep, and Heroin Chic and frenzied, high-energy stage shows. Today we announce a Revulva-lution. To celebrate their self-titled album, releasing on October 11, Revulva will play a nationwide tour this October and November!
REVULVA NZ ALBUM RELEASE TOUR
31st October - Space Academy, Christchurch
1st November - Yours, Dunedin
2nd November - Secret Garden, Hāwea Flat, Wānaka*
*address to be released to ticket holders upon purchase
7th November - The Yard, Raglan
9th November - Neck of the Woods, Auckland
16th November - Porridge Watson, Whanganui
23rd November - San Fran, Wellington*
Tickets are on sale from undertheradar.co.nz & *Moshtix for Wellington
Taking their cues from Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Jamiroquai, Steely Dan, Herbie Hancock, Minnie Ripperton, and Prince, Revulva’s self-titled debut album reimagines the anything-goes energy of New York City’s 1970s downtown scene and London’s 1990s funk and soul renaissance through an antipodean perspective where awkward, deadpan humour goes hand in hand with the band’s social concerns and inherent feminist politics. The 10 track album features hit singles, Bush Bash, Beep Beep and Heroin Chic alongside songs from the band's beginning as a 5-piece 5 years ago, and the upcoming, bitter-sweet lead single Nigel.
The album is accompanied by a run of 200 records via Holiday Records' new crowdfund campaign. The record comes with a 12 page photo/lyric zine designed by the band’s close friend and designer, Daniel Kingston.
Described by Rolling Stone Australia as “strangely alluring,” the femme-fronted eight-piece formed in Wellington under the de facto leadership of the composer, lyricist, bassist and vocalist Phoebe Johnson in 2019. Since then, Johnson and her clown van full of hyper-busy musical collaborators, Lily Rose Shaw, Toby Leman, Hector McLachlan, Kaito Walley, Lennox Grootjans, Mysty Cooke, and Zane Hawkins, have won over bar, nightclub and festival audiences across New Zealand.
“It’s been a heavy year of making music videos, and getting the vinyl organised, so we’re excited to celebrate all this mahi by getting together for these 8 shows! Audiences can expect to get involved with the usual hijinks - audience participation, group moaning/harmonies/choreo, burning solos, and good boogies.”
REVULVA ALBUM RELEASE NZ TOUR October 31 - November 23.
Tickets are on sale from undertheradar.co.nz & *Moshtix for Wellington
Aotearoa-Sāmoan Songstress EMA I’U releases salty Rnb-pop track ‘Blame Game’.
This single follows on from the success of her ‘Flower of Life’ Music Video which premiered at SXSW Sydney 2023, was selected for 2024 Māoriland and Hawai’i International Film Festivals and was nominated for Best Video at the recent Pacific Music Awards.
Based in Tāmaki Makaurau, EMA I'U (pronounced Emma ee ‘u) aka Ema Barton is a performer with a powerful presence, undeniable skill as a vocalist and talent as a songwriter and screen arts creative.
This single follows on from the success of her ‘Flower of Life’ Music Video which premiered at SXSW Sydney 2023, was selected for 2024 Māoriland and Hawai’i International Film Festivals and was nominated for Best Video at the recent Pacific Music Awards.
‘Blame Game’ will feature on Ema’s debut album planned for release in 2025. All songs including her previous singles ‘Top Shelf’ and ‘Midnight Mistress’, were worked on alongside producer Nathan Judd (Producer of the Year, Pacific Music Awards 2021) as part of a NZonAir New Music Development Project.
EMA I’U is gearing up for more releases and is just getting started.
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ADAM HATTAWAY ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM ‘HIGH HORSE’ OUT NOVEMBER 8TH
Adam Hattaway has announced their new album ‘High Horse’ set for release on November 8th. Produced by Marlon Williams, today’s album announcement also comes with a new single and video ‘Good Times’.
UNVEILS NEW SINGLE & VIDEO ‘GOOD TIMES’
AND AUSTRALASIAN TOUR DATES
Adam Hattaway has announced their new album ‘High Horse’ set for release on November 8th. Produced by Marlon Williams, today’s album announcement also comes with a new single and video ‘Good Times’.
Like many of Hattaway/Jones songs this track came in a dream and is inspired by Arthur Fellig’s crime scene photography. It’s bare, dark and gritty. Hattaway reflects, “I don’t often sing that way. Marlon got me to explore many different vocal styles throughout the album, I accessed parts of my voice that I didn't know I had.’’
This release will be Hattaway’s sixth full length album in six years. Featuring previous single ‘High Horse’, the upcoming record is significantly more stripped down than Hattaway’s earlier, noisier rock and roll ventures, with friend and collaborator Marlon Williams aiming for a sound that was “frustratingly quiet” and led by acoustic guitar. Adam explains, “I didn't know it was just going to be the four of us most of the time, so it was very hands-on.” The small group play nearly all the instruments, sharing backing vocal duties, with very little electric guitar this explores a new sound for Hattaway and Jones.
Adam and his band The Haunters will embark on an eight date tour of Aotearoa and Naarm/Melbourne including a Jon Toogood support and a slot at Sanctuary Sounds music festival.
High Horse out November 8th is available for pre-order on CD and Vinyl now.
ADAM HATTAWAY & THE HAUNTERS TOUR
NOV 07 - OAMARU - GRAINSTORE GALLERY
NOV 08 - ŌTEPOTI - PEARL DIVER
NOV 09 - OPHIR - OPHIR PEACE MEMORIAL HALL
NOV 16 - MELBOURNE - NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB - SUPPORTING JON TOOGOOD
NOV 22 - MELBOURNE - MERRI CREEK TAVERN
NOV 30 - ŌTAUTAHI - THE LOONS
DEC 06 - TĀMAKI MAKAURAU - WHAMMY BAR
DEC 07 - TAKAPAU - SANCTUARY SOUNDS FESTIVAL
TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM
ADAMHATTAWAY.COM
HINA Unveils New Single 'Hinātore': A Celestial Journey Through Māori Mythology
HINA’s latest single, Hinātore, is a captivating exploration of the universe’s celestial beginnings from a distinctly Māori perspective. This enchanting waiata celebrates the rich tapestry of Māori language, pūrākau (traditional stories), and taonga pūoro (traditional instruments), and is now available on all streaming platforms.
HINA’s latest single, Hinātore, is a captivating exploration of the universe’s celestial beginnings from a distinctly Māori perspective. This enchanting waiata celebrates the rich tapestry of Māori language, pūrākau (traditional stories), and taonga pūoro (traditional instruments), and is now available on all streaming platforms.
Hinātore was birthed on the first day of the APRA Reo Māori SongHubs 2022 at Roundhead Studios in Tāmaki Makaurau. Collaborating with award-winning producer Dan Martin, acclaimed taonga pūoro artist Reti Hedley of IA, and one of Aotearoa’s most esteemed mātanga reo Hana Mereraiha, HINA crafted a track that both honors and reimagines Māori creation stories.
In an innovative twist, HINA has paired the release of Hinātore with an animated music video, created in collaboration with AI technology. Embracing the challenge of blending traditional storytelling with modern visual artistry, HINA chose not to confine the animation to strictly Māori imagery. Instead, the video offers a pan-Moana aesthetic, reflecting the broader Polynesian context of the song’s themes.
“I was fascinated by the opportunity to engage critically and creatively with AI,” HINA explains. “AI struggled with strictly Māori imagery, so I opted for a more Pacifically-ambiguous approach. I wanted the visuals to enhance the mana of our stories while respecting the mauri and wairua of our traditions. I had quite a heavy hand with the AI platforms I was collaborating with. The process was meticulous, I extensively tweaked and edited still images to essentially ‘design’ scenes and characters before moving onto the animation process.”
The single Hinātore recounts Tāne’s quest to bring light to a world shrouded in darkness following the separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku. Tāne requested the the help of his siblings Wainui and Tangotango, asking for their children—the sun, the moon, stars, and other celestial lights—to adorn the chest of Ranginui, illuminating our world as we know it. This story highlights the beauty and complexity of Māori cosmology and its significance in the wider Polynesian mythos.
Hinātore marks a significant milestone for HINA as her first song entirely in te reo Māori, following the success of her 2023 bilingual single Tararua. Aptly released during Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week), Hinātore promises to resonate deeply with listeners, celebrating both the beauty of Māori language and the innovative fusion of traditional and modern artistic expressions.
Listen to Hinātore on all streaming platforms today!
Or purchase on Bandcamp:
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Rising indie-pop star Lizzy Kula is cool, calm and collected with new single ‘afterthought’
Rising Mount Maunganui-based alt pop artist Lizzy Kula has today shared her empowering new anthem of self-worth, ‘afterthought’!
Listen to ‘afterthought’ HERE
Rising Mount Maunganui-based alt pop artist Lizzy Kula has today shared her empowering new anthem of self-worth, ‘afterthought’!
Born from the trauma of heartbreak, ‘afterthought’ invites listeners with similar experiences to reclaim their power, recognise their worth, and get lost in the hypnotic melodies, edgy instrumentation and fiery storytelling of Lizzy Kula.
“I want the song to act as a reminder that you shouldn’t have to settle for being a placeholder in the back of someone’s mind,” says Lizzy. “You’re not an afterthought and I hope you never accept being treated like one.”
Today’s release follows Lizzy’s debut single - the upbeat and groovy track ‘i dreamt about you’ - which saw love from media across Aotearoa (Tearaway, Hype Medium, Welcome To The Gig, Creative Bay of Plenty) and abroad; featuring on Dutch blog Lefuturewave and UK radio station The Sound Lab.
Already, the two releases are a testament to Lizzy’s creative range - showcasing her ability to seamlessly drift through different genres and influences. “I love to use genre as an additional tool to emphasise a narrative,” explains Lizzy. “Best way I can put it is that I like to define what I’m painting before I choose the brushes.”
Made with the support of NZ On Air, ‘afterthought’ was produced alongside Lizzy’s brother, Daniel Kulasingham, after the track was originally written on a piano at the artist’s family home. “Dan remains my favourite person to collaborate with. He is the only one who can truly bring those emotions out from my crusty voice memo and into something that beautifully tells the story - and still sounds like me!” The track was then mixed and mastered by Edward Liu (EDY).
Fans can also look forward to a rollercoaster-ride music video - out September 27! Perfectly capturing the journey of recovering from a painful relationship and bouncing back better than ever, the video was created alongside Luke Penney (Director) and Nick White (DOP).
With today’s new single solidifying Lizza Kula as one to watch, and more new music on its way shortly, Aotearoa music lovers are bound to find their power in ‘afterthought’!
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Based on a true Aotearoa story Sabreen releases beautiful new folk single ‘Countryman’
Through skillful storytelling, beautifully layered vocals and both gentle and soaring instrumentation, ‘Countryman’ brings to life the true story of Joe Kum Yung - a Chinese gold-miner who came to New Zealand in the late 1800s.
Listen to ‘Countryman’ HERE
Watch the video HERE
Bengali-NZ singer songwriter Sabreen has today shared her cinematic new folk-pop single ‘Countryman’!
Through skillful storytelling, beautifully layered vocals and both gentle and soaring instrumentation, ‘Countryman’ brings to life the true story of Joe Kum Yung - a Chinese gold-miner who came to New Zealand in the late 1800s. Following a mining accident, he eventually moved to Wellington - the center of the local Chinese community at the time - where he was shot and killed by a white supremacist in 1905.
"His story really moved me,” explains Sabreen, “I wanted to write a song to humanise his and the wider story of Asian immigrants in this country, including my own parents. We know so little about Joe, and yet there is a wealth of information and sympathy for his killer. I wanted to fix that imbalance, and shine a light on the humanity and history of the New Zealand Asian community.”
Made with the support of NZ On Air, ‘Countryman’ was then co-produced and recorded with producer/engineer Nate Selway between Depot Sound and SAE, with contributions from Nick Jones (strings), Joshua Taylor (cello), Matt Holden (electric guitar) and Noah Page (drums and mandolin).
“I wrote this song in 2021 and it’s the longest time I’ve ever spent working on a song. It gave me a real sense of creative purpose that I’ve never felt before, trying to get it right.”
Sabreen’s contact with the NZ Chinese Association and Wellington Chinese historian Lynette Shum - who has done a lot of work on Joe and others stories - was also crucial to the song’s process.
Also being released today is a new music video, made with Angle3 Productions, including director Léah McVeagh and cinematographer Daryl Wong. Reflecting on identity and community, the video was filmed at Auckland's Howick Historical Village, and jumps between Sabreen in the present, and Joe in the past - who is played by Kevin Yee.
Watch the video HERE
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Auckland-raised, twenty-two-year-old Sabreen is an artist, songwriter and author who crafts earnest and heart-wrenching stories. Her single ‘Glow’ was selected as a semi-finalist in the 2020 International Songwriting Competition, and she has performed extensively across Aotearoa, including at Music in the Parks and the Others Way Festival. Sabreen is also a published poet, releasing her poetry collection ‘spring clean’ in 2022. Proudly Bangladeshi and Muslim, the artist is a fierce advocate for her community, which often finds its way into her music.
Her 2023 debut EP ‘room service’ (RNZ, SRN stations, 95bFM Fancy New Band Showcase, NZ Music Commission Celebrating Wāhine, NZOA Fresh Cuts), was created with Auckland producer Sophie Bialostocki. Her first headline show at BIG FAN was hugely popular and, in 2024, she received funding from the NZ On Air Pan-Asian grant for her latest release ‘Countryman’. With one EP under her belt and a second on the way, the future is looking bright for this rising artist as she shares her music with the world.