JENNY MITCHELL ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM ‘FOREST HOUSE’ RELEASED MAY 16
New Zealand born and Melbourne based award-winning artist Jenny Mitchell is excited to unveil plans for the release of her fourth album ‘Forest House’ scheduled for May 16, featuring her new single ‘Heart Like A House’, out now.
NEW SINGLE ‘HEART LIKE A HOUSE’
WATCH VIDEO HERE
New Zealand born and Melbourne based award-winning artist Jenny Mitchell is excited to unveil plans for the release of her fourth album ‘Forest House’ scheduled for May 16, featuring her new single ‘Heart Like A House’, out now.
Recorded in Pirinoa, ‘Forest House’ was created with ARIA and Golden Guitar award-winning producer Matt Fell at the helm. The 12 track album features Jenny’s previous singles ‘Where The Water’s Cold’, ‘Square & Plain’ and the heartwarming ‘Sister’ (featuring her sisters, The Mitchell Twins) while listeners will find grit in ‘Wives Who Wait’ and insight into Jenny’s country roots in ‘No Cash, No Meal’.
Having created a set of songs that is intimate, emotional, heartbreaking and uplifting, Jenny was determined that her storytelling would reach a new level of quality and consistency on this release. Jenny explains, “Forest House is an album of songs that reflect everything that happens within the four walls of a house. The new beginnings, the leaving. The opening, closing or slamming of doors. The good, the bad, the nostalgic and everything in between. Produced by Matt Fell, Forest House was absolutely the best and most connected recording experience I’ve ever had. I spent months searching for a house that we (the band, my sisters, Dad and I) could all stay in and somewhere that would fit a DIY studio. I ended up finding the perfect spot, bunk beds and all, in rural Wairarapa in New Zealand and we spent a week there together, surrounded by beautiful birds and bush, bringing these songs to life.”
On her new single, described as the forthcoming album’s centrepiece, Jenny goes on to say, “Heart Like A House is inspired by how important it is to me to build a life in music that is welcoming and safe for my band and my team – which has largely been influenced by watching other artists carve their own paths that don’t necessarily fit the mainstream industry model. It’s also really influenced by my upbringing, in a family who have always kept welcoming and hosting as a core value.”
Jenny will celebrate the release of ‘Forest House’ with a run of Australian headline tour dates in July, with shows in Canberra, Bathurst, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle, with tickets on sale Tuesday 15 April. Listeners can sign up to the exclusive Forest House tour pre-sale now at: jennymitchell.co.nz/presale
The NZ Best Country Artist winner and two-time Golden Guitar nominee is currently on the road nationally opening for Kasey Chambers and is scheduled to perform at the Gympie Music Muster in August following the conclusion of her album tour.
“A musical journey told with depth & emotion, shared with beautiful musicians, heartfelt production and strong family connection.
‘Forest House’ is everything I love about Jenny Mitchell.”
Kasey Chambers
Sure Thing Agency presents
JENNY MITCHELL - Australian Album Tour 2025
Pre-sale: jennymitchell.co.nz
Tickets on sale Tuesday 15 April 2025
Premier Artists, Essence Music Group, ABC Country, and Double J Present
KASEY CHAMBERS
BACKBONE ALBUM TOUR 2025
WITH SPECIAL GUEST JENNY MITCHELL
Tickets via kaseychambers.com
April
Friday 11th The Cube, Campbelltown, NSW
Saturday 12th Dubbo RSL – Auditorium, Dubbo, NSW
Thursday 17th Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin NT
May
Thursday 1st Chaffey Theatre, Renmark, SA
Friday 2nd Woodville Town Hall, Adelaide, SA
Saturday 3rd Northern Festival Centre, Port Pirie, SA - LAST TIX
Saturday 10th Goldfields Arts Centre, Kalgoorlie, WA
Sunday 11th Esperance Civic Centre, Esperance, WA
Tuesday 13th Princess Theatre – Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany, WA
Wednesday 14th Stage One – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury, WA
Thursday 15th Astor Theatre, Perth, WA – SOLD OUT
Friday 30th Riverlinks Eastbank, Shepparton, VIC
Saturday 31st Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo, VIC
June
Sunday 1st Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston, VIC
Tuesday 3rd The Wedge Performing Arts Centre, Sale, VIC – SOLD OUT
Thursday 5th The Palms at Crown, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 6th The Palms at Crown, Melbourne, VIC – SOLD OUT
Saturday 7th The Play House – Geelong Arts Centre, Geelong, VIC
Friday 13th The Showroom, Twin Towns, QLD
Saturday 14th The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD – SOLD OUT
Sunday 15th Empire Theatre, Toowoomba, QLD
CONNECT WITH JENNY MITCHELL:
Video Premiere - CAPTAIN FESTUS McBOYLE - THE PROSE AND CONS
This is a 45 minute multi- camera documentation of a solo show written for TAHI Festival and performed at BATS Theatre in Wellington. An historical piece dealing with McBoyle's back story, the myths and facts about Pirates, and the cold harsh reality of days of old.
Video Premiere set for Sunday, April 13th at 11am on Youtube.
This is a 45 minute multi- camera documentation of a solo show written for TAHI Festival and performed at BATS Theatre in Wellington.
An historical piece dealing with McBoyle's back story, the myths and facts about Pirates, and the cold harsh reality of days of old.
Cameo appearances by Miss Lucy Drawers and Ebenezer Strong - Song performance and comedic interaction
Filled to the brim with well-crafted songs and awe-inspiring tales of the sea and plenty of the usual cheek we’ve learnt to expect from this one-of-a kind ‘Punk Rock’ Pirate.
More fun than a squirrel up ya jumper!
The Ultimate Rotten Family Entertainer!
We look forward to you all joining us on the day!
Facebook Video Premiere Link - https://www.facebook.com/share/1AkfyP1JcE/
Thursday Collective release their debut gospel album
Hailing from Ōtautahi Christchurch, Thursday Collective is a group of 17 young songwriters between the ages of 18-25 who are passionate about Jesus and proclaiming the Word of God. Their unique individual backgrounds and creative minds bring a fresh flavour to the Christian/Gospel music scene.
Hailing from Ōtautahi Christchurch, Thursday Collective is a group of 17 young songwriters between the ages of 18-25 who are passionate about Jesus and proclaiming the Word of God. Their unique individual backgrounds and creative minds bring a fresh flavour to the Christian/Gospel music scene.
Thursday Collective’s professional experience include performing at Easter Camp in 2023 and 2024, singing at LifeFM’s Christchurch radio opening in 2023, performing their waiata at multiple churches throughout Christchurch and performing backing vocals on RNZ live sessions for Marley Sola in 2023.
Thursday Collective released their debut single “Nothing But Praise” in December 2023 followed by the release of their second single, “Heart Like David” in March 2024.
On Friday the 11th April, Thursday Collective will be releasing their debut album “7pm”. This album was produced and recorded at Mellow Studios by Marley Sola.
“7pm” is a soulful collection of 8 songs written over the past 3 years by all 17 songwriters that takes you on a journey of their faith and how they have learnt to express that through music.
Listen to “7pm” here.
Announcing the release of limited edition CD only release of the album “Bit Players ” by Don and The Divorcees
Following on from last month’s release of the single “Seventeen”, Don and the Divorcees are now releasing a limited edition CD of the complete “Bit Players” album
Following on from last month’s release of the single “Seventeen”, Don and the Divorcees are now releasing a limited edition CD of the complete “Bit Players” album. Copies can be obtained by emailing donandthedivorcees@gmail.com.
About Don and the Divorcees
Don and the Divorcees is a collaboration among Te Whanganui a Tara singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Don Mackay, Hollie Wright and Beans Wright (no relation). Each brings their own compositions to the table and we then work together to make the most of them.
As we each tend to write a slightly different style of song, the unifying element of our sound comes from the arrangements featuring tight vocal harmonies over multiple stringed instruments. While this gives breadth and variety to our live performances, it does make us, in marketing terms, seriously genre non-compliant.
We are a bit “old school”. Our songs are strongly centred on the lyrics, which tell stories or paint pictures, and are designed to be listened to. The instrumentation is built around a variety of acoustic stringed instruments (guitars, violin, mandolin, cello and bass). The whole approach is pretty “wooden” and low tech. We see ourselves as “spiritual folkies” performing contemporary songs.
If you want to check out what we sound like live you can follow the link https://www.youtube.com/@DonandTheDivorceesBand. You will find live recordings of five songs from a gig in April 2024. This includes “Seventeen” and 3 other songs that will be on the “Bit Players” album.
“Bit Players” was recorded in June 2024. Recording and mixing was by Warwick Donald, and the recordings were mastered by Mike Gibson.
What next?
Further online releases will follow with further singles schedules scheduled for May and June ahead of the full online album release in July.
LOOPY TUNES RELEASE ALBUM MĀ: MATARIKI FOR TAMARIKI
Loopy Tunes (Preschool) Music have released their Matariki album 'Mā: Matariki for Tamariki'. A 13-track assortment, ‘Mā: Matariki for Tamariki’ was made with the support of NZ on Air Tamariki funding. In collaboration with producer Thom O'Connor, the Ōtautahi-based sister duo, Siu and Leah, made the album for "our little ones to help them understand Matariki and grow up singing and dancing to the waiata".
Loopy Tunes (Preschool) Music have released their Matariki album 'Mā: Matariki for Tamariki'.
A 13-track assortment, ‘Mā: Matariki for Tamariki’ was made with the support of NZ on Air Tamariki funding. In collaboration with producer Thom O'Connor, the Ōtautahi-based sister duo, Siu and Leah, made the album for "our little ones to help them understand Matariki and grow up singing and dancing to the waiata".
‘Feed The Stars (Hautapu Song)’,'Hiwa-i-te-rangi', 'Te Waka o Rangi (Pōhutukawa)', 'I Love Huawhenua (Tupuānuku)' and 'Huarākau Is Fruit (Tupuārangi)' preceded the album’s release. These waiata are accompanied by fun lyric videos that can be found on the Loopy Tunes (Preschool) Music YouTube channel here.
Siu Williams-Lemi and Leah Williams-Partington make up Loopy Tunes Music. With ancestral links to the largest Māori tribe in Aotearoa, Ngāpuhi, and the friendly islands of Tonga, the sisters bring a super-fun cultural vibe to the children’s music world. They are recognised for their reorua/bilingual Māori and Pasifika children’s waiata, sung in their beautifully harmonious style.
With a growing catalogue of over 170 waiata, their album 'Mā: Matariki for Tamariki' follows “Kahurangi: Little Treasures” – a 23-song assortment of mostly bilingual tunes that young tamariki and the young at heart will enjoy, released in October 2024.
2025 will see the duo touring the North Canterbury region through to Kaikoura in April, followed by an extra special tour to Northland in October to visit their iwi whenua, maunga and marae. Alongside touring, they are looking forward to continuing their new fortnightly YouTube series, “Music Time with Loopy Tunes”.
‘The album, ‘Mā: Matariki for Tamariki’, was made possible by NZ on Air Tamariki funding.
Indie-pop darling Geoff Ong delivers uplifting new EP, DIVERGING LINES
Tāmaki Makaurau-based indie-pop artist Geoff Ong has today shared his hotly anticipated second EP, DIVERGING LINES, alongside an electric new single, which takes its name from the record.
Tāmaki Makaurau-based indie-pop artist Geoff Ong has today shared his hotly anticipated second EP, DIVERGING LINES, alongside an electric new single, which takes its name from the record.
Packed with self-produced and utterly wholesome bangers, DIVERGING LINES offers an intimate insight into Geoff's honest and raw songwriting, and his undeniable talent for encapsulating sensitive subject matter in a way that makes listeners feel less alone. Through topics of growing up, grief, friendship, nostalgia, and navigating the 21st century, paired with captivating indie-pop production, Geoff invites grooving, foot-tapping, and introspection.
Today’s release from the self-proclaimed “pop star for dorks” features 2024’s catchy and candid coming of age anthem, ‘When It Gets Easy’ (The Listener, Seven Sharp, TAHI FM, Radio One) and the pulsing climate-conscious ‘What Will We Do When The Ocean Comes?’ (Tearaway, 95bFM), which stole hearts at its debut performance with The Exploding Rainbow Orchestra in 2023.
Also featured is the new single ‘Diverging Lines’, which oozes an 80s-infused synth-pop style belying its melancholic, raw subject matter.
“I lost a friend to suicide in 2024, and this song really became a vehicle for processing my grief around
that time,” says Geoff. “It made me reflect a lot on relationships with friends and family… sometimes our lines run parallel to each other and then we diverge. So the question then became, ‘How do I make the most of the time that I have with the lines I'm running parallel with right now?’ and ‘How do I show up the best I can for the people I love?’”
The new track was written, produced, mixed and mastered entirely by Geoff in his home studio - like most of the songs on DIVERGING LINES, except for ‘When It Gets Easy’, which was mixed and mastered by Emily Wheatcroft-Snape (Fazerdaze, Lorde, Tiny Ruins).
Other new tracks revealed on the EP include ‘The Internet Is Haunted’, which questions the impact that technology has on our relationships, and ‘I Am Just A Tapestry’, a warm and unravelling song detailing the little parts of ourselves we leave with one another.
“I really believe that platonic relationships can be just as impactful in our lives as romantic relationships,” says Geoff. “Both in how they define who we are as people when we are in them, and how heartbreaking they can be when they end.”
An inspiring collection of heartfelt experiences and feelings, DIVERGING LINES is the perfect soundtrack for self-reflection. Listeners won’t want to miss this stunning new chapter in Geoff Ong’s story!
To celebrate the release of DIVERGING LINES, Geoff Ong and his full band will be playing a release show at Ponsonby Social Club on Saturday April 12! Tickets and more info from UTR
Follow Geoff Ong
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Neither Do I Shares New Single 'Recollection'
Neither Do I has shared his second single from his debut album We're Not Known for Anything, called 'Recollection'. Ebdale says, "Recollection is about realising you have sacrificed your personality to please someone else, resulting in feeling burnt out and unsatisfied."
Neither Do I has shared his second single from his debut album We're Not Known for Anything, called 'Recollection'.
Ebdale says, "Recollection is about realising you have sacrificed your personality to please someone else, resulting in feeling burnt out and unsatisfied."
Neither Do I is inspired by the likes of Elliott Smith, Rob Crow, Jeff Tweedy and Ani DiFranco.
His debut studio album, We're Not Known for Anything, releases Thursday, April 17th on all streaming platforms.
Neither Do I says "There are two sides to this coin - keep your self/ego small enough to remain humble, or stay small because that's how you've grown to feel? There's a fine line between the two. For me, at least. And maybe someone out there.
This concept is all over this album, but it's not the only theme - lots of metaphors and fictional wordplay, but about 75% non-fiction if you spend time to unpack it. It's my most adventurous and mature album yet. It's my first proper album in 5 years and I'm really proud of it."
LOVE PARTY RELEASE FUZZY NEW TRACK ‘I DON’T WANNA LEAVE’
Showing no sign of slowing down, Love Party released an energetic third single, ‘I Don’t Wanna Leave’ today (April 11) from their debut album ‘WOW!’, releasing on May 30.
Showing no sign of slowing down, Love Party released an energetic third single, ‘I Don’t Wanna Leave’ today (April 11) from their debut album ‘WOW!’, releasing on May 30.
Wellington’s Love Party is a punk band that only sings love songs, led by wife and husband duo Kate Yesberg and Dayle Jellyman.
Recorded at Dr Lee Prebble’s Surgery studio in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, ‘I Don’t Wanna Leave’ was one of the first songs penned by the duo. Driven by distorted lead guitar lines and crunchy drums, the song is fittingly described by Jellyman as his ‘party anthem’ - written about “loving what you’re up to, and not wanting to leave”.
Listen to ‘I Don’t Wanna Leave’ HERE
Watch ‘I Don’t Wanna Leave’ Music Video HERE
The single is accompanied by a music video filmed in the Palmerston North Dugald MacKenzie Rose Garden. Perhaps one of the stranger things to happen at the Rose Garden, Love Party were joined by “several groups of supportive rose enthusiasts for the occasion on a hot Friday afternoon”.
Front-duo Kate and Dayle were married for a decade when inspiration struck and they decided to start a band. There was an explosion of fast loud party songs about love and Love Party was born. “We started jamming along with a Roland drum machine in our apartment, jumping about, looking for the fuzziest fuzz, lyrics that just fell out and felt great,” says Yesberg. “Singing in unison just happened and evolved into a real feature of the music”.
Kate and Dayle sing in unison throughout WOW!, bringing a special energy and a collaborative approach to songwriting. They’re joined by their friend and extraordinaire Cory Champion (Clear Path Ensemble, Borrowed CS) on drums
Outside of Love Party, Kate is a well-respected abstract painter and former lawyer turned musician. Her counterpart, Dayle, is a longstanding keyboardist who plays piano and synthesiser with a who’s who of party-rocking Wellington bands, including The Electrons, Snakebone, Three Rays, Miles Calder, Battle Ska Galactica and Fvkvshima, as well as leading the celebrated Floating Head jazz ensemble.
‘I Don’t Wanna Leave’ is out now via all online streaming platforms. ‘WOW!’, the duo’s debut album, is out on 30 May.