THE AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA AND CHRIS SANDERS RELEASE TEDDY BEAR HUNT

"The Teddy Bear Hunt that happened all across New Zealand during the initial lockdown in March was such a positive part of 2020 because it brought families and communities together despite our need to live apart,” explains Chris Sanders, Songwriter, performer and driving force behind the ‘Teddy Bear Hunt’ project.

“This strange COVID time will stay in our minds forever.  So it has been an incredible experience capturing those positive ‘Teddy Bear Hunt’ memories in a fun song that children and their families can continue to share together.

Creating the ‘Teddy Bear Hunt’ song has been one of the most rewarding projects I have been involved in and working with the APO has made it extra special." 

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) is thrilled to be partnering with renowned producer and singer/songwriter Chris Sanders of Angel Star Publishing House (ASPH) on ‘Teddy Bear Hunt’ - an original song, with accompanying picture book and a 4-part ‘how to write a song’ video series.

The ‘Teddy Bear Hunt’ song has just been released for download on itunes and bandcamp:

https://li.sten.to/zNnlD1J

The accompanying picture book, illustrated by breakthrough artist Natalie Conaty of Weta Workshop, will be released in the first week of December – just in time for Christmas.

“We have had the pleasure of working with Chris before and we jumped at the chance to partner again on this special project” says Thomas Hamill, Director of APO Connecting.

“Our children will look back on 2020 as that strange time they couldn’t go to school or visit their friends, but hopefully they will also remember the joy they had going on a Teddy Bear Hunt counting the teddy bears in the windows and the feeling that came with knowing that we were all looking out for each other – even though we couldn’t actually ‘be together’.

I know our musicians certainly missed performing for our audiences and especially our younger audiences during the past year, so being able to give back to the youngest members of our ‘team of 5 million’ with “Teddy Bear Hunt” has been a really positive experience for all of us here at the APO.”

This project from the APO and Angel Star Publishing House celebrates the power of community spirit, adventure and family in a timely and uniquely kiwi way.

FURTHER ‘Teddy Bear Hunt’ INFORMATION: 

Throughout New Zealand, during the 2020 COVID-19 related lockdowns, the Teddy Bear became a symbol of comfort and joy to tamariki and their whanau.  

A grassroots initiative, the Teddy Bear Hunt concept, originally sprung up as a positive initiative to help families and children through this time of isolation. 

Hours were spent walking around neighborhoods hunting out Teddy Bears (and even the odd Penguin, Elephant and Robot!)  It provided a fun excuse for families to get out, enjoy some fresh air and exercise and proved a powerful reminder of community spirit and the importance of showing kindness. 

There are three aspects to this Teddy Bear Hunt collaboration:

1.             An original song ‘The Teddy Bear Hunt’

– available to pre-order from 30 October and with full release 07 November.

October 30 Pre-order link https://li.sten.to/zNnlD1J

November 7 Full release on all digital platforms https://smarturl.it/tbha

2.             The World’s Greatest Teddy Bear Hunt

– picture book, to be released from the 1st week of December.

Available at www.angelstar.co.nz to pre-order now with delivery expected early December

3.             A 4-part video series that will teaches kids how to write their own song. 

- Email apoconnecting@apo.co.nz to order

Chris Sanders and APO have collaborated successfully in the past and for this project will include fellow top ranked NZ musicians Rikki Morris and Levity Beet and breakthrough illustrator Natalie Conaty of Weta Workshop.

LEE MARTIN’S NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR "DREAM ON LITTLE ONE"

Singer/songwriter, Lee Martin, releases her new music video for "Dream on Little One”

Lee Martin is a Christchurch based singer/songwriter who has been impacting the music scene with her thought-provoking lyrics and storytelling writing style. Martin is an old soul with versatility in her song-writing which allows her to cross genres as she glides easily between folk, rock, blues, soul, and country, all the while maintaining her unique sound.

"Dream on Little One" is a song off Lee Martin's "Lost Girl" EP and it is about childhood and all the trials and tribulations that come with it. The song is filled with advice and unwavering love from a Mother's point of view as she expresses the desire for her child to keep following their dreams captured in the lyrics "And I hope that you will know, that I'll always be right there with you, as you sail off on your own, so dream on little one"

This music video features lots of different clips of childhood, from everyday playing to big milestones like going off to school or having a birthday party.  The lyrics were so important in this song that it was decided to add it for impact.

"Take off your shoes, as you learn to follow,
follow more rules
Takers gonna take, and friendships they will break
No one will ever know how much there is at stake
So dream on little one"  

LOU’ANA LAUNCHES DEBUT ALBUM MOONLIGHT MADNESS, WITH MAGICAL NEW VIDEO

Three-time 2020 Pacific Music Award finalist, Lou’ana, sets forth her highly anticipated debut album, Moonlight Madness, accompanied by a spellbinding video for her new single, Love Bind.

Previously sharing a taste of the album through the sassily-soulful singles Eye to Eye, Move Along, Summer In May and Feel This, this 11-track collection, with Love Bind at the helm, delivers a mystical melting pot of funk, soul and jazz, with pinch of rock and roll and a dose of pacific flavour.

Love Bind, initially crafted late one night by Lou’ana on her acoustic guitar, has blossomed from its skeletal beginnings into an 18-piece arrangement complete with a 60’s, Drifters-style feel. Telling the story of a love spell gone wrong, and the realisation that the spell should have been one of self-love instead, Lou had the perfect director in mind to weave the visual tale. “The video had to be just as epic as the production on the track,” says Lou’ana, “I knew Anna Rose Duckworth, director of the clip for my previous single Eye to Eye, was the person to bring my vision to life.  Anna created the concept, and with an incredible team and a strong cast of female witches, we manifested what we set out to do.”

Anna Rose Duckworth, director, elaborates; “This is not your average music video. This is a story of female power and unity. A story of losing yourself, and the support that guides you back. It is the interwoven connection that sparks the magic of womanhood. This is big femme energy.”

Moonlight Madness is the culmination of two and a half years’ worth of meticulous attention to detail and dedication. With lyrics and melody bought to the table by Lou’ana, and then collectively brewed with producer Nathan Judd in his home studio on Tāmaki Makaurau’s North Shore, the process of recording has been a journey of self-belief and an evolving labour of love. Lou’ana explains how the album came to life;

“The album was basically myself and Nate in the studio for two and a half years as we scheduled time around my duties as a working musician. I’d bring in songs I’d written during the week, we would workshop and arrange the music, and then bring in my band and other session musicians for the recording, to add their own flair. We share a passion for soul and funk music of the 60’s and 70’s, we share the same work ethic, and we never skimp on the finer details. Nate is really great at seeing the overall vision and bringing out the best in me and my style.”

Alongside Lou’ana’s smoky powerhouse vocals, Moonlight Madness is underpinned by lush instrumentation and a dynamic musicality - timestamping each track with a multi-layered retro feel. Lou’ana’s heritage as a second generation Samoan New Zealander is also brought to the fore on album title track, Moonlight Madness;

“Moonlight Madness is an earthy brew, infused with my Samoan heritage. We used the pate (log drum) on the track, including a Samoan proverb that speaks of the synergy between the physical and spiritual realms, and I wrote a Samoan chant with my Aunty which calls upon the spirit of the moon goddess! This song was written for dancing, losing yourself in the hypnotic beat. I wanted to find the sweet spot between voodoo blues and Pacific elements and after starting this song over a few times, I think we found it!” 

Lou’ana celebrates the release of Moonlight Madness with a very special album release show in Auckland on 26 November. Expect an evening of 60’s influenced magick and witchery under the influence of the full moon. Tickets available now from undertheradar.co.nz.

While laying the groundwork for her debut release, Lou’ana has performed all around New Zealand as a solo artist, and as part of the inimitable funk troupe Hipstamatics, who have delivered the groove to a multitude of festivals across the country. The spell-binding artist has supported a number of New Zealand jazz acts including Andrew Faleatua at Samoana Jazz Festival and the 2015 Pacific Music Awards, as well as providing live vocals for a collection of celebrated kiwi artists.

MoonlIght Madness is out now through all digital outlets, with vinyl copies available from Holiday Records.

SHLI 'HORIZON'

After his debut single Nightcaps received a grandiose nod from prestigious online music blog Sniffers, eighteen year old Christchurch electronic artist SHLI releases his next creation, Horizon featuring Jaz Paterson delivering fire on the vocals.

“At just eighteen, SHLI’s music shows insightful attention to details that goes beyond his years” writes Sophia Davies from Sniffers.

SHLI is currently attending Christchurch’s SOLE Music Academy where he has honed his production and songwriting skills on their artist development programme with well-known electronic producer KAMANDI. “Working with KAMANDI has made me a considerably better producer,” SHLI says. 

SHLI met Jaz Paterson through SOLE and they were encouraged to collaborate which resulted in the heavy track Horizon. Jaz Paterson adds another dimension with her spine tingling vocal delivery and lyrics that are immediately relatable.

“The track is about realising that life isn’t quite as sparkly and shiny as its sold to you when you’re a kid. It’s about realising that life is full of bruises. It’s holding the ache of disillusionment, coming to terms with the reality of adulthood” Jaz says.

SHLI originally wrote the track as an instrumental having never worked with a vocalist before. SHLI says, “working with Jaz has been a super rewarding experience. I've come out of it having learned so much around the recording/tracking side of producing, a territory I've never really ventured into before.”

Horizon is the second single to be released on SHLI’s upcoming debut EP Nightcaps. Influenced by the likes of Burial, Yung Sherman and Gud, the EP features four ethereal and ambient songs refined from a collection of original demos he created last year.

Maciek Hrybowicz 'Kanikani Kiwi'

Maciek’s new single Kanikani Kiwi, is released tomorrow (30.10.20).

Kanikani Kiwi is a funky jazz tune and a perfect visual match for this lovely flightless bird.

The Kiwi is a unique forest bird. It represents the uniqueness of New Zealand wildlife. Kiwi are taonga (treasure) to Maori who have strong cultural and spiritual associations with the bird. 

Maciek Hrybowicz, is an independent artist, jazz guitarist and music producer from Hamilton. Originally from Poland but now living in New Zealand, he has captured the Kiwi, jumping, dancing and twirling to the odd staccato theme of the tune. The tune has a sunny and playful vibe bringing a smile to your face as we move towards the end of 2020 and optimistically into Summer.

This single is taken from the album AWA, released on Maciek’s own label MaciekMusic. Maciek has also received some matched funding from NZ Music Commission through Outward Sound to promote the release in Poland. 

Maciek has also released a limited range of merchandise through https://kiwimusicmerch.com/collections/maciek-music

ANNOUNCING NOVEMBER MEMBERS ONLINE HANGOUT SESSION 'AUSTRALIA PR & RADIO'

The NZ Music Managers Forum are pleased to announce the November Members Hangout.  These are more intimate on-line sessions, held via Zoom with up to 10 MMF members, which allow our members to take part in a small group learning environment where they can be upskilled in important areas of music management.

The Hangout for November is:

Australia PR and Radio with Stephen Green from SGC

Date:               Wednesday 18th November

Time:               6pm

RSVP:               For MMF members only lorraine.owen@mmf.co.nz

                        Limited to 10 places, but if there is demand we will schedule a second session

Clocking up 20 years in music marketing, Stephen Green and his company The SGC Music Group have created a hub for music marketing including PR, radio plugging across all formats including Triple J,  a digital agency, the successful websites Purple Sneakers, Countrytown and a 24/7 metal radio station The Faction.

The group’s projects include BIGSOUND, MJR Touring, Wildlands, Queensland Music Festival, Australian Music Prize, National Indigenous Music Awards, Skinnyfish Music, Sheppard, John Butler Trio, Didirri, Chillinit and more. www.sgcmedia.com 

Please note this is not a beginners Publicity 101 session, but for members who are interested in learning more about the Australian media and radio landscape.

If you missed our PR and Publicity 101 session earlier in the year you can book a mentoring session with one of our PR mentors via lorraine.owen@mmf.co.nz

The Music Producers Guild NZ / Aotearoa launches

Today sees the launch of the Music Producers Guild of NZ / Aotearoa (MPG NZ) which aims to foster and support a successful community of music producers and in turn, help champion and grow New Zealand music.

The MPG NZ is a non-profit trade organisation, enabled by funding and assistance from the New Zealand Music Commission, Recorded Music New Zealand, NZ on Air, MMF NZ, SAE Auckland and APRA NZ.

The annual membership fee of $100 enables members to access free personalised contracts and short-form deal memos, created by legal partners Media Arts Lawyers, for producing, mixing and performer releases. Members will also be provided with free licences from primary tech partners Serato, along with future deals from a range of industry partners.

Members will have full access to the MPG NZ website which includes an FAQ section on producer royalty payments, clarification of studio roles, music arranging, industry advice, and accounting advice on royalties.

The website will also be providing details of repair techs, legal, accounting, insurance
services, audio courses and with other music industry related information, as well as developing
a directory of studio and producer for interested members.

To join the MPG NZ please go to www.mpgnz.co.nz

MINI 'TALK'

Emerging Christchurch artist mini has just released her debut single “Talk”.

It’s a fiery track both sonically and in its content - about “people at school talking behind my back and me saying ‘if you want to talk about me do it to my face’ It’s pretty straight up.”

The EP, titled “Tangerine Days”, was recorded in Christchurch under the guidance of Sarena Close (Mousey), and will be released on Friday 20th November through Winegum Records.

“Talk” is available now to stream on Spotify and Apple Music, or to purchase on iTunes. Follow her on Instagram to keep up with her as she releases her EP next month.