IN THE SHALLOWS EMBARK ON 18-DATE NATIONWIDE ALBUM RELEASE TOUR

Poneke's acoustic folk/pop duo In The Shallows embark on their 18-date album release tour. The Wellington-based act features members Danni Parsons, Lance Shepherd, Andrew Bain (Fur Patrol) and Nick Brown (Eb & Sparrow, Vorn). 

Offering up an exquisitely silken sound that weaves together soaring harmonies, mesmerising vocals and acoustic guitars with relatable lyrics about intricate tales of love, loss, connection, redemption and empowerment, their self-titled album was written with the intention of creating a connection with the audience through authenticity and relatable lyrics. Songs that acknowledge difficult times and transcend into an opportunity for self-reflection/personal growth, through positive messages of hope and self-empowerment. 

The album, described by muzic.net.nz's Kev Rowland as "...acoustic music, performed by some wonderful singers, containing songs with a purpose yet so varied that the album never gets tiring, will find this is simply essential", was produced by Steve Rokosh (Calgary, Canada and Nashville, USA). His clients include Emmylou Harris, Sass Jordan, Ruben Young, Jocelyn Alice and many more. He has also scored music for ABC Family, Electronic Arts and Universal Music. 

Guitarist and vocalist Lance has worked as a touring/recording guitarist with Martina Topley-Bird (ex Tricky), with producers such as Johnny Dolla (Massive Attack) Leila Arab (Bjork), and has played a number of high profile radio, television and live shows throughout Europe and the US including BBC2, Later... With Jools Holland, Montreaux Jazz Festival and SXSW. 

Vocalist Danni was raised in Wales, moving to Aotearoa in 2005. Once settled in Wellington, she went on to co-write lyrics with Mara Simpson (Mara and the Bushkas), and performed in Wellington band Soul Caravan alongside other Wellington based Musicians (Fly My Pretties, The Black Seeds). Danni also works as an actor/body double, in casting and as a crew member on international film productions, in television and theatre (Mortal Engines, Ghost in the Shell & Avatar).

In The Shallows will perform at an eclectic range of venues from house concerts, town/city centre venues and festivalsl across the country from mid-December 2020 to April 2021, with support from Jenny Mitchell, Jocee Tuck, Marianne Leigh, Liana Hart, Jamie Agnew, Neil Crowe, Bobby Ravensdaughter and Nico Paladini.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR ESTÈRE'S 2021 NEW ZEALAND TOUR!

Estère announces her most extensive tour of Aotearoa yet, celebrating the release of Archetypes, due to hit the airwaves and record stores on 22 January 2021.

Radio13 described Estère’s October 2020 San Fran show as “an inspired and refreshing performance, fueled by high octane riffs and punchy back beats that alternated with slower, more soulful explorations of vocal harmony and background keyboards.”

Expect more of the same from the tour, with her über-talented cast of creative characters Zoe Moon Mahal (Brockaflower), Ben Lemi (Trinity Roots, French for Rabbits, Dawn Diver) and Cory Champion (Borrowed cs, Clear Path Ensemble). Their on-stage chemistry sparks the delivery of Estère’s magical music to main centres and regions new to her performance.

Archetypes is a departure from the bedroom beats of Estère’s previous two albums. Co-produced with Massive Attack producer, Stew Jackson, each track on the album comes alive through the Wellington-based artist’s deft production. Defying categoristion, her music is a mixture of folk, R&B and electronica, blended in a unique fashion, easily identified as ‘Estère’. Archetypes is the sound of an artist who entirely commits to creative instinct.

Estère's tour will be conducted with sustainability at the forefront, reducing emissions and consumption wherever feasible. A $1 carbon offset has been added into each ticket price, which will contribute to offsetting Estère's New Zealand tour carbon footprint through tree planting, sustainable energy and community education initiatives. Thank you for thinking of the environment and your own carbon emissions when attending Estère's shows!

Tickets on sale now from www.esteremusic.com

 

February:
17.02 DIVE, Dunedin
18.02 Wunderbar, Christchurch
19.02 The Plant, Blenheim (ALL AGES)
20.02 East St Cafe, Nelson
21.02 Mussel Inn, Takaka
26.02 Meow, Wellington
27.02 Splore (ALL AGES)

March:
5.03 Jam Factory, Tauranga (ALL AGES)
7.03 Newtown Festival, Wellington (ALL AGES)
26.03 Paisley Stage, Napier
27.03 The Stomach, Palmerston North

JAMES HUNTER ANNOUNCES NEW EP, YOU

James Hunter is thrilled to announce the release of his second EP from James Hunter, You, available everywhere on 22/01/21.

You is an acoustic folk EP, which keeps to similar strains of sound with James’ debut EP, “Last Little While” but sits in a new place that is more vulnerable, musically open and stripped back, while being intentional and emotionally charged. The titular lead single, You will be releasing on the 11th of December, with a music video to follow ensuite.

James Hunter has been creating music all his life and performed in shows, theatre, and other performance-based events. COVID allowed James the time to write, produce, record and release his debut EP, Last Little While, and his sophomore EP, You, all from the comfort of his home.

James plans to play shows in celebration of the release in his hometown of Auckland, and in his new adopted hometown, Wellington. This will be in February 2021.

‘MY NAME IS JUNO HELLO JUPITER’ WINS IN NASA CINESPACE FILM COMPETITION

Dreaming of Jupiter and winning in film with the musical story of NASA’s Juno spacecraft, Independent kids music songwriter, director and MMF member Claudia Robin Gunn has won the special category prize for ‘Best Production using 100% NASA Archive footage’ at the 2020 NASA Cinespace programme at Houston Cinema Arts Festival in the USA.

Won for the music video for her song of the same name ‘My Name is Juno Hello Jupiter’, this production traces the incredible story of the NASA Juno spacecraft through the medium of song, using image sequences taken by the JunoCam, and other NASA archive material.

Songwriter and director Claudia says, “I had read about this film festival several years ago, and when I set about creating the songs for my kids music album Little Wild Universe (made with funding from NZ On Air), I was inspired by all these NASA videos that I just wanted every kid I know to sit down and watch. It seemed a perfect fit to pay homage to these astounding missions using the actual archive material. When you look at the images taken by JunoCam, they are nothing less than works of art. Having this acknowledgement from NASA and Cinespace and Richard Linklater himself (judge) is a real honour”.

“My dream is to keep creating interesting content for kids that brings arts and sciences together. Thanks Tongal and NASA Johnson Space Centre and Houston Cinema Arts Society for this opportunity to work with the amazing archive that has been collected over the years. And thank you to New Zealand on Air who supported the creation of this album.” 

A collaboration between NASA Johnson Space Centre and Houston Cinema Arts Society, Cinespace is a short film competition giving filmmakers around the world a chance to share their works inspired by and using actual NASA imagery. This is the 6th year the competition has been run. 

Claudia’s film was competing with more than 300 entries from around the world. The film has been screening at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival’s online event in November 2020 along with the 12 other finalists, and is now available to view by the public on Vimeo, on Claudia’s Youtube channel and will soon be available via TVNZ On Demand.

This award caps off a productive year for this independent songwriter – the Little Wild Universe album and video series has been followed up by the release of 25 track songbook and double album “Sing Through The Year – A Little Wild Childhood’, with funding from Creative NZ, two singles in support of the NZ Robin Toutouwai for Bird Of The Year, co written with her sister Melissa and a new single with fellow kindie songwriter Michal Amy Bush, appropriately titled ‘Look Up, Slow Down’, that was written via Instagram messages prior to New Zealand’s first lockdown.

While she plans to take a breather this Christmas, this mum of two is not planning on slowing down anytime soon, with new videos in the works for 2021.

My Name is Juno Hello Jupiter  – a short film and music video on Vimeo:
https://vimeo.com/480072960

Visit Cinespace: https://www.cinespace.org/

Little Wild Universe – funded by NZ On Air, produced by Tom Fox at The Sound Room

https://open.spotify.com/album/3zz0uMOHpkE3mDEeQb3Y5l?si=IqdiYSRYTluVTLhygt--CA

Little Wild Music YouTube:
https://youtu.be/18f3F2SbweU

SEA MOUSE TO PUT ON THEIR FINAL SHOW

Pōneke rockers Sea Mouse are putting together one final show in their home town for 2020. They will be joined for the event by local pshyc institution The Spectre Collective!

After their successful 2020 summer tour of their most recent release, 'Tropical Fish', SEA MOUSE have found themselves back in the studio over winter, working on new material.
The thunderous trio are fresh from touring these new tunes in both the north and south islands over the last two months.
Featuring the talents of Seamus Johnson (Guitar and Vocals), Scott Maynard (Bass), and Thomas Friggens (Drums), Sea mouse deliver a punch packing, viciously high energy live show, which translates brilliantly from turntable to stage!

https://seamouse.bandcamp.com/

The Spectre Collective is a Wellington based psych group embarking on a wide range of sonic explorations. Their hectic and eclectic sound is rife with mischief, anxiety and paranoia, ranging between catchy grooves, dreamy sci-fi dance numbers, warped time signatures and abrasive horror soundscapes.
https://the-spectre-collective.bandcamp.com/

Doors Open 830pm
Pre Sales $15 from UTR
Door Sales $20

CHRIS SANDERS 'MITTENS'

Mittens is arguably New Zealand’s most famous Cat.  He was awarded the Key to Wellington City by Mayor Andy Foster, has had his own exhibition at Wellington Museum and now he’s getting his very own official song!

Written by 2020 Children’s Tui Award Finalist Chris Sanders and Natalie Conaty, “Mittens – Official Song” is all about the adventures of Mittens around the city of Wellington. 

“What an honour to write this song for Mittens and his fans,” says song co-writer Chris Sanders. “He has become such a huge celebrity in his own right and we felt it was fitting to give him his own song to help share his adventures around Wellington.” 

The Turkish Angora kitty, known affectionately by his legions of fans as ‘His Royal Floofiness (HRF)’ shot to fame when he began turning up in random places around Wellington, from offices to rest homes, yoga studios to night clubs – he’s even been known interrupt the occasional health and safety briefing!

“Mittens has brought so many people together through his real life encounters around Wellington bringing a ray of sunshine wherever he goes. He is a wonderful example of the positive influence animals can have on mental health and the community and has connected people globally in a way that very few could,” says Mittens owner, Silvio Bruinsma.

As his reputation grew, a Facebook page, ‘The Wondrous Adventures of Mittens’ was set up and has grown to almost 65K fans who follow his every move.  For those lucky enough to encounter Mittens on his journey, selfies are snapped and shared on his page for the whole world to enjoy. 

In a year that has seen so many people suffer from loneliness, isolation and separation, Mittens has become a great ambassador in bringing people together and spreading joy around the world.  So at the request of His Royal Floofiness a portion of proceeds from the song downloads are going to The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand! 

“This purrfect sense of wellbeing is what we call the ‘Mittens Effect’ and it is great to know the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand will receive the proceeds from the song to support its critical work,” says Wellington Mayor Andy Foster. “Who Let the Dogs Out won a Grammy in 2001, so perhaps it will be Mittens strolling the red carpet in 2021! We would just need to ensure Paris Hilton didn’t try to nab him!”  

There’s something for the little and big kids in this song, it’s catchy, a little bit cheeky and very funny!  As part of the release of the song there is also a music video featuring Mittens, those he has met on his travels and some well know Wellington faces!

Released through Angel Star Publishing House, pre-order commences on Friday December 4 and goes on full release Saturday December 12.

Use this link for both pre-order and full release https://smarturl.it/7uxbgb

WRITTEN BY WOLVES - OH NO

OH NO is an ode to the festering, cesspit of a car crash that has been 2020.

We have all experienced the uncomfortable and awkward moment of driving past a car crash and finding yourself unable to look away even though you know you should. Somehow, 2020 has managed to extract that feeling and turn it into an entire year. This song summarises the years events, at times with a tongue in cheek, if you don’t laugh you’ll cry sense of humour and at others with a sincere intensity that the tragedies of this year deserve.

While renowned for their highly energetic live show Written By Wolves are also one of the highest streamed heavy/rock acts based in Aotearoa New Zealand. They have more than 300,000 individual monthly listeners on Spotify alone and over 95,000 subscribers on their YouTube channel.

WHO SHOT SCOTT - I JUST STOPPED GIVING A F*CK

'I JUST STOPPED GIVING A FUCK' is the electrifying second single by Auckland, NZ based experimental hip-hop artist WHO SHOT SCOTT.

This track is one of the darkest yet most exhilarating musical representations to have ever come from New Zealand, which is why WSS is truly unlike any of his contemporaries. The self produced, self written, braggadocio forward track boasts a variety of bold sonic choices. These include, a very liberal use of distorted synths and overly loud live-drum fills which are paired alongside a testimony by the artist himself describing how he has come to the point of "Not giving a fuck" anymore.

The avant-garde music video was shot in Queenstown, NZ by Connor Pritchard and is a full one-take shot via an old Sony camcorder in night vision.