LOUIS BAKER 'OVERDRIVE'
Today, Aotearoa’s modern soul master, Louis Baker returns with a summer banger of a tune, ‘Overdrive', featuring Kiwi double-platinum independent rapper/producer Kings.
Aotearoa's Modern Soul Master Louis Baker shares new summer banger 'Overdrive’ featuring Kings
Today, Aotearoa’s modern soul master, Louis Baker returns with a summer banger of a tune, ‘Overdrive', featuring Kiwi double-platinum independent rapper/producer Kings.
Building over irresistible soul-funk grooves, and bouncy guitar licks, the seductive new single shines with the Wellington singer-songwriter's rich vocal melodies as he ponders the thrill of an inviting new acquaintance.
Of ‘Overdrive’, Baker says,"This track is about when you meet someone new and exciting for the first time. There’s a mutual deep connection, almost like you've met each other before, and your heart is set into overdrive. Part of you wants to dive into this relationship quickly, and the other half of you says to take it slow.”
‘Overdrive’ was lushly produced by New Zealand producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Devin Abrams (Dallas Tamaira, Drax Project, Pacific Heights) between his studio in Hawkes Bay and Surgery Studios, and takes inspiration from a variety of genres and eras.
"It was an absolute blast to make this song with the voice that is Louis Baker - there's a richness that exists in Louis' voice that is hard to find in the world today," says Abrams. "Overdrive is a sexy number with odes to past decades and artists. 'I Can't Go For That' by Hall & Oates was a big inspiration, alongside west coast flavours and disco."
‘Overdrive’ first came to life at the APRA AMCOS Gold Coast Songhubs, a songwriting program for artists and producers, which Baker attended in 2019. Kings’ soaring rap was added after the pair met, and hit it off, at the Reo Māori SongHubs, held in Waimarama, Hawkes Bay, last November.
The release of 'Overdrive' follows Baker's one-off, sold-out headline show with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) at Auckland’s Town Hall to a standing ovation last week.
With over 20 million Spotify streams and a loyal global following, the successful touring artist has sold out previous shows in New Zealand and performed on the European festival circuit multiple times. Baker’s debut album Open was released in 2019 to critical acclaim, including a prestigious Taite Music Prize nomination, and Recorded Music NZnominations for Best Soul Artist and Best Māori Artist. Previous singles ‘Back On My Feet’ (2014), ‘Rainbow’ (2016), and 'Black Crow’ (2018) have been recognised with APRA Silver Scroll nominations.
Stay tuned for more music from Louis Baker this year.
Anna Hawkins announces her new single ‘I Am’ and upcoming album Dreamer.
Anna’s latest single ‘I Am’ delivers an original song that sounds like it's been around for hundreds of years. Her ethereal vocals accompanied by whimsical guitar, cello and tin whistle create a world of atmospheric intrigue.
Anna’s latest single ‘I Am’ delivers an original song that sounds like it's been around for hundreds of years. Her ethereal vocals accompanied by whimsical guitar, cello and tin whistle create a world of atmospheric intrigue.
‘I Am’ is inspired by the spiritual connection in nature with its accompanying music video filmed at Bethells Beach on a mystical, rainy day.
“We'd gotten up at 5am for hair and makeup when it bucketed down with rain for our planned sunny video shoot. So in the spur of the moment we braved the weather and put something together for a completely different song (I Am). Often in life things don't go to plan but hidden within these moments are rare opportunities. In this case we captured some moody weather we simply wouldn't have otherwise."
I Am' is the first single from Anna's upcoming album Dreamer which is due for release on April 30th.
Known for her expressive tone and moving interpretations “with a voice that has the power to uplift - irrespective of the song being sung” (NZ Musician) Anna’s music has been described as captivating and ethereal. Dreamer is no exception.
In a clever combination the album captures an authentic folk style while showcasing Anna’s colourful classical range and haunting voice.
Inspired by nature the musical landscape and lyrical content evoke feelings of exploration, playfulness and calm. A culmination of where she’s been and where she is going, the emotive folk inspired album see’s Anna embrace her New Zealand upbringing and Irish heritage to serve up her most original work to date.
The Dreamer project first began while Anna was living in London recording with longstanding producer Pawel Zarecki at his home studio in Warsaw, Poland.
Six years previously, Anna first traveled across the globe to work alongside Pawel and other world class musicians in Poland, London and Israel.
It was a daring move that brought her recording dreams to life with albums Journey On, Bold Brave & Beautiful and Divine, the latter of which earned five weeks in the NZ album charts with a song clocking over a million views via youtube for its music video filmed in Israel.
After moving back to New Zealand Dreamer was completed with singer-songwriter Luke Thompson producing and Nic Mander’s mixing and recording vocals at Parachute Studios. Four years in the making Dreamer features a talented and eclectic group of musicians from Poland, Israel and New Zealand. While the album is mainly guitar driven it also includes a string orchestra, cello, fiddle, percussion and keys alongside instruments such as the mountain dulcimer, melodica, ukulele and tin whistle with some foot stomping, hand clapping, whistling and atmospheric vocals thrown in for good measure.
“Dreamer is my small way of encouraging other dreamers on their journey. I want to uplift people through the power of music, story and connection. That has always been my driving force when it comes to creating and performing music and I feel it's more pertinent than ever”
www.facebook.com/musicannahawkins
DAN SHARP 'THE WAY THAT YOU USED TO'
The Way That You Used To speaks to the inevitability of change. Painful, challenging and often unwelcome, change allows us to grow and gain a deeper understanding of who we really are.
The Way That You Used To speaks to the inevitability of change. Painful, challenging and often unwelcome, change allows us to grow and gain a deeper understanding of who we really are. Honesty and acceptance around a chapter's end is ultimately for the best.
The chorus for the song came to Dan in the middle of the night while driving towards a difficult conversation. Amid doubt and questions around a failing relationship (where things went wrong? What could have been done differently?), a disarming honesty and awareness is present; that despite our best intentions, sometimes the best thing to do is to go our separate ways.
The Way That You Used To was recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, produced and mixed by award-winning mix engineer, Simon Gooding and supported by NZonAir.
SEVEN ZEN 'DON'T PLAY WITH FIRE'
The initial inspiration for this song began with the orange sky from the Australian bush fires in early 2020, a symbolism of government incompetence blazing in the sky, and the song slowly grew to become somewhat of an anti-fascist cry.
The initial inspiration for this song began with the orange sky from the Australian bush fires in early 2020, a symbolism of government incompetence blazing in the sky, and the song slowly grew to become somewhat of an anti-fascist cry. Its lyrics document many of Kate’s observations of the state of the world, and the need for people to stand together and work towards a brighter future; to 'fight the fire'.
Soon after writing it, the song was entered it into the Play It Strange "Lion Foundation" competition, and as a finalist Kate received the opportunity to record it in full at Roundhead Studios, where she was joined by AJ Davy (Motorboat/ Left Foot Kick) on drums.
The B-Side, ‘Business Man’ (originally by Canadian band Mother Mother), is a song that Kate feels similarly covers the way our society seems to be geared only towards profit, and not towards shared humanity.
Kate has been included on the last 5 Play it Strange ”Who Loves Who” compilations as a finalist, including 1st place in 2020 with her cover of Reb Fountain’s ‘Hawks and Doves’. She also won the 2020 Northland regional final of Smokefree Rockquest. Kate will attend Auckland University this year, as a law and arts student, she hopes to make a difference in the world with advocacy and music.
Postponed: Estère's South Island Archetypes Release tour
We can't predict how Covid Levels will unfold in 2021, and unfortunately this recent development means that Estère's South Island Archetypes release tour will need to be postponed until May. It just can't happen with Level 2!
Well, here we are.
We can't predict how Covid Levels will unfold in 2021, and unfortunately this recent development means that Estère's South Island Archetypes release tour will need to be postponed until May. It just can't happen with Level 2!
We hope to be back to you by the end of this week with new tour dates in the same cities: Dunedin, Lyttelton, Blenheim, Nelson and Onekaka. With many apologies, we look forward to seeing you in a couple of months. Thank you for your patience and for being ticket-buying superstars.
PLEASE note that the rest of Estère's tour dates are still proceeding as planned!
Tickets on sale now from www.esteremusic.com
February:
17.02 DIVE, Dunedin - POSTPONED
18.02 Wunderbar, Christchurch - POSTPONED
19.02 The Plant, Blenheim (ALL AGES) - POSTPONED
20.02 East St Cafe, Nelson - POSTPONED
21.02 Mussel Inn, Takaka - POSTPONED
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
Estère's band is comprised of 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.
Artist Expressions of Interest Open - Taranaki Arts Festival
The Taranaki Arts Festival is seeking expression of interest from artists for their 2021 festival season.
The Taranaki Arts Festival is seeking expression of interest from artists for their 2021 festival season.
Presented by TAFT, the Taranaki Arts Festival launched in March 1991 as a biennial international arts festival. Over the years it has hosted the likes of Russia’s delightful Slava’s SnowShow, Montreal’s explosive Traces, the world premiere of opera The Prodigal Child, Dame Malvina Major, the Topp Twins, Footnote Dance Company, and the list goes on.
In 2019 the traditional biennial festival underwent a contemporary makeover, evolving into four unique festivals. The first festival of its kind in New Zealand to present a series of niche festivals, the new structure has kept Taranaki at the forefront of the arts scene, and more alive with the arts than ever.
Taranaki Arts Festival in 2021 is looking for fresh ideas, artistic proposals, and performances from any individuals or companies.
If you think you have an act or work that fits the festival’s vision to be a world-class, dynamic, modern, and iconic arts festival enriching the lives of our people, we would love to hear from you.
Proposals: TAFT welcome submissions for new works or re-presentation of existing works. Our arts festivals are curated festivals, and we are looking to programme:
Dance
Theatre
Cabaret
Musical
Comedy
2021 Festival DATES:
Right Royal Cabaret Festival
29 July - 01 Aug 2021
RESET Arts Festival
4-14 Nov 2021
To apply head to www.taft.co.nz
Watch this video message about applying from our Artists Director, Emere Wano click HERE >>
VOODOO BLOO 'HER NAME WAS HUMAN'
Introducing Voodoo Bloo, a powerful alternative-rock act that features singer and songwriter Rory McDonald. The first UK single ‘Her Name Was Human’ will be released on 26th February via PlasticGroove Records.
Introducing Voodoo Bloo, a powerful alternative-rock act that features singer and songwriter Rory McDonald. The first UK single ‘Her Name Was Human’ will be released on 26th February via PlasticGroove Records. The track has been worked on by Gregory Haver (Manic Street Preachers / Super Furry Animals / Bullet for My Valentine) as mix production adviser.
On ‘Her Name Was Human’ Rory says “the track has a lot to do with broken relationships, and the idea of Stockholm syndrome which I felt that some of my close mates were experiencing to some degree at the time of writing the lyrics. You know something's bad for you, but you keep going back for more, in hopes something better comes of it.”
Rory is originally from Sheffield but now resides in Wellington, New Zealand. Voodoo Bloo’s sound is influenced by acts such as Arctic Monkeys and System of a Down, as well as some singer-songwriter artists such as Car Seat Headrest and Neutral Milk Hotel. This combination brings a great blend of emotional and conceptual songwriting with a very catchy and frequently danceable distorted mess.
Before starting Voodoo Bloo, Rory was the frontman of Lucifer Gunne, who gained a large fan base from touring, releasing singles & EP’s. He started the new band so he could have creative freedom and because the forthcoming debut album ‘Jacobus’ is a conceptual and very personal record.
“Last July, a close friend of mine for many years, took his own life while I was away overseas. This was obviously a massive shock to myself and the people around me, but being isolated from my friends while in a different country led me to writing a lot of lyrics during one of the strangest and scariest points in my life. The writing of “Jacobus” was a very cathartic process at a time when I didn’t have many people around me to talk to.”
New Zealand currently has one of the highest teen suicide rates in the world and recently the band played multiple charity shows for Lifeline Aotearoa (an organisation focused on suicide prevention and mental health treatment).
Tami Neilson sends a surprise Valentine to her fans
Tami Neilson sends a surprise Valentine to her fans with new animated video for "Tell Me That You Love Me", featuring long-time friend and collaborator Delaney Davidson.
Tami Neilson sends a surprise Valentine to her fans with new animated video for "Tell Me That You Love Me", featuring long-time friend and collaborator Delaney Davidson.
Like many of us, Tami has been separated from her family for over a year due to COVID. Her brother Jay Neilson (co-writer and winner of APRA Best Country Song 2020) normally tours and records with her, while her brother Todd Neilson (ValiantMade) produced all 7 music videos from her latest album "CHICKABOOM!". Both brothers have been in lockdown since Christmas Eve during the Canadian winter and Todd decided to surprise Tami with this animated visual clip he created to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the "CHICKABOOM" release.
"Tell Me That You Love Me" features colourful animated versions of Tami and Delaney performing in different scenes from some of her iconic music videos that Todd has produced (including a nod to "Big Boss Mama", the song Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern asked Tami to perform at her campaign launch last year).
In addition to this animated valentine, Tami is releasing CHICKABOOM DELUXE on all digital platforms 19 Feb which will include 5 reimagined live tracks recorded by Radio NZ at Roundhead Studios with a 12-piece orchestra.
TAMI NEILSON - LIVE
Feb 20th Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival - Tickets HERE
March 5th Waterbourne Takapuna - Tickets HERE
April 10th Dunedin Arts Festival - Tickets HERE