INTRODUCING ‘DAY TO DAY’ – A DEBUT SINGLE + VIDEO FROM MARY

Introducing MARY., the dreamy alter-ego of musician and songwriter Stef T. The self-produced, all-woman debut track, ‘Day to Day’, interlaces elements of electro-pop and r&b with a voice that enchants, along with an official video filmed, edited and directed by David Risdon and Charlie Rose Creative.

Reading like a page in a diary, ‘Day to Day’ offers a candid and emotionally raw glance at being overlooked as a woman in a man’s world. She is put together, glamorous and poised on the outside, but on the inside she is simmering like a pot ready to boil over, fed-up and on the brink of snapping.

Speaking of the track, Stef T explains, “’Day to Day’ is a reflection on what it is to be a woman in a role where you are always unseen; constantly giving yet never receiving. As woman, we are often undervalued for our day to day work in all aspects - as mothers, in relationships, in our careers; having to push extra hard to get the basic recognition & thanks that we are entitled to.

“This song is a commentary of a large part of my life where I settled, sacrificed and worked, only to be used and taken for granted. It is about learning to survive a toxic relationship, discover your own individual worth again and reclaim the power that you gave away to someone else.

“Producing this song myself is the only thing that made sense in context with the intention of MARY. as a project. She is an entirely self made, independent woman, who does it all and doesn't need a man to confirm that she's doing a good job. This is something I have personally struggled with, so I created the MARY. persona to feel more empowered in my storytelling as an artist, in an industry without a large visible number of female-identifying producers.”

Naturally drawn to creating spacious and ethereal electro music that still maintains a hard edge allows MARY to keep conversational and raw lyrical content at the very heart of what she does, and this is just the opening chapter to her story, with more to come throughout 2021.

THOMAS OLIVER 'GUGAF'

Thomas Oliver is releasing his latest single GUGAF via Tenfold Records tomorrow.

GUGAF is a song of personal empowerment. The title is an acronym of the phrase: I’ve “given up giving a fuck”. It’s a celebration of reaching the point in life at which you no longer will be dictated by fear of what other people will think.

“To build a forcefield to the cruelty of human behaviour is to become truly powerful.” -Thomas Oliver

The song was written, recorded, produced and mixed entirely by Thomas Oliver during lockdown, and its aesthetic is a meeting point of Roots, Rock and Reggae, featuring a stuttering wah sound on the Weissenborn, the instrument for which he is internationally acclaimed and celebrated as one of the best.

Finnish, Indo-Kiwi duo release mesmeric music video for ‘MINEFIELD’

Filming the music video for this electro-pop single took place during the mystical hours of the night. The moment the video begins, the static visuals and voguing by the House of The Almighty captures your eyes. Celebrating the LGBTQI+ community and Auckland’s PRIDE Month, the video showcases acceptance, love and diversity paired up with theajsound’s and NEEKOH’s mesmeric performances.

Right from its dark intro, the song transports listeners down the rabbit hole, into their very own Stranger Things world.

Finnish star NEEKOH (aka Niko) brings you back to the present with his stirring, smooth- as-coffee voice.

Meanwhile theajsound (aka AJ) breaks patterns with his hip-pop second verse; matching NEEKOH’s sexy tones with his own sombre.

The singer-songwriter duo say the song reflects the tumultuous relationships of their past. “When we got into the studio, MINEFIELD. was there waiting for us,” says Niko. “It took us barely an hour to write the song and two to record and arrange it. It was magical and we knew we had to share that magic with you.”

Strong supporters of each other’s music, both artists say that working with the other has been long overdue. “Niko has been an amazing friend and mentor for the last year,” says AJ. “We’ve been trying to write a song forever and when we finally did, it was instantaneous. We want our listeners to enjoy the song as much as we enjoyed creating it,” he says.

MINEFIELD. will have heartbreakers, and makers, dancing to its synthesized 80s beat. It leaves behind its haunting melody to echo in the depths of your mind.

The electro-pop song and music video will be available on February 25 on every major streaming platforms under both the NEEKOH and theajsound channels.

WHO SHOT SCOTT 'MERCY'

WHO SHOT SCOTTs debut EP MERCY is dropping today with the song LOYALTY being the focus single

MERCY is the debut project by Auckland, NZ based experimental hip-hop artist WHO SHOT SCOTT. The self produced EP features an eclectic selection of sonic choices, heavy on synths and tribal drums - a decision that WSS says is a true representation of his innermost artistic expression. The underlying theme of the debut offering is betrayal and ego, and the contrast between the two. Tracks such as "LOYALTY" delve into the dark anger and sadness that come with the reminiscence of a fallout with an ex-friend, while songs like "I JUST STOPPED GIVING A FUCK" showcase a significantly more braggadocio energy and confidence in his ability to manoeuver through the music industry alone. Creatively concise, and inspired by real life trauma and events, MERCY is a bold statement by WHO SHOT SCOTT, not only telling his deepest and darkest secrets, but doing it with style

Zaidoon Nasir fled Iraq to arrive in New Zealand when he was 2 years old. He found comfort in a friend at age 8 and they were joined at the hip, their shared love for hip-hop resulted in the duo “Times x Two” being born. Together they toured and played shows internationally. In 2019 however, his partner converted religion, abruptly announced he will no longer make music, moved overseas and left his closest friend here with no goodbye. WHO SHOT SCOTT is the brand new project telling the story of betrayal, rising again, and channeling all that energy into something more powerful. It is one of the darkest yet exciting projects we have ever come across.

The DooDahs Birthday Tour 2021

Back by popular demand… The DooDahs are on tour performing their brand-new fun packed, high energy, laugh-out-loud show in the upcoming months. 

The DooDahs are a quirky, rock pop band entertaining the whole family with wacky humour, fun adventures and world class music. 

The DooDahs are inviting families to come and enjoy a visual and musical ride with captivating characters and songs to “rock your socks off.”  You can dance, sing and play along with the Doodahs at their first live shows, 11am and 1:30pm, on Saturday March 13th at Tauranga Boys College and Saturday March 27th at Mount Maunganui College.  Tickets cost $15 from Eventbrite visit https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/o/the-doodahs-32256869487 to purchase tickets.

Book now as seats are limited! More shows to be announced so keep in touch by visiting www.thedoodahs.co.nz or on Facebook & Instagram @DooDahSuperstar

BANANA MUNDO NORTH ISLAND TOUR

Banana Mundo is touring around the North Island to celebrate the release of "The Kaponga Cumbia Club" the band's third single release from the upcoming debut album called "Hola" due to be released in April 2021.
The eight piece band Banana Mundo will play a show at the Hawke's Bay Latin Dance Club on Friday 5th March 2021 together with a live DJ set from the Alzbeta Tango Project. On Saturday 6th March at the Vogelmorn Hall in Wellington together with Cumbia Blazera & The Night Kitchen and on Sunday 7th March at the Newtown Festival in Wellington.

Banana Mundo is a collective of musicians from around the world. Members from Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, France, Switzerland, England and New Zealand bring together an infectious worldly mix of upbeat multilingual Latin and Afro Beat tunes.

Hailing from New Plymouth, the west coast of beautiful New Zealand, the band features French keysanova Severin Thiebaut on hot salsa flavoured keys, the brassiliant English tenor and soprano trombone player Tombone Roberts, local west coast kiwi legend Robin Wells on jazzy sax, genio de la guitarra (guitar genius) Andres Duran from Uruguay, the hottest accordion player in all of the west Naomi Kuttner, “máquina de percusionista” aka “the love rhythm” Argentinian percussionist Nico Paladini and the world's tallest man from Venezuela en la batería (on drums) Christian Jacobsoni Rangel.
The explosive 8 piece band Banana Mundo is fronted by the musical swiss army knife Andre Manella on bass, clave, percussion and lead vocal.

Banana Mundo grew out of the house party jam sessions Andre Manella held throughout the winter of 2018.

Gradually, these jam sessions morphed into a band that plays Afrobeat & Latin grooves, named after a popular fruit. These days, despite national tours, booked out gigs and an enthusiastic fan base, Banana Mundo still retains the lively feel of a group of friends enjoying music together.

Banana Mundo's latest single "The Kaponga Cumbia Club" is a song that grew out of the completely-made-up-but-still-true story of the amazing events in the small rural Taranaki town of Kaponga. Many years ago, a farmer decided to dig under a 40 foot container and turn it into an underground Latin Club, where the locals could sample cumbia rhythms and bootie shake all night on the dance floor. "The Kaponga Cumbia Club" is a tribute to this mythical club, a song that will get you grooving. Available on all digital music platforms from Friday 26th Feb 2021.

You can expect lots of dancing to this irresistible contagious mix of Latin and afro beat. Tickets for the Napier and Wellington shows are on eventfinda.co.nz

BACK TO BASICS SEMINAR – CHRISTCHURCH

The Music Managers Forum Aotearoa with support from Recorded Music New Zealand is proud to present the return of the annual Back to Basics seminar in Christchurch on Tuesday March 23rd.  

Aimed at all who are new to artist management including self managed artists, this seminar explores the fundamentals and inner workings of the music industry. Topics will cover; contracts – band, manager, live etc, setting up a management business and the business of a band, information on APRA AMCOS, Recorded Music NZ’s Direct to Artist Scheme, funding, the differences between marketing and promotion, essential music industry agencies, income and royalties, duty of care and artist management in general. 

Two experienced music industry professionals will be presenting and sharing their indispensable knowledge and answering questions from attendees.  

Lorraine Barry – Manager Sir Dave Dobbyn, Tom Scott, Team Dynamite, Aaradhna, VGB

Teresa Patterson – Music Managers Forum Aotearoa Chairperson

Back to Basics Seminar – Christchurch

When:  Tuesday 23rd March 2021

Time: 6.00pm – 7.30pm

Venue:  Spark Place, Tūranga Library, 60 Cathedral Square, Christchurch

 MMF members free. Non members $10.00
 

 To RSVP for your place or for more information on joining the MMF Aotearoa contact lorraine@mmf.co.nz or visit www.mmf.co.nz

The Chills - Scatterbrain Album Release Tour

Having announced the release of their seventh studio album “Scatterbrain, The Chills announce a nationwide tour for April / May 2021.

The Chills - Scatterbrain Album Release Tour

April 16 Oamaru Club, Oamaru

April 17 Larnach Castle, Dunedin Arts Festival SOLD OUT

April 18 Festival of Colour, Wanaka

April 30 Cassels Blue Smoke, Christchurch

May 1 Wakatu Hotel, Nelson

May 6 St. Peter's Hall, Paekākāriki.

May 7 Meow, Wellington

May 8 The Cabana, Napier

May 9 The Dome, Gisborne

May 13 Totara St, Mount Maunganui

May 14 Powerstation, Auckland

May 15 Town Hall, Raglan

TIckets on sale Monday Feb 22nd at 9am from Banished Music

About Scatterbrain

“An architect of New Zealand’s fabled Dunedin sound” Pitchfork

“Just glorious” The Guardian

“The Chills have never sounded better” Record Collector

Dunedin’s finest, The Chills release their seventh studio album ‘Scatterbrain’, a glorious self- examination of Martin Phillipps’ songwriting hot (ish) on the heels of the hugely successful ‘Snow Bound’ (2018) and the critically-acclaimed movie ‘The Chills: The Triumph And Tragedy Of Martin Phillipps’ a year later.

As the rave reviewed movie premiered at the SXSW film festival, The Chills headed out on their first US tour since ’96 to further accolades whilst revisiting those esoteric extremes so wonderfully collected in the film which then simultaneously premiered around the world.

“It’s about artistic integrity, self- realisation, self-acceptance and a reflection on mortality.” - The Guardian

Now in 2021, Phillipps is taking stock of things – everything. Yes, everything.

The result is this triumphant new Chills’ album ‘Scatterbrain’, a thought- provoking and evocative stock take from a man who has lived through good times and bad.

But now, the world is a different place and optimism is in short supply. Viewed from the perspective of a man understanding his age and indeed his own mortality, ‘Scatterbrain’ is underpinned, as ever, with catchy melodies and an incisive turn of phrase; it takes a mature look at matters arising with a side order of perspective as opening cut ‘Monolith’ displays.

“There are hard but important truths in our history. I know that it's often said that you learn from those lessons or you'll end up repeating the mistakes” Phillipps attests of ‘Monolith’ which follows the majestically haunting and fatalistic ‘You’re Immortal’ in which he examines his current position and nods sage-like to his descendants.

There’s a stark honesty in these songs, the clock is ticking on ‘Hourglass’ and ‘Destiny’ with a fragility that sees our narrator fearing the future and even our very understanding of it.

‘Destiny’ is the perfect candid observation on just how we’ve messed things up:

“We're finding even more reasons to shut down rational dialogue in an era of fake news and disbelief. Good luck with the new dark ages!”

We live in hope and with a gloriously uplifting 32 minutes to play on repeat as the world continues to confuse. ‘Scatterbrain’ is a life passing before your ears as uncertainty increases and fake news rumbles on; during which aliens invade, Phillipps scales the walls beyond abandon as he probes the minutiae of worlds within worlds and the hourglass fills.

A landmark album from one of the great modern song writers, it’s pure pop music for the new normal and we can’t wait to see how it ends...

The Chills are:

Martin Phillipps (guitar and vocals)

Callum Hampton (bass and backing vocals)

Todd Knudson (drums and backing vocals)

Erica Scally (guitar, keyboards, violin and backing vocals)

Oli Wilson (keyboards and backing vocals).

‘The Chills: The Triumph And Tragedy Of Martin Phillipps’ film praise: ★★★★★ The Guardian

“This is what a living legend looks and sounds like” Rolling Stone

Pre-Order the album HERE : https://fire-records.lnk.to/TheChillsScatterbrainID