Tomorrow People… Switch Codes!

After 10 years of writing original reggae music, two albums and two EP’s, Tomorrow People are changing codes, switching lanes, and doing a cover! The Wellington band has reinterpreted the 1964 hit ‘Don’t Worry Baby’ in a pop style so far left from reggae, that their core fans will either like it or love it!

The original Beach Boys classic hit #1 in the US and is featured on countless movie soundtracks. Band producer Avina Kelekolio was watching one of these movies during a lazy Sunday afternoon, and when he heard the song he rushed to the studio to ‘have a jam’.

“It was one of those songs I loved listening to growing up, it had a feel good nature, and their harmonies were on point” says Kelekolio.

What began as a piano jam turned into a full production where the band decided to record whatever felt right, even if it wasn’t the reggae style they were most known for.

“It was a conscious decision where we let the music dictate the direction, and if our audience like it, they like it,” says band leader Tana Tupai.

The single marks the fifth release of the year for the band that has set out to drop one song on the first Friday of every month. In an effort to “go big or go home”, they hired LA-based engineer IRKO (David Guetta, Kanye West, Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z, Pitbull) to mix and master the song, and engaged super director Shae Stirling to shoot two music videos that will be released in sequence.

“It’s a fun video that suits the style of the song, and we even got to sneak some of our kids in there” says Tupai.
When asked why a reggae band is doing a pop cover of a classic song, the bands reply was simple “Why not?”

Tomorrow People are a seven-piece band, made up of Avina Kelekolio, Ara Savage, Snow Chase, Fredwyn Kisone, Duane Te Whetu, Hennie Tui and Tana Tupai - and is one of Aotearoa’s most loved reggae bands, with a string of Gold and Platinum hits to their name, including ‘Souljah Feeling’, ‘Feel Alright’ and ‘Take It Away’.

Sea Mouse is here to remind us rock ’n’ roll is alive and kickin’ with a six-date NZ tour

Listen to new single ‘Side B Track 1’

Rock’n’rollers Sea Mouse are kicking off New Zealand Music Month in style with the announcement of a six-date nationwide tour. The good news comes fresh off the back of the release of their thunderous new single ‘Side B Track 1’. 

The Wellington trio will hit the road in Hamilton at Nivara Lounge on May 21 and travel the length of the country, finishing up in Christchurch at The Dark Room on June 5.

Get tickets here:

Hamilton (Nivara Lounge - May 21)
Auckland (Whammy Bar - May 22)
Wellington (Meow - May 28)
Napier (The Paisley Stage - May 29)
Dunedin (The Crown Hotel - June 4)
Christchurch (The Dark Room - June 5)
 

Sea Mouse will be teaming up with Christchurch-based primal rockers Pieces of Molly for double-headline shows in Wellington and Christchurch.

With a hard-hitting sound drenched in rock and blues, Sea Mouse is a band that’s here to remind us that rock ‘n’ roll is very much alive and kickin’. It’s a message served loud and clear on their latest NZ on Air-supported single ‘Side B Track 1’ - a rollicking, modern boogie rock tune, which made its debut on Hauraki’s coveted ‘Locals Only’ feature.

Made up of Seamus Johnson (Guitar and Vocals), Scott Maynard (Bass), and Thomas Friggens (Drums), Sea Mouse formed in 2017 and quickly set about shaking up the local music scene. Creating a unique blend of sounds from the Delta blues of the 1930s, to mammoth guitar-driven garage rock tunes, coupled with a mesmerizing live show, Sea Mouse has gone from strength to strength and this is only the beginning!

Don’t sleep on Sea Mouse! Delivering a punch-packing, viciously high energy live show, which translates brilliantly from turntable to stage, this is one band you NEED to see in the flesh. 

The tour is supported by the NZ Music Commission’s Aotearoa Touring programme, of which Sea Mouse was a recent recipient. 
 

Find Sea Mouse:
Facebook / Instagram
Spotify / Apple / YouTube

SAM V 'MIA'

Combining the forces of artists Sam V, Aidan Fine, JARNA, Brokeboi Ace and producers EDY, CreationKit & M45, Young & $lept On (Y$O) is New Zealand’s newest supergroup.

This stable of talent is set to disrupt airwaves and social media with their eclectic sense of style, talent and vision - demonstrated by the groups first release; MIA

MIA (produced by EDY) brings singer/emcee duo Sam V and Aidan Fine to the forefront in a punchy and energetic hip-hop record reflecting the duo’s playful misdemeanors with relationships and infidelity.

Debuting alongside a video directed by the pair and captured by upcoming videographer, Peter Pedro, MIA kickstarts a flurry of releases from Y$O in 2021 with May 7 set to start their public output.

Make sure to catch Y$O Vol.5 at the Tuning Fork on May 21 to hear more unreleased gems

EMILY RICE 'AUAHA'

Tāmaki Makaurau multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Emily Rice has released her stunning new EP, AUAHA.

The forth EP release from Rice, AUAHA moves through a variety of different styles, always integrating vocal looping, sprinkles of jazz and a touch of the saxophone. With the already-released singles from the EP, ‘Over Time’, ‘Arise’, ‘Kanohi ki te kanohi’ and ‘Red and Blue’, the focus single for the EP is the funk-chill beat, ‘Careless’.

“This song is inspired by the rhythm I found during the Aotearoa lockdown in April 2020, a time I dedicated to writing and creating music every single day,” says Emily about the latest single, ‘Careless’.

“It was wonderful to have no distractions and no other work to do, to be able to focus on something I love doing so much every single day. It was a time that reminded me how good it feels to have your heart right in ALL that you do, and not waste precious time doing things half pie, but embracing it all fully - finding ways to enjoy even the more mundane of jobs, not to be careless but instead thoughtful in all we do.”

“I could care less, but I don’t want to do that, I want my heart in it pulsing like it’s meant to be.”

With a sound that defies genre and is ever-evolving, Emily Rice has an impressive list of accolades, including twice being a finalist for ‘Songwriter of the Year’ when she was studying at pop music school. She is also a multi-talented instrumentalist and singer, who has performed throughout Europe. When she’s not making music under her own name, she’s one half of the bi-lingual duo Aro - a two- time finalist in the prestigious Silver Scroll Awards.

The new EP, AUAHA, is a seamless blend of chill DnB-meets-RnB pop. All songs on the EP were produced, recorded and mixed by M J Collier/ Leone at Aro Music Studio and Little Lion Studio. The EP was mastered by Vivek Gabriel of Gabriel Audio.

Emily Rice - AUAHA EP is out now and available HERE

REI 'HARAKOA'

Rei is releasing more te reo Māori songs this May Music Month with Harakoa, a recreation of his 4 million + plays song 'Good Mood' thanks to APRA and CNZ.

First off this Friday sees the official release of Rei x Sean Richards - Harakoa Drum n Bass remix as part of his kaupapa to integrate Dance Music with te reo.

Dance stations Pulzar and George FM are giving it a big tautoko, with George making it their Profile Track for the next 2 weeks, and helping carve our path towards developing a bilingual music industry.
Harakoa DnB version will be followed up by 2 more versions to further expand the audience for te reo Māori.

Teaser video here featuring footage of his performance of Harakoa at the Netsky support at TSB Arena

Hear it on Spotify https://smarturl.it/harakoaremix

Arahi ‘Haere Ake Nei’

Just over one year ago, Arahi wrote and released the song ‘Searching In The Sun’.
After sleepless nights pondering how best to honour the songs year long resilience, he landed on ‘celebration by re-invention’.

On May 1st this New Zealand Music Month 2021, ‘Haere Ake Nei’ will be released. This single is the result of ‘Searching In The Sun’ being re-recorded, with a new arrangement and translated into Te Reo Māori. The project was an interesting and collaborative journey, taking over just one weekend to complete.

‘Searching in the Sun’ is one of Arahi’s favourite songs to perform and to have written. “Lyrically it conveys exactly how I felt a year ago as the world spun around in relation to myself” explained Arahi. “However when it came to translating the lyrics and creating ‘Haere Ake Nei,’ I quickly discovered that because the Māori language is spoken predominantly through metaphor, my original song had become something so much more than just a reflection on how I felt. The creative process became dominated by the words “what do you really mean by this?”, beginning with the title ‘Haere Ake Nei’. Unpacking ‘Searching In The Sun’ and what that phrase really meant, was one of the more introspective moments of my career.”

The title needed to encompass all that the song represented which is often the case with song titles anyway, however more so for this piece in particular, as the phrase is said only once at the very end of the song, acting as a revelation to a 6 minute 32 second long magic trick set up. Here’s an explanation.

Haere: evolvement Ake: ascension Nei: present

Haere Ake Nei:
Forever. Time being a colonial concept, this phrase communicates the notion of being timeless.

This song is only just beginning it’s journey toward fulfilled potential. There is still so much more to come.

Haere Ake Nei - Available to stream and download: 1st May 2021.

Tama tu
Tama ora
Tama noho
Tama mate

Tamatoa
Arahi

LOOPY TUNES PLAY PLUNKET'S PASIFIKA BEATZ

Christchurch sister duo, Loopy Tunes Preschool Music, have collaborated with Whānau Āwhina Plunket's 'Pasifika Beatz', to create 100 fun and interactive waiata in 10 different Pasifika languages, along with 100 music and action videos!

The waiata have been created as an introduction to each of the beautiful Pacific Island languages, that include Niuean, Tokelauan, Kiribati and Rotuman, and can be used as a resource by all who are interested in giving the languages a go, and especially for tamariki and whānau from each of the cultures.This project was launched at an invite-only event on Friday, 7 May, in Tāmakimakaurau, with Suzy Cato and Niu FM's Chelsea Munro MC'ing the event with the Hon. Aupito William Sio also in attendance.

All songs are now OUT and available to listen to on all major digital music platforms, under 'Loopy Tunes Preschool Music' and 'Whānau Āwhina Plunket - Pasifika Beatz'. There is also a video accompanying each song, showing actions for tamariki to follow, as mentioned above, that are available on Plunket's YouTube channel. All 100 videos are great resources that can be used within a home environment, as well as within an ECE centre or in a school environment, especially during our upcoming Pacific Island language weeks.

BIGSOUND Is Returning in 2021 as a Three-Day Physical Festival

The southern hemisphere’s biggest new music festival and industry gathering BIGSOUND is back for its 20th year in Brisbane from Tuesday the 7th to Thursday the 9th of September.

The music industry’s leading players will gather at the BIGSOUND Conference to grapple with the big issues, laying out a roadmap for a future that addresses: changing industry and audience dynamics, post-COVID business transition, gender equality and safety, cultural change, inclusivity and innovation, international economics and domestic politics.

Some 150 artists, including a contingent of New Zealand acts, showcase their talent at the BIGSOUND Festival in venues across the festival in the Fortitude Valley live music precinct from Tuesday - Thursday night with special events including the BIGSOUND First Nations Showcase.

Applications for artists to perform are now open and close at 11:59pm on Friday 28 May. To apply head to https://www.bigsound.org.au/music-festival/apply.

New Zealand acts who have performed at BIGSOUND in years gone by include Aldous Harding, Anthonie Tonnon, The Beths, CHAII, Estère, Fazerdaze, Marlon Williams, Merk, Mermaidens, The Naked and Famous, Wax Chattels, Yumi Zouma and many more.

This year's event will welcome tastemakers from across Australia and New Zealand including media, A&R, agents, promoters, music supervisors, buyers and so much more. And for national and international industry and delegates who cannot physically attend, BIGSOUND will also be accessible online.

More information can be found at https://www.bigsound.org.au/

Information regarding the Outward Sound Delegate Grants for BIGSOUND will be announced in coming weeks.