Louis Baker Announces New EP Love Levitates + Aotearoa / NZ Tour Dates!

Today, Louis Baker announces his forthcoming EP Love Levitates out on June 18th. The EP release will be accompanied by four shows across Aotearoa this July. 

Baker’s upcoming EP Love Levitates will take his signature brand of modern-soul fused with wholehearted lyrics to a bright, new territory. Working with producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Devin Abrams (Dallas Tamaira, Drax Project, Pacific Heights), the EP is Baker’s five-track concept of life; heritage, love, friendship, observation, and beyond.

To celebrate the EP's release Baker will tour nationwide to four lucky cities this July. Performing with a six-piece band he promises to take audiences on a journey of music and soul throughout the evening. Support artists are to be announced soon. “I’m very excited to take this record on the road with my band. Can’t wait to sing together, groove together, get deep on songs from my previous records and celebrate by sharing the new songs from this new EP,” says Baker.

Louis Baker - Love Levitates Tour

Sat 3 July - Auckland - Hollywood Theatre
Fri 9 July - Nelson - Theatre Royal 
Sat 10 July - Christchurch - James Hay Theatre
Sat 17 July - Wellington - Opera House

TICKETS ON SALE - 12pm Monday 31 May from www.louisbaker.co.nz

Love Levitates marks the first full-length follow up to Baker’s critically acclaimed debut album Open released in 2019, which received a prestigious Taite Music Prize nomination, and Recorded Music NZ nominations 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.  

Proving his knack at crafting a killer radio hit, first single ‘Overdrive’ featuring NZ rapper/producer Kings, a sultry-pop banger about the ecstasy of new love, shot to No. 1 on release and has clocked over 400k Spotify streams. 

On the uplifting and deeply personal opening track, 'Brighter Day' Baker pays tribute to the triumphs and adversities faced by his grandfather Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Baker (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Tu) who served in the 28th Māori Battalion. Released last Thursday, ‘Brighter Day’ launched with a bang via a radio premiere on commercial radio giant Mai FM and a televised video premiere on Newshub Late. Momentum continues with a playlist feature on Spotify's New Music Friday AU & NZ and The Local List Aotearoa.  

Louis Baker - Love Levitates Tour
TICKETS ON SALE - 12pm Monday 31 May from www.louisbaker.co.nz

NOMINATIONS FOR THE RECORDED MUSIC NZ MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARDS NOW OPEN

Nominations for the 2021 Recorded Music NZ Manager of The Year Award are now open.

The Recorded Music NZ Manager of the Year | Kaiwhakahaere Puoro o te Tau award recognises the tireless commitment of Kiwi managers working behind the scenes to support the success of New Zealand’s musicians.

The unwavering perserverance, dedication and achievements of artist managers and self-managed artists are cause for acknowledgement and celebration – particularly after another challenging year of navigating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Recorded Music NZ Manager of the Year award recipient will be announced at the sixth annual AMA Artisan Awards, to be held at Massey University’s School of Music and Creative Media Production in Wellington. This years' ceremony reverts to a live awards event, after a pre-recorded televised broadcast was conducted for 2020.

The award will be presented alongside the Tui’s for Te Kaiwhakaputa Toa | Best Producer, Te Kaipukaha Toa | Best Engineer, Te Puoro Ataata Toa | Best Music Video, Te Toi Ataata Pukaemi | Best Album Artwork, and the return of the bi-annual Kaiārahi Puoro o te Tau | Music Teacher of The Year award.

Nominations for the Recorded Music NZ Manager of the Year award are open from Wednesday 26 May to 5pm Monday 21 June. 

Eligibility period is 1 June 2020 – 31 May 2021, covering a 12 month period for the 2021 Award. Terms and Conditions apply.

A MESSAGE FROM THE MMF AOTEAROA

Paul McKessar has returned all awards previously given to him by the MMF including Manager of the Year awards. This follows admissions made by Paul in media reports in January 2021 relating to the MMF Aotearoa Code of Conduct.

In light of the admissions of misconduct made by Scott MacLachlan in media reports in January 2021, the MMF has also asked Scott to return all awards previously given to him including Manager of the Year awards.

NZ MUSIC MONTH SUMMIT 2021- PROGRAMME AND SPEAKERS ANOUNCED

S @ SPARK ARENA & online – SATURDAY 29 MAY – 10AM TO 4PM - FREE

The NZ Music Month Summit provides useful, practical information for emerging artists and music professionals to grow and thrive in their careers. The MMF Aotearoa and the NZ Music Commission are pleased as punch to announce the full programme and speakers for this year’s event.

The theme for NZ Music Month | Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa 2021 is Access All Aotearoa: Great local music for all New Zealanders – in every place, for every age & in every genre this NZ Music Month. The NZ Music Month Summit is picking up that theme and will present both in-person and online, so you will be able to watch and participate wherever you are in Aotearoa. The stream will be available on the day through the MMF Aotearoa and Music Commission Facebook and YouTube channels, with online moderators to take your questions and feed them through to the live panels.

Alongside the live stream, this year’s NZ Music Month Summit will be held for a limited live audience at S @ Spark Arena – above the Tuning Fork – in Auckland. Tickets are now sold out for the in-person event, but you can still sign up to be on our waiting list at Eventbrite – click the link here. (No registration is needed to watch the live stream)

The programme & speakers for this year’s NZ Music Month Summit is:

10:00am - Welcome to the NZ Music Month Summit

10:10am - Here to Help (60 mins) - Representatives of the four main government funding agencies who work in music will give you the low-down on their programmes and application processes.

With Emily Crowther – Aotearoa Touring Programme Manager, NZ Music Commission; David Ridler – Head of Music, NZ On Air; Margaux Wong – Advisor, Funding Services & Hayley Dingwall – Arts Practice Director, Music, Creative New Zealand; Blake Ihimaera – Head of Content, Te Māngai Pāho; and moderator Yee Yang "Square" Lee (SquareSums&Co.)

11:10am - Check In with SoundCheck Aotearoa (30 mins)

With SoundCheck Aotearoa representatives and independent consultants Debbie Teale and Rachel Harrison

11:40am - Radio 'Round the Motu (30 mins) - Three short presentations about the best way to submit your music for consideration to be played on these three different national radio networks. 

With Blake Ihimaera - Te Māngai Pāho for the Iwi Radio Network; Josie Campbell - Radio New Zealand; Sarah Thomson - 95bFM and the Student Radio Network

12:10pm - 1:00pm – Lunch provided (Eat My Lunch)

1:00pm - On The Road (60 mins) - Touring in Aotearoa can take you to the far corners of the country, and there are audiences of every age for every genre. Our experienced panel will share their insights into booking a national tour to both the usual and unusual places.

With Emily Rice (Aro); Gussie Larkin (Banished Touring, Earth Tongue, Mermaidens); Lorraine Barry (Lorraine Barry Management - Dave Dobbyn, Tom Scott, VGB, Team Dynamite, Aaradhna); Ninakaye Taanetinorau (Tiki Taane); and moderator Jason Schroeder (OUSA Events)

2:00pm - You Can Make It Here (60 mins) - Hear tips of the trade from local music producers whose production careers aren’t limited by their location.
With Paloma Schneideman aka PollyHill; Te Whiti Swarbrick aka SickDrumz (Rihanna, Billie Eilish, Lil Wayne); Liam McAlister aka LMC (Rich The Kid, Mikey Dam, MELODOWNZ); and moderator Joel Tashkoff (Dominion Law)

3:00pm - NZMM Summit Mixer (60 mins)

A casual in-person opportunity to meet with other attendees and some speakers from the day's panels.

You can download a PDF copy of the full NZ Music Month Summit programme here.

NZ Music Month Summit speaker bios and info are available here.

The NZ Music Month Summit is presented by the MMF Aotearoa and the NZ Music Commission, with support from industry organisation partners APRA AMCOS, NZ On Air and Recorded Music NZ.

REGISTER TO BE ON OUR WAITING LIST TO ATTEND THE IN-PERSON EVENT VIA EVENTBRITE HERE.

 NZ MUSIC MONTH SUMMIT 2021: ACCESS ALL Aotearoa – SAT 29 MAY FROM 10AM

ANNOUNCING THE 2021 FINALISTS FOR BEST COUNTRY ARTIST AND SONG

Recorded Music New Zealand and APRA AMCOS NZ are proud to recognise the outstanding contributions to the Aotearoa country music scene from the past year.

The finalists for Recorded Music NZ Te Kaipuoro Tuawhenua Toa | Best Country Music Artist feature two previous winners and a newcomer to the scene – Jody Direen for Smokin’ Ashes, Ryan Fisherman for Vibe and Tami Neilson for CHICKABOOM!

Tami Neilson is also nominated for the APRA Best Country Music Song for her track ‘Queenie, Queenie’, along with Delaney Davidson for ‘Sleep’ and Kendall Elise Todd for ‘Between Hello and Goodbye’.

Recorded Music NZ Best Country Artist

Since releasing her debut album five years ago, Jody Direen has been hard at work making waves in the country music scene both here and internationally.

After winning the Tūī for Best Country Music Artist in 2017 for her third album Shake Up, Jody has continued to record and tour – including supporting Kenny Rogers on his last New Zealand tour.

Christchurch multi-instrumentalist Ryan Chin began his musical career as the drummer for indie electronic act Doprah in 2013.

Since then, he has adopted the moniker Ryan Fisherman for his solo songwriting endeavours and released his debut solo album Vibe in May 2020.

Featuring over twenty Kiwi musicians including Marlon Williams, Candice Milner and Ben Wood, the album was recorded in Lyttelton by award-winning producer Ben Edwards.

Canadian-born songstress Tami Neilson grew up performing with her parents and her two brothers around North America as The Neilson Family Band.

Nominated for her 2020 album CHICKABOOM!, she has become a staple of the local country scene, picking up the APRA Silver Scroll and winning multiple Tūī including Best Country Album and Best Country Song.

Recorded Music NZ Kaiwhakahaere o Ngā Tohu Puoro o Aotearoa  Sarah Owen says the finalists for this year’s Best Country Music Artist showcase the best the genre has to offer.

“After such a tumultuous year, it fills me with joy to be able to celebrate the wonderful artists creating such vibrant, emotionally-charged country waiata,” says Owen.

“If the calibre of these artists is anything to go by, it’s an exciting time to be a country music fan in Aotearoa.”

APRA Best Country Music Song

Alongside her nomination for Best Country Artist, Tami Neilson is also nominated for APRA Best Country Music song for the infectious ‘Queenie, Queenie’.

Joining Tami in 2021 is three-time winner of the APRA Best Country Music Song award Delaney Davidson for his song ‘Sleep’ (which was recorded by Tami for CHICKABOOM!).

No stranger to the awards, Delaney has made a name for himself as a staple of Aotearoa’s country music scene.

Along with relentless recording and performing, he has contributed as a producer to countless Kiwi albums for musicians like Troy Kingi and Marlon Williams.

Kendall Elise Todd is the third finalist for this year’s award for her song ‘Between Hello and Goodbye’.

Last year, Kendall Elise was a finalist for the Recorded Music New Zealand Best Country Artist, alongside Delaney Davidson and Barry Saunders, and Katie Thompson.

When her 2020 European tour was postponed due to COVID-19, Kendall used the time to write and record a new album, which is due out June this year.

APRA Head of NZ Operations Anthony Healey adds: “These songs get at the heart of what it means to be a country musician. A little bit of rockabilly, a little bit of that Southern flair, and a little bit of storytelling for good measure.”

After being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2021 Best Country Music Artist and Best Country Song winners will be announced as part of the Tussock Country Festival on Thursday 3rd June. Tickets available here

ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF THE 2021 NZ CHILDREN’S MUSIC AWARDS

Blast your trumpets and blow your horns.  The winners of the 2021 NZ Children’s Music Awards – celebrating those writing and recording for our youngest generation of Kiwi tamaraki, have been announced,

APRA Best Children’s Song winner:
– Michal Bush, Andrew Knopp, Victoria Knopp for Brave performed by Music with Michal

Recorded Music NZ Te Kaipuoro Waiata Tamariki Toa / Best Children’s Music Artist winner:
– fleaBITE for Snakes Alive

NZ On Air Best Children’s Music Video winner: 
– Captain Festus McBoyle for Bubble video written and directed by Larissa Lofley, produced by Pea-Knuckle Productions

Also celebrated was What Now, this year’s recipient of the Baysting Prize for Children’s Champion.  Presented via video recording by Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, the award acknowledges significant and outstanding contribution to the development and wellbeing of New Zealand tamariki, through the creation of or support for music, TV programmes, films, videos, live shows, books, education, or advocacy.

“’What Now’ has been creating innovative, educational and entertaining content for 40 years.  Transforming kiwi kids weekends, telling our stories, singing our songs,” says Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern.  “My whole-hearted congratulations to Whitebait Productions, TVNZ and everyone who has put in the mahi over the years to make ‘What Now’ what it is.  I will be amongst many generations of children who remember the show well and fondly.”

The awards were held this afternoon (Sunday 16 May) at a special family friendly event at Tuning Fork, Spark Arena.  Opened by Suzy Cato and hosted by teens Riley and Morgan, the celebration was opened with a mihi whakatau by tamariki from Newton Central School, followed by more of our kiwi kids presenting finalists and winners.  Guests were treated to live performances by Music with Michal, Loopy Tunes Preschool Music, KindyRock’s Judi Cranston and Chris Lam Sam. Following the awards, tamariki experienced creative musical activities from the Rockshop, Melodics, taonga puoro practioner Shane Mclean and more as part of the Sounds Fun event.  The afternoon concluded with a BBQ for whānau courtesy of Spark Arena.

Presented by Recorded Music NZ, APRA NZ and NZ On Air, the awards have the support of Kiwi Kids Music, the national association of children’s songwriters, creators and producers.  Formed by some of the most passionate creators of music for Kiwi Kids, the association supports NZ children’s music creators and seeks to advance the potential of all our children to live healthy fulfilling lives.

Thanks to all the performers and presenters, Spark Arena and NZ On Air who have created a special spotifty playlist celebrating this years finalists, available here.

Captain Festus McBoyle is played by Richard Manic. His Vaudevillian styled troupe offers an offbeat, slightly edgey alternative to the NZ children’s music scene. 2020 finalist for Best Children’s Music Artist, the song ‘Bubble’ was conceived during lockdown and written through the eyes of a 7-year old.  On stage the Captain is joined by Miss Lucy Drawers (Larissa Lofley) and Ebenezer Strong (Gareth Price). With many prestigious appearances both here and overseas now under their belts, they have just been signed to China’s biggest independent record label, Modern Sky.

fleaBITE 5th album ‘Snakes Alive’ as taken home the Tūī for Best Children’s Music Artist for the third time. Producer/writer Robin Nathan has previously won two Tūī awards for Best Children’s Album (Circus of Fleas and The Jungle Is Jumping).  Their podcast series Everybody Wants To Join The fleaBITE Band is a finalist in the NZ Radio Broadcast Awards for Best Children’s Programme.  Aimed at older children, fleaBITE’s style is cheeky, bold, innovative and entertaining, and there are always special guests to spice up the mix.

Michal Bush, has been writing and performing songs inspired by children, the young at heart and her seaside community since 2012. Best known for the popular ‘Kindness is Free’, ‘Seagull Song’ and ‘Brave’ – Michal’s songs are sung in schools and early childhood centres all over New Zealand, and streamed in homes and radio stations all over the world!  In 2020, Michal collaborated with production duo and multi instrumentalists Victoria and Andrew Knopp.  The duo have their own indie pop project The Response and work with various NZ acts to help them shape and develop their sound.

MIRANDA EASTEN 'BEHIND UNBROKEN STRINGS'

Following the success of singles "Cowboy Lullaby" and "Country Boy" across Australia and USA, Christchurch's Miranda Easten is releasing her long awaited debut album Behind Unbroken Strings. The collection proves that she is a master of twang and a face of modern country music.

After becoming a solo artist in 2019, Miranda has been recording her debut album at Roundhead Studios in Auckland with world renowned producer Greg Haver (Melanie C, Opshop, Kimbra) along with Auckland based musicians Tom Healy, Cass Basil, Stephen Small and Mark Hughes. The result is a stunningly clean set of tunes that have all the elements of a classic country album - love stories, steel strings, and belting vocals included.

Miranda’s debut single "Cowboy Lullaby" reached 16 on the Official Top 40 Country Music Chart in Australia in April 2020. She also featured on the "Voices of Country" compilation album released by Compass FM. In early 2021 she released "Country Boy" which rose to number 25 on the Australian Chart. The music video has achieved success in America airing on the popular Country Music Network which reaches 40 million people. Nashville Country Television and networks CMC, CMT, MTV, and Heartland also air the video.

www.mirandaeasten.com

Audio: Spotify/Apple/Deezer https://gyro.lnk.to/BehindUnbrokenStrings

VINCE HARDER 'DON'T STOP'

Award-winning RnB star and current Popstars panellist Vince Harder is set to show Aotearoa’s young musicians how it’s done with his latest single Don’t Stop.

Harder’s latest collaboration sees him pair with one of the rising stars of New Zealand pop music, LA WOMEN’s Jake Schdroski, in writing a sure-fire dancefloor hit.

Don’t Stop fuses Harder’s pop-perfect vocals with an array of dancefloor-happy beats and rhythms that stack into two-and-a-half minutes of groove-perfection.

Harder says this was the exact intention behind the track, one he successfully roadtested while touring with Guy Sebastian around Australia in 2019 and held back through a Covid-struck 2020 until clubs and crowds could fully embrace it.

“Don’t Stop was written about having fun. I wanted to have some real party vibes in there and to create something that would make people want to dance.”

The track also perfectly aligns with his starring role on TVNZ’s Popstars as the show celebrates New Zealand Music Month next week with a live performance of Don’t Stop on May 26.

Vince Harder is the winner of four Pacific Music Awards, featured on P-Money’s chart-topping hit Everything and has starred in major stage productions of The Lion King and Jersey Boys as part of a decade of prolonged success across Australasia.

Something Zesty 'Fishtank'

Fresh off the release of their debut EP ‘Funk’t Up’, Whanganui-based two-man pop-funk-punk duo Something Zesty is set to release an unforgettable music video for their new single ‘Fishtank’ this Friday. Directed by Joshua Dey with animations from Ryan Gray-Mccoy, the surreal visuals follow an action-packed day in the life of Isaac Chamberlain’s cartoon creations Chambzy and Zestro. Torn from their previous home in Isaac’s imagination, the two characters are forced to navigate the real world in this hilarious visual offering of New Zealand Music. Fishtank, which released as a single earlier this week, has been a long time coming for the duo.

For Isaac, the song wrote itself after an extensive period of anxiety and self-reflection. ‘The undertow of the song is my problem of overthinking. Of having all these ideas swimming around (fish) and, as a result, being trapped in my head (tank). Often this anxiety can mean forgetting the very basic things of eating, friendships, and moving! My favourite lyric is “I’m always dreaming, and I just wanna sleep”.To me, this always hits home as an artist and dreamer from a small town. It can sometimes be a lot of weight on your own and the thought of having no dreams can be equally as appealing. So the song and video are a nod to Myself to keep moving, to acknowledge I’m overthinking, and enjoy the moment.’’

Undeterred by the loss of live shows and fan interactions, Something Zesty have patiently worked on their sound and style during the tumultuous year of 2020, preparing a collection of exciting releases for 2021.