DEVAL MAHAL ANNOUNCES NEW ZEALAND WIDE 'KINSHIP' TOUR

TOUR DATES & LINKS:

Saturday 7th August: Loons, Lyttelton
Sunday 8th August: Secret Show, Selwyn District
Thursday 12th August: San Fran, Wellington
Friday 20th August: Totara Street, Mount Maunganui
Saturday 21st August: The Hollywood Avondale, Auckland
Friday 27th August: Black Barn, Havelock North
Sunday 29th August: Sherwood, Queenstown

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Due to popular demand, Deva Mahal is doing a series of special shows this August as she embarks on a 7-date nationwide ‘Kinship’ tour.

Join Wellington-based Soul & R n B artist, Deva Mahal, for these incredible wahine-driven acoustic shows across the country this Winter.

Deva Mahal was born with blues in her blood. Beginning from her upbringing in Kaua’i, Hawaii to discovering her voice in Aotearoa, where she solidified her vision of becoming an artist performing alongside Fat Freddy’s Drop, Rhombus, Sola Rosa, The Little Bushman, Ladi6, Lisa Tomlins, Hollie Smith, Anika Moa and Olmecha Supreme.

After returning to the US, Deva’s star continued to rise and in 2018, she released her aptly named debut album, Run Deep, followed by a series of singles released in 2019 by Motéma Music.

During this time Deva toured the world, gracing the stages of the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Bonnaroo, SXSW, the Montreal Jazz Festival, Byron Bay Blues Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, and many other esteemed events and venues. She has had the pleasure of collaborating with Jaleel Bunton of TV on the Radio, Binky Griptite of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Living Color, and the New York Pops Orchestra, and has performed on stage alongside such legends as Etta James, Dianne Reeves, Maceo Parker, Bettye Lavette, The Roots, and Cyndi Lauper.

At the start of 2020 she returned to NZ to commune with her whanau. She was struck with devastating medical news, then the pandemic hit which lead her rediscover her Aotearoa roots and to reimagine her future.Through this hugely confronting experience that challenged her identity as a woman and the pain that was hidden inside of her body, lyrics emerged and songs developed. These new songs transformed by her desire to holistically heal those influential traumas and wounds. It’s through this time that Deva has become renewed and inspired, and she can’t wait to share it with you all in 2021.

Coming off the back of breathtaking performances at some of New Zealand's most iconic festivals this Summer such as Nostalgia Festival and Splore, as well as two sold out Auckland shows. In addition to all this, Deva Mahal released her latest single 'Sister' with Zoe Moon, Deva Mahal is taking New Zealand by storm.

Limited tickets on sale now from www.devamahal.com - get in quick so you don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to hear this talented songstress live.

NEW ZEALAND ARTISTS DEAD FAVOURS RELEASE NEW MUSIC VIDEO

Hot on the heels of their hugely successful New Zealand tour, DEAD FAVOURS drop their new music video for Move On (produced by Chris Mac Six60)

The music video for Move On drives home the universal acknowledgement that music and dance brings people together! Creatively the idea manifested itself from discussions with the bands long-time friend, co-worker and fellow musician Swap Gomez (Yoko-Zuna) after the band realised the infection and danceable groove that goes with the song, an element that was new for the band and that they wanted to bring to light. After discussing some of their favourite dance related music videos with the director (that included references to The Black Keys, Fatboy Slim and even Lil' John), Gomez came back with different treatments as options, and everyone unanimously voted for the idea that turned into the video you see now. It definitely embodies the theme of the song/album of Moving On from a situation that does not work for you and having fun again.

Frontman Jared Wrennall states, "This was the hardest, but one of the most fun videos I've ever made. Turns out, dancing is real fun even if you can’t dance! An amazing cast and crew have put together a video I never thought I’d make! I spent an entire day dancing around a house, and somehow they made it look good!”

Having shared the stage with some of New Zealand and the world’s finest artists including Villainy, Shihad, Racing, Royal Blood, Wolfmother and Halestorm, Dead Favours have just completed their first headline winter tour around the country. After taking news songs from ‘Side A’ of their new album, Riffing & Yelling for a spin around the country, the band featuring Steriogram’s Jared Wrennall (frontman), Skinny Hobos Alex Elvis (bass), Charlie Smith (drummer) and Kyle Wetton (guitarist) have been ensconced back into the studio to record ‘Side B’, which will be released later this year.

Dead Favours have had a fruitful year all around with Behemoth Brewery having just released its own Dead Favours IPA range called Riffing & Yelling.

Their 2019 debut album produced by Shihad’s Tom Larkin debuted at number 1 on Apple music. It was packed with 10 commercially riff tastic songs that combined catchy hooks with head banging anthems that saw audiences across the country both connect with and rock out to as they toured after its release. Their sophomore album is proving to be similarly memorable and it’s off to a rip-roaring start. Move On is the second single form the album watch it now!

Abby Lee presents duet perfection with popstar partner Vince Harder.

The powerhouse partnership that is Abby Lee and Vince Harder have once again combined to present the smooth R&B duet that is Look What You Made Me Do.

Following up from 2020 hit single Closer, the husband and wife duo’s perfect pop vocals blend effortlessly in their latest release; an ode to the recklessness that comes with falling in love.

While husband Vince was starring as a panelist in season one of TVNZ’s Popstars, Abby Lee was busy managing the family business, raising the pair’s two children and also somehow writing and planning this single release - one in which she takes centre stage, telling a love story that, in the end, her husband just had to feature in.

“I wanted to have Vince on this track to really capture the intimacy of the song. It’s a really beautiful thing to create music with someone you love,” Abby Lee says of Look What You Made Me Do, a song that reflects the pair’s deep connection.

Duets are a relative rarity in the New Zealand pop music scene, but the success of Closer and potential of Look What You Made Me Do sets Abby Lee and Vince Harder up as trailblazers in the industry. www.instagram.com/abbyleeharder/ www.instagram.com/vincehardr/

Waste Free Wanda Music Video Launch

With Plastic Free July on the horizon, Wanaka-based singer/songwriter Anna van Riel is preparing to launch her latest music video on July 9th, and help support her audiences to make “simple swaps” when it comes to reducing their single-use waste.

In the guise of her alter-ego Waste Free Wanda, Anna is set to release her NZ on Air funded music video next month. In the music video, an animated Wanda has been transported into an 80’s-stylized video game where she saves her town from single-use plastic, and teaches her community a better way through simple swaps.

The video has been brought together by an animation team made up of interns from Southland Institute of Technology’s animation department, and lead by Traci Meek from creative Invercargill-based business Meek & Wild Creations.

“It’s such a fantastic video! With the help of NZ on Air Music, this has also been an opportunity to offer paid work opportunities to students in the creative sector, which is really cool!  I’m excited to share this project. The messaging is simple, the visuals are effective, the song is catchy and the solutions are really achievable” says Anna.

Founder of non-profit organisation Plastic Free Wanaka, Anna launched her Waste Free Wanda stage show in February 2020 after identifying a need for children’s content around waste reduction and caring for the planet. Since then she has taken Wanda on 6 tours across NZ’s lower south, reaching 11,000 children, teachers and parents.

“At Plastic Free Wanaka we have a ‘teach-a-man-to-fish’ philosophy that focuses on giving people solutions about what we can do, rather than just pointing out where we’re falling short. I wanted this philosophy to carry through to my show and empower kids with solutions on waste reduction. They’re all over it, which is fantastic. They’re our future so we need them to understand”.

With a super catchy 1980’s inspired song and a slightly kooky and humorous storyline to boot, the Waste Free Wanda show is gathering momentum. 

“My vision for this show is to offer tamariki something that was created especially for them, but is still entertaining for adults. Although the show could be delivered in any country, it’s full of Kiwisms and quirks that Kiwi audiences connect with and appreciate. It teaches children how to be a superhero for our planet, in their own backyard.”

The Waste Free Wanda music video is set for launch on July 9th and can be found via Wanda’s YouTube and Facebook.
To find out more about the Waste Free Wanda show, including how to find resources and to book your show check out  www.wastefreewanda.com and Instagram.

Claudia Gunn to join the Recording Academy as a voting member

Children’s music artist Claudia Robin Gunn is thrilled to announce she has recently been invited to join the Recording Academy as a voting member.

In the words of the Recording Academy 'Music is truly universal and has the power to change lives. It transcends barriers, brings people together, and inspires future generations’.

There is a concerted effort across the industry to widen the diversity of membership, with the Recording Academy stating “The 2021 class of invitees is 48% female, 32% Black or African American+, 13% Hispanic or Latino/a/x+, and 4% Asian or Pacific Islander+. The Academy's existing membership represents 26% female and 27% from traditionally underrepresented groups. Since setting the goal of adding 2,500 women voting members by 2025, 831 women have joined the Recording Academy's voting membership, putting the organization 33% closer to reaching that milestone.”

As a member of MMF, IMNZ and Kiwi Kids Music in New Zealand, Claudia is excited to now also take the the opportunity to work with her global peers in the Academy to build a stronger, more vibrant creative ecosystem.

https://www.grammy.com/membership/news/recording-academy-2021-membership-class-invitees

TAYLOR ROCHE 'ALL I NEED'

All I Need’ is an anthemic, ‘hopeless romantic’ Pop ballad that paints the inner complexities we face when falling in love. Taylor wrote this song during a session with Auckland based producer Will Henderson, with a heavy nod to his obsession for nostalgic 80’s artists like Prince, Tears For Fears and Chicago and fusing it with his love for modern day Pop and R&B. This is Taylor’s second instalment of 2021, following his recent single ‘why can’t we?’.

This song is a self reflection of the inner battles faced upon realization when we’re undoubtedly falling for someone. Taylor wanted ‘All I Need’ to express this not just lyrically, but heavily within the melody. The verses are structured to feel a sort of dark tension, reflecting the self doubts around ‘do they like me back? Do they feel the same?’ during the early stages of a relationship. This is contrasted with the choruses that explode with an empowering swell of synths and big vocals - embracing the idea of just letting guards down and being true to what you  feel, because regardless of what they reciprocate, you know that underneath all the self doubt, they’re all you need.

‘All I Need’ will be accompanied by a lyric visual filmed and edited by Taylor which captures the tension and complex ideas within the track in a simple, visual form, sticking to the vintage 80’s aesthetic.

Taylor Roche is a Pop artist based in Auckland, New Zealand. From an early age, Taylor was performing on stages across New Zealand and Australia and finding his deep passion for music along the way. He left university at the age of 18 after only a year to further pursue his love for songwriting and performing. Since then he has performed across New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands and has spent a year and a half based out of New Orleans, Miami, Orlando and the Carribean performing as the lead vocalist for a 9 piece Pop party band for the largest Cruise Line corporation in the world. While on his travels around the world and since being based back in New Zealand, Taylor has banked away on some big projects, recently of which have featured on radio stations across Australia, New Zealand and America and as well as on numerous online publications. Taylor blends his love for nostalgic 80s ballads and deep synth melodies, with modern Pop and R&B to deliver his crisp, aesthetic and authentic Pop sound. "

OUT NOW ON ALL STREAMING SERVICES

Taupo based pop duo False Heights release brand new single, Caught Up

False Heights new single, Caught Up, is an infectious pop bop that will get your toes tapping and defrost your winter blues.  

Coming out on July 2nd, Caught up is inspired by the endless quest for happiness that modern society appears to be founded on and how easy it is to feel unsatisfied when constantly looking outside of ourselves for gratification. April Pirie (vocals/keys) and Ashley Pirie (vocals/guitars/drums) take this heavy concept and bundle it into an upbeat tune that boasts guitar licks woven with summer vibes, and humorously self-deprecatory lyrics that are guaranteed to get stuck in your head.

The duo first gained attention in 2018 with their debut EP ‘No? Who…?’ which shot to the top of the official NZ heatseekers chart the first week of it’s release.  A hit with critics and fans alike, the six track EP served as a perfect introduction to this promising young duo.  They spent the ensuing years performing around New Zealand while continuing to add new flourishes to their style.

False Heights newest music marks a major artistic leap, retaining all the charm of their early releases while boldly exploring new sonic territory.  With a steady stream of new releases expected in 2021 and beyond, False Heights is ready to win the hearts of audiences everywhere - bringing their uplifting sound to a world sorely in need of optimism.  

More info: www.falseheights.com

MISSY RELEASES NEW SINGLE, ANNOUNCES ALBUM

The Queen of Electro-Goth-Pop returns with her latest single, Quarterlife Crisis.

The track addresses the pressures of modern life leading to people having existential crises far earlier on in their timelines. It’s the second single to be released from MISSY’s forthcoming long-player, Major Arcana. As with her previous single Petty (released February 2021), fans who purchase the single from Bandcamp will be able to download two bonus B-Sides not available on any other platform.

“Social media has opened up a whole new world of comparison where people present their best-dressed facades and pass them off as reality. It's designed to make people feel mediocre (and can lead to people discarding pursuits that they’re passionate about,” explains MISSY. “It’s the malaise of modern youth - the access to an endless stream of idealised images of success and ever-increasing expectations. It forces a kind of nihilism that is constantly at odds with internalised, 'toxic positivity,' resulting in either extreme confusion or a 'mediocre quarter-life crisis.'”

STREAMING PLATFORMS

Bandcamp | Apple | Spotify

NB: Purchasers of the single on Bandcamp will also get two bonus tracks not available on any other platform: Power and Plastic Doll.