Georgia Lines releases emotive new single and video, ‘Leave Behind’

Aotearoa singer-songwriter Georgia Lines has released her powerful new single and video ‘Leave Behind’, out now.

With delicate synths, emotive vocals, soaring strings and cinematic rhythm sections, ‘Leave Behind’ is a ballad of big emotion. Themes of reflection and grief are central to the track, as Georgia explores the process of experiencing loss, after losing someone you love deeply.

“‘Leave Behind’ is a song I wrote about losing my Grandfather suddenly two years ago,” explains Georgia. “Growing up we spent a lot of time with my Grandparents and I have so many memories of their home and all the ‘things’; the ornaments, the crystal glasses, the platters and collections that they used to have through their home. When my Poppa passed away we had to sell and get rid of everything that we couldn’t keep, which was a hard part of the grieving process and a huge part of letting him go.”

Co-written with Nic Manders and Nick Dow during a Parachute writing week, the track came out of a profound feeling of trust within the trio, to explore the deep, vulnerable emotions central to the song.

“Both Nic and Nick were incredible to work with,” says Georgia. “I was so surprised with how well we worked together in a ridiculously short amount of time.”

“All of the strings on the track were played live by Nick Dow, the same day we wrote the song. He is an absolutely incredible pianist, but then in the middle of the session he just popped out to his car, pulled out his violin and went on to play all these crazy string parts! Was one of my most favourite moments of that writing week.”

The accompanying video for ‘Leave Behind’ showcases the enormous and deep feelings that are paramount to the song.

“It’s about self-reflection, about grief and loss and sadness, memory, life and death. The big stuff. These can be overwhelming themes for a music video to tackle if not handled with care, but I’m not afraid of big feelings, and we can turn to minimalist and surrealist artists for guidance - Robert Morris, Robert Smithson, Florence Henri tackle big ideas through their work using real world objects. It’s from this school of thought that I want to draw inspiration,” says Georgia.

“Our main visual thread, then, is the mirror, and reflective and metallic surfaces in various forms... Mirrors obviously make literal the theme of self-reflection. They are fundamentally existential: they invite us to see the self, to see ourselves as other people might see us in the world.”

Georgia Lines is quickly becoming a household name in Aotearoa’s music industry. Her self-titled, debut EP GEORGIA LINES released in 2020, has amassed 1.5 million Spotify streams, with 2021 release ‘Tōrere’ already gaining more than 72,000 streams; a track unveiled as part of 2021’s te wiki o te reo māori. Georgia’s single ‘No One Knows’ also gained Georgia a nomination for Best Music Video at 2021’s AMA’s (Aotearoa Music Awards).

‘Leave Behind’ showcases yet another side to this impressive Kiwi artist. To celebrate the release, Georgia Lines is heading out on a solo tour of New Zealand, taking in Hamilton, Dunedin, Christchurch and Tauranga. Georgia will also perform at a special one-night-only event in Auckland on May 16 with Cassie Henderson and the APO. Held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, this will be a special and intimate evening showcasing the true vibrancy of Georgia’s exquisite vocals.

 
Georgia Lines - Leave Behind tour:

Wednesday May 11 - Nivara Lounge, Hamilton
Monday May 16 - Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland w/ special guest Cassie Henderson

Monday May 30 - Bark!, Dunedin
Wednesday June 1 - Dark Room, Christchurch
Friday June 3 – Secret location, Tauranga

Tickets on sale now from Under the Radar HERE
Tickets for Auckland show available HERE

Let this Luv by Madam Parker

This song is a strong representation of love and the strength of Love and all its invisible forces on a vibrational and frequency level & the journey of that love vibration transforming through generations of culture, traditions, families, community gatherings and home.  It shows not only how powerful that connection is but how important it is to understand it's needed.  Unity, empowerment, connection, hongi, haka, waiata, hugs, smiles and having that force reciprocated.  It is our healing, our mana, it’s what sparks our mauri, that's our power.  The Power of Love,  Sending and receiving  that beautiful powerful energy.  (chorus of Madam Parker’s song) - “ Coz this world is turning, lets fight through these struggles & it’s love that we’re yearning, dont let them get you down, let this love go around, let this love, let this love go around, Let this love… Let this love… Let this love go around”

The Verses in this song are experiences and journeys of injustices, struggles and empowerment.  The words in the verse’s embody the hardships & how those experiences affected Madam on an emotional and spiritual level and how those dark times built a sense of resilience and advocacy for all.  “Ohh lord, can I? Speak to you for a minute? I just had dem man come through my sin & tried to take my vision, while I, I was down, ehh.. While I, I was down”.

Pre Chorus, Is a stage of empowerment, It’s that spark to our mauri, that light in the shadows, that voice through the silence that reminds us to never give up on love and its power to connect and uplift us all. “ Eh eh eh.. No, No,No.. You cant let em get you down, ehh.. Eh, eh, eh, No, No No, You cant let em get you down”  then back into the Chorus.

Bridge is almost like a mantra or affirmations as some would call it.  The more you say it, or sing it the more you embody the words and its power. “Let this luv, Let this luv, luv luv… Let this luv, let this luv, luv, luv, Let this luv, let this luv, luv,luv.. Go Round” Back into the chorus.

Parabola West's debut album Stars Will Light The Way – and limited edition art book – out now

Some may argue that there is a line between fantasy and reality – but there are times when they blur, as is the case with Parabola West's debut album Stars Will Light the Way. We are over the moon to announce that Stars Will Light the Way will be available to the public on Friday April 29th, alongside a truly exquisite limited edition art book.

Through Stars Will Light the Way, Parabola West offers a magic-infused experience for the listener's ears, eyes and energy. The album was recorded at the healing frequency of 432Hz, and each song centres upon a different character, sharing an aspect of their life. West beautifully melds sound, vision and symbols to guide the listener's imagination in painting their stories.

It's a unique package for a New Zealand artist to release, and whilst West has been in the process of lovingly crafting the album for the last five years, she has also been intricately involved with the creation of this stunning book.

While Stars Will Light The Way will be available on CD and digitally for those just wishing to have the music, she will also be releasing a special limited edition deluxe package that includes the CD and a 48-page hardcover fantasy book of lyrics and images.

Amplify magazine says, "Exclusive indeed, limited to 100 copies – a unique artistic offering that sees the artist transformed into a different character to represent each song." Here we meet Frozen Heart, Haunted Hannah, Moon Witch, Sky Painter, Melancholy Mermaid, Dreaming Dryad, Winged Warrior, Memory Mirror, Steampunk Sorceress, Flower Girls, and Nephilim’s Daughter."

On April 29, Parabola West's Stars Will Light the Way will be released everywhere digitally, including Spotify and Apple Music.

Parabola West also releases her new single, 'The Best Thing', on April 29th, to give you a taste of the album. She says of the song, "'The Best Thing' is about the feeling of being emotionally under water, adrift in the sea of uncertainty because you've lost your compass."

Listen to 'The Best Thing' here.

About the creation of her magical world, Parabola West says, "When I discovered the piano as a young woman, I found a great comfort in playing it and turning my poems into songs. I found that when I focused the chaos of my emotions that way, I felt immediately calmer and more in control of my life."

"When I discovered my love for math and physics, I learned how a parabola can be used to focus light onto a fixed point (the magnifying glass trick used to start a fire with the sun). It occurred to me that when I focus my emotions into music, I become like the parabola - hence the name!"

The songs were brought to life through collaboration with producer Scott Newth (The Datsuns, Cornerstone Roots, The Checks, Anika Moa, the Big Day Out and more) and co-producer Andrew Newth at BLKHUS Studio. West says, "We started with a demo and a mood or 'vibe sheet' for each track and fleshed the production out around that backbone. Funnily enough, there was never a time when all three of us were in the same room on this album. There was a lot of space for individual creativity and experimentation, and it served the music beautifully."

"The book concept began as my character descriptions for each song, and from there Melodie McColl pulled together an incredible team to transform me into each creature." The photographers were Trinitynavar, Richard Laing and Rakib Rax; with hair, makeup, and costumes by Melodie McColl, Kieran Growcott and Siobhan O'Toole.

To date, the singles released from the album have been embraced by a wide range of media both in Aotearoa and overseas. The most recent single 'No One Can Get Me Here' has been played on Colin Smith's Countryfolk Show UK, Strummers & Dreamers UK, Trevor Krueger's Folk Show UK, Sunday Live on West Norfolk Radio UK, Roger Williams' World of Difference on Blues and Roots Radio Canada & Australia and Neil Vessey's Folk Pilot UK.

Locally, 'No One Can Get Me Here' featured on NZ Musician's Hatchlings playlist, Raglan Community Radio, and the song reached No. 2 on the Radio One Top 11 two weeks in a row – thanks so much to the people of Ōtepoti/Dunedin!

It was also the 13th Floor's New Song of the Day, and received lovely reviews from Songbroker, and UK blog Sound Read Six.

Upon the release of 'No One Can Get Me Here', earlier today one fan said, "Just magical! Feels like there's a little bit of Kate Bush energy in there."

Visit Parabola West's website.

Reviews

Reviews of 'No One Can Get Me Here'

"Her enchanting and mystical song-writing has mesmerised us all over the years and it seems she has only just begun her story...Piano breaks through like sunlight, a flute solo by Parabola's sister Alex knits yet more feeling into the mix...the music culminates in a medley of vocals and movement." – Rowan Blair Colver, Sound Read Six/Alternative Fruit.com

"Parabola West's new single 'No one Can Get Me Here' is a gorgeous upbeat slice of folk-pop and an ode to nature - just what we need in these unsettling times..." – Songbroker Music

Reviews of 'Hannah' (released November 2021)

"This is a mesmerizing ethereal tale of the thin veil between the physical and spiritual worlds and recalls Dead Can Dance’s rendition of ‘I Am Stretched On Your Grave’... The mood is heightened by the use of the medieval hurdy-gurdy and the haunting Swedish folk instrument Nyckelharpa."  – Amplify Music Magazine

"Parabola will take you to the depths of what warms you up with a bit of Glastonbury-vibes popped in...'Hannah' promises to be no different to the attractive fantasy-reality she has shared with fans in the past." – Ashlea Harris, Welcome to the Gig

"This New Zealand based electronic folk artist is a magical destiny for music fans the world over, and the new song only makes us love her sound even more...Beautiful and haunting chorus notes fill the air with mystical charm as forlorn lyrics seek endlessly for the missing." – Rowan Blair Colver, Sound Read Six

"Drawing on inspiration from Celtic & Nordic folk roots, Parabola West's music is a lush soundscape of electronica, organic instrumentation, and ethereal vocals. Ancient music for the next generation." – Songbroker Music

Previous reviews

“Her music sits comfortably in the same territory as Aurora, Eivør, CHVRCHES, Lu Flur, Agnes Obel, Loreena McKennitt, Sjón, and even Bat For Lashes. With such immense talent, it was just a matter of time before Parabola West’s music would reach American shores.” – The Big Takeover

"Just brilliant...ancient folk in electronic pop dreamery. An uplifting recipe when submerged in electronica, which she has flawlessly achieved here... merges the common denominator between Irish/Scottish and Scandinavian influences, with melodies that are stuff of fantasy" – The Spill Magazine

"A sublime blend of folk and electronic influences which is taken to another level when combined with the beautiful and haunting vocals of Amy Tucker. Part Eivør, part CHVRCHES, but very much original" – AnalogueTrash

"A very accomplished and talented songwriter, with an ear for a deceptively simple but often stunning song. Extraordinary talent, both as a songwriter and performer" – NZ Musician

NZ Music Month Summit 2022: Level Up

The MMF Aotearoa and the NZ Music Commission are delighted to announce the NZ Music Month Summit is back for 2022 to provide useful, practical information for emerging artists and music professionals to grow, thrive and level up their careers.

And we’re thrilled to be back at Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s Tuning Fork for this year’s NZ Music Month Summit on Saturday 28 May.

Presented with support from our industry organisation partners APRA AMCOS, NZ On Air and Recorded Music NZ, this year’s NZ Music Month Summit will be honing in on the theme for NZ Music Month | Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa 2022 - Level Up: Taking Music To The Next Level. 

Topics being discussed by our fantastic panellists will include what does a good artist tool kit look like - and why it matters, how to level up internationally, an update from SoundCheck Aotearoa and more.

Alongside the free in-person event, the NZ Music Month Summit will once again be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube – so you will be able to watch and participate wherever you are in Aotearoa.

To secure your ticket for the in-person event, you will need to register via Moshtix here. No registration is needed to watch the live stream.

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

11:00am - Welcome to the NZ Music Month Summit

11:10am – Level Up Your Artist Tool Kit (60 mins) – Whether you’re an emerging artist or well on your musical career path, it’s still important to think about your artist tool kit. From artist bios, promo photos and EPKs to your social media presence, hear from our experienced panel on how to make sure you stand out for all the right reasons.

With Lorraine Barry (Lorraine Barry Management – Sir Dave Dobbyn, Tom Scott, Team Dynamite, Aaradhna, Aidan Fine); Paula Yeoman (NicNak Media); Silke Hartung (NZ Musician); and Theia, with moderator Wairere Iti (Māori Music Industry Coalition).

12:10pm - Check In with SoundCheck Aotearoa (40 mins) - An update from SoundCheck Aotearoa on their harm prevention work, as well as a closer look at their recently launched resources for the sector.

12:50pm - 1:30pm – Lunch provided (Eat My Lunch)

1:30pm – Radio Programming Demystified (60 mins) – Music directors from some of Aotearoa’s commercial national networks are here to answer the question artists want to know – how do I get my music on radio?

With Brynee Wilson (Music Director, ZM Network); Reagan White (Content Director, Mai FM & rova); Harrison Pali (Music Director, TAHI); and Jack Honeybone (Assistant Content Director, The Rock), with moderator Jeff Newton (Music Promoter - Platforms - Kaiwhakahau Puoro - Pūnaha Rorohiko, NZ On Air).

2.30pm - Next Step, Overseas (60 mins) – Touring and releasing your music overseas is every artist’s ambition. Now that borders are open and international touring is back, our panel will share their insights on how they have secured international record deals, navigated the complexities of different overseas territories and give tips on how to tour internationally. 

With Tami Neilson; Shepherds Reign; Craig Pearce (Manager - The Black Seeds, The Phoenix Foundation, Reb Fountain and Moniker); and Alan Holt (Outward Sound and International Manager, NZ Music Commission), with moderator Wairere Iti (Māori Music Industry Coalition).

3:30pm - 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 our industry organisation partners APRA AMCOS, NZ On Air and Recorded Music NZ.

REGISTER TO ATTEND THE IN-PERSON EVENT VIA MOSHTIX HERE.

NZ MUSIC MONTH SUMMIT 2022: LEVEL UP – SAT 28 MAY FROM 11AM
DOORS from 10.30am
 

NZ Music Month is run by the NZ Music Commission, with support from APRA AMCOS, Independent Music NZ, Māori Music Industry Coalition, the Music Managers Forum Aotearoa, Music Producers Guild of Aotearoa NZ, NZ On Air, Recorded Music NZ, SOUNZ and Te Māngai Pāho.  The purpose of NZ Music Month to celebrate music from New Zealand, and the people who make it.

Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa | NZ Music Month 2022: Level Up

#NZMMLEVELUP

#nzmusicmonth

#NZMM2022

• Website - www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz

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DEBUT LIVE SHOWS - MIDWAVE BREAKS

Midwave Breaks are in final prep mode for their first ever LIVE shows!

Launching the band during a pandemic may have delayed their live connection with two cancelled Debut performances thanks to Covid, but the Tauranga-based Alt-Rock Duo are ready to deliver now that they can finally get in front of an audience!

Bandmates singer-songwriter Bruce Conlon, and drummer Paul Russell, celebrate NZ Music Month with an intimate showcase at The Jam Factory Tauranga on Thursday May 19th, followed by a Tāmaki Makaurau show at Whammy Bar to kick off Queens Birthday weekend on Friday June 3rd. In keeping with the ‘Level Up’ theme for Music Month, the Tauranga show will be opened by Temp22, one of the senior rock bands at Otumoetai Cleege, in support of the next generation of aspiring musicians.

In Auckland Midwave Breaks are joined by Special Guests Retro Valley. Hailing from Kiririroa, the 5 piece Indie-Pop-Rockers know how to write sun-soaked catchy tunes, and deliver a kick-ass live show.

Tauranga - Jam Factory Details and Ticket Link HERE

Auckland - Whammy Bar Details and Ticket Link HERE

Thankfully in the absence of being able to perform live, Midwave Breaks have found strong support from Rock Radio across the country, with 5 successful independent single releases over the past year, so fans will already have an idea of their favourite track to sing along to!

The music is a modern take on the soundtrack of their youth - epitomized by 80’s-90’s alternative rock/pop - evoking hints of Springsteen and Petty, Cornell and Vedder. Driven by the energy of the creative process, and with an innate ability to craft songs that capture a moment, the Midwave Breaks sound is purposefully retrospective mixed with the new.

Dilz ‘Envious’

https://www.facebook.com/DilzMusic

https://www.youtube.com/dilzmusic

https://www.instagram.com/dilzmusic/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5bWwxEccr3Ri721GZKEBub

Dilz brings us ‘Envious’, a story of an artist never giving up. Trying hard to pursue their dream while getting knocked down constantly, he keeps fighting to get his place at the top of the world. Watching how hard this artist works leaves some around him ‘Envious’.

This is the second release from Dilz as a ‘signed’ artist with AllGood Absolute Alternative Records, which the last verse of the song (re-written post signing) pays respect to.

It is a testament to the relentless hard work and constant creative output Dilz has, that he caught the attention of, and won over AAA Records, the label of Troy Kingi and French for Rabbits, a label not traditionally associated with Hip Hop, but that’s about to change. More coming soon...

TE KAAHU reveals exquisite debut album delivering messages of love, peace, healing and hope

Theia (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Tīpa) has today released the beautifully crafted debut album from her reo Māori project, TE KAAHU, including the soaring new waiata ‘Pai Maarire’, which carries a powerful message of peace.

Titled TE KAAHU O RANGI, the album is made up of nine exquisite waiata, which each deliver their own poignant message – messages of love, peace, healing, and hope - while collectively serving as a tribute to Theia’s tūpuna wāhine and her beloved haukāinga in the Waikato, as well as the principles of Te Ao Māori.

The album contains several already released tracks (‘E Taku Huia Kaimanawa’, ‘E Hine Ē’, ‘Rangirara’, ‘Waikato’) alongside five new waiata, including the uplifting ‘Pai Maarire’.

‘Pai Maarire’ references the faith founded by the prophet Te Ua Haumēne, who led a movement of peaceful resistance against a backdrop of war and land confiscations. “It was important to honour those who stood so firmly in love and peace, but at the same time to remember the deep lingering pain and hurt our people have suffered.” says Theia.

The album was produced by the award-winning Jol Mulholland at The Lab, with Theia herself co-producing several tracks. On the record, the critically-acclaimed artist’s angelic vocals are front and centre, wrapped in a warm nostalgic sound that serves as a nod to a bygone era. “These are songs my grandmothers and aunties would’ve cried to, danced to, and loved,” she says.

The album will be played live in its entirety in the first official TE KAAHU show in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland on June 24 – marking Aotearoa’s inaugural Matariki public holiday. “I’m honoured to perform my album for the first time, which is also the first year Matariki is observed as a national celebration. Matariki represents rebirth, gathering together and remembering our dearly departed; these are also the themes explored in TE KAAHU O RANGI.”
Tickets for the all ages show at The Tuning Fork in Auckland on Friday June 24 are available HERE

Theia plans to release the album on vinyl later this year after successfully raising the funds through a Boosted campaign, with support from Auckland Council.

“I am so grateful that I can now present this album as a taonga tuku iho - a treasure to be cherished and played for years to come. The generosity of those who helped me achieve this won’t be forgotten.”

​​Theia is a highly regarded songwriter, who has written with the likes of Mike Elizondo, Emily Warren and Guy Sebastian. She has twice been a finalist in the hotly contested International Songwriting Competition – in 2020 taking third place in the ‘pop’ category amongst thousands of entries with her song ‘Not Your Princess’. In 2020 she was also awarded 2nd place in the Unsigned Only (Top 40/Pop) songwriting competition. Aside from releasing her debut TE KAAHU album, she is currently working on a new Theia album, set for release in 2023.

TE KAAHU - TE KAAHU O RANGI - out now.

Follow TE KAAHU:

Facebook / Instagram/ Spotify / YouTube

Ōtautahi Grim-Hop Outfit Slimivich Releases Brooding New Music Video for Single “Desert Shimmer”

Ōtautahi Christchurch experimental hip-hop project Slimivich invites fans to imbibe and enjoy the projects first video release for the debut single Desert Shimmer launched today Friday  6thMay 2022 to their You-tube channel.
Shot and edited by fellow Ōtautahi Christchurch creative Kit French, this filmic representation of Desert Shimmer mirrors the contrasting minimal percussive verses and saturated synth filled chorus by floating Slim in an equally sparsely lit, near monochromatic void only to explode in colour and projection, Slims roiling performance set against imagery of war and conflict his pointed lyrics rail against.

From the dark into the light, consume the visual representation of Desert Shimmer and be sated.

FB:                https://www.facebook.com/Slimivich

IG:                https://www.instagram.com/slimivich
You Tube:         https://www.youtube.com/slimivich

Bandcamp:               https://slimivich.bandcamp.com/