MOTTE UNVEILS SINGLE/ VIDEO 'Plateau'
Today, Christchurch-based violinist and composer Anita Clark aka Motte (pronounced Mot-te) releases the second song off her forthcoming album Cold + Liquid, out August 12th on Ba Da Bing! Records.
New Album Cold + Liquid Out August 12
on U.S Label Ba Da Bing! Records
It's a burnished, hovering, ever-mutating sound, beautiful and anxious by turns. The fact that Clarke also rolls her glorious thick contralto voice over some pieces, well- that's almost a bonus." - Grant Smithies (Stuff) on Motte, Strange Dreams LP
Today, Christchurch-based violinist and composer Anita Clark aka Motte (pronounced Mot-te) releases the second song off her forthcoming album Cold + Liquid, out August 12th on Ba Da Bing! Records. New single ‘Plateau’ follows the album's lead track ‘Only I’ which currently hits the #3 spot on the New Zealand Alternative RadioScope Charts. Motte is known throughout New Zealand as an expert violinist, and has just finished supporting Luke Buda on his nationwide tour and joins the Don McGlashan tour in October.
An instrumental track of two parts, ‘Plateau’ starts with sweeping arpeggiated violin and lo-fi radio frequency sweeps, akin to a retro sci-fi film soundtrack. Clark then introduces a powerful bass line, played on a Korg Volca and a single triumphant over-driven violin riff. As the title suggests, the track encapsulates the geographic atmosphere of the overall album which roots itself in strong sonic ties to South Island.
'Plateau' is accompanied by a cinematic video, directed by Tāmaki Makaurau filmmakers Tyler Carney-Faleatua and Joshua Faleatua (Threading Frames), and features a lone dancer moving between various locations: Duder Regional Park, Maraetai Beach, Anawhata Beach and Riverhead Forest.
Anita Clark’s new Motte album, Cold + Liquid builds glacial atmospheres, frozen moods and isolated impressions. Portraying Aotearoa/New Zealand through socio-geological sound, breathing in Otautahi/ Christchurch cultures and locales, the album embodies an artistic simulation of the Kiwi environment. Motte borrows from an array of sound sources to create an immense entity, with each piece situated precisely along the path. Cold + Liquid offers this rich sensory experience, transporting the listener into a world of Clark’s imagination.
As a master violinist, Clark is a favourite of the NZ music scene. She’s been employed by Nadia Reid, Marlon Williams, Lawrence Arabia and Maryrose Crook of The Renderers for her skills. Currently, she plays with The Phoenix Foundation, Luke Buda and Don McGlashan and The Others. Her skillful reach across genres fuels her popularity both with the rock under and overground, and she has also built a rich CV of film soundtracks and contemporary dance compositions.
With such a powerful musical force behind it, Cold + Liquid germinated as a result of a prolonged silence. Clark was suffering from vocal cord paralysis, leaving her with a culminating sense of frustration which could only be released through songwriting. The album’s early life was purely instrumental. But as she prepared for the studio and was searching old voice memos hoping to find vocal tracks, her voice returned. A fervent week followed, where she reimagined the entire album, now with singing.
She aimed to make something colossal, and set about finding the right textures to add. A friend who works at Oamaru Freezing Works gave her field recordings of the temperature control room, a vast cold space of isolated machinery, where ice grows and dissolves in ever-evolving sculptures. Getting her hands on shortwave/longwave radios, she incorporated frequency sweeps. Another friend provided her with the mechanical drones underneath the deck of a cement cargo ship, as it lay docked in Lyttelton Harbor. Still more sources came from Sign of the Bellbird, an historic environmental site in South Christchurch, where Clark and Thomas Lambert recorded bellbirds, rolling boulders, snapping sticks, thrown dirt and the papery sound of the native harakeke plant.
While violin dominates the first Motte album Strange Dreams (2017), Clark sought to expand instrumentation. She was gifted a handmade Pūrerehua puoro, a traditional Māori instrument that sounds similar to the whirling and hovering of a moth (which is “motte” in German). A reacquaintance to the guitar occurred after developing an alter ego project entitled ‘Sex Den,’ with sleazy noir-esque guitar riffs in response to a failed rumour from a local drug-addled dive bar. Guitar and synth allowed for a broader songwriting palette along with a sometimes Dadaist approach to lyric writing. These new tools accent the extreme ambiences of Cold + Liquid, while additional work was provided by Ben Woods on synth and bowed guitar.
Listening to Cold + Liquid is a fulsome experience of articulated sound and specific place. Anita Clark dances around the shining candescence of her culture like a night insect, always seeking a better vantage point to the light.
The full album will be released August 12th. Pre-order and pre-save using the link below!
IMPOSTOR SYNDROME ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘ORIENS’ + DROP NEW TRACK ‘PLASTIC EYES’
The pandemic gave members Ryan Culleton, Shannon Coulomb and Scott Nicolson of experimental recording project, Impostor Syndrome, an opportunity to further their learning and creative experimentation. The results will be shared on their debut album titled Oriens, to be released on October 28th, 2022.
The pandemic gave members Ryan Culleton, Shannon Coulomb and Scott Nicolson of experimental recording project, Impostor Syndrome, an opportunity to further their learning and creative experimentation. The results will be shared on their debut album titled Oriens, to be released on October 28th, 2022.
Forging their own path, Impostor Syndrome return to the music scene with force, releasing a seven minute track out of the gate, that takes the listener on an unapologetic journey, from the ominous to the celebratory .
Speaking of the track, front-man Ryan Culleton says, “Plastic Eyes is a trip to the edge of sanity and back again. All the while exploring the positive change that can be brought about by losing oneself for a time, but coming back stronger.”
Chad ‘The Boogieman’ Chambers releases new waiata ‘Ka Puta Mai’
A long overdue original release by Chad ‘The Boogieman’ Chambers, drops at 7pm this Saturday, 30 July. Despite eleven years performing in the Aotearoa music industry, ‘Ka Puta Mai’ is Chad’s first release as a solo Reggae artist.
A long overdue original release by Chad ‘The Boogieman’ Chambers, drops at 7pm this Saturday, 30 July. Despite eleven years performing in the Aotearoa music industry, ‘Ka Puta Mai’ is Chad’s first release as a solo Reggae artist.
‘Ka Puta Mai’ acknowledges the Māori new year and references illustrious whakatauki about Te Kāhui o Matariki.
Originally composed by Chad’s father Jack Chambers, ‘Ka Puta Mai’ was released on his iwi radio station Radio Ngāti Porou as part of the Manu Waiata song competition back in 2013. With support from Te Māngai Pāho, the waiata has since been revamped with new lyrics by talented father and daughter duo Kimo and Matawai Winiata, musical arrangements by the Creative Nātives Collective and video production by Kaulab Productions.
“With his iconic gumboots, Chad uses his rastaman swag and funky vibes to transmit pūrākau through his music,” says Te Whenua Harawira of Creative Nātives. “This waiata is his way of sharing mātauranga about Matariki handed down from his kaumātua to his tamariki.”
Since winning the Grand Final of Homai Te Pakipaki in 2011, Chad has gained a reputation for his energetic and captivating live performances. He has been a headline act on the regional circuit of music events and festivals, and has performed on the international stage, featuring on some of the biggest songs in Aotearoa reggae such as Souljah Feeling by Tomorrow People which went Platinum and the remake of Herbs' Sensitive to a Smile as part of the Aotearoa Reggae All Stars.
‘Ka Puta Mai’ was officially launched as part of the Matariki Celebrations held at Te Papa on 24 June and it will be exclusive to iwi radio stations from Monday, 25 July. The official video and waiata will be available on all major streaming platforms from Saturday, 30 July.
Link to Artist Bio: https://onepagelink.com/chad-chambers
Link to Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chadtheboogiemanchambers
PARK RD – I GOT YOU
PARK RD are a 5-piece indie/rock band from West Auckland, New Zealand and off their brand new EP “Stupid Stories” is the first single ‘I GOT YOU’
PARK RD are a 5-piece indie/rock band from West Auckland, New Zealand and off their brand new EP “Stupid Stories” is the first single ‘I GOT YOU’
Formed as school friends, they have received great support from local playlists and accumulated over 2.5 million+ streams on previous songs. Appearances on live sessions on 95bFM and received airplay on ZM radio.
Rolling Stone Australia just picked PARD RD as ones to watch Kiwi artists!
The band are currently recording their debut album with producer Josh Edmonds (Niko Walters, Paige, LA Women, Foley) at Parachute Studios, having come off a summer spent showcasing their electric live show at multiple festivals and headline shows including the main stage at SoundSplash.
July kicks off with support slots in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland with number 1 charting Australian band Spacey Jane, (26/7 Wellington Shed 6, 28/7 Christchurch Town Hall, 30/7 Auckland Town Hall)and then August with the prodigious band - Sticky Fingers at the Trusts Arena, Auckland.
“All the songs on the EP are written about real experiences which is something that we felt was really important for this project. From the adrenaline filled beginnings of a new relationship through to a not so happy ending, this EP follows the journey of a first love.
Sonically the EP has gone in a new direction than our previous work, with more of a produced sound while keeping the band feel.”
Full line-up is Tom Chamberlain -vocals, Angus Hampton-Carr - lead guitar, Leo Crawshaw-Bond - guitar, Carlos Martin - bass, and Te Kapua Pene - drums.
Nelson pop/rock artist and songwriter Reece Milton launches his newest single TAKE IT EASY with world class music video shot in Nelson.
Pop/rock guitar virtuoso and songwriter Reece Milton is set to release his latest single ‘Take It Easy’ on Friday July 22nd complete with music video produced by award winning cinematographer and world class producers, shot in his hometown of Nelson.
Pop/rock guitar virtuoso and songwriter Reece Milton is set to release his latest single ‘Take It Easy’ on Friday July 22nd complete with music video produced by award winning cinematographer and world class producers, shot in his hometown of Nelson.
Listen HERE
Reece will release ‘Take It Easy’ on July 22nd, which will be the fourth installment of his debut album, Elixir, which is set for release in August. Previous singles from this upcoming album are Once in a Lifetime, Take My Hand and Atmosphere.
‘Take It Easy’ features Reece’s slick signature guitar talent, tight drum licks and spicy horn samples.
Produced by IMME of Nelson based StudioBox Creative’s own label - Antipodes Records, the chorus and riff for the track were stuck in Reece’s head for a year before he sat down to write it.
“As a songwriter I always start with the riffs, hooks and choruses as they come to me first and the lyrics are more based on themes as opposed to actual events. I hope people can pick their own meaning from the lyrics,” Reece says.
Accompanying the single is its official music video which was written and directed by award-winning actor and director Laura Irish. Cinematography was by Bevan Crothers, who has shot everything from Stan Walker’s feature-length documentary, and Wellington Paranormal as well as shooting the Aotearoa Music Awards best music video of 2020 for the hip hop group Swidt.
Executive producer Jane Baken of StudioBox Creative and Antipodes Records says she wanted to pull in an incomparable team for the video, led by Jonny Eagle and Melissa Spratt of Innit Creative, to showcase Reece’s music with the production value his talent deserves.
“We have created a magic backdrop to showcase Reece’s solely original sound and really make a statement in preparation for the release of his album”.
Eagle and Spratt of Innit Creative both bring a wealth of experience having worked abroad on major motion pictures such as 1917, Fury, Star Wars: Ep 7 and Star Wars: Rogue One to name a few of their impressive combined credits.
Shot in Nelson at Kismet Cocktail and Whisky Bar, the music video pulled a myriad of local actors together to create a glamorous black and white world harkening back to the Casablanca era. The video, shot over two nights, is complete with period costume design and art department by Melissa Spratt.
Irish says she wanted the video to focus on telling a story while creating a dramatic introduction for Reece as a musician.
“I also wanted to focus on Reece’s genuine love for his guitar, which became its own character in the shoot.”
Crothers says the look he tried to create came from researching well-known noir pieces that led to treating the music video like a “period piece short film”.
“The highlight for me was just how much everyone brought to this project. Starting with Reece bringing his incredible musical talents along with some great acting. The cast and extras put in such a huge effort. Everyone did their part to create this world.”
‘Take It Easy’ is available from 22 July on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and everywhere you stream music.
Pre save Take It Easy - https://bfan.link/reecemiltontakeiteasy
Private link to Take It Easy (official music video) – https://youtu.be/fO41xTTCHAM
Connect / Listen / Watch Reece Milton – https://linktr.ee/reecemilton
Danica Bryant takes us to the carnival with ‘Tunnel of Love’
Danica Bryant’s new single ‘Tunnel of Love’ is an ode to the imagery of circuses, carnivals and fun fairs, while narrating the fictional breakdown of a relationship.
Danica Bryant’s new single ‘Tunnel of Love’ is an ode to the imagery of circuses, carnivals and fun fairs, while narrating the fictional breakdown of a relationship.
Following on from the success of her grit-pop single ‘Crush’ (which was placed on Apple’s New Music, TikTok’s Kiwi Music playlist as track #1 and YouTube’s The Best Pop channel and RELEASED), the Wellington-based alt-pop artist says ‘Tunnel of Love’ is “about the moment right on the edge before things fully fall apart, where it all feels the most confusing and scary, but you’re not sure how to get out.”
The song contrasts the bright, upbeat Coney Island-esque lyrics with dark, moody pop-rock production. “It’s very Gin Wigmore meets The Black Keys. I wanted ‘Tunnel of Love’ to be danceable but also hit hard emotionally.”
Recorded, mixed, and produced with Jonny Avery under the NZ On Air New Music Development Fund, Danica says it’s the only song from her upcoming ‘Ego Death’ EP (19 August) that she took to her producer almost fully formed.
“I wanted to write something with a reggae-like guitar strum. This came out in fifteen minutes tops, which is the fastest song I’ve ever written by a long shot! And it’s my favourite song off the EP to play live!”
Excitement is brewing for the artists live shows, having recently announced her first Aotearoa NZ national tour.
“She is touring from the end of August through September, and if you want pop with sweet vocals which have a real edge and are lyrically deep then that should not be missed.” - muzic.net.nz
"The Ego Death tour is my first tour and I'm unbelievably excited to visit so many cities I've never played before! I'm stoked to be bringing my band for all these live shows. They're going to be shows filled with emotion, drama and all the passion I have for my music. I might just be a girl with a guitar, but we absolutely know how to get a little rowdy!
“Ready to make big waves in 2022, Aotearoa songwriter Danica Bryant has announced a six date release tour for her forthcoming sophomore EP… Having already shared the stage with the likes of Elton John (Bryant supported the icon on his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour) and mentored by none other than Bic Runga, Bryant's star is rising fast — don't miss her at the dates below…” - Under The Radar
Danica Bryant - The Ego Death Tour
Wednesday 31st August - Wellington - Valhalla
Friday 2nd September - Palmerston North - The Stomach
Saturday 3rd September - Napier - Urban Winery
Wednesday 7th September - Auckland - The Wine Cellar
Friday 9th September - Hamilton - Nivara Lounge
Thursday 22nd September - Christchurch - Darkroom
Danica Bryant’s 2020 debut EP CIDER landed her a placement in APRA’s prestigious Songhubs course, whilst follow-up singles ‘Heart Eyes’ and ‘Ready to Bite’ saw her introduction to the NZ Hot Singles Chart. “Venomous” yet “passionate” (Ambient Light), “cynical but emotional” (NZ Musician), it is clear Danica’s inventive sound, personal lyrics, and rich vocals make her a treat for every season!
The Fairy Child
Ten years ago when cherished New Zealand author Margaret Mahy passed away at the age of 76, musician and songwriter Gerry Paul was preparing to perform a show at the Wellington Museum of City and Sea. As a tribute to the author, Gerry put the poem ‘The Fairy Child’ to music and performed it at the show.
Ten years ago when cherished New Zealand author Margaret Mahy passed away at the age of 76, musician and songwriter Gerry Paul was preparing to perform a show at the Wellington Museum of City and Sea. As a tribute to the author, Gerry put the poem ‘The Fairy Child’ to music and performed it at the show.
Earlier this year, Gerry connected with Margaret’s daughter Bridget, who endorsed the musical version of ‘The Fairy Child’ and subsequently, the song was recorded and will be released this July, to remember Margaret Mahy on the ten year anniversary of her passing on.
‘The Fairy Child’ is a poem that was included in the 2009 publication; The Word Witch: The Magical Verse of Margaret Mahy, a collection of 66 of her much-loved poems and stories in rhyme, gathered from school readers, collections, picture books, anthologies, magazines and edited by Tessa Duder.
Gerry recorded the song with his band T-Bone, who recently released their debut album which went to No. 2 in the New Zealand album charts. The addition of fiddles recorded by Irish fiddler Tola Custy, add a Celtic flavour to the folk treatment of the poem. The layered harmonies and strings - which include guitars, mandolins, fiddle and double bass - give a warmth to the poem and the delicate vocals amplify the vulnerability in the lyrics. Gerry comments:
“I identified with the poem in the way that many creatives can probably identify with having been ostracised at some time in their life. People can feel threatened by imagination and dreaminess, it can often appear as being aloof. ‘The Fairy Child’ captures this and there is just such beauty in the poem, leaving the mundane behind and rejoicing in the imagination of a child".
After listening to the song, Bridget Mahy commented that it “reminded me of Blerta’s 1970s reversioning of a story of Margaret’s, using her romantic vision of ‘Come dance all around the world’”.
To add another link to the original publication, David Elliot, the illustrator of The Word Witch, allowed his original illustration for the poem to accompany the song’s release. David praised the musical version of the poem as being a “great tribute to Margaret…and I’m sure Margaret would have been chuffed”.
The song can be heard via the following channels:
Spotify: https://bfan.link/gerrypaulthefairychild
Soundcloud Link: https://tinyurl.com/26k7p5mp
The Fairy Child - By Margaret Mahy
Wellington artist Goodnight My Darling delivers magic with ‘The Carriage’
Prepare to fall in love with emerging alt-indie artist Goodnight My Darling, beginning with her ethereal wonder ‘The Carriage’ - the first single from her upcoming, self-titled debut album.
Prepare to fall in love with emerging alt-indie artist Goodnight My Darling, beginning with her ethereal wonder ‘The Carriage’ - the first single from her upcoming, self-titled debut album.
With this new single, the Te Whanganui-a-Tara songwriter, producer and vocalist, is showcasing immense growth in her sound, moving away from her previously released electronic music - to glittery, hypnotic, shoegaze, indie-alt-band joy. Think French for Rabbits, Nadia Reid, Aldous Harding and Angel Olson.
Goodnight My Darling (Maxine Macaulay) says ‘The Carriage’ is about “love and loss and the addiction one can have to cyclical emotions and thoughts. It's about moving forward from a difficult experience and carrying the experience with you, but not in a damaging way.”
The track is introspective, soothing and an absolute triumph for the up-and-coming artist, who draws on her adventures living and performing abroad in Melbourne, Japan and most recently Berlin.
“The song reflects my growth as an artist. I started out playing this on the Ukulele - and have been transitioning from electronic music to a more full band sound, of alt-indie music. Having taken up the electric guitar just in the last two years it’s been super nice to hear how this song has grown into what it is as a result. It's grown into a t-shirt that was originally too big, so to speak.”
While all the other tracks on the album were written in Berlin, during a seven-month winter lockdown, ‘The Carriage’ was written in Wellington.
Goodnight My Darling is currently performing with her band of Wellington-based musicians; from Ingrid & The Ministers - Ingrid Saker (Lead Guitar) & Kim Andrews (drums). Connor Taumoepeau (LOTU) (synths) & Mitch Kirk (bass).
With this stunner of a track out, and much more to come, be sure to follow Goodnight My Darling!