Tūi to the front! Mr Roberelli’s New Song and Music Video Celebrates Confident Feathered Friends

Award winning children's music duo Mr Roberelli release their latest NZ on Air funded video for an uplifting song celebrating one of Aotearoa's native birds "Tūī, it's all about you" this Saturday August 13th, ahead of their full album release August 26th for ‘Catch a Breath – Nature Songs for Kids’. 

Known for their humourous, folksy and intelligent songwriting for families, their latest collection expands their palette with co-writes and feature artists including a very special guest on this single. 

For ‘Tūi It’s All About You’ the crew invited Wolfgang Mayall (10) - the son of their recording engineer Jeremy Mayall – to star on the song’s bridge section. Young Wolfgang was inspired by the song to write his own part and this was included in the final version. He also appears singing his part in the otherwise fully animated video. The warm sense of humour that is evident throughout the video’s depiction of the cheeky Tūi is the work of animator Dave Butler. 

About the Band: Mr Roberelli are a Dunedin based guitar led duo singing songs to fire the imagination. APRA children’s song of the year winners (for ‘Beans about Beans’ 2011) and prolific creators, ‘Catch a Breath – Nature Songs for Kids’ is their 10th full length album. 

Wolfgang Mayall (10) is a curious and creative young artist who enjoys crafting new worlds, imagining interesting ideas and having fun. He is a vocalist/rapper and a budding visual artist. He has already released three albums and worked with other children’s entertainers like Chris Lam Sam. 

Looking For Alaska and In The Shallows - 2022 Spring Tour

Hamilton duo Looking For Alaska and Wellington duo In The Shallows are excited to announce that they will be joining forces for a 2022 spring tour!

Two accomplished groups in their own right, they will be taking to the road together from August - November to visit some of their favourite venues around the country and share their songs and stories, joined by a full band at their Auckland and Wellington shows.

Looking For Alaska are a duo from Hamilton, New Zealand. Drawing from a diverse range of country, soul, folk and Maōri influences, Aaron and Amy perform hard hitting original music, their songs inspired by their life and travels; complete with exquisite harmonies and acoustic guitar that both whispers and roars. The duo's familiarity, closeness and authenticity is fuelled by their real-life romance, creating a magnetic performance style that captivates their audience time and time again, and has seen them open for the likes of Fly My Pretties, Herbs and Tiny Ruins, and perform all around NZ and the world.

In The Shallows are a Kapiti based Indie-Pop band offering up an exquisitely silken sound that weaves together soaring harmonies, mesmerising vocals with a ‘velvety and gentle timbre’, acoustic guitars with relatable and introspective lyrics about intricate tales of love, loss, connection, redemption and empowerment. Their debut album and many of their latest singles have received glowing 5* reviews and they were voted into the 'Top 10 Live shows of 2021' list by Kev Rowland of Muzic.net.nz.

2022 SPRING TOUR w/ Looking for Alaska ~ BUY TICKETS

2022 Tohu Finalists Waiata Māori Music Awards

WAIATA MĀORI MUSIC AWARDS - Finalists 2022

Tena koutou katoa. The Waiata Māori Music Awards are looking forward to celebrating our Māori music for 2022. This year, the finalists are diverse in styles, covering many genres of waiata and from all areas of Aotearoa.

The awards will be hosted in one of the original venues, the beautifully refurbished ‘Toitoi - Hawkes Bay Arts and Events centre’ which is the perfect backdrop for the kaiwaiata and the expo this year.

In its 15th year running, the Waiata Māori Music Awards will be a live event, held on the 9th of September, with performances to be announced in the coming weeks.

Here are the finalists for 2022. Mauri ora!

Best Te Reo Māori Album

Anna Coddington - Mana-Wā-Hine

Puoro Mataoraora - Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo, Te Pae Tuku Aka

TE KAAHU - Te Kaahu o Rangi

Best RnB Album by a Māori Artist

Mistee K - Melz Vs Mistee K

Rei - Enjoy The Ride Part 1

Teezy Created - Spiritual Healing

Best Pop Album by a Māori Artist

Mistee K - Melz Vs Mistee K

L.A.B - L.A.B V

Teezy Created - Spiritual Healing

Best Hip Hop Album by a Māori Artist

Adam Tukiri - Unless ..Surely

Mistee K - Melz Vs Mistee K

Rei - Enjoy the Ride Part 1

Best Roots Reggae Album by a Māori Artist

Come On Up - Come On Up

NLC - Home By Six

Tomorrow People - 21

Best Māori Group

Aro

Coterie

L.A.B

Tomorrow People

Best Māori Wāhine/Female Solo Artist

Huia Hamon

Mistee K

Mihirangi

Best Māori Tāne/Male Solo Artist

Kings

Riqi Harawira

Tipene

Best Music Video

Alien Weaponry - HatuPatu

Coterie - Cool it Down

Hani Dread - Kōkiri

Tomorrow People - Don’t Worry Baby

Troy Kingi &The Nudge - He Ōrite

Best Waiata/Single by a Māori Artist

Coterie - Cool It Down

ORA - Tuakiritanga

Jordyn with a Why - Brown Melodies

L.A.B - Mr Reggae

Troy Kingi & The Nudge - He Ōrite

Best Māori Songwriter

Coterie

Kings

L.A.B

ORA

GOLDSMITH BAYNES RELEASE SINGLE/ VIDEO ‘HEI KAWE I A AU’ OFF UPCOMING ALBUM FROM ALLANA GOLDSMITH & MARK BAYNES

Goldsmith Baynes have released their latest single & video ‘Hei Kawei i a Au’, the fourth single off their forthcoming debut album ‘E Rere Rā’ (out 2nd September 2022). it’s a touching contemporary jazz masterpiece that draws the listener in with enchanting piano from the accomplished pianist Mark Baynes, and embraces the beauty of Māori language through the captivating vocal of Allana Goldsmith.

The music video for ‘Hei Kawei i a Au’ was shot entirely at the picturesque Te Henga (Bethells Beach) on the west coast of West Auckland, and perfectly compliments the single with its beautiful location and majestic style.

Allana Goldsmith speaks about the single: ‘‘Hei Kawe i a Au’ - is a waiata(song) about the wind, and it names the gentle breeze and the easterly spring wind. Mark wrote the music to this beautiful ballad and I wrote the lyrics. The title is taken from a whakataukī (proverb) in the waiata -  “Mā te pākihiroa hei kawe i a ahau”, which means “Let me be carried by the easterly breeze”, suggesting not to be in a hurry, but to wait til the time and conditions are right.  In the end there is a wish and hope for all restrictions to be lifted, to be free and cleansed by the wind.’

An exciting new project created by the renowned jazz artists Allana Goldsmith and Mark Baynes with vocals containing a beautiful mix of Māori and English language, their debut single ‘Tīpuna’ was released last year and featured on the Waiata Anthems 2021 compilation, which has since been followed by several more singles that make key contributions to the remarkable body of work that is their debut album ‘E Rere Rā’. A wonderful collaboration between two modern favourites of the jazz world, Goldsmith's soulful jazz vocal combines with British pianist Baynes' contemporary jazz stylings to produce this truly uplifting and remarkable record. 

The album was performed as well as produced by Goldsmith and Baynes, with recording sessions including fellow musicians Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa (drums), Alex Griffith (electric bass), Tom Dennison (bass), Riki Bennett (Taongo Puoro), Cameron Allen (saxophones), Jono Tan (trombone) and Mike Booth (trumpet and horn arrangement), Michael Howell (guitar).

The Goldsmith Baynes project is a celebration between two musical souls. The talented pair have worked together for over 10 years and their musical bond comes from freedom, a shared trust, and mutual respect. Goldsmith and Baynes have written a stunning collection of songs together, which will culminate in a debut album to be released in September this year.

Goldsmith Baynes have performed at renowned festivals including the Waiheke Jazz Festival and Tauranga International Jazz Festival, and have been programmed for the 2022 Auckland Arts Festival. They also were invited to perform at the recent Aotearoa Music Awards 2021

Break-through indie-pop artist CAITLIN releases her debut EP: STATES

Indie-pop artist ‘CAITLIN’ strikes listeners with her frank lyricism paired with guitar-driven music, filled with lush synth and harmonies. CAITLIN’s debit album STATES follows three well-received singles released earlier this year. STATES exhibits CAITLIN’s extensive range in her songwriting, writing upbeat indie-rock hits (‘Hardly’) and tunes inspired by indie-pop and alt-country (‘Let Me Down’). The EP’s closing tune ‘Kitchen’ is mellow indie-pop at its finest; full of ethereal sounds, with a beautiful melody that will transport you to a quiet night’s beach sunset in an instant. CAITLIN’s debut EP showcases her diversity and sentimental writing.

The EP’s title ‘STATES’ is based off the idea of being in different ‘states of mind’ or ‘emotional states’. Each song relishes on a new idea, whether than be jealousy, frustration, infatuation, or indifference. Inspired by indie-pop sensations Julia Jacklin, Faye Webster, and Spacey Jane, the songwriter has defined her unique sound in the indie-pop genre. CAITLIN’s sweet but clear vocal tone has been compared to the likes of the Grammy nominated Madison Cunningham: another strong influence for her writing and style. Produced and mixed by Ryan Fisherman, STATES captures a young artist’s journey through discovering themselves, navigating the challenges of relationships and coming to terms with circumstances out of your control.

STATES features the talents of talented musicians Will McGillivray (Goodwill), Thomas Isbister, Ryan Chin (Fisherman), and Shaun Malloch. These Christchurch artists are well-respected for their talents and bring the song to life with tasteful synth, vocals, and lead lines.

Catch CAITLIN with a full live band at her EP Release Show at Space Academy on August 12th!

Tickets available now:

https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/gig/79902/Caitlin---States-EP-Release-Show.utr

DISCOVER CAITLIN HERE

https://linktr.ee/caitlinmusic

AUGUST MEMBERS ONLY SESSION - DAN CHISHOL

The Music Managers Forum Aotearoa are pleased to announce that their August Members Online Session is with Dan Chisholm, specialist music lawyer at Mortlock McCormack Law

Dan will be talking about contracts and copyright, who owns the rights to recordings and music, what happens if you sign a record deal or publishing agreement, and when is copyright infringed, collaborations & bands, management contracts, and producers.

Dan acts as a legal advisor for prominent musicians, managers and music entities in New Zealand and Australia. Prior to his legal career, Dan resided in Australia and played music professionally for the band BONJAH, touring with artists such as The Who, Counting Crows and The Cranberries.  Since returning to New Zealand, Dan has continued to play music and is currently part of the Christchurch musical group, Volts. 

Dan is qualified to practice in both New Zealand and Australia and advises on a range of music related agreements, including songwriter, recording, management, producer, publishing, synchronisation, distribution and licensing agreements. 

Date: Tuesday 30th August

Time: 6.00pm–7.00pm

RSVP: For MMF members only to admin@mmf.co.nz RSVP is essential as spaces are limited

Due to the limited places please note if you RSVP and then fail to attend the session without notifying us, unfortunately you will not be eligible for future sessions

PRINS 'BETTER NOW'

PRINS is back with the undeniably liberating new single ‘Better Now’, the third track to be released off her highly-anticipated upcoming EP.

Listen to ‘Better Now’ HERE

‘Better Now’ is sexy and fierce. As PRINS says: “It’s pure unadulterated liberation.” Written with an array of exceptional songwriters on the track, including Alannah Prins, Pierre Blondo, John-Adam Howard, Shawn Platzker and Jillian Slade, it was produced by House Of Wolf and PRINS.

“The song was recorded all over the world,” explains PRINS. “We recorded vocals at my parents house in Auckland and our apartment in Christchurch, House Of Wolf produced the track on a beach in Cancun, Mexico and back home in Quebec, Canada. The song was mixed in Quebec by our Juno award winning friend Pierre-Olivier Couturier and mastered in Nashville by our Grammy-award winning friend Chris Gehringer!”

Edgy, alt-pop, and uniquely PRINS, ‘Better Now’ showcases another exciting side to this versatile artist, demonstrated right down to the process of creating the track.

“I started writing this song fully acapella in lockdown and recorded it to a click before any production was introduced” says PRINS. “This was a very new process for me so I wasn’t entirely sure how it would turn out, but somehow my production team was inspired and filled it out with a massive bass line while sitting on a beach in Cancun.”

PRINS will be taking her electric live show on tour through August and September, kicking off next week in Dunedin on August 12, before heading to Wellington on August 19, Hamilton on August 26, Auckland on August 27, and wrapping up for a final show in PRINS’ hometown of Christchurch on September 17.

Tickets available HERE

‘Better Now’ is the latest offering from PRINS, and follows career high benchmarks set by singles ‘On The Low (shh!)’ and ‘That’s the thing x’. The latter, written with Marlon Gerbes (SIX60), secured #3 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart, #33 on the Global Hot Singles Chart, and helped her achieve her first rotate positions on all three of NZs biggest national radio stations. The singles garnered the attention of major labels all around the world, with PRINS officially signing to AntiFragile music in NYC.

Positioned as New Zealand’s next pop powerhouse, PRINS is demonstrating again and again why she is an artist to watch out for. Don’t miss her on tour in August and September; these shows will sell out fast!

Listen to ‘Better Now’ HERE

PRINS - LIFE IS BETTER NOW TOUR

August 12 - Dunedin

August 19 - Wellington

August 26 - Hamilton

August 27 - Auckland

September 17 - Christchurch

Tickets on sale now at www.prinsmusic.com/tour

BLKLIST JOINS FORCES WITH TROY KINGI TO BRING YOU THEIR THIRD SINGLE ‘THE WAY WE WERE’

The wheel was officially moving in 1998 when The Gorillaz hit the mark as a virtual band, and in 2022, BLKLIST is looking to follow in those footsteps.

BLKLIST release their third single ‘The Way We Were’ today. It features multi award-winning artist, ‘The Northland Treasure’ Troy Kīngi, and is part of their plan to deliver 12 singles in 12 months.
When asked about the inspiration for the new single ‘The Way We Were’ BLKLIST said, "We want to acknowledge the past, and to make the now beautiful."
In the words of Troy Kīngi: "No moment like the present, It might be unpleasant, You can’t see the beauty when you're standing still".
These lyrics shine a light on the feels of the recent pandemic, and reality did stand still for a long moment, but BLKLIST is steadfast, and ready to bring music that will move you forward – and in all directions.

BLKLIST was birthed in 2020 by the group's founding members after meeting at a worldwide creatives' competition during lockdown.  

Each member of BLKLIST performs under their virtual pseudonyms: musicians JC (Jasey Cones) and Oroko, and producer Besu. If you could imagine the 1998 Gorillaz, well you're now blessed with BLKLIST in 2022 right here in Aotearoa/NZ.

Their sound is original with a bass-heavy, melody driven, spiralling synth, electro trap inspiration that crosses genres. Along with some heavy-hitting collaborations in the works – Troy Kingi being the first – you can expect these songs to resonate your aural sensors and beat through your toes when turned into energetic live versions across stages.
As BLKLIST say, “Not wanting to fit into one sound, we want to make music that makes your head nod, heart pump, and lungs hurt!” 

I guess the question on everyone's lips will be - WTF is BLKLIST? - will you ever know? 

Where to find out more visit: https://linktr.ee/blklist