“We have a responsibility” 1 Drop Nation’s new single spotlights ‘The Children’

Ōtautahi six-piece 1 Drop Nation have today released their stirring new single ‘The Children’.

Listen to ‘The Children’ HERE

A mix of roots, reggae, funk and soul, ‘The Children’ encapsulates the 1 Drop Nation sound that fans have come to love. Adding to the beauty of this track, is an acoustic piano at the intro.

“It’s all about the children. They’re the future,” says Lead vocalist Kanei Johnston, who wrote the song after his first child was born 13 years ago.

“That moment changed the way I looked at life, and I wanted to write a song that would connect with others and make them feel the same way I do about my role as a father. We all have a responsibility to help nurture the next generation to be the best versions of themselves and encourage them to reach for the sky. We do this through aroha, guidance and manaakitanga. I’m excited to finally see this song come to life.”

‘The Children’ is the follow-up single to the band's feel-good funky hit ‘Groove Show’. Both singles are building up the excitement for the band's debut album, which they’ve been working on for the past year with Dr Lee Preeble.

Since coming on the scene, 1 Drop Nation have played some epic festivals, completed a national tour, and supported some of Aotearoa’s finest acts. Band Members: include Marc (drums), Dru (bass, backing vocals), Derin (keyboards, backing vocals), Paerau (guitar), Burke (guitar) and Kanei (lead vocals). This is a group of musicians who make music that brings people together, so join the movement and follow 1 Drop Nation!

One for the escapists! LOVETA releases road trip dance-pop ‘Drive’

Aotearoa songstress LOVETA has today released her uplifting dance-pop single ‘Drive’ - a hit for the dancefloor and a must for your summer road trip playlist.

Yet another successful collaboration with musician/producer Wulfie, ‘Drive’ has a slightly contrasting style in comparison to her debut nu-disco single ‘More Than Fun’.

“The song’s about coming out of a period of feeling stuck and chasing what makes you feel happy, alive, and connected,” says LOVETA. “I wrote ‘Drive’ in lockdown last year when I was feeling restricted and confined at home, as well as in my own headspace. Being isolated from friends and loved ones was tough, and I found myself searching for a new perspective on the situation. I was inspired by the feeling of getting away and travelling somewhere new, where all of life’s worries just melt away.”

There’s also a stunning visualiser made by Applebox’s Kirsty Cameron. Based around a gorgeous vintage car, it has dreamy effects, bright colours, and a carefree, well-styled, summer LOVETA enjoying the sunshine.

“We captured it in dreamy slow motion, as a contrast to the energetic beat and bassline of the song, to create the idea of slowing down and enjoying the moment. Everything just flows and is bright and easy, just like the vibe of the song!”

LOVETA says ‘Drive’ is the perfect transition track into other styles we can come to expect from her exciting debut EP, which is being created with the support of NZ On Air New Music Development Funding.

Her music is all about embracing the journey of life in a way that’s fun - so be sure to follow the journey AND the fun through her socials!

Tarn PK - New Single ‘Simple Love’

Tarn PK is a Wellington, New Zealand based artist, producer and songwriter.

Having released two EP’s, ‘Fantasy’ (2019) and ‘Monarch’ (2021), Tarn is looking to explore new sonic worlds and develop a distinctive style, setting him apart from the surrounding landscape. Tarn has gained over a million streams on Spotify, through single  ‘Talk To You’ landing on New Music Friday playlists , while ‘Cheap Ecstasy’ has gained over 400,000 streams.  Tarn’s music also appears on global Apple Music playlists.

Having focused on stripped back song writing in his last EP, Tarn is developing his next EP of material by expanding into new sonic possibilities, incorporating elements of hyper pop, alt pop and more left of centre inflections. Tarn’s last single ‘Street Noise’ was a bridge from a quieter personal world into a more bombastic and upfront sound.

‘Simple Love’ is the next phase in this transition. It plays with quirky sounds, while retaining to the point pop song writing sensibilities. The song was co-written in late 2020 with NZ producer Devin Abrams (Shapeshifter, Pacific Heights, producer for Drax Project).

Streaming links for  ‘Simple Love ‘ are here: https://bfan.link/simple-love

About ‘Simple Love’

“At first Simple Love wasn’t a song that I wanted to release myself. Perhaps because it felt more personal than some of my previous songs, there was a feeling of deflecting by giving it to someone else. However, this didn’t work out and the song remained in the back of my head.

In early 2022 I was starting a new project with an eccentric production direction, and I decided to give Simple Love a face lift and see if it could fit in with these new sonics. It instantly clicked. Moving it from a smooth RnB jam to a Hyper Pop inspired weird little song just felt like the perfect counter action to the more traditional songwriting style. The song mashes together a lot of influences, to name a few - underscores, The Neptunes, and Roy Blair.

I will be releasing my new EP later in 2022/early the following year.”

Website // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // Spotify

NEW LULLABY FROM MUSIC WITH MICHAL

Counting Sheep - a lullaby -  the latest release from popular New Zealand Children's Artist Music with Michal - is an enchanting song introducing children to the age old sleep technique of counting sheep. 

Written to help ease the anxious minds of her own daughters at bedtime, Michal's heartfelt songwriting strikes the perfect balance of being calm, reassuring and present, with a magical invitation to dream and drift into sleep - with the promise of waking at morning time. 

Produced by Christchurch powerhouse 'The Response' and funded by NZ on Air Music - this track is set to become a favourite in homes across the globe for both children and parents alike. 

Especially wonderful for children who find bedtime difficult, after all 'calming down is hard to do' 

Lyric video here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSrIn9I3qJM&feature=youtu.be

BORDERLINE RELEASE CROWD FAVOURITE, JEALOUS

Borderline’s next offering ‘Jealous’ is an incredibly catchy follow up to their debut single ‘Spinning’, which hit the Hot Singles and Hot NZ Singles charts earlier this year, and continues to prove the talent of the five members of the teen band.

Aptly named 'Jealous' the track explores this theme by being written from the perspective of feeling like someone has been taken from you. Lead singer Ben Glanfield further explains, “the jealousy comes when all their time is being put into another person instead of you. The song means a lot to all of us, and I think it’s a song that can be interpreted in many different ways.”

The unreleased track quickly became a crowd favourite at live shows, creating the perfect sophomore release for the band. "I think it's one of those songs that’s catchy straight away, and we enjoy playing it heaps so it creates a really good energy live,” says guitarist Matthew McFadden. You can be sure to catch ‘Jealous’ live this summer with the likes of Soundsplash announcing this week that Borderline is on the 2023 line up.

‘Jealous’ is out now, on all streaming platforms.

Link to ‘Jealous’ https://bfan.link/BL-jealous

PHOEBE VIC 'STARTING AGAIN'

Ōtautahi artist Phoebe Vic releases Starting Again, the first single off of her upcoming EP (to be announced). 

Affectionately dubbed by Phoebe as an “anxiety bop”, Starting Again explores being stuck in a perpetual cycle of repetition you can’t seem to get out of -
”When you know the current path will take you back to the same place but you continue on ahead anyway, as you aren’t ready to change direction,” says Phoebe, “Or maybe, you don’t know what that direction is yet”.

Starting Again was created in collaboration with producer, musician and APRA Silver Scroll nominee Emily C. Browning. This is the first artist Emily has produced for, outside of her own musical projects, with thanks to the NZ On Air New Music Development grant.

“Working with Emily was an absolute dream - I feel very lucky!” says Phoebe.

Starting as a synth loop, Starting Again evolved into a dreamy, dance anthem for the anxious - paying homage to artists such as Tove Lo and Robyn.

“There are moments in the song where things will detune, warp, push and pull. We definitely wanted it to have an overall feeling of things swimming around you, while still having the driving motion of your classic pop beat”.

GRETA O'LEARY SHARES HAUNTING SINGLE 'BODY, NOW

Soul-stirring alt-folk artist Greta O'Leary shares her hypnotic new single 'Body, Now', an evocative and delicate outpouring ahead of her debut EP release late November.

Penned in a wave of emotion while driving through the picturesque mountain passes of the South Island, 'Body, Now' is the purest and gentlest of offerings, a deep dive into feelings of grief, heartbreak and the inward journey back to oneself. Touching on themes of addiction, society and a connection to nature, the track is a bath of milk and honey, a salve to the wound.

Greta is a Pōneke-based songwriter and musician whose spacious and pervasive sound is laced with dark humour and relatable insight, creating gentle-yet-poignant offerings that bend the folk genre to her own plain, an unmistakably rare sound that is unique to her.

Coming of age during a few nomadic years hitching around the globe, her lifelong love of music was ignited through the folk scenes of Australia and beyond. "Writing and feeling is truly all that has ever made sense to me", she says, a fact that is unmistakable after receiving NZoA funding, a debut video that has already amassed over 140,000 views, and mentorships from the inimitable Liz Stokes (The Beths), Sonny Southon and Frances Dickenson

Her EP is due for release on all platforms on November 25th.

TABLEFOX 'GIVE IT ALL'

Tablefox release the first follow-up single to the album 'BATTLES'. BATTLES has spent the last 2.5 years in the Top 20 of the NZ Rock Chart, so the band knew they needed something special to return with.

'GIVE IT ALL' is a massive Alt Rock tune that weaves and sways with a heavy 3/4 stomp. Singer Clinton Bell says, "The song is about someone dealing with their 'inner voice', their inner critic' that is trying to hold them back...but their positive voice is saying "screw that!"

Coming in dark and powerful, it boils away with intent before it unleashes a torrent of belief that shakes off the bubbling doubt. With hints of The Cult and Placebo the band have found a whole new energy on this latest outing - their first with new drummer Henrik Rylev.

'Give It All' is out September 9.