NIGERIAN BORN SINGER/SONGWRITER D.MATTHEWS RETURN WITH ‘JEJE’
D.MATTHEWS, the Nigerian born singer-songwriter, is an idiosyncratic artist, curating his own brand of Afrobeats & Afropop music, worldwide. He blends traditional African elements with global mainstream pop, for sounds that are heartfelt, captivating and alluring.
D.MATTHEWS, the Nigerian born singer-songwriter, is an idiosyncratic artist, curating his own brand of Afrobeats & Afropop music, worldwide. He blends traditional African elements with global mainstream pop, for sounds that are heartfelt, captivating and alluring. D.MATTHEWS has collaborated with New Zealand producers Edyonthebeat and Shaan Mehta, as well as Ghanaian producer Possigee, who has worked with the likes of Wizkid, Mr. Eazi, Sarkodie and Stonebwoy. He has also worked with and collaborated with Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, Skales. D.MATTHEWS has constantly stayed true & leveraged his cultural origins over the years.
Flying the flag for Afrobeats music in New Zealand over the past few years, D.Matthews was first artist to bring Afrobeats to New Zealand Fashion Week, as well as the first Afrobeats artist to perform at one of the country’s biggest festivals, Splore Festival. His music has also garnered critical acclaim and support from Australian and New Zealand tastemakers, such as Triple J Unearthed, The Beat Magazine and Base FM among others, as he continues to spread the gospel of Afrobeats music down-under, while representing NZ/AU Afrobeats on the global stage.
D.MATTHEWS is very resistant/reluctant to define his musical style. “I make different music for different people. Same thing goes for my sound. Music doesn’t have a stamp for me, as long as you feel it deep down in your soul”.
"The major thing is that, people hear and feel the rawness, realness and authenticity in my songs with goosebumps from that, or being able to dance and rage at the same time. In other words, having a good time with real music".
Matthews says “ I've been ruminating on a strong melody/chorus that would intoxicate and capture a female's heart, mind & soul on JeJe. I woke up, and then came this beautiful morning with a sunrise at 6:32am and I started pouring out fresh lyrical content, and went straight to the studio the next day to wrap the track up so I didn’t lose touch of it finishing the track with the idea in mind, Right there and then”
D.Matthews has an impressive streaming following with over 334,000 plays on Spotify, 228,000+ plays on Apple Music, 128K+ views across Youtube and 21.9K followers on Instagram.
“JeJe” will be released on Friday 24th of February, and will be available Worldwide.
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Dillastrate & Tiki Taane team up for empowering new single ‘Way To Flow’
The new single ‘Way To Flow’ from Ōtautahi dream team Dillastrate and Aotearoa legend Tiki Taane is out now and not to be missed!
The new single ‘Way To Flow’ from Ōtautahi dream team Dillastrate and Aotearoa legend Tiki Taane is out now and not to be missed!
Elements of soul, hip-hop, electronica and dancehall mingle effortlessly in ‘Way To Flow’, with a solid and steady groove driving the message of this empowering anthem home. Dillastrate’s Henare ‘H’ Kaa’s lead vocal abilities are highlighted in a colossal bridge section, which gives way to an engaging and energetic synth solo from Dillastrate’s other half Tim Driver. ‘Way To Flow’ builds so brilliantly, it will have you singing along in no time - ‘Don’t you stop dreaming, do your own thinking, do it your way’ - and quickly add it to your ‘repeat listens’ playlist.
“This song is essentially about holding onto your own, expressing yourself as fully as possible, and not giving a f*** what anybody thinks about that,” explain Dillastrate. “It’s a bold and unflinching statement of individuality in the face of those who would subvert your will and diminish your spirit. It celebrates our collective diversity through a bold individual expression that acknowledges the rights of all to do the same.”
This exciting new track was produced and mixed by the legendary Tiki Taane at Tikidub Productions, with additional recording by long-time collaborator Thom O’Connor at Orange Studio. The track was mastered by Benny Tones at Organik Muzik Workz.
“The most exciting aspect of this was working with the Tiki Taane,” says Dillastrate. “His footprint on the New Zealand musical landscape cannot be overstated. We spent a few days in sunny Papamoa working with Tiki in his studio, and it was one of our most comfortable and natural recording processes to date. His deeply honed abilities and studious efforts have brought the song and its message to fruition - and his generosity and shining spirit made it a joy to produce.”
‘Way To Flow’ adds to a canon of tracks that further elaborate and expand Kaupapa Dillastrate - specifically, uplifting individual voices to support a beautifully diverse social tapestry. Dillastrate says that working with Tiki Taane, an artist who practically exudes this Kaupapa, has been crucial to both the song's development and their development as a group.
With lots more to come, make sure you’re following Dillastrate!
30 years in the making & worth the wait! The Transits release new single + video ‘When You Went Away’
Aotearoa New Zealand-South Africa band The Transits have today released their invigorating new single + video ‘When You Went Away’.
Aotearoa New Zealand-South Africa band The Transits have today released their invigorating new single + video ‘When You Went Away’.
Comprising of Ryan Lunn (vocals, guitars, synths), Dom Antelme (vocals, bass) and Tyrone Smith (drums), this catchy new single pulls you in with its rock-infused punk, indie and synth-pop sound, tight performances and slick production.
The trio have been making music together on and off since forming their first band 30 years ago as teenagers in Durban, South Africa. “We’ve been close friends for even longer than that,” says Dom, “it’s like family.” They would practice before, after and even during school, finding inspiration in guitar-heavy pop outfits like Weezer and The Pixies.
Since that first band, each member has gone on to experience careers that have included label signings, live, chart, radio and award success. The decision to get the band back together came about during the pandemic, when they started to write and record together, regardless of being in different countries. Ryan contributed his parts in Durban, South Africa and Dom and Tyrone from Auckland, New Zealand. The band says the timing feels serendipitous, with bands such as Blink-182 announcing the reunion of their original lineup and a resurgence of the vintage pop-punk sound. The Transits time is definitely now!
Being released alongside the single is a stunning video directed by award-winning director Ian Sweeney and produced through Fish n Clips. “The video is a love story that defies death,” explains Dom. “‘When You Went Away’ is about separation and the complex emotions that we all feel when someone leaves, but the vibe of the track is almost a juxtaposition to the subject matter in that it’s got a catchy head-bopping feel to it with some nostalgic 80’s synths, so we wanted to create a video that would heighten the lyrics and feelings expressed. It sees two dead bodies in a morgue come back to life for one last dance. A big shout out to our dancers who kept going despite multiple bumps and scrapes!”
A big groove party! 10:32 release new single ‘Coffee Shop Girl’ + announce Aotearoa tour
London-based future-soul collective 10:32 have today released their new single + video ‘Coffee Shop Girl’ and announced their return to Aotearoa in March!
London-based future-soul collective 10:32 have today released their new single + video ‘Coffee Shop Girl’ and announced their return to Aotearoa in March!
Releasing it off the back of opening for Aotearoa legends SIX60 at their sold-out London show, ‘Coffee Shop Girl’ takes you on a 10:32 magic-making groove party!
Inspired by a band member’s crush on someone at their local coffee shop, ‘Coffee Shop Girl’ then grew into a song about “falling in love with the possibility of things being better.” 10:32’s sound draws on influences from jazz, hip hop, breakbeat, house, RnB, and the use of analogue synth, effect-drenched vocals, grooves and breakdowns - think Hiatus Kaiyote, D’Angelo and Erykah Badu - and ‘Coffee Shop Girl’ is no different. Made with the support of NZ On Air, lead vocalist and Aotearoa original, Bridget Walsh says, “a coffee is what you drink in the morning to get you started - it’s full of potential - a spark, an energy of looking forward to seizing the day. ‘Coffee Shop Girl’ is our first release from when we escaped to a farm in rural Oxfordshire in 2021 to conjure up a new record. It feels right to start this new 10:32 chapter with that same fresh energy"
Something else giving fresh energy is the music video for ‘Coffee Shop Girl’ - a live-action collaboration with Karolina Wielocha in London and animation led by Dane Jacobs in Ōtautahi. The video starts out with the band chilling in a coffee shop (Allpress Espresso, London) when a lips-shaped phone on the table rings. “Lyle answers the call, and we’re instantly transported into some sort of psychedelic funk matrix,” explains Bridget. “Even though we’re based in London, keeping ties with Aotearoa is intrinsic to our music which is why we were chuffed to team up with London/Portugal-based kiwi artist Celeste Wong (aka The Girl in the Cafe), who connected us with the team at Allpress here in London.” In a full circle moment, Allpress in Auckland is where Bridget did her barista training before starting university. She says it felt right to bring the original “coffee shop girl” vibe full circle - even from the other side of the world!
While the group are London-based, Aotearoa audiences are going to be treated to ‘Coffee Shop Girl’ live, along with a preview of what’s to come, when 10:32 return to NZ for their tour in March. They’ve also teamed up with Peoples Coffee for a special 10:32 Edition.
10:32 Aotearoa Tour, March 2023
Sun 5 - Little Bird Kitchen, Auckland
Fri 10 - Deville, Whakatū, Nelson
Sat 11 - Rogue + Vagabond, Wellington
Sun 12 - People’s Coffee
Sun 12 - Raumati Social Club, Kāpiti
Fri 17 - The Yard, Raglan
Sat 18 - Tuning Fork, Auckland
For more info and tickets, head HERE.
Since debuting at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2018, 10:32 have toured internationally with sessions, shows, broadcasts and festivals in the UK, Aotearoa, Australia and the USA. As well as opening for Six60, they’ve released their successful single ‘Seedling’ with award-winning artist Troy Kingi - a celebrated EP AEQUUS ANIMUS - and performed at RNZ, Electric Brixton, NZ’s National Jazz Festival and UK's revered Ronnie Scott’s. While brilliant together, each member also boasts an impressive individual resume. Bridget has been touring with UK bands since 2013 and has performed at Glastonbury, Boomtown, Latitude, Subsonic, Edinburgh Fringe, Cuba Dupa and the Auckland Arts Festival. Lyle Barton (London / piano, keyboard, synths) plays with artists including Emma-Jean Thackray, Matters and Nala Sinephro - and Radovan Brtko (Slovakia / drums, percussion) is a highly sought-after drummer, producer and DJ. Make sure you don’t miss a 10:32 beat, follow their socials!
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Corrella & Ōtautahi DnB duo Catch-22 take single to new heights! ‘We On’ REMIX
Seven-piece roots-reggae band Corrella have teamed up with Ōtautahi Christchurch DnB duo Catch-22 to release a pumping remix of their feel-good 2022 single ‘We On’.
Seven-piece roots-reggae band Corrella have teamed up with Ōtautahi Christchurch DnB duo Catch-22 to release a pumping remix of their feel-good 2022 single ‘We On’.
‘We On’ is about living for the moment, going out with friends and having a good time without worrying about anything else. Catch-22 have brought their epic DnB skills and turned up the volume, bringing out the songs meaning loud and clear. “Think Shapeshifter and DnB, mixed with Corrella,” says Corrella lead singer Pipi Campbell (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti He, Ngāti Pukenga).
“When we released the original track, in my mind, an essential part of what the song was about was missing. The part where you’re going out and getting carried away by the feeling. I’m super stoked with what we have produced in collaboration with Catch-22 and what they have done.”
Catch-22 is made up of Tom Prayoonyuang & Billy Reid - a pair making waves in the NZ DnB scene with their technical back-to-back mixing style and production. Their first release was on DnB Allstars Records in 2021, and they’ve been going from strength to strength ever since.
“We were in Wellington playing a headline show when Pipi approached us and asked if we would be keen on remixing one of the band’s tracks. We exchanged contact details, and the next day we were thinking, ‘what have we gotten ourselves into,’ says Catch-22. “Not having remixed a band before, we were quite nervous in terms of being able to deliver something that was of a high standard, and it took a while before we landed on a solid idea.
“When we first listened to the original, we had the idea of creating a heavier dancefloor track, as that’s what we’re used to making. However, we decided that maybe it would benefit from a more relaxed vibe. It was like jumping into a whole new realm of production and we loved it! We really enjoyed figuring out what was needed to create a full-bodied track in this style whilst also implementing our own flavour. It also gave us a newfound appreciation for this form of drum and bass by really paying attention to the many layers that create a lush atmosphere.” says Catch-22. “Huge thank you to Corrella for getting us on board with this remix.”
Catch-22 says that the ‘We On’ Remix reflects their journey as artists, discovering new sounds and styles, which is the same for Corrella, who say it shows their multi-faceted nature and desire to put out music all kinds of people can enjoy.
Corrella formed in 2017 and is made up of Te Naawe Tupe (Ngāi Tūhoe) - rhythm guitarist and hype man, Pipiwharauroa Campbell (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti He, Ngāti Pukenga) - lead singer, Codi Wehi-Ngati (Ngāti Maniapoto) - bass guitarist, Rebekah Brady (Te Arawa, Nga puhi) - lead vocalist, Taula Schuster (Samoa, Niue) - piano and keyboard, “Ulu” Tom Scrase – drummer and proud Wellingtonian who creates and play’s Taonga Puōro, and Joshua Faletutulu- lead guitarist. Their latest summer single ‘Skankin’ (released December 2022), has been filling the Aotearoa airwaves, and ‘Raumati’, the group's first full Te Reo Māori Waiata, which featured in Waiata Anthems 2022, has been featuring regularly on the Te Reo Māori Singles Music Chart. They released their debut single ‘Summertime in Aotearoa’ in late 2020, which quickly made it onto the NZ Music charts. They then went on to release their debut 5-track self-titled EP in 2021, with an impressive three tracks off the EP making it onto the NZ Music Charts.
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Throwing Snow Remix of Neil MacLeod
Electronic and alternative pop artist Neil Macleod releases the remixed works of his highly praised EP 'We Have Known Lost Days', heroically stacked with producers from across Aotearoa New Zealand and Europe.
Electronic and alternative pop artist Neil Macleod releases the remixed works of his highly praised EP 'We Have Known Lost Days', heroically stacked with producers from across Aotearoa New Zealand and Europe. Throwing Snow, Second Self, Leaping Tiger, Proteins of Magic, Brainwaltzera, Amamelia and 2XM unite to articulate their takes on a track each, while thoughtfully paying homage to the original.
On 15th of February, Particle Recordings present the third remix in the series with Throwing Snow reworking ‘Downwards’.
Throwing Snow is a prolific London-based producer that has released numerous well-received EPs and 12” singles since 2007, releasing on Local Action, Ho Tep, Sneaker Social Club and Houndstooth, and has previously remixed tracks by Gold Panda, Heathered Pearls and Ital Tek. He attended the Red Bull Music Academy in New York, sharing studio time with Four Tet and Flying Lotus, has played two Boiler Room sets, supported Bonobo on his European tour and played alongside Atoms For Peace and Jon Hopkins in 2013.
In this remix, he showcases his exquisite trademark production with a dramatic build-up of layers and mind-whirling effects, playing on the powerful and cinematic aspects of MacLeod’s song with a deep warmth and glistening crispness, slowly dismantling the track into a piece of deconstructed club music.
MacLeod is one to watch as he quickly rises, performing a flurry of sold-out shows in both the North and South Island, opening for acts such as Drax Project and hailing support from BBC Radio 6 Music, DAZED, Dublab, Pilerats, RNZ, Hyper Medium, Under the Radar, and Sniffers to name a few.
DAZED wrote 'Neil MacLeod articulates a very specific strain of percussive electronic soul music. Set against stuttering backbeats that draw from the LA beats and post-dubstep traditions, he blends tastefully digitally manipulated vocals with electronic textures and melodies. The results are a richly cinematic set of songs that put the darker side of human nature under the microscope’.
EP Radio support from BBC Radio 6 Music (UK), DUBLAB (USA) Noods Radio (UK), BYTE FM (Germany) RDU (NZ) Radioactive (NZ) RNZ (NZ)
ASHY returns with new pop smash ‘LA Talk’
New Zealand pop sensation ASHY returns with her infectious new single ‘LA Talk’. This fresh new track could easily be described as a slice of pop perfection. With truly engaging lyrical and melodic content, lusciously layered vocals and a bassline laced with funk influence, ASHY hails amongst chart toppers like Dua Lipa.
New Zealand pop sensation ASHY returns with her infectious new single ‘LA Talk’. This fresh new track could easily be described as a slice of pop perfection. With truly engaging lyrical and melodic content, lusciously layered vocals and a bassline laced with funk influence, ASHY hails amongst chart toppers like Dua Lipa.
This artist has already clocked over 2 million streams across all platforms, enjoyed chart success & has worked with leading pop producers on both sides of the Tasman. ASHY has worked with the likes of producers Josh Fountain (BENEE), Ben Wylen (Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande), Liam Quinn (Peach PRC, Ruel, G-Flip, Illy, Rita Ora, Keith Urban) & Sam Trevethick (Shapeshifter).
In 2022, her single 'Mirror' gained top spots on the Official NZ Music Chart and spent multiple weeks in the RadioScope Airplay charts. ASHY also featured on single ‘Feel the High’ with award winning Australian Dance Duo; Chores.
‘LA Talk’ is a timely single, shared with her audience before her travel to the USA as an Official Showcasing Artist at illustrious SXSW (South By SouthWest) in Austin, Texas followed by some time in LA.
ASHY describes this song as an ‘anecdote’ to her life as a young woman in the entertainment industry.
She says “I have many stories about my time in the industry and this song is a culmination of the types of people I’ve met and experiences that I have endured. ‘LA Talk’ is a piece of my sense of humor, it’s sometimes best to take things lightly when things start turning into chaos.”
‘LA Talk’ was written in the artist's hometown of Christchurch in just one day with fellow co-writers; Sarena Close (Mousey) & Chris Wethey. It was then taken ‘over the ditch’ to Australia to her long time producer Liam Quinn in Sydney.
Speaking on the songwriting, ASHY says; “It was really great to get back to the basics of writing this song, the most important part is the lyrics/ story and getting that right. I also play electric guitar on this track which references my beginning as an artist, coming from a singer-songwriter background”.
This marks the start of a new wave of music from this artist, 2023 is set to solidify ASHY as an artist on track to be a household name.
Wellington’s KITA announce first single “Too Much Of A Good Thing” from forthcoming EP
After releasing and touring 2020’s Try To Find A Way, and 2021’s debut album KITA, (produced by Grammy-Award winning producer Tommaso Colliva - Muse, Razorlight ), KITA are now back in studio between Aotearoa and Milan to release their second EP “Love Lies Here”, on AAA Records (Troy Kingi, French for Rabbits).
After releasing and touring 2020’s Try To Find A Way, and 2021’s debut album KITA, (produced by Grammy-Award winning producer Tommaso Colliva - Muse, Razorlight ), KITA are now back in studio between Aotearoa and Milan to release their second EP “Love Lies Here”, on AAA Records (Troy Kingi, French for Rabbits).
Love Lives Here is due for release March 17th.
In addition, an exciting 4 part-filmic experience, that shares the narrative of Love Lives Here, is also in the making; led by front-wāhine actor and poet, Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant, (Avatar 2, Far North) to be screened in 2024.
About KITA
KITA have been described as a must-see live band "with a massive sound", despite just being a three-piece.
Fronted by Taiwan-born wāhine Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant; she describes her main motivation as "finding common ground between differences" through her various forms of Artistry; also having been nominated for awards in film, theatre, music and poetry.
Zuccollo, the man behind the 1970s mini-moog and rhodes has been labelled a synth-master whose intuitive playing has appeared on a plethora of records. Cutting his teeth as a keys player for bands such as The Black Seeds, Trinity Roots, Rhian Sheehan, Troy Kingi, and OPIUO, he is also a producer known as ZUKE.
Cranson, their drummer who effortlessly plays between genres, has worked on an extensive range of musical projects over the years, from solo material to NZ psychedelic rock band Little Bushman, and jazz group The Woods.
Though the name "KITA" has been derived from Nikita's name, she insists that KITA is very much a band that she describes as "a 3 headed entity".
Find KITA Performing at these Festivals:
SPLORE - 24-26 Feb
121 FESTIVAL - 10-12 March
WOMAD - 17-19 March