Meghan Meraki releases debut R&B/Pop single, Good Riddance
Sassy, self-producing RnB artist, Meghan Meraki is stepping into her own in the Christchurch music scene. With a strong belief in self-love and appreciating yourself, listeners can expect to feel a boost of confidence after listening to Meghan’s music.
Sassy, self-producing RnB artist, Meghan Meraki is stepping into her own in the Christchurch music scene. With a strong belief in self-love and appreciating yourself, listeners can expect to feel a boost of confidence after listening to Meghan’s music.
Writing and producing her own music means Meghan is able to make her music connect and flow. Meghan uses music as her cathartic outlet which allows her to turn sometimes negative situations into positives.
Good Riddance, both written and produced by Meghan Meraki, is all about saying good riddance to all the things in your life that are no longer serving you any good. It’s a reminder that it’s okay to get rid of things that are weighing you down and that you will feel so much relief when those things are gone. Meghan wrote Good Riddance whilst in a bad place and made the decision to get rid of the things that were weighing her down and stopping her from being at her best. With so much anticipation for her first ever release, Meghan can’t wait for Good Riddance to be out for everyone on April 21st!!!
Through development and working on her musical craft over the past couple years, Meghan has been able to find out who she is, who she wants to be and what message she wants to send to people listening to her music. Meghan has spent the past few years at Sole Music Academy where she has developed in terms of songwriting, production and overall artist development. Through Sacha Vee and other mentors at Sole Music Academy, Meghan has been given guidance in the music industry and a pathway forward in her music career.
Recently, Meghan Meraki performed a 20 minute set at Wunderbar in Lyttelton where she received great feedback and was able to broaden her audience. Meghan also had the opportunity to talk with Liam Donnelly from RDU and sing an original of her own, live on air.
Make sure to follow Meghan’s socials, linked down below, to keep up with her upcoming shows and single releases. Meghan Meraki is one to watch for sure.
Connect with Meghan Meraki: INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK
THE RVMES NEWEST SINGLE SAY SOMETHING
Fresh off the road from their Simple Things album tour, The RVMES (pronounced ‘The Rooms’) announce their new single ‘Say Something’. The track is a soft conclusion to their tour and this year’s questionable Summer before they disappear into the Winter mist to start planning the next one.
Fresh off the road from their Simple Things album tour, The RVMES (pronounced ‘The Rooms’) announce their new single ‘Say Something’. The track is a soft conclusion to their tour and this year’s questionable Summer before they disappear into the Winter mist to start planning the next one.
Giving off a warm and sweet mood of reggae, Say Something sings about how easy it is to hang on to every word and every moment of a new love or a new lust. Richard Moore lays down a complimenting bed of smooth jazz chords on guitar for his debut release with the band, and as a cherry on top, the whole track was run through tape for some extra warm tonality.
Say Something was recorded in Huntly with Casey and John Messent from the upcoming Wardrobe Studios, mixed by legendary and recent free-lancer Jamie Crerar and finally mastered by Luke Finlay at Primal Mastering.
FOLLOW The RVMES: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD | BANDCAMP
Warming up these autumn days! Valley Kids release summer soaked single + fun video ‘Otherside’
The wait is over! Valley Kids have today released their new summer-soaked reggae single + video ‘Otherside’.
LISTEN HERE HERE
WATCH HERE
The wait is over! Valley Kids have today released their new summer-soaked reggae single + video ‘Otherside’.
A feel-good song designed to uplift, ‘Otherside’ started life as a jam that lead singer Nai McGregor started playing out of the blue at a writing session. “It basically wrote itself!” says Valley Kids - which is made up of Nai (Te Atihaunui-a-paparangi, Ngati Maniapoto) - vocals, Peter Riley (Ngaruahine, Ngati Manuhiakai) - bass, Daniel Sugrue - guitar/vocals, and Ihaka Tukapua (Muaūpoko, Ngati Kahungunu) - Keyboard/Vocals. “‘Otherside’ is a song about the positive emotions that uplifting music can give you and that when you’re feeling down, there is always a different way to view your situation in a more favourable light.”
Following on from their 2021 debut single ‘Money’, sophomore ‘Make Me Feel’ (produced by DJ Mu a.k.a Fitchie, Fat Freddys Drop at Bay's Studio) and te reo Māori adaptation ‘Moni’, ‘Otherside’ is yet another single that showcases the bands range, skilful songwriting abilities and musicianship. Made with the support of NZ On Air, it was recorded at ‘HiViz Jamz HQ in Upper Hutt/Wellington, then mixed and mastered in-house by Thomas Te Taite.
The video for ‘Otherside’ was directed by Will Wrag, edited by Lee Gingold and is a fun must-watch. “We found that with a lot of Aotearoa-based summer reggae songs, the video concepts were based around cars and/or road-tripping with friends. We wanted to do our own spin on that and include our individual, comedic personalities within the video treatment.” The video succeeds in capturing the light-heartedness and positive message of the song but also the quintessential Valley Kids essence of not taking themselves too seriously.
Formed by Daniel and Peter in late 2020, Valley Kids have already made a significant splash on the Aotearoa music scene with their full and energetic arrangements which move over solid soul, RnB, reggae and rock grooves. They’ve released 3 singles, multiple live material and performed shows all across Aotearoa. Fans are also familiar with seeing Daniel (Tomorrow People, Sons of Zion, 1814), Peter (AJA, NLC, Creative Natives) and Nai (Creative Natives) performing with other Aotearoa standouts. With more writing and recording in the works, there’s still lots more to watch out for - so make sure you’re following Valley Kids!
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Emerging pop star Ben Horlock releases emotive new single ‘This Ain’t The End’
Up-and-coming Aotearoa pop artist Ben Horlock (Ngati Porou, Te Arawa) has today released his latest single ‘This Ain’t The End’ - proving once again to be an artist to watch!
LISTEN HERE
WATCH HERE
Up-and-coming Aotearoa pop artist Ben Horlock (Ngati Porou, Te Arawa) has today released his latest single ‘This Ain’t The End’ - proving once again to be an artist to watch!
This exciting new single from the 19-year-old singer and songwriter has a driving beat, catchy chorus and includes pop perfect shifts from emotional to hopeful and uplifting. “To me it's kind of like a motivational song for anyone feeling really down,” says Ben, who worked on the song with grammy nominated producer and songwriter Rory Noble (Kanye West, Burna Boy, Ruel, Claire Rosinfranz, BANKS) at Parachute Studios. “Rory and I had been working together for a couple days and just as our session was about to end I was messing about on a guitar playing this little riff and singing this melody. Rory asked what it was and I said ‘just a random idea’. It was enough for us to start a new song when we were meant to be calling it quits for the day. I even had a show I ended up being late for.”
Ben says the inspiration for ‘This Ain’t The End’ came from his own difficult experiences, as well as empathising with others stories. “I wanted to try to give anyone out there a message not to give up when things get dark. I'm not gonna lie, I got into a pretty dark place to write this and it has the vulnerability that comes with being a teenager, because we’re all just trying to figure out who we are.”
Also released today is a video Ben made with friends in his home studio (which also doubled as a bedroom when the car got “too much” to sleep in). The video shows Ben on his bed playing guitar, with a friend lying motionless next to him. “We wanted to keep the concept simple, just show what my life is like and try to get as much emotion from the song across. To me, it really captures the feeling of the song - about wanting to hold onto someone (or something) and the thought of losing them giving you the feeling of your mind falling into that darker place,” says Ben, adding that to be able to film in his room, he had to do a big clean. “Hopefully it’s not too clean though, as I still wanted to show what a crazy life I’ve been living these past few years.”
Whakatāne born, and now Auckland-based, Ben grew up in Dunedin where he began writing songs aged 12, after teaching himself guitar. Following on from winning regional Rockquest in 2018, he was quickly recognised as a talent to discover - being teamed up with some of Aotearoa’s best talent/studios (Roundhead/Parachute); landing spots as the youngest artist on the main stage at various Bay of Plenty summer festivals in early 2020; and more recently, headlining a concert with Lime Cordiale and Coterie. Ben’s first unplugged releases gained him a dedicated online following - both in Aotearoa and overseas. With more music on the horizon, ‘This Ain’t The End’ is a great taste of what’s still to come from Ben Horlock - so be sure you’re following his socials!
Midwave Breaks announce Special Guests for NZ Tour
The Tauranga Alt-Rock duo have had a resoundingly positive response to their ‘Special Guest Artist Search’ in partnership with Rockshop, helping to shine a light on Local Acts in support of NZ Music Month 2023.
43 Local Acts from around the country put their hands up to be part of Midwave Breaks NZ Tour in May!
The Tauranga Alt-Rock duo of singer-songwriter Bruce Conlon, and drummer Paul Russell, have had a resoundingly positive response to their ‘Special Guest Artist Search’ in partnership with Rockshop, helping to shine a light on Local Acts in support of NZ Music Month 2023.
“We’re pretty blown away by the response, we’re by no means an established band ourselves, so to have this level of interest from fellow musicians wanting to be involved is super encouraging!” Drummer Paul Russell
The selected ‘Local Special Guest Artists’ for Midwave Breaks NZ Tour 2023 are:
New Plymouth - The Black Daphnes
Wellington - Dash Ripshaw
Gisborne - Spikey
Auckland - The Boondocks
Christchurch - Imperial April
Hamilton - Pineapple Hedz
Napier - Say Or Do
Mount Maunganui - Whiskey Soho
Dunedin - IVY
Thanks to the legends at Rockshop, each selected Special Guest Artist receives a $200 Rockshop Voucher, plus (courtesy of Midwave Breaks) $150 cash and a double-pass giveaway for each member of the band.
Given the volume of responses and depth of talent displayed, Bruce and Paul have since invited a number of other bands to join the show as well.
In total 15 Emerging Kiwi Artists will share the stage with Midwave Breaks across the Motu in celebration of NZ Music Month!
WASTE FREE WANDA - TERM 2 TOUR
With the support of the Queenstown Lakes District Council, Aotearoa’s environmental superhero Waste Free Wanda is preparing for a term 2 tour of the area.
With the support of the Queenstown Lakes District Council, Aotearoa’s environmental superhero Waste Free Wanda is preparing for a term 2 tour of the area.
The show, which has now reached over 13,000 tamariki, was launched in 2020 and brought to life with the help of the QLDC.
“This is the first time our community will be seeing the show in 3 years. It’s come such a long way since its humble beginnings. I’m really excited to share it in my own neck of the woods again”, said show creator and performer Anna van Riel.
The 80’s-inspired Waste Free Wanda show focuses on the very real and growing issue of eco-anxiety in children, and offers realistic and achievable solutions, which are taught through theatre, song and actions.
Young audiences become important characters in the one-woman show, helping Wanda to save her town and local river from an overwhelm of single-use plastic pollution.
“The show advocates for the arts, for the environment and for wellbeing in our tamariki. It’s funny with a strong Kiwiana flavour. The hooks in the songs are super sticky, and the actions help to lock in solutions that children can take home and share confidently with their families. It helps them to feel part of the solution around waste pollution”, said Anna.
The upcoming QLDC tour will visit a collection of local schools, ECE centres and libraries in the hope of making it easily accessible to tamariki aged 4-12. The QLDC Waste Minimisation grant supporting the tour was gratefully received through charitable trust The Wanda Foundation, whose focus is on inspiring environmental change through the arts.
With testimonials that liken the show to “Flight of the Conchords meets Captain Planet”, this is an opportunity to belly laugh, learn and understand how we can all be part of a positive change for papatūānuku.
For more information on Waste Free Wanda, and how to see a show in the QLDC head to www.wastefreewanda.com
Jujulipps is excited to announce the release of ‘Saucy’ - a floating cloud of confidence that rains down on whoever hears it.
Since the release of her debut single ‘Hilary Banks’ in 2021, Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist Jujulipps has been making waves in the Aotearoa rap scene with her dynamic flow and unapologetic confidence.
Since the release of her debut single ‘Hilary Banks’ in 2021, Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist Jujulipps has been making waves in the Aotearoa rap scene with her dynamic flow and unapologetic confidence.
The highly anticipated single ‘Saucy’, set to be a game-changer, is the first release of her upcoming EP ‘Get That Shot’ which is set to drop towards the end of the year. Produced by Abraham Kunin and mixed by Luke Berryman, 'Saucy' is a floating cloud of confidence that rains down on whoever hears it.
The single is paired with a music video that puts Jujulipps' confidence on full display. Starting with her sitting on a throne, the video is a visual feast. 'Saucy' is the booster or pick-me-up we all need, reminding us to be unapologetically ourselves and to add a little extra confidence sauce to our daily lives.
The Saucy music video (created by the incredible team at Video Buzz, and directed by Alex Hargreaves) burns with the same confidence and energy of which Jujulipps speaks. She describes the shoot as “an experience I will always remember. I worked closely alongside Mary Adeosun, and spent months connecting potential ideas and then refining these themes. There were many nights of tests and trials with hairdresser Paida Machakaire in order to achieve the elaborate styles presented in the video. With the undeniably talented designer Syndel Finlay we merged a look that was not only the embodiment of the track 'Saucy' but is the embodiment of me as an artist. Working with Alex and the whole team was a greatly awakening experience, sharing creative passions with such talented individuals was a true pleasure.”
After a busy festival season which saw Jujulipps performing at various New Zealand summer festivals (Northern Bass, Cuba Dupa, Cross St. Festival, Laneway Festival (cancelled) and a national tour with Synthony), Juju is finally ready to showcase ‘Saucy’ to her fans, who have been eagerly waiting for this release since her debut.
This banger is a celebration of self-love, empowerment, and the joy that comes from being ourselves. Out now through Bigpop Records, on all streaming services!
Saucy is out now!
Stream the track here: https://lnk.to/JujuSaucy
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/4uA9ECR4a9s
Follow Jujulipps
Rocket Berry dispel illusions in new synth-pop single ‘Caught Up in the Fiction’
Te Whanganui-a-Tara indie-pop band Rocket Berry have today released their new synth-pop single ‘Caught Up in the Fiction’.
Te Whanganui-a-Tara indie-pop band Rocket Berry have today released their new synth-pop single ‘Caught Up in the Fiction’.
Listen to ‘Caught Up in the Fiction’ HERE
An 80s influenced synth-pop stand-out, ‘Caught Up in the Fiction’ is about holding on to the fantasy of a person against all the evidence. It’s Rocket Berry’s third single, following on from ‘Chill Out’ and ‘Walls (Gotta Get Out)’, which were both independently released not long after the band formed in 2022 and have had over 15K streams.
“We wanted to form a band centred around putting together a high-energy live show, combining 80s influences with character-based songwriting,” says Rocket Berry. “We’ve spent the past year cementing our sound and live set through various gigs in and around Wellington and plan to build on this in 2023, beginning with our single launch gig at Moon on April 14.”
Made up of Clara van Wel (vocals), Connor Scott (keyboards), Peter Wilkes (bass) and Baileigh Sparkes (drums), ‘Caught Up in the Fiction’ was written by Connor before the band had even formed. “It gave us an opportunity to explore and fine-tune our sound,” says Connor. “With Clara being predominantly a folk songwriter, we found that the process of working on ‘Caught Up in the Fiction’ helped inform our sound and set the stage for more collaborative songwriting between the two of us.” Recorded in Connor’s bedroom studio, the track was then mixed and mastered by Wellington electroacoustic composer and audio engineer Jack Woodbury.
Rocket Berry is an exciting up-and-coming band that bridges the gap between folk-rock and synth-pop to create a groove with an edge. If lead singer Clara van Wel seems like a familiar face/voice - they won New Zealand’s Got Talent in 2012 with their original songs, before going on to study in the UK. Rocket Berry is their first band since returning to Aotearoa. Rocket Berry’s ultimate goal is to entertain, get people moving and inspire them to own themselves. They’re definitely a band to watch!