Ōtautahi artist Phoebe Vic releases ‘Strange Rituals’ EP.

Phoebe Vic is an accomplished singer and musician based in Ōtautahi, steadily gaining recognition for her pop sensibilities, powerful vocal and dynamic performance.

Strange Rituals features the singles ‘Starting Again’, ‘Closure’ and ‘Strange Ritual’.

 "My anxiety tended to manifest in the songs Emily and I were working on at the time," Phoebe says, reflecting on what inspired her during the writing process. "The common thread I found was that each track held at its core a ritual of some kind - the narratives I tell myself, the way I self-soothe in the same familiar, destructive cycles or the very literal interpretation of a ritualistic chant. You can hear this metaphorically (sometimes bluntly) in the lyrics but also heavily in the production.
‘Strange Rituals’ was created alongside producer, musician and APRA Silver Scroll nominee Emily C. Browning, with thanks to the NZ On Air New Music Development grant.

"The production on Phoebe’s EP ‘Strange Rituals’ is something I am incredibly proud of," says Emily. "Phoebe has such a strong vision of soundscape and underlying emotion, making it easy for me to weave in production elements that represent her theme of daily ‘rituals’ and cycles."

"We worked somewhere within the realm of alternative and hyper-femme pop, with our biggest references being Caroline Polachek, Charli XCX, Jessie Ware and Allie X. The EP contains a wealth of sonic themes from ethereal and romantic, through to dance and tribal, while all remaining cohesively ‘pop’."

Strange Rituals EP is available on all streaming platforms.

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Ella Pollett New Single “Sunny Days”

Ella Pollett is an emerging singer/songwriter from Hawke’s Bay.  The 17 year old tells her story of life through her songs. In 2021 and 2022, she won first place at the prestigious Rockquest competition, representing Hawke’s Bay in the solo/duo category. Ella has just recently performed at the Mission as the opening act for Rod Stewart where she charmed the crowd with her powerful and enthralling country vocals. 

“Sunny Days” is the second single that Ella has released so far in 2023 and tells the story of having someone special in your life that can change your bad days to good days, as if they were changing your rainy days to sunny days. Ella hopes that this song will connect with her listeners and hopes that there is someone in their life making their bad days sunny. 

Facebook or Instagram - Ella Pollett Music.

Ella Pollett spotify

https://linktr.ee/EllaPollett

Sunny Days song (private sound cloud link)

https://bfan.link/sunny-days-E-P (Link to new release) 

NZ MUSIC T-SHIRT DAY RETURNS TO RAISE MONEY FOR MUSICHELPS IN 2023

During NZ Music Month in May, MusicHelps has a great and fun way to support its activities – NZ Music T-Shirt Day. This will be taking place on Friday 26th May 2023 as part of NZ Music Month. It’s all about celebrating great New Zealand music and showing your support by sporting your favourite band tee. NZ Music T-Shirt Day aims to raise funds for MusicHelps, a charity launched to support projects that help the most vulnerable in our communities through projects that use the power of music to help and heal. Gather your friends, whānau and workplace, create a team, spread the message, and donate by visiting www.nzmusictshirtday.org.nz or texting MUSIC to 2448 to donate $3.

MusicHelps develops projects in the community that use music to support the most vulnerable. This includes music therapy sessions, music programs in respite and palliative care, music education programs for the at-risk and vulnerable and rehabilitation programs to name a few. They also provide free professional counselling and emergency financial and wellbeing support to kiwi music workers. Since inception, they have impacted over 80,000 people across Aotearoa.

This year's New Zealand Music Month has a key theme of Community and Collaboration, which is exactly what MusicHelps is all about. NZ Music T-shirt day 2023 will unite music lovers through showcasing the community of phenomenal talent we have here in Aotearoa. This will all be made possible by the commitment of MusicHelps supporters who see the difference music makes in New Zealanders lives.

World class producer, Founder of NZ Music venue BIG FAN and board member of MusicHelps Joel Little says "NZ Music T-shirt Day is a great excuse to wear an awesome t-shirt and support your favourite kiwi artist, as well as raise money for the incredibly important work of MusicHelps. Make sure to get involved on Friday 26th May and make sure to donate if you can!”

From Blenheim to Whanganui, Tamaki Makaurau to Hutt Valley and Hamilton to Otautahi, MusicHelps provides grants to a variety of communities in Aotearoa to get everyone involved in music.

Some highlights this year include:

Hamilton’s The Rauhī Project grants access to free music education and social development to the most marginalised and excluded youth in the community.  “Thanks to generous supporters such as MusicHelps, we are able to provide weekly one-on-one instrumental and musical theory lessons from Hamilton's best instrumental tutors, as well as facilitate group music making and choral ensembles. These classes are at no cost to our students, and work to increase their confidence, creativity, and engagement in their community.”

Auckland’s Crescendo’s youth mentoring programme offers a range of song-writing, performance, audio engineering, sound production, podcasting and radio broadcasting courses. Crescendo’s rangatahi are referred to by local schools, youth justice, Oranga Tamariki or social services. They have been identified as talented, but at risk of being excluded from higher education, training or employment. Many lack positive role models, live in financially strained households and have family affiliations with crime or gangs.

Cat Percy, CEO of Crescendo says “Crescendo’s youth mentoring programmes aim to empower rangatahi to express themselves artistically, gain technical skills and support their growth on their chosen pathway. MusicHelps grants have assisted Crescendo’s mentors to work with our young people and ensure they have bright futures ahead.”

MusicHelps is also working with Creative Kids Trust, a Marlborough-based not-for-profit organisation that provides creative arts pathways for children, youth and the wider whanau. Their Kaupapa is to facilitate growth and establish a healthy sense of self by uniting a community that recognises and acts on inclusiveness, diversity and respect. They believe that supporting future generations by showing & mentoring a robust pathway to a connected community will ultimately strengthen our community. Through participation and engaging creatively in art, theatre, music or movement, the creative processes help individuals to explore and express unconscious material that is often difficult to articulate in words.

“The Creative Kids team are extremely grateful for all of the wonderful support that Music Helps has provided us with since our inception, enabling us to provide Music Therapy sessions to vulnerable preschoolers with developmental needs in our community. The program helps the children develop communication skills, short and long-term memory, improve gross motor skills, assist with anxiety, and most importantly find connection and friendship for both them and their families. Thank you Music Helps for your supporting the Creative Kids team and our Marlborough community.”

The support MusicHelps provide extends to the very people that bring us the music we love. From singers to sound engineers, managers to musicians, MusicHelps service is available to anyone involved in the Aotearoa music industry to ensure people are taken care of when they need it most, and does so through emergency grants, the MusicHelps benevolent fund, the Covid-19 financial relief payments, and a 24/7 helpline providing urgent counselling services to the very people that bring us the music we love.

New Zealand Music T Shirt Day is primed to become a favourite fundraising event during NZ Music Month. This year’s event will raise much needed funds for grants to those who use music to help and heal as well as support the music community with whatever challenge they might face into the future.

For a full list of kiwi bands and artists who are currently selling merchandise online, please head to: https://www.nzmusictshirtday.org.nz/t-shirts-and-merchandise

To create a team to raise money together, please head to: https://www.nzmusictshirtday.org.nz

Te Marama Puoro O Aotearoa NZ Music Month runs throughout May across Aotearoa. Find out more at nzmusicmonth.co.nz

Loopy Tunes collaboration with NZ Children's Author, Peter Millett

Children’s music duo, Leah and Siu, of Loopy Tunes, were invited to record a waiata based on lyrics penned by well-known New Zealand children's author, Peter Millett, for his latest book release, "A Kiwi Went To Sea, Sea, Sea".

The book introduces us to New Zealand sea animals in te reo Māori that tamariki may meet while out at sea. The tune is based on the classic, "A Sailor Went To Sea", that has been around for decades, and is often heard in the playground as a well-known (and loved!) clapping game!

This is another ear-worm from the sisters, that features their brother, Massey Williams, on trumpet, and a great hornpipe-like melody on the recorder towards the end of the waiata. Be sure to check out the delightful music video, created by the author himself! Tamariki across Aotearoa are going to love it!

Leah and Siu have been making music for tamariki for nearly 14 years, releasing the first album in their 'Rainbow Collection' of children's waiata, "Kākāriki: Simply Us", in 2019, and their second, "Whero: Kirihimete|Kilisimasi", in 2022. The Tongan-Ngāpuhi sisters have a passion for creating music that encourages tamariki to embrace te reo Māori, as well as songs from the Pacific. The pair collaborated with Whānau Āwhina Plunket NZ and Ministry for Pacific Peoples in 2021 to create 10 Pasifika Beats albums in 10 different pacific languages – the Pasifika Beatz series.

All that they do reflects this kaupapa and the duo hope to inspire even more tamariki through this waiata. 

This song was released on all digital streaming platforms on Friday, 28 April, 2023. Check out the lyric video, here, created by Peter Millett. Peter's book was released on Monday, 1 May, 2023, and can be purchased, here. 

Song release link: https://bfan.link/a-kiwi-went-to-sea-sea-sea

RECORDED MUSIC NZ - MEMBER AND FRIENDS EVENTS

Recorded Music NZ is holding a series of member and friends' events in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland and Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington, as well as a dedicated online event this Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa - NZ Music Month and they would love you to join them. 

These events are designed to give you the opportunity to meet the Recorded Music whānau, hear about their priorities and plans for 2023 and enjoy time mixing with your hapori puoro | music community peers. 

Key information we will be sharing: 

• The 2022 Year in numbers 

• Music consumption in Aotearoa 

• Membership & Distribution  

• Aotearoa Music Awards 

• The Official NZ Music Charts 

Use the links below to register for the events.

AUCKLAND

Recorded Music NZ offices
Level 1, 2A Hakanoa Street Grey Lynn, Auckland 
Date: Tuesday 9th May 2023.
Time: 5.30pm 

WELLINGTON

Naumi Studio Wellington
213 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 
Date: Wednesday 10th May 2023. 
Time: 5.30pm 

ONLINE

Zoom Webinar
Date: Monday 15th May 2023. 
Time: 5.30pm

Dillastrate’s epic new single ‘I’m Crazy’ not to be missed this Aotearoa Music Month!

LISTEN HERE

Ōtautahi’s talented duo Dillastrate have today released their epically emotive and absurdly catchy new single ‘I’m Crazy’.

Listen to ‘I’m Crazy’ HERE

Up-tempo, fun and very danceable, ‘I’m Crazy’ has hints of 70s funk, soul and Anderson Paak influence. Drawing the listener in from the first drum fill to the last vocal line and holding them there until the end, the duo says that “every playback in the studio caused us to involuntarily boogie along!”

Made up of music and lyrical talent Henare ‘H’ Kaa (lead vocals/drums) and Tim Driver (keys/bass synth/loops/vocals), this new single is another great addition to the already impressive Dillastrate catalogue - most recently their collaboration with Tiki Taane - ‘Way To Flow’, and their first Waiata Anthems single ‘Taku Aroha’ (#7 RadioScope Te Reo Māori Airplay Chart).  Made with the support of NZOA’s New Music Development Funding, ‘I’m Crazy’ is all about finding peace with people and things that may never change. “Ultimately, it's a positive song that emphasises acceptance of the struggle,” says Dillastrate.

The main recording was completed at FiveAM Music, with the final vocal recording and mix completed at Parachute Studios by Nic Manders. “Back when we were recording our first self-titled album, we heard whispers about this legendary producer Nic Manders. These tales stayed with us and we hoped to be able to work with him at some point in our careers. Now that we’ve progressed to a certain point, we thought we’d approach him to work on this track and, to our surprise, he agreed! We spent several days in the studio being whipped into shape to produce ‘I’m Crazy’ and we think it was absolutely worth the wait.” The pair say that stylistically the song speaks strongly to their influences as musicians. “There’s a lot of the sound of the soul greats in there (Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, etc), but also a modern treatment reminiscent of artists like Anderson Paak, Lizzo or Bruno Mars. It’s also a story that will be familiar to anybody who works in the music industry, so the narrative of this song resonates with us on a personal and professional level.”

This year Dillastrate have been working with some of the best production talent in Aotearoa New Zealand to craft and release a great single like ‘I’m Crazy’, and lots more exciting new music and news to come, make sure you’re following their socials!

Born from the late great Aaron Tokona’s Ahoribuzz, Dillastrate have been making waves since the release of their 2017 EP, BLACK DIAMOND. Their experience as live musicians include extensive festival, headline and support tours - seeing the duo playing repeatedly to crowds of over 20,000. A live Dillastrate performance is a finely-tuned and explosive experience that can transform entire venue crowds from stationery to dancing-their-asses-off in a matter of seconds. They’ve featured on national TV, commercial, iwi and alternative radio, boast a strong digital presence, and have placed in both the Official NZ Top 20 Singles and RadioScope Charts multiple times. In addition, the group have gained traction in their quest to uplift te ao Māori, with their bilingual hit Party In My Head (Tāwara Ana) and waiata ‘Taku Aroha’.

WAIATA ANTHEMS Our Songs. Our Waiata. Our Movement.

Waiata Anthems is a movement instrumental in the massive groundswell of streaming and broadcasting waiata reo Māori.

Since its inception in 2019, Waiata Anthems has celebrated and encouraged the revitalisation of te reo Māori at scale. Over one hundred new waiata and creative lyric music videos have been supported, produced and released alongside powerful documentary stories, each sharing personal stories of disconnection, reclamation and courage through waiata reo Māori. The power of waiata is transforming artists and audiences as our nation’s airwaves and digital music platforms resonate with the vibrant sound of new waiata and bilingual music. 

In 2023, Waiata Anthems returns with a broader reach. Using three release pillars: MAY NZ Music Month, JULY Matariki and SEPTEMBER Waiata Anthems Week, the movement is set to amplify even more waiata and empower our artists to strengthen their careers and promote their music to Aotearoa and the world using te reo Māori. 
 

WAIATA ANTHEMS: MAY 2023 RELEASES
TE MARAMA PUORO O AOTEAROA - NZ MUSIC MONTH 2023 

This May, one of Aotearoa’s leading platforms championing Māori music, Waiata Anthems, returns with a suite of new waiata and video content in time for Te Marama Puoro O Aotearoa - NZ Music Month 2023.  

Throughout May, new waiata will be released from both emerging and established artists, including MOHI, Chad Chambers, Nikau Grace, William Singe and Corrella.   

Accompanying the musical releases, audiences can look forward to a selection of dynamic videos funded by Te Māngai Pāho, including five brand new short documentary stories, live performance music videos and lyric explainer clips, taking audiences on a deep dive into the meaning behind these powerful waiata. 

The creator of Waiata Anthems, Dame Hinewehi Mohi, says she is particularly excited about the focus on supporting our artists through video content and hearing the personal stories behind their waiata. “I am thrilled with the amazing amount of video content we are releasing to complement the music. It's inspiring to see these artists not only as champions of waiata but also sharing the stories of their reo Māori journeys, and the hopes and intentions at the heart of their music.”  

And for those wanting to join the movement as it plays out, audiences can watch performances from Jordyn With A Why, Majic, Geneva Alexander Marsters, Alya Jade, and Corrella, at the Waiata Reo Māori Showcase streaming live from the Tuning Fork on Wednesday 17th May.  

SOL3 MIO’s Moses Mackay unveils soulful debut solo album, GRACE

+ shares cinematic lead single ‘Embers Of Fire’

Award-winning Aotearoa artist Moses Mackay has today released his stunning, highly anticipated debut solo album GRACE, along with the breathtaking new single ‘Embers Of Fire’.

Listen to GRACE HERE and purchase on CD and vinyl HERE

Packed with stories, soulful tunes and cinematic ballads, GRACE is a work of art and a place of deep connection to the heart of Moses Mackay. Written entirely by the artist himself, the 10 track album features songs that feel familiar, such as the gorgeously mellow ‘Back To You’, as well as “songs that make you feel like you’re watching a movie,” such as today’s single ‘Embers Of Fire’.

“GRACE is a contrast from SOL3 MIO, as I wanted to show another side of my writing,” reflects Moses. “I still love opera and still sing with SOL3 MIO… but this album was something I had to do. I never thought I’d actually do it!”

Recorded in LA, and mixed and mastered in England, Moses worked with a range of incredible musicians on the album, including Damiano Della Torre, Felipe Milk and Fabián Antonio González. “The album was recorded at Furaha Studios where Bruno Mars used to write, and where Lady Gaga recorded ‘Poker Face’”, says Moses. “It took me 3 months of solid focus to get this album off the ground.”

Also out today is the unifying lead single ‘Embers Of Fire’. Classically driven, the track is a timepiece, swirling with Moses’s impressive vocal range and soaring, emotive melodies. Beginning with just a simple, rich piano, the music expands into a cinematic soundscape of deep feeling.

“‘Embers Of Fire’ was written post the Black Lives Matter movement and a worldwide lockdown, turning countries to chaos”, explains Moses. “What we all saw was fear disguised as anger, frustration and acting out. The single is a cinematic piece that resonates with all of humanity, with the leading chorus line being “an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind...””.

Listen to ‘Embers Of Fire’ HERE

Today’s release follows the recent unveiling of the album’s first single ‘Some Sorta Sensation’. A fun and easy-going song about the infatuation of new love, the track came out alongside a blissful accompanying music video shot in LA. Hitting the ground running, ‘Some Sorta Sensation’ quickly charted in the top 10 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart and received wide-spread support and airplay from The Hits, The Breeze, One News, Breakfast TV and more.

Born and raised in New Zealand, Moses is a multi-instrumentalist with an ear for harmony and composition. A Masters graduate of the Wales International Academy of Voice, he is one third of the world renowned trio SOL3 MIO. Their debut album spent an incredible 16 weeks at #1 and is certified 8x Platinum. They have been awarded the iconic Tui Award twice and Album Of The Year, Best Group and Highest Selling Album at the Aotearoa Music Awards for three consecutive years.

GRACE marks the beginning of an exciting new venture for this beloved Aotearoa artist, with Moses saying “this is the first and I’m so excited for it to be out. To say I did it.. against the odds. I made the album.”

GRACE is available to listen HERE and purchase on CD and vinyl HERE