ISLA NOON Body
Isla Noon is back. Today, the shimmering, alt-pop artist will release her new single ‘Body,’ an arresting and spellbinding reclamation of self.
Isla Noon is back. On Friday the 22nd of September, the shimmering, alt-pop artist will release her new single ‘Body,’ an arresting and spellbinding reclamation of self.
The track begins with haunting swells of Noon’s instantly recognisable voice which beckons us into her world. Then, delicately and tentatively, she asks ‘Body, what do I do to make you my home?’
“Growing up, it was always very important to me to be recognised for my ideas, for my creative work, for what I had to say,” says Noon. “As I grew into a young woman I became uncomfortable with the sense that my physical form was preceding those things, that the way I was perceived and treated seemed to hinge on how I looked, dressed, and carried my body. At times, this body felt like a risky vehicle to be in.
"From an early age we are flooded with input on what is and isn’t ok about our bodies. It’s such an overwhelming intrusion on what is really a private relationship. Writing ‘Body’ was a step toward excavating some of that unwelcome noise from my own mind and extending a quiet peace offering to myself.”
The 'Body' music video was directed by talented and artful film maker Oshara Ardelean, director of multiple viral music videos for Kiki Rockwell. They filmed the clip in an abandoned building at Kingseat Hospital. “We heard through the grapevine about a mysterious location. It is considered the most haunted place in Auckland, and there’s a lot of history, so it was a pretty unforgettable experience shooting the video there,” says Noon.
Every artistic choice Noon makes is incredibly intentional, and the video is no different.
“I play with the idea of making the psychological space physical. The camera functions as a reflection of self that I am at first curious about and questioning, then hesitant to trust, and later fearful of and trying to outrun. The building I travel through represents a headspace, a place where I am alone with myself and that doesn’t always feel safe.”
‘Body’ was made with Noon’s long time collaborator Maude Minnie Morris, and also features the talents of Lips frontwoman Steph Brown on keys. Noon reflects “when I brought the song to Maude, we realised we needed to embrace the chaos. We pushed the dynamics to the limit when it became clear that the song wanted to take up a lot of space - and so we let it.”
Drawing influences from artists such as MUNA, Caroline Polachek, Wolf Alice, and Troy Sivan, Noon has received both local and international acclaim, with previous releases ‘I Need to Go Home’ and ‘Talk About Us’ featured in Rolling Stone and Le Future Wave.
Now, ‘Body’ opens a new chapter for Noon and she gently offers it to the world “in all its messy self-contradiction and intensity, in all its cautious intimacy, in all its strength and light.”
ISDALE AND REIKI RUAWAI UNVEIL 'CHANGE DIRECTION' - A DRUM & BASS SUMMER ANTHEM
Isdale is thrilled to announce the release of his latest single, ‘Change Direction,’ featuring the soul-stirring vocals of West Coast (Raglan) artist Reiki Ruawai
After years of playing a pivotal role as a sideman and session musician for Aotearoa’s renowned bands and DJ’s such as Katchafire, Fairbrother, House Of Shem, 1848, and Hipstamatics, contributing to the sounds of New Zealand's top musical acts, Andrew Isdale is now transitioning into a dynamic dual role as a solo musician and producer under the alias Isdale.
Isdale is thrilled to announce the release of his latest single, ‘Change Direction,’ featuring the soul-stirring vocals of West Coast (Raglan) artist Reiki Ruawai, known in the Drum & Bass world for his track 'Somewhere' with UK producer Grafix and as the lead singer of Masaya in the Aotearoa music scene.
Listen to CHANGE DIRECTION HERE
Isdale shares: “The track is about a few different things, but mainly a realisation I had during the middle of 2021 that I wasn’t putting my energy into what I’m actually passionate about, and it was time to change that.”
Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of artists (The Upbeats, Pendulum, State of Mind, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Foo Fighters) and genres, Isdale injects a fresh vitality into the Drum & Bass scene. His signature style incorporates live instruments and jazz-infused harmony, while maintaining the high-octane energy characteristic of dancefloor DnB
The collaboration captures the essence of an Aotearoa summer anthem and is an introduction to Isdale’s upcoming album scheduled for release this summer.
Don’t wait any longer, wrap your ears around CHANGE DIRECTION
FIND ISDALE HERE
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REIKI RUAWAI
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Midas Mind returns from a tropical hiatus with his self-care anthem. ‘Mind Golden’.
Midas Mind (aka West Auckland-raised rapper and poet Isaac London) unleashes an upbeat, Latin-inspired wave of positive energy with his new single ‘Mind Golden’
Midas Mind (aka West Auckland-raised rapper and poet Isaac London) unleashes an upbeat, Latin-inspired wave of positive energy with his new single ‘Mind Golden’ on September 22nd.
Returning from a stint on the west coast of Mexico, Midas Mind delivers a self-care anthem, urging listeners to prioritise their own self-worth and mental health.
“After leaving a job and a relationship that was draining my energy, I decided to spend my savings on a flight to Mexico”, Midas says, “it felt like a rebellious act of self-love, and I wrote Mind Golden that night as a reminder that we owe it to ourselves to prioritise our mental health”.
Midas’ intricate and uplifting wordplay bounces on top of mariachi-style horns and hard hitting drums and basslines, courtesy of fellow West Auckland artist KAU who produced the beat. “I’ve been jamming with KAU for a couple of years now and he’s super talented. I’m stoked we’ve got one out for the world to enjoy, because it won’t be the last!”
Accompanied by a self-produced music video filmed in tropical Mexico, this feel-good offering is timed perfectly to lift spirits as Aotearoa welcomes back the warmer spring weather.
Mind Golden closes the curtains on the story told through his debut and sophomore projects the ‘COMING UP’ and ‘coming down’ EPs, where Midas Mind explores the mental highs and lows of growing up in Glen Eden and the drug-fuelled West Auckland party scene. “As a Westie teenager, being wasted all the time just seemed normal”, says Midas, “living back out west in my twenties now, mental health issues and suicide seems to be just as ‘normal’.”
Mind Golden acts as a ‘story arc’ for the birth of Midas Mind, summarising the lessons Isaac London learnt through his experiences that are the basis for ‘COMING UP’ and ‘coming down’.
“If the message in Mind Golden provides some sort of light or positivity for even one person, then the song is a success”.
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MAHINA LAWRENCE Releases her debut single, '7 Seas'
MAHINA Lawrence (ngati kahungunu), releases her debut single '7 Seas', the first song in her personal song book of life. She is an artist that is honest and 'keeps it real' as she shares her life's journey through her music. The choices she has made and the lessons she's learnt ..
MAHINA Lawrence (ngati kahungunu), releases her debut single '7 Seas' September 22 , the first song in her personal song book of life. She is an artist that is honest and 'keeps it real' as she shares her life's journey through her music. The choices she has made and the lessons she's learnt ..
Her pure voice resonates with the yesteryear sounds of Eta James and Dorothy Moore, and she smoothly adds her own unique modern RnB feel. Music has been her escape from the challenges of life, and it's where she has felt the most at peace within herself.
She grew up listening to the sounds of a variety of music through her parents' love of music. They recognised she had a gift of music from a very young age. Music from a very young age has opened up an amazing variety of opportunities for MAHINA, from pop to opera.
She wowed the audiences on Whakaata Maori 'Homai Te Pakipaki 5 Minutes of Fame'. She toured France and Italy with the Kapa Haka Folk Dance Tour, and she was chosen for a lead role in the opera La Boheme. And being a part of the well-known youth collective called 'Project Prima Volta', where she developed her musicianship, and grew through the amazing performance opportunities.
After signing with IKON Music, she has begun her journey as an originals artist, working with the team that produced one of Aotearoa’s most loved and successful reggae bands Tomorrow People. 2023 will see the team work together to produce an EP that will showcase Mahina’s singing and songwriting ability. She is definitely one to keep an ear out for and her 17.6k Tik Tok fans agree!
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MS. MIA UNVEILS HER SECOND SINGLE 'THIS GAME' ALONGSIDE A MESMERISING MUSIC VIDEO
Ms. Mia, announces the release of her second single ‘This Game,’ offering a glimpse into her upcoming EP ‘Living in the Shadows’ set for release mid next year.
Ms. Mia, announces the release of her second single ‘This Game,’ offering a glimpse into her upcoming EP ‘Living in the Shadows’ set for release mid next year. The upcoming EP delves through themes of forging one’s own path, courage, resilience and rising up from the ashes. Known for her deeply personal lyrics, the artist delves into the nuances of attraction and the magnetic push and pull between two people at the initial stages of a relationship in her latest single. Accompanied by a music video directed by Flora Driessen, where an interpretive dance poetically echoes the push and pull of emotions between two lovers.
In the artist's own words, ‘This Game’ is described as cinematic-pop with alluring vocals intertwined with emotive piano and strings setting the scene for a moody track with a catchy chorus. She paints a vivid picture of the mental and physical game between two people in love – the initial stages of passion, attraction, and seduction, etched in the subtle lines connecting them. ‘This Game’ serves as a poignant reflection of a power play, with both sides tugging at emotional strings in an attempt to captivate the other, ultimately realising that a game played in the realm of love is one where no one truly wins.
The artist adds that there's a deeper meaning to the song. The song's narrative mirrors the loss of authentic relationships, despite the apparent availability of online platforms. Ms. Mia's lyrics resonate with a generation yearning for true connection amidst a sea of virtual interactions.
Get ready to resonate with this love story.
Isla Releases Sophomore EP “Low” September 22
Supported by “band of sisters” The Kindred, ISLA is releasing her sophomore EP “Low” in 2023. The dream-folk collection marks a new sound for the artist. “Low” explores seasonal depression, and the memories that drift by in winter.
Supported by “band of sisters” The Kindred, ISLA is releasing her sophomore EP “Low” in 2023. The dream-folk collection marks a new sound for the artist. “Low” explores seasonal depression, and the memories that drift by in winter. Some days getting out of bed is too much to ask; Isla’s EP is your permission not to.
A new song on the EP, “Mustard Skies” tackles climate anxiety. “It is so exhausting feeling defeated, so sometimes I find comfort in the idea that the planet will keep spinning after we make it uninhabitable for ourselves. It’s meant to feel unsettling and soothing at the same time - like your boat’s sinking, but under the most beautiful sunset.”
ISLA is a sleepy singer-songwriter based in the vibrant Tamaki Makaurau. She found her feet as a performer when she attended an open mic hosted in a sea cave, and was inspired by the overwhelming warmth and talent the city has to offer. ISLA formed a band of cave people, and brought her ideas to life with the help of talented new friends.
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BROTHER SISTER RELEASE EP ‘ON A ROLL’
Auckland electro-pop band of siblings, Brother Sister, bring their passion for the sound and style of throwback 80s culture to their new EP ‘On A Roll’ releasing today, September 22, 2023.
Auckland electro-pop band of siblings, Brother Sister, bring their passion for the sound and style of throwback 80s culture to their new EP ‘On A Roll’ releasing today, September 22, 2023.
“We hope the listeners will be reminded of that feeling they had when they watched a PG rated 80s movie for the first time in their youth” says Brother Sister.
Dave Thomson (synth & lead vocals), Taz Thomson (bass and lead vocals) and Ben Thomson (drums) make up the energetic trio Brother Sister. They have shared a womb and now share the stage to deliver unapologetically nostalgic sounds of 80s cartoons and cinema. Pulsing keyboards, programmed drums, driving bass and dueling melodic hooks are expertly blended to take listeners back to the future.
The title track ‘On A Roll’ is sonically inspired by old "Prince" tracks and leans into an 80/90s TV theme song feeling. “We were stoked to get some dirty old Seinfeld slap bass in there” share the band. “We also wanted it to have an anthem-like feel so we really went to town on the gang vocals, which is fun when you get 3 siblings in a room yelling together.”
“The lyrics speak to taking stock on how things are going in life, acknowledging that you are moving forward after challenging times and life is actually pretty good... hey, we're on a roll here. It's also a shout out to all the friends that help you along the way during hard times.”
‘On A Roll’ is Brother Sister’s third EP, following the release of Push My Buttons in 2016 and SSDD in 2019.
“For us this EP has been a fun journey and emotional outlet which has allowed us to celebrate our passion for 80s nostalgic soundscapes and memorabilia in keeping with the bands theme but branching into new sounds and textures we have been itching to use.”
The 6 track EP features new tracks 'Hold On’, ‘Holiday Home’, ‘Take a Pill’ and previously released singles ‘Space’ releases November 2022 and ‘3am’ released September 1 alongside a pee-wee Herman inspired one shot music video.
Brother Sister are well known for their fun, punchy and irresistibly danceable live sets. Fans will be thrilled to hear, Brother Sister will play an EP release tour: 29th September at East St, Nelson, 30th September at Wunderbar Christchurch and 6th October at the Wine Cellar, Auckland. These show precedes a Japan Tour in October.
EP ‘On A Roll’ out now September 22
Amber Carly Williams Shares first single, ‘Kids On The Internet’
A stunning new voice from within the burgeoning Ōtautahi music scene, Amber Carly Williams has announced the release of Kids On The Internet, the first single from her upcoming EP, 21 Roses.
A stunning new voice from within the burgeoning Ōtautahi music scene, Amber Carly Williams has announced the release of Kids On The Internet, the first single from her upcoming EP, 21 Roses. Paired with producer/musician Terence O’Connor as part of NZ On Air’s Development programme, the two Ōtautahi creatives have combined to present a song that beautifully showcases a singer/songwriter whose craft immediately sits comfortably alongside the likes of international stars Julien Baker and Lizzy McAlpine, and fellow Christchurch wahine Emily C. Browning and Mim Jensen.
The song itself sees one young person point a critical lens on the social media habits of an even younger generation, and questions what a world full of people born with instant exposure to an often harsh and unforgiving online-life looks like. “I found the subject of the song fascinating and important.” Terence explains, “It felt like a sort of dystopian lullaby. At first listen the song feels happy and innocent but as it unfolds it slowly builds tension as heavier sounds are introduced like drums, distorted guitars and gritty vocals that eventually erupt into chaos as Amber repeats ‘maybe it’ll work out, don’t think so’. I’m thrilled I got the opportunity to work with Amber. She is such a talented and bright individual and we gelled effortlessly in and out of the studio. I had a lot of fun creating the EP with her and I’m excited for it to be out in the world.” Kids On The Internet is the first taste of what promises to be an exciting new body of work within New Zealand’s growing Indie/Alternative music scene and one entirely driven by local support and collaboration.