FOOL'S LAGOON 'BRIGHTER DAYS'

Fool’s Lagoon welcome in the sun this spring with their best offering so far: 

B R I G H T E R     D A Y S

Brighter is the second single to be released from their forthcoming sophomore EP, Fool Me Twice. This song represents the summit of the Fool’s triumphant funk-laden indie pop, and an exclamation point against their commitment to the next breed of New Zealand Indie music.

With a pulsating funk heartbeat, this song has found a way to smith some sorta-sideways riffs into a statement of indie pop balladry. This time the Fools have reached deep into their bag of tricks with layers of strings, synth pads and piano alongside the usual suspects in their indie arsenal. Despite its soaring choruses it doesn’t shy away from a FL signature breakdown, with the sounds of fingers pressing keys providing their most intimate moment to date before finishing things off with their middle fingers held high.

Brighter Days is a story that defies its title by diving into the nuances of navigating trying times.  It paints the struggle between feelings of impotence and the equal and opposite duty of trying to find a way to pull your own head in. The lyrics reach out to dreams and defiance of the odds while also recognising the frustrations we have at our own inadequacies when we can’t seem to get there.

Written and recorded in the span of two weeks, Brighter was the final song to materalise from this body of work and proves that sometimes the best is saved for last.

As with its predecessor Misty’s Mystique, Brighter was given the keys to life by producer Connor Jaine (Mako Road, No Cigar) and mastering engineers at Metropolis Studios UK.

FOOL’S LAGOON are performing and recording human music for movers & shakers. Proudly representing four corners of Te Ika-a-Māui and beyond from their base in Auckland, FL packages their indelible new/old school sound with a lick of zilennial nostalgia - something somewhere in between Generation Millennial and Generation Z. They build from the storied kiwi indie scene, injecting elements of funk, dance and rock from decades been and gone to cut their own groove in Aotearoa’s musical record.

The Fools have gotten into a habit of getting heard around New Zealand -  playing live from Auckland through Wellington and getting regular spins on Taranaki and Auckland radio. Their tongue in cheek attitude and professional packaging invite you to take their non-seriousness seriously, as their irresistible live performances and maverick musical style are an earworm that you won’t hear anywhere else in the NZ scene.

The Fools are celebrating this release by getting in the ring at Portland Public House, squaring off against blues rockers The Almighty with free entry and a few punches to be thrown. With performances supporting Coast Arcade, Aussie indie rockers The Vanns and a sold-out debut headliner show in the bag, you really won’t want to pity the Fool.

MOHI is back at it with his Latest Smooth and Sultry Bilingual Single "Coffee Spot" ahead of his Upcoming Album “Elements of Aroha”

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of "Coffee Spot," the latest bilingual waiata by the talented Māori neosoul, pop funk artist, MOHI, hailing from the vibrant city of Tāmaki Makaurau. "Coffee Spot" is set to drop on Friday, September 29th, 2023, and promises to be a musical masterpiece that effortlessly blends Te Reo Māori and English within the neosoul and funk genres.

"Coffee Spot" is an enchanting musical journey that showcases MOHI's distinctive ability to seamlessly weave Te Reo Māori and English, creating a harmonious bridge between cultures and languages. This bilingual approach is not only a reflection of MOHI's deep cultural roots but also a celebration of New Zealand's rich and diverse heritage. MOHI's lyrical craftsmanship allows listeners to appreciate the beauty of both languages, making "Coffee Spot" a musical treasure that transcends boundaries.

The track invites you to experience the warmth and joy of a coffee date through its infectious grooves and feel-good vibes. With its funky basslines, soulful melodies, and MOHI's captivating vocals, "Coffee Spot" is destined to become the soundtrack for your next coffee rendezvous. Whether you're sipping an oat latte in a cozy café or sharing a cup of kawhe (coffee) with a loved one, this song will transport you to a place of blissful relaxation.

MOHI's commitment to infusing his music with positivity and cultural richness is evident in "Coffee Spot." The song is a testament to his dedication to creating music that resonates with people from all walks of life while staying true to his Māori heritage.

Stay tuned for the release of "Coffee Spot" on all major streaming platforms. Follow MOHI on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the making of this remarkable waiata.

Let the music of MOHI and the flavours of "Coffee Spot" envelop your senses and brighten your day. Pour yourself a cup, hit play, and let the magic unfold.

Falling Hard for Kayla Mahon’s new single “ Love’s Got A Witness”

Recently returned from Nashville, Southland’s Kayla Mahon (The Heartleys) , releases “ Love’s Got a Witness”.

The single is the first to be released from her work in Nashville, recording with Jay Tooke of Penny Arcade Productions x2 CCMA Nominee who has worked with Award Winning Artists Randy Houser, The Steel Woods and James Otto, and co-writer Ryan Sorestad who has written hits in Nashville Artists for Callie McCullough, Shantia and Candlebox. 

“Working with these songwriters and producers in Nashville has helped me achieve a new found depth in my writing, their experience was invaluable, and just being in the capital of Country Music was inspiring!”

Kayla is planning to release the album around March 2024, with a tour of New Zealand before heading off to international shores for more shows.

With a career spanning three decades, Kayla was the Winner of the coveted 2000 and 2008 New Zealand Overall Gold Guitar Award. Other accolades include performing at CMC Rocks in 2017, reaching the top 24 on the globally recognised X FACTOR NZ in 2015 and representing Aotearoa on the Global Artist Stage in Nashville in 2016 showcasing her original song "Through Georgia's Eyes”.

Named NZCMA Horizon Award Winner in 2015, Kayla journeyed to Tennessee and recorded her first Nashville single “Do you Ever” - successfully trending on Spotify's Fresh Country Playlist, followed by her first EP release in 2015 entitled “Girl on the Move”. 

Prior to her solo career, Kayla was half of “The Heartleys” - a country music duo successfully releasing two albums, winning both NZCMA and Southland Duo of the Year and appearing on the Australian Country Music Charts.

Warmly embraced in the strong southern New Zealand country music scene, Kayla has also performed to crowds in Norway, Norfolk Island and Australia. 

Taranaki-based artist Karen Clarke Blues Woman drops her latest track “Fine Line”

Slick, kick-ass and triumphant from the get-go “Fine Line” is the first fruit of Karen’s recent collaboration with New Zealand’s premier bluesman Darren Watson as producer.   

“Fine Line” is an important development within Clarke’s catalogue as she reaches further into her rhythm and blues DNA. 

With a confronting level of confessional honesty Karen’s song deals with deeply honest “get over yourself” content in a way that is raw yet optimist, dark yet victorious.  Her well-lived mahogany vocals weave a credible authenticity as the lyric unfurls.  A midpoint fantasy relief breathes the track.

In both mentor and producer roles Darren’s playing and production expertise is obvious in this track which features his tangy electric guitar solos and phat rhythm section grooves. Spirited horns elevate the mood well above anxt.

“Fine Line” has been well received by its pre-release audience.  So much so that Clarke has a second track already underway at Watson’s Wellington-based Lamington Recording studio.  

Fine Line by Karen Clarke

·     Lead vocal – Karen Clarke

·     All instruments and backing vocals performed by Darren Watson

·     Engineered and mixed by Darren Watson at Lamington Recording, Pōneke

·     Lead vocal recorded by Chris Foreman at Swampshack Studios, Taranaki

·     Produced by Darren Watson

·     Mastered by Mike Gibson at Munki Studios, Kāpiti

The Aotearoa Music Producer Series

The Aotearoa Music Producer Series (AMPS), launched in 2017 has become an integral part of up-skilling Aotearoa’s music production sector. In October and November AMPS will be presenting a series of producer workshops and events with support from the British Council New Zealand and the Pacific.

David Wrench (David Byrne, Blur, The Pretenders, Arlo Parkes) the award-winning Welsh producer will be running mix workshops at Roundhead Studios in Auckland on November 20th, Massey University in Wellington on the 22nd and Otago University in Dunedin on the 23rd. https://www.davidwrench.co.uk

Wrench is an artist, writer, producer and mixer based in London. He works with many of the most influential and innovative artists in the music industry and has been nominated for both Grammy and Brit Awards. He's mixed many Mercury Prize nominated albums including the 2017 winning album “Process" by Sampha and 2021’s winner the Arlo Parks album "Collapsed In Sunbeams". Credits include Blur, David Byrne, The Pretenders, Florence and The Machine, The xx, Frank Ocean, Sampha, Caribou, Goldfrapp, Jamie xx, Lil Silva, Jungle, FKA Twigs, Glass Animals, Hot Chip, Let’s Eat Grandma, Spiritualized and Manic St Preachers. Wrench is one half of the duo audiobooks, they have released two albums and an EP on Heavenly Records. He collaborates with Mix with the Masters and is a Waves artist.

Photo: Rachel Lipsitz

Anna Laverty (Stella Donnelly, Camp Cope, Courtney Barnett) the renowned producer and APRA ambassador will run a mix workshop at Parachute Studios in Auckland on October 13th and female identifying and non-binary recording day at the same venue on the 14th in conjunction with Record Enable. http://www.annalaverty.com

Award-winning producer Laverty has an exceptional list of credits, which has solidified her reputation as a fine creative talent with an impressive catalogue of releases across multiple genres. Having worked under the tutelage of award-winning producers Paul Epworth and Ben Hillier working on releases by Florence and The Machine, Bloc Party, Depeche Mode and Pete Doherty. Laverty has in recently produced albums by Camp Cope, Stella Donnelly, Amanda Palmer (featuring Missy Higgins, Montaigne and Clare Bowditch) Pinch Points, Screamfeeder, a live album for Courtney Barnett. Laverty is an APRA AMCOS ambassador, a mentor for the Girls Rock program and an adept songwriter having recently written with Stella Donnelly, Kav Temperley, Kaitlin Keegan, Dallas Woods and Alex Lahey among others.

Photo: Marcelle Bradbeer

Natasha Beckman, Director of the British Council New Zealand and the Pacific says “We are delighted to have this opportunity to bring Anna Laverty and David Wrench, leading UK-based record producers and mix engineers, to New Zealand as part of the Aotearoa Music Producers Series. We work to build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide, and look forward to Anna and David working with local music producers to help strengthen their capability.”

Tickets https://linktr.ee/amps2023

Full MPG NZ / Aotearoa members can access a 20% discount. Join at https://www.mpgnz.co.nz

https://www.facebook.com/theaotearoamusicproducerseries

http://www.instagram.com/producerseriesaotearoa

https://www.britishcouncil.org.nz/

Emperor C and Andre Bugatti Join Forces for the Release of "vroom"

In a cross-tasman collaboration, New Zealand's own Emperor C and Australia's Andre Bugatti have come together to unveil their latest track, "vroom". The single, produced by the talented Audemar, showcases a blend of heavy-hitting 808 drums, a piano-led melody, and mellow keys and pads in a new-jazz style, marking a continuation of Emperor C's distinctive sound.

The song "vroom" is a testament to Emperor C's commitment to his sound and consistency. It follows in the footsteps of his previous NZ Hot 20 entries, such as "Chrome" and "da_vinci_code", expanding his repertoire and engaging his growing audience.

Emperor C has been on a roll, releasing a new song every month and building on the success of his EP 'Still Calm', which featured the single 'Watch Ya Step!'—a track that garnered thousands of views on YouTube. He is part of the Womp Nation collective and is gearing up for another EP release soon.

"We've got a lot of plans for Womp Nation, and I want to be as consistent as possible with my releases and keep building with them and drop the tape soon. I'm always recording new music and just want to keep pushing the envelope with my sound." - Emperor C

TARANAKI INDIE-FOLK SWEETHEART LIANA HART REVEALS SECOND SINGLE, ‘DON’T GHOST’

Taranaki based country-folk singer-songwriter Liana Hart shares deeply personal sentiments by combining intricate vocal hooks and passionate, conversational lyrics, with finger-style guitar and delicate harmonica melodies. Liana’s second single ‘Don’t Ghost’ is has now made contact with the world, off the back of her debut folk-ballad ‘Your Eyes’.

While ‘Your Eyes’ is a daughters’ love letter to her father, ‘Don’t Ghost’ is a catchy indie folk tune about the anticipation and anxiety that comes with a new relationship. It’s a simple but loveable tune that explores those very first feelings of falling in love, which can often be scary for those who struggle with anxiety. ‘It’s really about trying to express those tough feelings of self-doubt and self-questioning when you notice you’re falling in love with someone and you really want it to work out”, Liana states. Produced by audio wizard Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio (Ōakura), featuring Liana herself on backing vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar, piano, and mellotron, and Sam on bass and electric guitar, ‘Don’t Ghost’ is a charming piece of work that is guaranteed to get you humming along. The song has that classic indie vibe, paying homage to some of Liana’s favorite indie artists such as The Shins and Hiss Golden Messenger, and is the perfect addition to those indie folk coffeehouse and lazy summer bbq playlists. ‘Don’t Ghost’ is available on all major streaming platforms, and can be purchased digitally via Bandcamp.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lihartmusic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lihartmusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lihartmusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6BzVgXc2yNPfmf3gvE7hUT

Bandcamp: https://lianahart.bandcamp.com/track/your-eyes

AARADHNA UNVEILS ‘SHE’ - HER FIRST SINGLE IN SIX YEARS OUT SEPTEMBER 29

“SHE pays homage to my roots. It’s a reminder that I hold power, a song to never forget what is inside me, my truth, my strength.” - Aaradhna

Today, Aaradhna returns with her powerful new single SHE, six years on from her last track - Forever Love from her #1 album Brown Girl. SHE is a mesmerising, self-produced song that continues Aaradhna’s legacy as Aotearoa’s finest R&B royalty.

Teasing her return last week, Aaradhna also dropped her spoken word, filled with drama and featuring a stunning video from acclaimed director Anahera Parata.