NEW DATE! MMF MEMBERS ONLY SESSION: WRITING WAIATA REO MĀORI

Join the MMF Aotearoa for an insightful online seminar learning about the process of writing and releasing waiata in te reo Māori. 

In this session you will discover artist Rebel Reids unique journey writing in te reo Māori as a learner, gain insights into writing in te reo from Mātanga Reo Ruth Smith, and explore funding opportunities for creating waiata reo Māori with Te Māngai Pāho's Nadia Marsh.

Rebel Reid was born to be a rockstar, and it's no surprise considering her mother named her after two of the greatest icons of the genre: Billy Idol and David Bowie. From the moment she entered the world, Rebel's destiny was set in stone.

Growing up, Rebel was surrounded by music. It was in her blood, passed down from generations of talented musicians before her. But it wasn't until she picked up a guitar that everything clicked. From that moment on, she knew that music was her calling.

With every riff she plays and every lyric she sings, Rebel channels the energy and spirit of her namesakes, bringing their rebellious, edgy attitude to the forefront of her own sound. And it's not just her talent that sets her apart; it's her dedication, her drive, her passion for the music that she was born to make.

It's no exaggeration to say that Rebel's mother birthed a rockstar. From the day she was born to the moment she steps on stage, Rebel embodies everything that makes rock and roll great: the attitude, the passion, the raw energy that can't be replicated.

Rebel Reid is a force to be reckoned with, a true rockstar who was born to share her gift with the world. And with every note she plays, she proves that she's living up to the legacy of the icons who inspired her name.
Ruth Smith hails from the East Coast but was nurtured by her grandfather’s tribe of Ngāti Kōhuru, Te Aitanga-ā-Mahaki. She holds a bachelor’s degree in te reo Māori with first class honours from EIT. She is a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo Māori and is an experienced translator with a Te Toi Reo Māori licence. She has worked as a lecturer at Toihoukura: School of Māori Visual Arts, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Awanuiārangi. She has also worked as a broadcaster, presenter and commentator for Māori Television and Māori radio. She is a seasoned kapa haka performer and servant to her people. She is passionate about te reo Māori me ōna tikanga and strives to work to advance the language through teaching, translation, television work and consultancy. Ruth currently works as translator and interpreter for the House at New Zealand Parliament in Wellington.
Nadia Marsh is the Mātanga Puoro for Te Māngai Pāho. She leads the music content strategy for the agency, drawing on 25 years of commercial radio programming and media experience to elevate the status of te reo Māori through music.

MMF AOTEAROA NOVEMBER MEMBERS ONLY SESSION

WRITING WAIATA REO MĀORI

Date: Wednesday 8 November 2023

Time: 6pm – 7pm

RSVP: For MMF members only. RSVP to Rachel admin@mmf.co.nz. 
Spaces are limited so RSVP is essential.

Due to the limited places please note if you RSVP and then fail to attend the session without notifying us, unfortunately you will not be eligible for future sessions

LISA GRACE Releases her sassy new single ‘Guess He Didn’t Realise’

Pop/Soul artist Lisa Grace pairs a unique blend of emotional candor and sass, a signature of her style in her upcoming release "Guess He Didn’t Realise,” set to drop on all major platforms October 6th. With a hint of humour the song recounts a past relationship and her bold attitude towards moving forward, aiming to inspire listeners to leave behind heartbreak and look towards a brighter future.

Pop/Soul singer Lisa Grace, originating from the small town of Morrinsville, writes anthems for the wounded heart - whether it be at the hands of unrequited love, a long term relationship or even the human condition. It’s clear that her writing draws on genuine emotion, and her tongue-in-cheek attitude towards heartbreak makes for some serious sad-girl-bangers.

Now living in the bustling city of Auckland, Grace retains her country girl essence, having grown up on a farm in Kiwitahi, Waikato. Lisa's journey into music began at a young age as she started taking guitar lessons as a child. Spending hours playing and singing in her room eventually led to her performing her first original song at her year 10 talent show.

Music has always surrounded her, captivating her heart with the soulful melodies of old soul singers, the directness of pop, and the adventurous production of hip hop. Influenced by music from different genres Lisa has never been afraid to borrow from whatever genre serves her message

After the release of her debut single ‘Stay,’ a heartfelt reflection on feeling trapped in fighting the same battles over and over, Lisa is eager to share a more light hearted track titled "Guess He Didn't Realise.” With a witty take on heartbreak the song delivers a message of self-assuredness and strength with confident vocals and a fiery beat. The song is a declaration of Lisa's newfound freedom having finally moved on from someone, it’s full of fun, sass & attitude. Whether you're dancing or singing along, this tune is guaranteed to leave you feeling empowered and enthusiastic about what is yet to come.

As she continues to grow and evolve as an artist, Lisa's passion for music and storytelling drive her to connect with her audience and leave a lasting impact. Listeners can expect more of her bold, sassy sound in the future, as well as powerful and emotional tracks she hopes will both comfort and entertain.

ZED ARE BACK NATIONAL FUTURE YOU TOUR THIS NOV + DEC. NEW SINGLE ‘FUTURE YOU’ OUT FRI 10 NOV

Twenty three years after rocketing up the NZ charts with their debut album Silencer, ZED are back with the announcement of their new single ‘Future You', out on Friday 10 November, along with a nationwide tour celebrating their return.

The Future You nationwide tour heads to Mount Maunganui, Auckland, Raglan, Leigh, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown over November and December, and will feature fan favourites including ‘Glorafilia’, ‘Hard To Find Her’ and ‘Renegade Fighter’, which has been re-released with a brand new live video.

WATCH: Renegade Fighter Live by ZED

In August 2000, ZED’s debut album, ‘Silencer’ debuted at #1 on the New Zealand Albums Chart with six singles in the Top 40 charts. Their platinum-selling second album, ‘This Little Empire’ followed in 2003. Their 10 Top 40 singles include ‘Glorafilia’, ‘Renegade Fighter’, ‘Hard to Find Her’, ‘Starlight’, ‘She Glows’ and ‘Oh! Daisy’ to name a few, and audiences will get to hear these and the brand new single ‘Future You’.

They decided to get back in the studio shortly after a successful 20 year celebration of their debut album, “Silencer”.

Ben Campbell says, “Performing live again was all the inspiration we needed. Before long new song ideas were flowing and fairly quickly we’d begun planning the journey of making our third album together.”

Nathan King says, “We’re so excited to be on the road again and getting the chance to connect with our fans after all this time. The band is sounding better than ever, and each show is going to be a very special night.”

Joining ZED at all North Island shows are swift rising indie pop band Borderline. They released their debut EP Perfect Movie Scene earlier this year which saw singles "Spinning", "Going Home (Bitter)” and “This Is Not Love” race up the NZ Hot Singles Chart. Their smooth original upbeat songs have garnered a lot of attention, with the band selling out their most recent headline show at Joel Little’s BIG FAN.

Taking on support duties at the South Island shows is Emma Dilemma. The self-described ‘patron saint of self-sabotage’ has forged a solo career with her love for grunge, hip hop, bubble gum pop and a hint of dance which culminated in her debut album ‘Spit’ in July 2022 debuting at #3 on the NZ Official Album Chart. Expect fun, chaos and maybe even a kazoo solo when she opens for ZED this December.

These days Ben Campbell is a successful restaurateur in Akaroa, Nathan and Andy work together at Hum Studios, and Adrian Palmer runs the Addington Co-Op and Common Good Coffee in Christchurch, supplying coffee across NZ, including Crave and Kind cafes in Tāmaki Makaurau.

ZED are back - this is a tour not to be missed! Tickets go on sale Friday, 13 October. Head to eccles.co.nz for more information.

ZED

FUTURE YOU

NZ TOUR

Tickets on sale Friday 13 October midday

Teenage Love's Equation Unveiled: TSENATE Releases Debut EP 'love never adds up’

TSENATE Live: 'love never adds up' EP Release Show

TSENATE's debut EP, 'love never adds up,' delicately captures the essence of teenage love and the transitional phase into adulthood. Through these collected moments, the R&B songstress gives us an intimate look  into her teenage years. Each track, penned in TSENATE’s bedroom, narrates the painfully beautiful chapters of her teen relationships, grappling  with heartbreak and self-doubt. 

Listen to ‘love never adds up’ HERE

Produced by Alinafe Kalengamaliro (tracks: game for 2, 2 the bone and 4 the ride) and GueztheKid, aka Sid Isaiah Dalin (tracks: girl 132 and no1 else feels like home'), this project also has standout contributions from local musicians.  Notably, Serebii lends his guitar magic to '2 the bone,' and Tee Haoickin from Ersha Island 二沙岛 as violinist on 'game for 2.' 

The project is paired with a captivating music video titled 'girl 132' directed by Mark Whittet.  According to TSENATE, the video concept revolves around five girls 'auditioning' to be the leading lady in the love interest's life. It showcases the lengths we often go to in order to win someone's affection. Amidst this seemingly competitive backdrop, 'girl 132' experiences a revelation - sometimes, despite our best efforts, some connections are “just not meant to be." It's a poignant reminder that love isn't solely about winning a role; it's about finding compatibility. Through this transformative journey, TSENATE imparts a resounding message: self-love is the key to unlocking the most meaningful connections.

‘love never adds up’ paints a vivid introduction to TSENATE’s world.

Upcoming live shows: TSENATE 'love never adds up' EP Release Show at Nice Goblins HQ, Friday 06 October 2023 - Tickets available HERE 

WHO SHOT SCOTT new single BUGGIN

‘BUGGIN’ is the ultra-charged brand new single by Auckland based alternative rapper/producer WHO SHOT SCOTT. Serving as the second single from his upcoming EP ‘BRAIN (Side A)’, this track is drenched in pzazz with the funkiest of guitar licks, basslines and punchy distorted vocals to top it all off. Venturing into a new sonic realm which sees the artist paying homage to funk bands such as Parliament-Funkadelic and Sly & The Family Stone, WSS is proving that he still has plenty of new tricks up his sleeve, all while lyrically sharing his most vulnerable feelings;

“Paranoia and cynicism are two of the most difficult challenges I deal with. I often find myself distrusting of people who may pose as ‘friends’ while potentially having ulterior motives. While saying that, this song is me acknowledging that these insecurities may just be a defence mechanism that I’ve conjured up to protect myself - No one is out to get me, it’s not that big of a deal, I am indeed... Bugging”

With a breathtaking visual counterpart to match the musical chaos, we see WHO SHOT SCOTT placed in an AI generated nightmare, grooving and enthusiastically performing to the camera as if he has not a care in the world. It is evident that with this consistent run of artistically-heightened singles and videos, humbly placed along with the fact that he has recently brought down the house with his two explosive performances at BIGSOUND festival in Brisbane, WSS is grabbing 2023 by the horns, and is not planning on letting go anytime soon.

upcoming shows:

WHO SHOT SCOTT is confirmed for the following SXSW Sydney performances:

Wednesday 18 Oct

The Lord Gladstone

9pm

Saturday 21 Oct

The Courtyard presented by Rolling Stone

Powerhouse Museum

3pm

NZ’s very own Lazy Fifty deliver full-throttle high energy rock anthem Skeleton Crew just in time for Halloween

New Zealand rockers Lazy Fifty are back! The four-piece from Gisborne have returned with a new single, Skeleton Crew – a hard and fast blast of pure rock ‘n’ roll.

Watch the official music video here

Inspired by a recurring nightmare, and aided by a fascination with 1960s classic cult movie ‘Jason and the Argonauts’, Lazy Fifty’s new single Skeleton Crew tells the desperate story of those damned to eternal anguish.

Not originally written as a ghost story, the song came about from the term skeleton crew, which songwriter Adrian Athy thought was a good way of describing the musicians of Lazy Fifty. “With our revolving line up of players,  most of them skilled on more than one instrument, you never know what you’re going to see when Lazy Fifty plays live, or who will be playing which instrument. Sometimes we’re a four piece, sometimes three”.

The lyrics were aided by the ‘hydra teeth’ scene in Jason and the Argonauts. In Adrian’s opinion, “the best special effects ever in the history of cinema”.

The song starts with a one minute slide guitar dominated intro, which evokes a sense of melancholy before kicking on to the song proper, a high energy rock anthem with lyrics that tell the tale of the doomed, trapped forever in a chaotic and frenzied hell on the high waters.

Greg Haver says it was great to re-visit the world of Lazy Fifty again after previously working on their ‘2021: A LAZY ODYSSEY’ album. “It’s always encouraging to see a band refresh and continue on their musical journey, a path that Adrian constantly treads in his desire to expand his virtuosity and push the boundaries of the genre.”

ERSHA ISLAND 二沙岛 ANNOUNCES DEBUT EP & SHARES FIRST SINGLE ‘MY MOTHER’S MOUNTAINS AND MY FATHER’S SEA

Stream

Tāmaki Makaurau based sibling duo Ersha Island 二沙岛 releases 'My Mother’s Mountains and My Father’s Sea,' a cinematic single paired with a music video set for release on 13th October 2023. The new single and music video offers a striking glimpse into their upcoming debut EP 'Back to Our Roots’ scheduled for an early 2024 release. 

Produced by EDYONTHEBEAT (Edward Liu), the cinematic single is a reflection of the mixed heritage that define the Chinese-Pākehā (Pākehā: New Zealander of European descent) duo. ‘My Mother’s Mountain and My Father’s Sea’ beautifully encapsulates the duo’s journey of embracing both sides of their family tree. 'My Mother’s Mountains' embraces their Chinese whakapapa (genealogy), while 'Father’s Sea' embraces Aotearoa. Together, the song paints a candid picture of their Kiwi-Chinese whakapapa.

In their own words, Ersha Island 二沙岛 express the essence of their first track,"It is an anthem to being biracial. This song also marks a significant milestone for us as we incorporated the the Gu Zheng 古筝, played by Iris Zhang, It was a moment of artistic exploration and a first for our producer EDYONTHEBEAT (Edward Liu)."

NZ’s emerging dark-pop star Michèle Ducray unveils her eagerly-awaited debut EP THRONE OF MINE

New Zealand dark-pop artist Michèle Ducray has today released her much-anticipated debut EP THRONE OF MINE + title-track single!

Listen to THRONE OF MINE HERE

An impressive four-track debut, THRONE OF MINE is edgy, fun, vulnerable and full of dark-pop goodness - Michèle’s signature sound. “The EP showcases some pivotal times of my life. Using both dark and light pop vibes, I reminisce about my childhood, bullying, failed relationships, and even sing about the world ending! It’s a deeply personal record and some parts were tough to record, but we got there in the end!”
Working with Michèle was celebrated producer Liam Quinn (Peaches PRC, Rita Ora), who produced, mixed and mastered it at his studio in Sydney, Australia.  She also worked with Christchurch-based musician Jesse Bruce, who helped with getting the initial demos down and added some fun guitar licks along the way.
A string of previously released THRONE OF MINE singles have seen Michèle already receive widespread local support from the likes of The Edge, ZM and TAHI. She’s also featured on playlists like Spotify’s New Music Friday AU & NZ and Apple Music’s New in Pop. These singles are the brilliantly crafted ‘Monster’ , the sassy and slick ‘Psycho’ (both released with artistically stunning and skillfully produced music videos), and the relatable, hook-laden ‘Ace of Spades’.
Now, with the release of her 4-track triumph, Michèle has revealed the final chapter: her pop-punk and synthy title-track ‘Throne of Mine’. Grungy and erratic, chaotic but polished, the single is fast-paced and captivatingly dark, dipping lyrically into personal themes of Michèle’s childhood.
“There’s some anger, and some dark grunge elements in there” says Michèle. “Not only is this probably my favourite song on my upcoming EP as it really reflects what I’m aiming for in my artistic genre the most, but this song has helped add and distinguish my character as an artist.”  

There’s a very special music video on its way - so stay tuned!