BYLLIE-JEAN RELEASES 'RUNNING AMUCK' 2ND SINGLE FROM DEBUT EP, FILTER
“Somebody stole our land, and everyone knows who did it…” Is the powerful statement driving the provocative new single from 2022 APRA Silver Scroll Maioha Award-winner Byllie-jean, ‘Running Amuck’.
“Somebody stole our land, and everyone knows who did it…”
Is the powerful statement driving the provocative new single from 2022 APRA Silver Scroll Maioha Award-winner Byllie-jean, ‘Running Amuck’.
Teased out in the signature blues tones Byllie-jean (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Pahauwera) is renowned for, the second single from her debut EP Filter isn’t shy about laying a bar or two of truth. Grown out of “a wee ditty”, the song’s breathy pace is driven by percussive vocals and hypnotic melody. And, although ‘Running Amuck’ is pithy and political, Byllie-jean says that isn’t the overarching kaupapa of the EP.
“Most of the other tracks, written over the past four years, are quite introspective,” she reflects. “Each song has its own mini-moment, which creates a bigger moment in continuum across the EP. There’s a lot in it about seeing the truth, seeing through the bullshit. It’s about my own mana motuhake, finding and standing in my own truth.”
The challenge in the studio was adding music to a song written a capella whilst roaming the hills around Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour. Working with longtime friend and producer Chris Wethey (Deva Mahal, Tami Neilson, Holly Arrowsmith), recording ‘Running Amuck’ was a process of elimination that required bold simplicity.
Scheduled for release in Tīhema/December 2023, Filter is an exploration of Byllie-jean’s evolution as a wahine Māori artist. The video for 'Running Amuck’ was an exercise in playing with the level to which she allows herself to be seen.
“I am a kuia now, drawing close to welcoming my third mokopuna in to te ao mārama,” the artist shares. “Riding on the tailwind of my predecessors, I put my all into this work, but I have the luxury of a grandmother when it comes to not taking myself too seriously. I have had to consider how I approach visibility as a woman when only the young and pretty are represented, everything is an experiment and I'm willing to venture into the unknown, however frightening.
“Although ‘Running Amuck’ is mostly satire, it has an edge to it and I attempted to push that edge in my performance, I'm aware my tīpuna are watching and my children and mokopuna, I want them to see that I love myself as I am. Radical, I know. I love my aunties and my kuia exactly as they are too, I want to exhibit a classified ads type of aroha: 'as is where is'. This is what sovereignty looks like to me."
MIRAGE Emerging Reggae Band Release their debut Single Friday October 20 'He whakakitenga mou' (It’s a Revelation for Ya)
MIRAGE have been doing the mahi, in their home studio near Tauranga producing their debut single “He whakakitenga mou”. They created their unique sound, by blending a mix of reggae, electronic, and rock.
'MIRAGE'..is one of the youngest reggae bands emerging in Aotearoa. Ben Horlock(Ngati Porou / Ngāi Te Rang) 20 years, lead Singer, Jahvyn Douglas(Ngāi Te Rangi) 18 years, bass player, and Benji Seiuli (Samoa / Aotearoa) 19 years, drums/keys. An exciting fresh sounding three piece reggae band.. watch this space !!
MIRAGE have been doing the mahi, in their home studio near Tauranga producing their debut single “He whakakitenga mou”. They created their unique sound, by blending a mix of reggae, electronic, and rock, The track was written by lead singer Ben,who says "it’s ok to have your freedom, be on your own, and to live your own life not someone else’s life"…this was a 'revelation". Jahvyn is fluent in Te Reo and translates the group’s tracks into Maori.
MIRAGE was formed only 9 months ago, but the Band members are no strangers to performing, by headlining on some of New Zealand's - summer festivals and opening for international acts. Ben headlined Mt Tunes Festival with Coterie and Lime Cordial early this year. He has also performed at the Waihi Beach Summer Music Festival twice, The International Tattoo Festival, and headlined his own Bay of Plenty Tour with a sold out show at the Jam Factory in early 2023. The band recently opened for Corrella on their final show of the Road from 26 tour at the Kingslander.
Despite not having officially released any tracks, to date, MIRAGE have amassed a strong online following on Instagram and a growing fanbase on Facebook. The band released photos, covers, shorts, and reels for 9 months. The covers have been liked and shared online by the likes of Nesian Mystik, Kora and Coterie.
In true guerrilla fashion the group have also recently caught the attention of an international reggae icon and revered national reggae group with potential features on some of their tracks. Stay tuned for more details as these collaborations are finalised…More tracks are in the pipeline …all due for release in 2024….
FIND MIRAGE
Tîmmy the First presents 'Robot Heart Chakra'
Tāmaki Makaurau based rapper and musician Tîmmy The First returns with an introspective and philosophical new track, ‘Robot Heart Chakra.’
Today Tāmaki Makaurau based rapper and musician Tîmmy The First returns with an introspective and philosophical new track, ‘Robot Heart Chakra.’
Born in Zimbabwe, and growing up in different cities around Aotearoa and Canada, there’s no one place that fully feels like home for Tîmmy, an experience he also finds reflected in his approach to music.
“Core parts of life have been experienced in different places,” he says. “I feel like traveling and seeing different ways of life allows you to open your mind to alternate ways of living. There’s no one place that fully feels like home and it’s the same with my music. That’s why I explore different genres, because there’s no one genre that I feel like ‘this is Tîmmy.’ But the consistency is me, and my life, and my view of the world. Home is where the heart is and that’s the same with me as an artist.”
'Robot Heart Chakra' was made with producer Abrahaim Kunin. On the creation process Tîmmy muses on how he wanted to make something that hadn’t been done before. “It’s one of the reasons I call myself Tîmmy the First,” he says. “It’s a reminder to do my thing and pave my own way. With 'Robot Heart Chakra,' we were trying to do something that we haven’t seen anywhere and just feel and express ourselves with the music. The song is a journey of emotions that just lets you listen and feel. While I was writing this, I was learning a lot of new things and understanding a lot more about myself as a person. I was facing my past, who I was and who I am now, and where I want to be. I wouldn’t say I’m there yet, but I’ve accepted that the journey is one of continual growth and change. One of my fears as an artist is time moving forward but my music and creativity sounding the same. I fear not growing over the years, not feeling like you have to try anymore. I don’t want my music or my life to be like that.”
When asked about the meaning behind the title, Tîmmy says it basically does what it says on the tin! “It’s how the song felt to me and how the production of it felt. The song starts as a mumble and a vibe. It feels almost robotic but in a way that opens your heart and unlocks how you feel in your chest - your heart chakra. The song then pushes further and encourages you to jump out of that auto-pilot, robotic space and to feel something at a higher level.”
‘Robot Heart Chakra’ is the first track off an upcoming EP which Tîmmy describes as his life put on display. It’s a way to connect with other people. He describes the EP as a series of conversations between different sides of himself in conflict. The body of work is a peep behind the veil into the inner workings of the artist’s mind.
“In my music, I like to express myself and say things that people normally wouldn’t say or talk about,” says Tîmmy. “I have conversations with myself on a track which others can relate to. Despite the dark themes of some of my songs, I like to have some sort of positive in the music. Some light at the end of the tunnel. After all’s been said and done, I like to leave people with a sense of, ‘it’s all good.’”
The ‘Robot Heart Chakra’ music video is directed by Conor Slattery. "It's a very abstract video," says Tîmmy. "It explores a lot of symbolism, foreshadowing of events and the lyrics of the song. We tried to tell a story with the video that was also open to personal interpretation. We touch on heartbreak, doubt, sense of no belonging, acceptance, change and growth all in just a few minutes."
Grant Haua European Tour continues
Bluesman Grant Haua Ngati Pukenga is to be featured in this Friday evenings Oct 20th Taratata Live on national French TV ( there equivalent to Later with Jools Holland ) sharing the bill with good ol’ Ed Sheeran among others
Bluesman Grant Haua Ngati Pukenga is to be featured in this Friday evenings Oct 20th Taratata Live on national French TV ( there equivalent to Later with Jools Holland ) sharing the bill with good ol’ Ed Sheeran among others . Maybe a first appearance for an Aotearoan artist ever ???
Facebook Taratata Officiel
This is Grants third tour to France /Europe since Covid restrictions were lifted and follows 2022 full set show appearance at Germanys infamous Rockpalast Crossroads Festival national TV show Grant Haua live | Crossroads Festival 2022 | Rockpalast - YouTube . His current twenty date tour concludes in Dampierre France the weekend of the Rugby World Cup final ( fingers crossed )
Signed to Dixiefrog Records in France since 2019 Grant releases his fifth album Mana Blues downunder with 2023 shows in Melbourne Victoria Nov 2-6 and Perth WA Nov 8-19 and then finally in Aotearoa as a co headliner at the Rotorua NZ Blues and BBQ Festival Nov 24/25 which will include a rare band performance by his trio the Explosion reuniting Grant with his Swamp Brother Michael Barker ( the master demon- MANTIS ) on Drums and Hurricane Elis' ( 2 pie -the glue ) Brian Franks on bass, a night of acoustic and electric fretwork fireworks out of Te Moana a Toi . A musical triple threat treat that relives the classic power trio’s of yesteryear, think 60’s Hendrix / Cream an EXPLOSION of sonic atomic levels that leads to an ultimate musical frenzy every time .
2024 Aotearoa tour show details to come
Troy Kingi announces Album No.7 & Tour Dates: “Time Wasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings”
Troy Kingi releases the first single “Bastard” from his forthcoming album, “Time Wasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings”
“Bastard” is out Oct 20th on all Digital Platforms
Troy Kingi releases the first single “Bastard” from his forthcoming album, “Time Wasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings”
Troy King’s seventh album, “Time Wasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings”, is a Soundtrack, an “ambient instrumental vibe”, in his 1O 1O 1O Series, (10 albums in 10 years in 10 genres).
The 10 |10 | 10 Series, has so far travelled through genres of Blues, Deep Roots, Psychedelic Soul, Funk, Folk and 80’s. Troy’s audience have lovingly followed him on this journey, never knowing what the next release will bring, avidly collecting all formats of the releases and attending all the many & varied shows - putting rest to all the Industry "Nay Sayers" who said “genre jumping” could not be done! AllGood Absolute Alternative Records (AAARecords) bought into his vision and over the last 7 years have made this a reality.
About Time Wasters
‘Time Wasters was a response to a lot of soundtrack work I’d been doing around the time, short film, tv and feature film score work. I’ve always been intrigued by the way music can accentuate a tone, a mood or a feeling in a film and more often than not without vocals. I suppose it did help that I was listening to a lot of Surprise Chef, Skinshape, Hermanos Gutierrez, Khruangbin and foreign language music - it just kinda worked its way into my songs.
An instrumental album was never really on the cards at the beginning of the 10/10/10 journey but lately I’ve actually been feeling alienated by my own voice, it’s just the older I get, the more my voice is changing, and honestly, I feel for the worse.
So I thought what better way to get myself out of the self-loathing vocal dump and rejuvenate the creative spices than to just stop singing and let the music speak for itself. ‘Troy Kingi
Produced by long time collaborator TeMatera Smith AllGood Absolute Alternative Records (AAARecords) and featuring The Room Service with usual suspects Treye Liu, Marika Hodgson, Guy Harrison, Greg Haver, Forrest Thorpe and Thabani Gapara
Troy’s 9 year old daughter Āio features in the bonus track.
“Bastard” is out Oct 20th on all Digital Platforms
“Time Wasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings” is out November 17th - CD / LP through AllGood Absolute Alternative Records (AAARecords) / Border and available on all digital platforms.
Pre-Save a Digital Copy of the Album HERE
See Troy Kingi & The Room Service - On Tour :
Time Wasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings Album Release Tour
Thu 23 Nov | Powerstation | Auckland
Fri 24 Nov | The Church | Christchurch
Sat 25 nov | San Fran | Wellington
P.O.D. The New Single From Iron Flowerz
Freshly released, Independent artists Scizzorhands and Kevin Posey release P.O.D. P.O.D. is the first release from this dynamic duo calling themselves Iron Flowerz.
Fresh out TODAY Independent artists Scizzorhands and Kevin Posey release P.O.D. P.O.D. is the first release from this dynamic duo calling themselves Iron Flowerz.
After great engagement with their international collaboration on their EP “Iron Flowerz” in 2021, the Duo formed as a group under the same name to continue to bring a gritty sound with beautiful production and vocal elements.
Teaming up with favoured LA based collaborator Chozxn, Scizzorhands was looking out for a vocalist to finish the song. Kevin mentioned Mols ESMÉ, who he had previously collaborated with on his album Yellow Roses in 2022. Familiar with Mols’ work Scizzorhands organised sessions and got to work.
This song in Scizzorhands own words is “Ninja Turtle Sewers with a spice of beauty and elegance, like a rose growing from a concrete parking lot” And further states “The Mc’s brought the grit with bragging style raps, which I love from the 90s HipHop Era and Mols brought the beauty to help give contrast with her awesome vocals”.
Production Collaborators and Friends of Scizzorhands have mentioned the “Off Kilter” Drums as having “avant-garde style”. Although not necessarily a song for the mainstream or your average listener Scizzorhands says “I’m going with what feels good to me and fun to make, I love odd and uncomfortable haha just like my own personality really”
'Life Of The Party' - Amber Carly Williams
Ōtautahi Indie-Pop artist Amber Carly Williams releases the second single, Life Of The Party, off of her upcoming EP
Ōtautahi Indie-Pop artist Amber Carly Williams releases the second single, Life Of The Party, off of her upcoming EP. With a great response following on from her first single ‘Kids On The Internet’, Amber has gained the love of fans around Aotearoa. Amber has a unique ability to connect with audiences through her soulful vocals and heartfelt songwriting, exploring themes of self-discovery and personal growth. Collaborating with producer/musician Terence O’Connor as part of NZ On Air’s Development program, the two creatives have crafted a song that immediately sits comfortably alongside the likes of international stars Beabadoobee and Lizzy McAlpine.
Life Of The Party is a song Amber wrote intending to have a light-hearted twist to anxiety and overthinking. The song beautifully encapsulates how it can be walking into a room and feeling the pressure to put on a front, as if one cannot be their authentic self without fearing conflict or rejection. This single serves as the people-pleaser anthem of the EP, resonating with anyone who has ever felt the need to conform to societal expectations.
A call to return home 'Rangiaowhia'
A waiata written by four exceptional Māori Music Artists Mara TK, Ria Hall, Rākai Whauwhau and Hawkins, each with hononga to the koorero of Rangiaowhia.
A waiata written by four exceptional Māori Music Artists Mara TK, Ria Hall, Rākai Whauwhau and Hawkins, each with hononga to the koorero of Rangiaowhia. They had the privilege of sitting with Rangatira Tom Roa, Hazel Wander, Moepātu Borell and Bill Harris while learning about the history.
Artist Hawkins shared - "Rangiaowhia is about the physical presence returning home, those who know their whakapapa.”
Title: ‘Rangiaowhia’ is a call to return home. It is the second single release following the first single, ‘Apakura’, tributing the survivors of Rangiaowhia and their descendants, celebrating their continued existence today from the collective Album expected for release 2024, in acknowledgement of the 160th commemoration of Rangiaowhia.
Originally a highly prosperous community, it was known as a peaceful sanctuary of refuge until “a day of terrorism" or “Paahuatanga”, which saw the end of Rangiaowhia in 1864—recorded as one of the most horrific but unacknowledged massacres in New Zealand’s history, an invasion of colonial troops on the 21st of February 1864 resulted in over half of the 200 locals present being wounded, captured, raped, incinerated and murdered.
With lyrics from Mara TK describing the spiritual and physical existence of Rangiaowhia, Rangi is now standing in 'rangi i aowhia', and Ngāhuruhuru is where Papa is lying.
“I a Rangi e tū iho nei, te 'rangi i aowhia'!
I a Papa e takoto mai nei, ko Ngāhuruhuru
Ko Rangiaowhia!”
Moepaatu Borell expressed her thanks to the artists - “Nga mihi. Ka akona e au te waiata nei ki taku mokopuna kia rere rawa atu tana aroha tupuna.”
Tom Roa shared - “Kei te nui te mihi ki te wairua auaha e rere nei ki ngā waiata me te haratau o te whai i te kaupapa o te hokia ki te ūkaipō.”
The waiata features Te Haona Kaha Kapahaka Ngaati Apakura descendants. It was recorded primarily at Kahotea Marae in Otorohanga—this waiata's location and creative process concord with the koorero—acknowledging the descendent's diaspora. The lyrics echo a call for descendants to return.
“Hoki mai e nga uri maheu, ngā ahi teretere”