WHAEA G AND BRIAN BAKER RELEASE BEAUTUFL WAIATA
This is Whaea G’s first foray into recording her songs and she is ably assisted in this task by the very experienced producer/guitarist Brian Baker. Together they have produced a work that is both uplifting and beautiful.
Local Northland artists WHAEA G and BRIAN BAKER celebrate the release of their first joint single, “TE HIKOI”, produced and recorded at Brian’s Kaipara based studio facility.
This is Whaea G’s first foray into recording her songs and she is ably assisted in this task by the very experienced producer/guitarist Brian Baker. Together they have produced a work that is both uplifting and beautiful.
It’s become a family affair with Whaea G’s son Te Whakakotahitanga Jenkins consulting on the finer points of the language, and sister Millica with daughters Tracey and Natharlia providing backing vocals.
Whaea Geraldine is very active in the community, as a member of the White Rock Gallery (Kaipara Artists), as well as with Community Connections. As a Maaori Arts Designer and Kairaranga she designed a blending of two a Maaori designs, Tangorerewa, meaning precious like greenstone, and the two Tui birds, Piira rawa ko Tiira both representing hope. This work is now the Mural in the Paparoa Community Village Green. Whaea G is also an avid harakeke (flax) weaver and will be holding a Kairaranga (weaving) course in February 2024.
Her beautiful wairua is one that allows many to be taught by her and to receive her aroha which has impacted on many people. The respect that others have for Whaea Geraldine can be seen everywhere she attends.
From Brian - “I attended the NZ Music Month Summit earlier this year and saw a presentation from members of Corrella about writing and recording a Waiata and the importance of having Te Reo Maori as a living language. I immediately realised that this could be a great way for Geraldine and I to collaborate on a song and that pathways existed to get the song out to people.
It’s been an absolute joy to work with Geraldine to create “Te Hikoi” and we’re both blown away with the resulting recording.”
“TE HIKOI” is released on all digital platforms on the 3rd November 2023.
Indie-pop rockers Where’s Jai are back with brand new single ‘Citrus Mistress’
Riding off the success of their hit single ‘Perfect Crime’, garnering wide international attention passing half a million streams on Spotify, as well as recently released ‘Something Wrong’, Indie-pop-rock band ‘Where’s Jai’ are back with their hot off the press, new single ‘Citrus Mistress’.
Riding off the success of their hit single ‘Perfect Crime’, garnering wide international attention passing half a million streams on Spotify, as well as recently released ‘Something Wrong’, Indie-pop-rock band ‘Where’s Jai’ are back with their hot off the press, new single ‘Citrus Mistress’.
‘Citrus Mistress’ is the first single to be released off their debut EP ‘Avenues’ which tells of being the second choice in love with the sour and bitter feelings that come with. It was expertly produced by powerhouse producer Christian Tjandrawinata and recorded in the warm environment of Parachute Studios located in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau. The tune signals the beginning of a new sound for the band, channelling inspirations from a love of pop and hip-hop all building to a climactic and dramatic finish to send listeners on a sonic journey.
The band are one to watch live as well, becoming regulars in the New Zealand live music scene with opening slots for artists such as Teenage Dads, Reece Mastin, Muroki, Paige and Borderline.
Where’s Jai are made up of six passionate musicians and songwriters who have been writing and performing as a band for several years and are now ready to unleash their new sound to the world.
Where’s Jai are Grace Allis and Leigh Edmeades on vocals, Elliott Borland on drums, Nate Fullerton on bass and Michael Walmsley and Jai Nielsen on guitars.
Christchurch-Based Artist Emma Rutherford, releases Powerful New Single "Change".
“Change” beautifully captures the essence of self-discovery and resilience, making it a must-listen for anyone navigating life's twists and turns.
“Change” beautifully captures the essence of self-discovery and resilience, making it a must-listen for anyone navigating life's twists and turns.
Emerging as a captivating voice in the New Zealand music scene, singer-songwriter Emma Rutherford, originally from North Canterbury and now based in Ōtautahi, is excited to announce the release of her latest single "Change." This moving track reflects Emma's personal journey and showcases her talent as a storyteller and musician.
Inspired by artists such as Adele, Elton John and Billy Joel, "Change" is a soulful ballad that resonates with listeners by exploring the themes of change and personal growth. Produced by the acclaimed Christchurch duo, The Response, “Change” marks a new chapter for Emma and her music.
In celebration of this release, Emma Rutherford will be bringing her Hometown Debut show to the Oxford Town Hall on November 10th. Don't miss the opportunity to experience "Change" live along with Emma’s previous singles.
Follow Emma’s music journey here:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2efDWZI6ZZiKTleEMes7vo?si=h5PrHrouSECjRUaeTjlDJw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/emma-rutherford/1647412653
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmarutherfordmusic/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmarutherfordmusic?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@emmarutherfordmusic
Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/mwfj1
Bandcamp: https://emmarutherford.bandcamp.com/
Rising NZ’s ‘country honey with grit’ Steffany Beck unveils empowering new single, ‘Foot Down’
Portland-raised, Ōtautahi-based country-pop singer and songwriter Steffany Beck has unveiled her strength-giving, gritty new single, ‘Foot Down’.
Portland-raised, Ōtautahi-based country-pop singer and songwriter Steffany Beck has unveiled her strength-giving, gritty new single, ‘Foot Down’.
Listen to ‘Foot Down’ HERE
This self-empowerment track is full of country-pop-rock goodness and sings about learning to know your worth and stand your ground.
“As a recovering people pleaser, this song’s about drawing a line in the sand, putting your foot down and saying, I call the shots,” says Steffany. “I want ‘Foot Down’ to empower others to navigate their own path and make the world a better place by healing & loving themselves.”
This single has definitely been given star treatment. Recorded with award-winning producer Ben Edwards at the Sitting Room in Christchurch’s Lyttelton.
“Once we finished all the music for track and was time to do the vocals, Ben and I got talking about our ancestries. I’m 1/64 Native American Indian from both the Cherokee and Apache Indian tribes, and was almost named after my great great grandmother Gertrude Mantooth. While we were talking, I had a feeling she wanted to be present on the track, so asked Ben if we could just hit record and see what happens. This voice I didn’t know I had, came out. Like my own interpretation of an inspired chanting-like voice. We were both feeling this vibe and Ben said he had never played around with a sound like this before, so we continued to explore the voice which we both ended up absolutely loving and decided to have on the final track. For me it really elevated the track by creating a feeling of my ancestors cheering me on and guiding me along a path to self-empowerment.”
Still to come, this self-described ‘country honey with grit’ has a music video on its way, and she’s also set to put her ‘foot down’ on stages to charm audiences at the upcoming Selwyn Fireworks show (4 November), The New Zealand Agricultural Show’s main stage (17 November), Christchurch Coca Cola Christmas in the Park (25 November), South Island Wine & Food Festival (2 December, alongside Kaylee Bell and The Black Seeds) and The Village Inn Sumner Single Release Show with special guests The Nick Burson Band and Miranda Easten (15 December).
Steffany Beck is a country pop singer-songwriter known for her Alanis Morisette meets country Taylor Swift voice and heartfelt songs. Steffany has an impressive list of career highlights, including releasing her debut EP - BLUE EYED GIRL in 2019, writing songs with celebrated Aotearoa singer-songwriter Bic Runga and performing live with another music legend Jason Kerrison (lead singer from Opshop), winning a national songwriting competition - and just this past summer she performed in Christmas in the Park, NZ Spirit Festival, TSB Festival of Lights, Summer Sundays and many more! With more music and shows to come, now’s the time to put your foot down and become a fan of Steffany Beck - cause she’s just getting started!
Listen to ‘Foot Down’ HERE
NZ star on the rise, Jessica Leigh unveils impressive new EP & single LIGHTBEAM
Wellington-based singer, songwriter and producer Jessica Leigh has today released her eagerly-anticipated, impressive third EP LIGHTBEAM.
Wellington-based singer, songwriter and producer Jessica Leigh has today released her eagerly-anticipated, impressive third EP LIGHTBEAM.
Listen to LIGHTBEAM HERE
A beautifully written and produced 5-track EP, LIGHTBEAM is an exciting glittery, synthpop exploration of love, loss and friendship - through the lens of a young, 20-something city girl.
Tracks include fierce pop gem ‘WIRED’ (200k Spotify streams & added to popular Spotify playlists US Fresh Finds, Fresh Finds Pop), dreamy ballad ‘missing you’ (#17 Official Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart, ZM’s Locals Only, Air NZ), and empowered pop girl anthem ‘GIRLFRIENDS’ (NZOA New Tracks, ZM, The Edge Nights & music video achieved 130k views in less than a week). Adding to this trio of hit singles is new single and title track ‘lightbeam’ - an upbeat, dreamy pop song for the hopeless romantic, and a special bonus cover of ‘Hot Child In The City’.
“I wrote LIGHTBEAM over the last 2 years, as I moved to a new city and started a new life,” reflects Jessica. “The tracklist is in order of how that process went chronologically. Starting with the end of a long distance relationship, me getting over it by falling in love with my new city friends and life as a city girl - then finding new love by the end of the EP.”
LIGHTBEAM was recorded across Jessica’s home studio, Auckland’s Parachute Studios and Ignite Studios in Sydney, Australia. She worked alongside celebrated producers Josh Naley aka Wells* (Paige, NAVVY, Thomston, Foley, Luca George, Bridges), Liam Quinn (Peach PRC, Ruel, Ashy), and Jules Evans (Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood).
WIRED
missing you
GIRLFRIENDS
lightbeam
HOT CHILD IN THE CITY (cover by Nick Gilder, James McCulloch)
“LIGHTBEAM is a big step up from my last EP summerland (2021),” says Jessica. “It’s a lot more cohesive and lyrically strong/potent. It’s also a full synthpop EP, leaving behind the acoustic guitars and strings that were so prevalent on summerland. I’m really proud of how it sonically and lyrically represents my journey over the last two years.”
Also being released today is a bright, romantic, dreamy music video for new single ‘lightbeam’. Made by the Kwasnik Pictures crew and director Alex Hargreaves, the video perfectly captures the songs story of the artist falling in love. “This was my first full scale music video! It was so exciting and the love interest actor Jack Parker and I got along really well - which was super fun, and I think our connection really comes through in the video.”
Watch the video HERE
Hailing from Nelson, the now Wellington-based singer, songwriter and producer often depicts vibrant coming-of-age narratives in her songwriting - reflecting on themes such as young love, friendship, growing pains and everything in between. The young artist has been going from strength to strength. Before these latest releases, she won a regional songwriting competition in 2019 and officially began releasing music shortly after. She released her debut EP 17 in 2020 - which accrued over 300, 000 streams - and followed it up with a sophomore EP summerland in 2021. The lead single from summerland - ‘SUMMER ROYALTY’ - gained massive success - being selected for Spotify and Apple Music editorial playlists, as well as being picked up for RNZ's revered Introducing segment. In 2022 she continued to soar with summer anthem ‘my way’, and now LIGHTBEAM is set to continue the upward trajectory of this shining NZ artist’s career. Jessica Leigh is undoubtedly a talent to watch!
Listen to LIGHTBEAM HERE
Watch the video HERE
FIND JESSICA LEIGH
SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC |YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK |WEBSITE
Coffee With A Producer
Save your future-self the head, heart & money-ache, grab a coffee & ask all the burning questions you have about your music & the industry with a seasoned producer in your own one-on-one mentoring session, hosted by Halfway Down Studios.
Save your future-self the head, heart & money-ache, grab a coffee & ask all the burning questions you have about your music & the industry with a seasoned producer in your own one-on-one mentoring session, hosted by Halfway Down Studios.
We’ve heard from musicians that there’s 101 decisions to make as you set to write, record & release your music. With recording typically being a timely & expensive exercise, being able to chat freely with a producer beforehand can save you the future, head, heart & money ache that far too many musicians experience.
“Coffee With A Producer” is a series of one-on-one sessions in which an artist will be paired with a producer to receive tailored mentoring advice in a one-off, no obligation coffee meeting hosted at Halfway Down Studios and supported by the NZ Music Commission.
It's a friendly and accessible way for artists to get an outside perspective on where they are at, and give them the tools and information they need to make more informed decisions about their journey as an artist.
The producers we have available for these sessions include Emily Wheatcroft-Snape (Fazerdaze, Tiny Ruins) Christian Tjandrawinata (Georgia Lines, Masaya) and Morgan Allen (Harper Finn, Molly & The Chromatics). Having worked at the highest level here in Aotearoa with artists from TEEKS to CHAII, they know a thing or two about the music world.
“A key part of our role is to educate and guide artists through these questions as they don't often have the experience we have, in terms of going through the process of delivering finished songs. Some of these questions may seem small but they can have major ramifications for an artist in terms of their productivity, budget and relationship with their own work.” - Morgan Allen
Halfway Down Studios is a new community-led recording studio & music community est. 2022 to Tāmaki Makaurau that is dedicated to supporting independent artists share their music with the world.
“We believe in making the industry more equitable, accessible & revolutionary, and strive to create the environment, community & platforms that celebrate & build the Auckland music scene. Born out of MoveSpace, a home for creators on Dominion Road, we pride ourselves on being an independent artist-led organisation for the past 5 years, hosting 100s of gigs, musicians & shoots.” - Kiran Patel (Founder and Community Manager)
So come down, have a coffee on us, and chew the ear off a legend in the industry in our cosy recording studio halfway down Dominion Road.
The programme will run from November 3rd to December 1st.
Applications due November 1st.
APPLY HERE
LUKE THOMPSON DELIVERS ‘THE FOLDING LIGHT’
Today Luke Thompson delivers ‘The Folding Light’, the third single from his upcoming album ‘INFATUATER’, due to be released November 2nd.
Today Luke Thompson delivers ‘The Folding Light’, the third single from his upcoming album ‘INFATUATER’, due to be released November 2nd.
Built upon a chorus of pulsing, layered vocals and strikingly beautiful production, the atmospheric track depicts a dreamy night where time stands still, and the past and future converge in a cosmic moment.
Describing the song, Thompson shared, "This song feels kind of like a dream for me. I have this image of a midnight street corner, the glow of low light, open eyes, and frozen breath. Those moments where fates collide and time bends and folds, and it feels like it stands still."
The accompanying music video, a dreamlike psychedelic visual, features shadowy lovers strolling through a kaleidoscope of the universe.
In support of the new album Luke Thompson will be playing a release show at BIGFAN on November 5, with special guest Mountain Boy. Then the Tauranga based artist heads to China for a 15 date tour. Tickets for both are on sale now.
‘The Folding Light’ is out now on all streaming platforms, with the full album ‘INFATUATER’ dropping November 2.
Link to ‘The Folding Light’
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Tickets to the ‘INFATUATER’ Release Show
https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/ticket/22037/Luke-Thompson--Infatuater-Release-Show.utr
FIND LUKE THOMPSON
Latch onto French for Rabbits new single ‘Leech’ from their forthcoming EP
Enya is a not so surprising touchpoint for New Zealand ethereal dream-pop band French for Rabbits on their gut-punching new single ‘Leech’
Enya is a not so surprising touchpoint for New Zealand ethereal dream-pop band French for Rabbits on their gut-punching new single ‘Leech’
With soaring harmonies and romantic strings courtesy of The Black Quartet, the indie-ballad expresses the push and pull of love and is a firm favourite of their live set.
The second song to be shared from their forthcoming EP In the End I Won’t Be Coming Home recorded by Lee Prebble (Phoenix Foundation, Fly My Pretties, L.A.B) due for release on the 24th November, features impactful harmonies by Penelope Esplin and Phoebe Johnson (Revulva, Dateline, Heavy Chest).
Songwriter/vocalist Brooke Singer said of the recording “We listened to Enya on repeat while we were producing this, with ‘Orinoco Flow’ a definite touch point for the rhythm but we also wanted to make it our own”.
The new EP is currently available for pre-order on Bandcamp - digitally and on CD, alongside a special release on vinyl with the new EP In the End I Won’t Be Coming Home on side A and their debut 2012 EP Claimed by the Sea on side B.
Brooke, who is also a senior tutor at Massey’s College of Creative Arts, wrote an insightful blog post about the mechanics and economics of making an EP on their website.
If you’re seeking a slow burn ear-worm that’ll latch on and won’t let go - you can listen and add ‘Leech’ to your playlists here.
Pre-order ‘In The End I Won’t Be Coming Home’ below
Pre-order ‘In the End I Won’t Be Coming Home’ x ‘Claimed by the Sea’ on vinyl
Pre-order ‘In the End I Won’t Be Coming Home’ on CD
Pre-save the EP ‘In the End I Won’t Be Coming Home’
Listen: Spotify / Apple / YouTube / Bandcamp / Soundcloud
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