BIG SIMA X BOOMTOWN RELEASE FUNK DRIVEN HIP-HOP ANTHEM AMIDST THEIR UPCOMING 2024 NEW ZEALAND TOUR

The underground king Big Sima and the seven-piece band Boomtown have dropped their latest funk-driven hip hop anthem, ‘Pluto’ This release marks their second collaboration following their track ‘Growth’ in August 2023.
Listen to ‘Pluto’ HERE

Crafted under the gravitational pull of producers Ben Christian & Thom O’Connor and featuring stellar horn performances by Jonty Zydenbos (Trumpet) and Theo Hertzig (Saxophone), the track is set to orbit the summer airwaves. The anticipation builds as they gear up for the 'Big Sima x Boomtown Pluto Tour,' spanning six cities across Aotearoa in January and February 2024. Remarkably, this marks their 3rd consecutive tour in the past 12 months.

Explaining the essence of "Pluto," Big Sima shares, “Pluto is about shedding yourself of the negative energy in your life, it’s about prioritising your peace over external validation, a metaphor for getting it out of your system, like Pluto was kicked out of the solar system”.

It’s been a busy couple of years for Big Sima. Having spent the last five years at Tikidub Solar Powered Studios, he made a triumphant return to the scene in 2019 with his EP 'Underground King.' Last year saw the release of his full-length album, 'Stereotypes of a Polynesian Misunderstood.' Pluto is the 2nd of 3 single releases planned in preparation for the launch of their debut collaborative EP ‘Early In The Peace’  set for release on the 24th of February 2024.

As they embark on the 'Big Sima x Boomtown Pluto Tour,' traversing six cities across Aotearoa, brace yourselves for a sonic comet. This tour promises to leave a trail of funk-driven Hip-Hop stardust, bringing the magic of 'Pluto' to fans across the nation.

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

West Coast Singer-Songwriter Katie Thompson Releases Heartfelt Single "Time, She Is A Thief" to Close Out the Year

West Coast singer-songwriter Katie Thompson is finishing the year with a deeply nostalgic and bittersweet song titled "Time, She Is A Thief".

"I wrote this song a few weeks after my Grandfather's passing. The writing process was cathartic, allowing me to reflect on memories with my family. It was a challenge, but I hope others can also find solace in this song."

Katie is set to play The Great Kiwi Beer Fest in Christchurch, Saturday 27th January, where you can hear this new song, along with many others from her repertoire. The festival promises to be an incredible opportunity for music enthusiasts to experience Katie's live performance with her full band. Other acts on the bill include Kora, Racing, 1 Drop Nation, Dolphin Friendly and Mim Jensen. 

Listen to the single "Time, She Is A Thief" here.

Find Katie Thompson
Website | Spotify | Youtube | Instagram | Facebook

MANGAWHAI ROCKERS SOJØURN UNLEASH NEW REGGAE-DUB SINGLE ‘WHERE WE GO’

AHEAD OF A STRING OF FESTIVALS SHOWS THIS SUMMER

Aōtearoa indie-surf-psych rockers SOJØURN drop new track ‘WHERE WE GO’, a dub-soaked socially conscious commentary on the current economic climate.

SOJØURN bring a fresh blend of cruisy psych-surf-rock and reggae, characterised by catchy lyrical hooks, strong vocal harmonies and psychedelic guitar and saxophone interplay, stemming from their diverse musical backgrounds blending ska, blues, classic rock and reggae to deliver a sound that is distinctly their own.

A stand-alone reggae-dub single, ‘Where We Go’ is the first track of a new collection of tunes the band are currently working on, the rest of which will make up their debut album set for release later in 2024.

The 6-piece surf-rock-reggae band hail from the sun-drenched East Coast surf town of Mangawhai Heads, Aotearoa, and comprise Isaac Hunter (vocals/guitar), James Finlay (lead guitar), Visko Bryers (drums), Tony Baker (bass), Jacob O’Brien (sax), and Elias Giles (keys).

‘Where We Go’ was recorded at the band’s home base in Mangawhai and Depot Sound, mixed by Paul Jonassen and mastered by Chris Chetland at KOG.

Musically ‘Where We Go’ sees the band dive back into its’ reggae-dub roots, drawing inspiration from the NZ reggae greats and contemporaries like Ocean Alley, fused with their own East Coast surf-inspired spin.

Primarily a protest about the cost of living crisis and the hardship that the people of Aōtearoa are currently facing in today’s world, hoping to provide an uplifting narrative to liberate people’s minds with a freeing bop of reggae dub skank and sax riffs.

SOJØURN explains: “Society is being crushed by inflation, and it’s getting harder for Kiwi’s to raise their families and put food on the table. The allure of better opportunities continue to force many across the ditch to Australia. With this track, we wanted it to feel like a bit of a fiscal emancipation song; to break people’s minds free from the shackles of economic adversity.

In a special touch to reflect the whanau vibe that permeates the soul of SOJØURN’s music, ‘Where We Go’ also features the poetry of singer Isaac’s little sister Leilani Hunter, and in recognition of the more socially-conscious lyric and its underlying themes of frustration and restlessness, the band reached out to Acid Mince aka Seb Hart to do a deep, dark dive with the artwork, which he completely nailed!

Since creating SOJØURN in 2018, the band has been busy releasing singles and EP’s in quick succession, starting with the highly regarded SUMMER TAPE EP featuring their top streaming single ‘Still A Mess’, 2021’s MYSTIC WAYS EP, and the KAIPARA LIVE SESSIONS EP released in August last year.

Garnering a solid reputation as a crowd-pleasing live act, SOJØURN have enjoyed blitzing summer tours at mainstay venues, and gracing festival stages coast to coast across the motu. This is paying off as SOJØURN are fast becoming a favourite live band on the NZ music scene with fans soaking up their tasty blend of banging sun-drenched surf-reggae vibes.

Says the band: “We like to work hard and keep on pushing, creating new music to keep the blood pumping, and we love playing live shows as that’s where we get to connect with our fans and really let go as musicians. We have always remained solid to the purpose of SOJØURN - writing magic tunes and putting on kick-ass shows.”

Regulars at venues in Auckland, Raglan, Bay of Plenty and Northland, this summer SOJØURN have booked a string of live shows across summer, with many more to come Keep your ear to the ground as more performances are added into the new year and make sure you round up friends and whānau and catch SOJØURN live!

FRIDAY 1 DEC, LAKESIDE ODYSSEY, WHANGAREI

FRIDAY 22 DEC, SOJØURN SINGLE RELEASE PARTY, WAIPU Featuring Dubcentric

SATURDAY 6 JAN, THE WINGMAN FESTIVAL, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND

SATURDAY 20 JAN, THE SUMMER SOIREE, MANGAWHAI With Strangely Arousing + Leavers

SUNDAY 11 FEB, MUSIC IN PARKS, AUCKLAND

For more information and tickets, go to: https://linktr.ee/sojournmusicnz

Raglan electro-pop artist, Soulti unveils emotive debut single ‘Evergreen’

Raglan-based electronic-pop artist Soulti aka Teresa Michels, has today shared her emotive debut single ‘Evergreen’.

Listen to ‘Evergreen’  HERE

An expansive and deep ocean of sonic layers, ‘Evergreen’ is bright, hook-laden, immersive, and features both pop and dance elements. It’s a strong debut from an artist who’s not new to making and performing music - having studied commercial music, performed acoustic and electro sets at Raglan’s iconic Yot Club, and worked crowds on the boutique festival circuit. The artist says it was the Raglan arts scene that inspired her to step into the recording studio this year, and emerge as artist Soulti.

“The Raglan arts scene has truly inspired me over the years,” says Soulti. ”I've had the privilege of playing with some awesome musicians in all sorts of genres and events, but the wake-up moment for me was at the end of 2022, after the pandemic. I decided to quit my full-time job and go to India. The adventure, people, bold colours and flavours were exactly what I needed. I came back with a new zest for music and a desire to create my own sound. I started writing and producing, with ‘Evergreen’ being the first of what will be a full EP.”

Fulfilling her dream of recording and releasing her music, Soulti recorded her vocals with musician and producer Danny McCrum, before having the track mixed and mastered by engineer and producer Scott Seabright.

‘Evergreen’ was originally written while Soulti was studying music in a run-down villa in Kirikiriroa. “I locked myself away in the abandoned living room where ruby red velvet curtains hung from either side of the windows, framing the giant wooden table I sat at each day. I wrote for days on end in that musty room, surrounded by boxes of my collections. I dove deep in search of what became ‘Evergreen’, a track about staying true to yourself, no matter what life throws at you.”

Also being released today is a self-produced music video by Soulti - in collaboration with friends and emerging Raglan filmmakers Elisabeth Denis and Kelly Fritz, keen drone hobbyist Dave Napper, and Auckland-based editor Louise Lever.  "Green is my favourite colour,” says Soulti, “I thrive when surrounded by nature, so shooting the music video in the luscious green landscapes across Whangaroa, Raglan, to depict the emotion and creativity in the ‘Evergreen' storyline felt like synchronicity.  To show a deeper insight into my musical journey, there are flashes of a ‘red scene’, built by festival set designer Trace Berchelt, which was used to symbolise an adult version of a child's hut. This was included for two reasons. The first, to create a nostalgic feel for the Art Deco building I wrote the song in at the time, while studying for my bachelor in music. The second was to show the dream I've had to sing and write music since childhood. The hourglass symbolises that, while time passed, the desire to write music remained, and grew stronger.”

 Through contrasting colour and movement, the video aims to showcase the push and pull felt while following a childhood dream into adulthood. The use of wide open spaces and zooming-out angles shows the expansion you can experience when self-belief is installed and personal growth is developed. “To connect the scenes together I took the crew on a road trip up to the dreamy (and sadly no longer) Peach Palace studio in Auckland to shoot the focal monologue scene. The vintage couch and green tule robe scene were used to weave together the various nature shots and tie together the ‘Evergreen' storyline.”

Watch the video  HERE

‘Evergreen’ is the first taste of Soulti’s upcoming debut EP - a 5-track showcase that she says incorporates Eastern influence from her recent trip to India, as well as uplifting elements of pop, RnB and Liquid DnB, via sleek electronic production.

“I think ‘Evergreen’ gives off a vibe that is reflective of who I am. However, I know there is a lot more to come in the evolution of Soulti.” With that said, don’t miss a Soulti beat, follow now!

Listen to ‘Evergreen’  HERE

Watch the video  HERE

Fall in love with award-winning artist AJA’s new soulful RnB single + video ‘True Love’

Destined to become the soundtrack to many memorable moments, award-winning Aotearoa singer-songwriter and producer AJA has today unveiled her new RnB love song, ‘True Love’.

Listen to ‘True Love’ HERE

A soulful track that pulls you into a wonderful, hazy dream, ‘True Love’ is about celebrating love and how, through meaningful connections, we discover our truest selves. Made with the support of Auckland UNESCO City of Music EQ Grant, it was written in collaboration with AJA’s cousin - composer, author and guitarist Te Kawa Herangi.

“We started writing the song in 2021, on Mara TK’s Bad Mediation Album Tour. We had some down time in Auckland when Te Kawa came up with this tune on the guitar, then together we wrote some lyrics. We’d sing it on loop and work away at it, but the EQ grant announcement motivated me to finish it.”

As with previous releases, AJA’s storytelling and vocal ability shine in ‘True Love’, while her 9-piece band of accomplished musicians, skillfully deliver that extra bit of magic and emotional theater. The band is made up of executive producer Delaney Davidson (organ), Tola Newbery (percussion), Te Kawa Herangi (composer, author, guitarist), Peter Riley (bass), Miharo Gregory (keys), Louisa Williamson (saxophone/flute), Cameron Robertson (trumpet), Patrick Di Somma (trombone) and Sam Notman (drums). Shout outs must also go to the exceptional production on this track, by technical demonstrator/sound engineer, Mike Gibson and engineer/producer Thomas Te Taite - who recorded it in the Wellington Massey University Studio, Te Ahumairangi building.

Also being released today is a beautifully produced ‘love story’ music video that unfolds in a stylish hotel bar between singer (AJA) and patron (actor Tola Newbery). Throughout the video,  it becomes clear that each set, costume, frame and movement has been carefully considered by director Jessica Sanderson (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Te Ātiawa, Pākehā) and captured by director of photography Matt Henly. It was through the Auckland UNESCO City of Music EQ Grant that AJA and Jessica came together.  EQ is a gender equality programme that provides funding for music videos and networking, and was developed in association with Woman in Film & Television (WIFT) and SAE Creative Media Institute. Jessica is a television & film director who often has themes around identity and memory appear in her work. She is passionate about working on stories that promote healing, and documentaries that can elevate inspiring voices to influence positive change. She’s also a trained designer and inspired to create beautiful imagery - which she has succeeded in with the ‘True Love’ music video.

Watch the video HERE

The release of ‘True Love’ follows an impressive year of music for AJA. She released moving te reo Māori waiata ‘Te Reo ki Whakarongotai’, and smooth RnB song ‘Feel It’. Both singles featured on the NZ RadioScope Charts (Alt/Te Reo Māori), SRN Charts, NZ on Air New Tracks, and gained great support from commercial, public/iwi radio, tv and Rolling Stone AU/NZ. She headlined the 2023 Newtown Festival, opened Kia Mau Festival, and performed at the Matariki Awards and Cuba Dupa.

AJA (Aja Wairere Ropata - Ngāti Raukawa, Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Porou) is a celebrated industry professional. She released her debut single 'Non-Handler' in Matariki 2019, closely followed by her second single 'Kāwai' in NZ Music Month 2020. In 2022 she was presented with the esteemed APRA Maioha Silver Scroll Award for waiata ‘Te Iho’, a collaboration with Byllie-Jean and Chris Wethey. First-time finalist and winner, AJA says it was another proud moment elevating contemporary waiata reo Māori. AJA’s voice and musical arrangements speak to a wide audience. With a much-anticipated debut album being worked on alongside Mara TK, AJA has given us a precious early Christmas gift with today’s single release ‘True Love’ and the promise of much more to come in the new year!

Listen to ‘True Love’ HERE

Watch the video HERE

FIND AJA

INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE

Subset BC release their debut album

"A multidimensional sound journey for the dance floor, and for your headphones".

 Psychedelic-groove quintet Subset BC (Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Gisborne) are proud to announce their long-awaited eponymous debut album.

 Subset BC formed in 2016 from a bass players practice group - known as Bass Club - hosted at the studio of drummer Lincoln Wright. After weeks and months of creative exploration, bassists Charles Barrie, Paulus Mckinnon and Ryan Raggett together with Wright and keyboard/synth player Matt Tong realised that the tones and grooves they could create with three basses, a plethora of effects, drums and keys was a truly unique sound - the sound of Subset BC.

 Collectively brewed and birthed over the last 7 years, the songs and soundscapes of Subset BC cover terrain from soulful grooves and psychedelia to moody drum and bass and stoner rock.  Produced and recorded live by the band with support from engineer Simon Mallett, the album presents a largely instrumental and layered multidimensional sound journey for both the dance floor and your headphones.

 Available in a limited edition run of 150 180gm vinyl records, or in digital format via Band Camp from December 1st 2023, or ask for it at your favourite independent record store

Subset BC is celebrating the album’s release with a gig at Gisborne’s stunning Dome Bar and Cinema with special Guest DJ Olluss (Gisborne/Sydney) and projected visuals created by Dr Johnson Witihera (PhD Maori Art and Design) on Saturday 2nd December. 

day13n is back … with his ‘experimentally divergent’ 4 track EP ‘Entropy’

day13n is back … with an album that is more ‘experience’ than song.

Ushering in the summer, coming December 1st, ‘Entropy’ is defying convention for better or worse, the whole EP is being released at once, with no singles preceding it.

day13n’s creative process surrounding this EP was to take one long track and split it into chapters. It’s a project about beginnings, endings, and a lack thereof that needs to be experienced as a whole.

The sophomore project, ‘Entropy’ from self-proclaimed “experimental punk-rapper” day13n. “A song in 4 parts”, this 7 minute 25-second-long EP leans entirely into the “experimental” component of his descriptor. 

Written and composed through a series of experimental, no holds barred sessions in collaboration with prolific musician and producer Abraham Kunin, who works alongside iconic New Zealand acts such as Homebrew, and Avantdale Bowling Club, and is recognised internationally for his outstanding work with the Dalai Lama himself.

Entropy is a spiritual sonic experience unlike any other…

The EP is accompanied by an animated album cover by the incredibly talented, and multifaceted artist Heidi Watson. The movement in the cover art reflects the themes of the continuous movement of existence that permeate the album, while its imagery represents the ever-changing nature of life, and how through decomposition, new synthesis is born.

While the sounds of this EP are far from mainstream, which may hinder its commercial success, the ethereal soundscapes created lend themselves perfectly to soundtracks, opening this project up for great success in the realm of sync placements. 

With the recent success of a series of live shows, increasingly ambitious lines of merchandise, and day13n’s growing social media popularity, centred on his messages of environmental activism, and open discussion of his struggles with mental illness, this next project cements day13n’s space on the scene as a wholly unique artist, with a sound like none other; one that his audience is begging for more of, and can’t find anywhere else.

day13n’s success, and audience continues to grow, evidenced by a 454% increase in Spotify listeners over the past four months, a 13% increase in TikTok followers over the past 60 days, and a 35% increase in Instagram followers over the past 90 days.

day13n’s directorial debut will be a short film set to release alongside the EP.It will be premiered at an intimate viewing party, where day13n will openly discuss the creative process behind this album and illustrate the effectiveness of this project for soundtracks.

Looking to the future, day13n plans to explore, and expand upon his sound, and the scope of his artistic endeavours even further, and sees a limitless future where he breaks down every boundary, even the invisible. 

Entropy is the beginning of many more things to come……

Follow day13n’s journey:
day13n | Twitter, Instagram, TikTok | Linktree

0800’S LATEST SINGLE IS ‘ALL YOU NEED’

Following 3 performances at SXSW Sydney and the highly successful release of their first single from the third EP, the dynamic supergroup, 0800, is set to close out the year on a high note with the release of their latest summer anthem, 'ALL YOU NEED.'

Over the past two years, 0800 has delivered two EPs filled with hits, solidifying their presence not only in the vibrant local hip-hop scene of Aotearoa but also on the international stage. The group garnered widespread attention with their viral breakout single, 'DONDE,' amassing an impressive 2.5 million organic streams and earning a coveted spot on Louis The Child's radio show.

Consisting of five  talented producers, rappers, and singer-songwriters Josh Strand, Matt Leslie, Tino Nyangoni, Johann Frauenlob, and Daniel Keller—0800 captivates audiences with their collaborative prowess, weaving together tag-team verses that delve into personal experiences with characters driven by the compulsion to flaunt their possessions in a bid to establish their worth or seek validation. The outro beat flip transports listeners into an alternate reality, where the group gracefully floats in the clouds amidst a trippy dream sequence.

'ALL YOU NEED' will be accompanied by a visually stunning music video set to release on December 13th, directed by local talent Jodo Valley (known for collaborations with Gunna, Oliver Tree, Tion Wayne).

Describing 'ALL YOU NEED' as their most experimental track to date, 0800 incorporates punk elements and 808 basses to craft a sound that pushes the boundaries of traditional genres. The song takes a critical stance on consumerism, delivering a pointed commentary on those fervently chasing material desires such as sports cars and designer handbags. In contrast, the band firmly believes that genuine happiness stems from pursuing a passion or purpose in life, with music serving as a more fulfilling endeavor.

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