Celebrate the 25th anniversary and illustrious history of THE UNDERWATERMELON MAN AND OTHER UNREASONABLE RHYMES

Music aficionados are being treated to a blast from the past, with the announcement that one of New Zealand music’s most fascinating art projects is getting a digital release!

Be the first to hear, pre-save HERE 

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of its original CD release, and as a tribute to the legacy of its creator NZ artist Fane Flaws who passed away in 2021 - THE UNDERWATERMELON MAN AND OTHER UNREASONABLE RHYMES will for the first time be released via all streaming services worldwide. It features an impressive cast of celebrated Aotearoa musicians and entertainers, including Neil Finn, Tim Finn, Chris Knox, Bic and Boh Runga, Dave Dobbyn, Jenny Morris, Don McGlashan and many more.

This treasured collection of songs will be released digitally on Friday November 1, but to launch the release enchanting track ‘Neville The Enchanted Rug’, which features the unmistakable vocals of Neil Finn (Crowded House, Split Enz) has been made available for the first time digitally HERE. The animated video can also be enjoyed HERE - with Linda Topp bringing plenty of character to Fane Flaws’ distinct and entertaining animation.

THE UNDERWATERMELON MAN AND OTHER UNREASONABLE RHYMES’ began its journey in the mid 70s as a drawing of a surreal character ‘The Underwatermelon Man’ created by Fane whilst on the road with his then band Blerta. It later became an image silk-screened onto a series of children’s mirrors. In the early 80s, pestered by one of his young children, Fane made up a rhyme for it, which was soon joined by a couple of throwaway nonsense pieces from the brilliant NZ lyricist Arthur Baysting. Over the next 15 years, Fane and Arthur developed a collection of around 50 rhymes, which Fane and composer Peter Dasent set to music. Fane then set about illustrating all of the songs.

By 1998 - under the name BEND - Peter and Fane recorded the first 25 songs as an album, featuring a ‘who’s who’ of NZ stars to sing on it. Alongside the aforementioned Kiwi legends, they also worked with The Topp Twins, Renée Geyer, John Clarke, Ché Fu and King Kapisi.

With the help of Type Director Len Cheeseman, Fane then designed an accompanying 60-page hardback book, and published the package as Monkey Biz Ltd’s first ‘singing book’.

It proved hugely popular with parents and children alike selling 16,000 copies in NZ. Two years later Neil Gladwin and Fane developed it into a pantomime - with a cast and crew of 35 and a live band under the musical direction of Peter Dasent. It quickly became one of the hits of the 2001 Wellington Arts Festival, and a finalist in the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for ‘Best Original Score’.

By this stage ‘The Underwatermelon Man’ had developed its own momentum, so the animated film which followed, seemed inevitable. This was a six year labour of love for Fane and producer Jane Byrne that has become an important part of this project's legacy.

Now fans of this illustrious art project can celebrate another chapter, with today's digital release of ‘Neville The Enchanted Rug’, and the albums to follow on all digital streaming services across the world from November 1 - including animated videos for each song also being made available on YouTube, with the title song and film, The Underwatermelon Man.

Pre-save THE UNDERWATERMELON MAN AND OTHER UNREASONABLE RHYMES HERE             Listen to ‘Neville The Enchanted Rug’ HERE

Award-winning artist Jenni Smith explores unspoken love in tender new single ‘I Only Fall’

Listen to ‘I Only Fall’ HERE 

Aotearoa country-pop singer songwriter Jenni Smith has today released her powerful and nostalgic new single ‘I Only Fall’.

A stunning new single that takes listeners on a journey of yearning and introspection, Jenni Smith’s award-winning songwriting skills narrate the bittersweet feelings behind unspoken love - accompanied by a country-pop sonic aesthetic that evokes autumn nights.  

“‘I Only Fall’ is for those who find themselves reminiscing about special moments and

wondering 'what if’,” says Jenni. “I hope the song is a companion in those quiet moments, offering a sense of understanding and shared experience.”

Pulling inspiration from personal experiences and the narrative of characters Luke and Lorelai in popular TV series Gilmore Girls, this driving new single joins the young artist’s already impressive list of accomplishments.

2018 saw Jenni take home the NZCMA Songwriter of the Year Award - and then a runner-up for the same prize in 2020. She’s seen radioplay from community stations across Aotearoa and Australia, as well as play from commercial stations such as More FM - and earlier this year, her most recent single ‘T Shirt’ reached #3 on the NZ Official Hot NZ Singles chart!

Finding her sound in a unique mesh of country influences and pop sensibilities, Jenni says ‘I Only Fall’ represents a “blend of my roots and my current artistic direction, showing how my music is expanding, while still honouring the essence of my beginning.” This new hit was made alongside Scott Seabright and Neo Aiono-Fukushima at Scott’s studio, before being mastered by Chris Chetland at KOG Studio.

Alongside today's exciting release, fans can look forward to an intimate music video for ‘I Only Fall’ - out September 13! An entirely DIY project filmed, directed and edited brilliantly by Jenni, the video captures the artist in her home spending a sleepless night confiding in her music. “This hands-on approach has been incredibly fulfilling,” says Jenni, “allowing me to create concepts and see them through from start to finish.”

A gorgeous reflection on longing, love and nostalgia, ‘I Only Fall’ is a warm offering in the depths of winter from Jenni Smith - an Aotearoa artist with an exciting future ahead in music!

Find Jenni Smith

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Spotify | Apple | Youtube | Bandcamp

jeline shares wholesome indie-pop banger + video ‘lil bluebird’!

Listen to ‘lil bluebird’ HERE

Watch the video HERE

Pōneke-based rising star jeline has today released her catchy and wholesome single ‘lil bluebird’, alongside a cleverly crafted new music video!

‘lil bluebird’ is where fairytale romance meets indie music - with effortless vocal melodies, driving guitars, an uplifting beat, and the perfect amount of harmonic twists and turns. Listeners are invited down the rabbit hole and into jeline’s wonderland, leaving behind everyday life to instead embrace the dance-inducing, love-celebrating, infectious effects of her brand new single.

“It’s for anyone who loves love! But also for anyone who just needs a good pep in their step,” says jeline. “The song is really about falling in love unexpectedly and all the exciting, giddy feelings and butterflies that come with that!”

Today’s release follows jeline’s previous singles ‘time stops’ (Juice TV, Tearaway, R1, Radio Control, The Most FM) and ‘are you over her?’ (Radio Active, Billie, Tearaway, Flash Trax), continuing what has been a lifelong journey for the Filipina artist of writing and playing music, cultivating her signature indie pop-rock sound.

‘lil bluebird’ was written alongside jeline’s band, W.K Bookclub, before she and producer Jack Hegarty recorded the song at Massey University Wellington - where the artist finished her degree in commercial music last year. The track was then mastered by Jpec at his home studio.

“After taking the song to the band, the sound we came to and the way everyone played was so impactful that, when we were recording, Jack and I just decided to get them to record their parts - or we just mimicked how they played as close as we could.”

Also released today is a gorgeous new music video, created alongside regular collaborators Francesca Sewell (director) and Kerry Pulham (DOP), which brings the rom-com narrative to life. Most of the clip was filmed in MacAlister Park, Wellington - a full circle moment for jeline, who had her first ever music video experience there filming for friend and local artist yOHKI.

More good news from the artist - after a hiatus from live shows, jeline will be back in action with her band W.K Bookclub on October 16! Fans can catch her playing at Valhalla alongside local bands Sol Fide and Fine Wine Social Club, tickets and more info from UTR.

With plenty of excitement on the horizon, and today’s new banger, fans can expect a lot more from jeline before the year is over! But for now, get swept off your feet by ‘lil bluebird’!

 Find jeline

Instagram | ​TikTok | Facebook | ​Spotify | Linktree | YouTube

Indie dream-folk songstress Sofia Machray releases first new music of 2024 with single ‘Pulling On A String’ out on September 6th!

Wellington-based indie dream-folk songstress Sofia Machray has released her first stand-alone single of the year entitled 'Pulling On A String’ expertly co-produced with engineer Will McGillivray (Goodwill, NOMAD) and mastered by Greg Obis (Slow Pulp, Babehoven, Mia Joy).

Due for release on September 6th, ‘Pulling On A String’ creates a scene of intimate warmth, enriched with ambient textures and intricate fingerpicking that weaves through a tapestry of expansiveness. Machray invites listeners to settle in and reflect.

 “The song is about recognising dissatisfaction in life and appreciating what we have before seeking more. Sometimes, if we keep chasing because we think we don’t have enough, we’ll never stop. I loved thinking about the concept of two people pulling on a string as a metaphor for this idea and used dissonant chords and textures towards the end of the song to musically represent this mental tug of war ”

Described as ‘New Zealand’s brightest new singer-songwriter', Machray was quick to win the hearts of music lovers close to home and abroad after the release of her debut record ‘Language Of Flowers.’ The record received tremendous support from international and local media, leading her to tour nationally on multiple occasions and sharing stages with world-renowned indie icons such as Chet Faker, Palace, Lime Cordiale, and COTERIE.

With grace, glistening sonics, and an unfiltered honesty that leaves an instant, lasting mark…Sofia Machray is without a doubt an artist-to-watch moving forward.”  - Atwood Magazine

To celebrate the release of ‘Pulling On A String’ Machray will be hosting a record fundraising show on September 13th in Wellington at San Fran. The show aims to raise funds for her next full-length project with support from Mystery Waitress and Debt Club. Tickets available from August 14th at moshtix.co.nz

Goodnight My Darling shares stunning music video for widely adored indie track ‘Ruby’

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

LISTEN HERE

Pōneke-based indie star Goodnight My Darling (Maxine Macaulay) has today shared a mesmerizing music video to accompany her most recent single ‘Ruby’.

The track - a tender reflection on creative repression, motherhood and female empowerment - has unsurprisingly seen love from across Aotearoa - notably being a resident in the Radioscope alt chart for 6 weeks in a row. ‘Ruby’ was written after the Black Ferns epic 2022 Rugby World Cup win, and the new music video continues to celebrate our wāhine toa - this time, platforming the Wellington Synchro team!

“The video was a true collaboration,” says director Belle Gwilliam. “I had ideas for the look, like specific camera angles and a unique colour scheme, and Maxine had a certain style in mind - but the choreography was all the Synchro girls; Amelia Livingston and Justine Carter really led the way.”

Impressive underwater filming was achieved alongside Kristine Zipfel, adding what Belle describes as an ‘extra layer of magic’ to the sport and artform. The music video displays passionate people doing what they love, as a team, and is a process and product emblematic of what inspired ‘Ruby’.

‘Ruby’ follows Goodnight My Darling’s celebrated performance at CubaDupa earlier this year; her 2023 single ‘Empress’, and her 2022 self-titled debut album. Amidst all this, the artist has embarked on a new journey this year - motherhood - a theme beautifully unpacked in ‘Ruby’.

With the widespread aroha of ‘Ruby’ and today's inspiring reflection on uplifting Aotearoa women, now is the perfect time to dive into the world of Goodnight My Darling!

Find Goodnight My Darling:

Linktree | Instagram |Facebook | Youtube | ​Spotify |Apple | Bandcamp

False Heights create a lasting impression with breathtaking cover of ‘Zombie’

Definitive Taupō Rock duo False Heights today reveal the release date for their explosive adaption of the immortal 90’s Cranberries song, Zombie.

Pre-Save Here

Set for release on the same day that the original turns 30 – 19 September 2024 - April and Ashley Pirie bring Zombie to a whole new level with racing guitars, thrashing drums and expressive vocals.

Injecting the iconic protest song with their own unique blend of fast-paced and fierce punk-rock, False Heights have paid homage to the timeless classic by adding in their own personalised heavier alternative edge

“Channelling the beautifully haunting vocal melodies of Dolores O’Riordon, False Heights supercharged pop punk take on The Cranberries’ ‘Zombie’ pulses with an intense new life while capturing the emotional ride of the original.” - Kris Raven, Muzic.net.nz

False Heights are known for bringing a theatrical alternative edge to the mainstream world. Their material offers a uniquely independent feel, melding the 2000’s rock sound of Jimmy Eat World and Blink182, to the commercial singer-songwriter energies of Taylor Swift and Paramore.

Co-produced, tracked and mixed by Evan Pope at Studio11b in Mt Maunganui, and mastered by Joshua Llewellyn of Downbeat Mastering, Zombie follows False Heights’ previous releases Inside Your Head and A Little Bit More. With another single set to drop later this year, False Heights are a band worth keeping an eye on.

False Heights’ Zombie is set for release this coming 19 September, 2024.
Pre-Save Here

GOODWILL ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM + SINGLE ‘OBAMAS’ OUT NOW

Fresh from last month’s single Plans, Ōtautahi songwriter/producer Goodwill (Will McGillivray) today releases his latest single Obamas, and officially announces his debut full-length album, KIND HANDS.

Stark in its honesty and told by Will’s low baritone, Obamas is his most arresting song yet. Leaning on nothing other than pure lyricism and melody, the power of restraint is at full potential as Will delivers the crushing chorus “I’m so happy I could die”. True to the Goodwill back catalog, the crescendo eventually sees the collision of elements both organic and other-worldly.

Will shares his thoughts on the song: “I’ve shown this song to friends and had some people find it really sad and others find it more on the hopeful side of town, I like that there’s some ambiguity to that line ‘I’m so happy I could die’ - I won’t say which way I feel, but I can say that when I first wrote and sung that chorus it was probably the most elation I’ve felt from writing a song.”

KIND HANDS, due October 4th via Winegum Records, is Goodwill’s debut full-length album, featuring all previous singles Obamas, Plans, Goner and title track Kind Hands. Vinylheads, keep your eyes peeled for an announcement soon!

STREAM ‘OBAMAS’ HERE

DIGITAL ALBUM PRE-ORDERS

Goodwill is the solo project of award-nominated producer and songwriter Will McGillivray. Leaning into a love of dissonant guitars, droning analog synths, grainy lo-fi and longing melody, Goodwill’s music is thoughtful and honest. He has worked with esteemed Aotearoa artists such as There’s a Tuesday and Mousey, meanwhile using Goodwill as the vehicle for his own creative output

Following the release of debut EP ‘Incontrol’ featuring singles ‘Get Angry’, ‘Getting Better’ and ‘Clinging Onto You’ Goodwill’s sound earned him an instant nomination for ‘Best New Artist’ at the Rolling Stone NZ Awards, multiple Top 3 chart placements on the Hot NZ Singles chart, countless top spots on over 17 significant international Spotify editorial playlists, over 700,000 streams, extensive radio play in New Zealand and Australia, and an article in the August AU + NZ Rolling Stone Issue. 

Inspired by artists like Alex G and Bon Iver, Goodwill’s upcoming debut record (due October 2024) is an indie/alternative full-length LP with songs from the last 2 years of writing since the completion of Goodwill’s self-produced 2022 EP ‘Incontrol’. Touching on themes of gratitude, luck and commitment, Goodwill shakes off the angst and dissonance from ‘Incontrol’ to bring the light at the end of the tunnel to the forefront of the writing.

Auckland Rock Band CAPRICORE release J.A.F.A - “a song about jafas written by jafas”

Taking a strong stylistic change from their debut pop-rock single Dreamer, J.A.F.A punches its audience with satirical aggression, rap-like vocals, and punk driven instrumentation. The song paints a brutal realism of what it's like to live in Auckland City, commenting on a wide range of subjects – from its culture around substance abuse, to the city’s ugly transportation system. “It's pretty much just a list of my observations of the city,” states vocalist Aidan Ripley - “its a song about jafas written by one.”

The band explained that with J.A.F.A they’d set out to capture the untamed energy of their live performances on the track’s studio recording. “With Dreamer it was all about creating something that sounded beautiful in the studio, but with J.A.F.A it was all about getting a good representation of how we play live. When you hear Capricore live, we’re raw, punky, and theatrical… very humorous too. We felt that we really got that all down with this track – it shows our audience what to expect coming to our shows.” The single was recorded in BeatSpun Studios, produced by Corey Friedlander (of City Of Souls fame) and Elton Noyer (pka  Scizzorhands). 

The band weren't exaggerating when mentioning their theatricality. Capricore has often been described by critics as a modern and punkier version of Split Enz, with similar oddball-energy and quirky characteristics to the kiwi-classic group. There is also a major visual element that often comes into play.  In the instance of J.A.F.A, keyboardist James Zambucka sets the crowd into a massive chant during the bridge by pulling out a large sign with the letters “J” “A” “F” “A'' printed on the face. It is almost as though the band is reclaiming the jafa slur for Aucklanders themselves.