dān dān announces debut single ‘pressure cooker’
Chinese-Pākehā artist dān dān announces her debut solo project with folk-pop single ‘pressure cooker’ — out November 29th.
Chinese-Pākehā artist dān dān announces her debut solo project with folk-pop single ‘pressure cooker’ — out November 29th. Known as one half of the wasian sibling duo Ersha Island 二沙岛 from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Danielle Hao-Aickin is developing her craft, displaying maturity in vocal tone, production and experimentation.
Made with the support of NZ On Air, ‘pressure cooker’ reflects on the significance of her upbringing in intense classical piano training and how it demanded an environment of tension. ‘pressure cooker’ adds small elements of Mandarin Chinese and features an audio snippet of 9-year-old Danielle being taught by her old piano teacher.
dān dān layers in lyrical wordplay and rich harmonies to explore the more playful and intimate sides of her songwriting as a solo artist.
Produced by Dan Martin (Jordyn With A Why) and co-written with ASHY and Huiming Wu (花溪 Flowerstream) at BIG FAN’s Fan Camp: Pan-Asian in April, sister Tee Hao-Aickin joins on violin.
The music video is scheduled for April next year, directed by Flora Xie and produced by Natasha Skuljan. Inspired by the transformative film Everything Everywhere All At Once, the video will span multiple locations in its exploration of mother-daughter tensions.
“I wrote this song about growing up with the pressure to be perfect as the older sister in a Chinese family, and living up to your parents’ expectations. It's also got some silly, goofy elements to it, including food puns and an ode to my love for Hainan chicken rice…and honestly, it’s an allusion to just how much food is part of culture and family."
Sam Heselwood shares tender new love letter single ‘Kind Love’
UK-based kiwi singer-songwriter Sam Heselwood has today released his gorgeous new single ‘Kind Love’ - a reflection on the ups and downs of true love.
Listen HERE
Watch the Video HERE
UK-based kiwi singer-songwriter Sam Heselwood has today released his gorgeous new single ‘Kind Love’ - a reflection on the ups and downs of true love.
Layered with tender finger-picked guitars, soaring dynamic shifts, Sam’s poetic lyricism and raw, powerful vocal range, ‘Kind Love’ softly narrates the journey of navigating life’s curveballs with one’s soulmate.
“The song is about living life as an average human being,” says the Christchurch-raised artist. “It reflects on all the ups and downs, and highlights the benefit of finding someone who brings you a kind of love that makes everything better.”
Today's stunning track follows Sam’s latest single ‘I Remember’ (TAHI, Woman’s Day, JUICE TV, Hype Medium), 2023 EP HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS, and the raging success of single ‘Home’ (ZM, The Edge) - which debuted at #1 Hot NZ Singles Chart. Since the beginning of his whirlwind career in music, Sam’s had millions of digital streams - including 3 million on single ‘Book Full of Answers’ and over 1 million on single ‘Home’; and featured on playlists such as Spotify’s Fresh Finds (1m), Apple Music’s New Music Daily, Apple Music’s A-List Pop, and many more!
Made with the support of NZ on Air, ‘Kind Love’ began its journey up the mountains of Northern England, where Sam and his partner Sophie had settled after a turbulent time moving to the UK on their own. “It really made me reflect on how life sometimes tests you, but as long as you have each other, everything will be okay.”
The track was recorded across Dublin and Melbourne with producers Liam Geddes and Terence O’Connor, before the story was set to the stunning visual landscape of Buttermere, Northern England, for a gorgeous music video made alongside director Tara Burns. “There's a little lake that you walk
around and, one day, I stumbled across this magical forest and thought ‘I need to shoot a video here,’” says Sam. “It was 5 minutes from where we lived at the time so it will always be special to look back on. It also had a lot of ferns, which reminded me of New Zealand.”
An honest, vulnerable and utterly beautiful story of true love, fans across Aotearoa and beyond are invited to join Sam Heselwood in celebrating romance with ‘Kind Love’!
Find Sam Heselwood
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Aotearoa group Shivers amplify togetherness with new single + video ‘Tahuti’
Pōneke-based soul-pop group Shivers have today shared their latest taonga, the uplifting and warm waiata reo Māori ‘Tahuti’ - alongside a moving new music video!
LISTEN HERE
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
Pōneke-based soul-pop group Shivers have today shared their latest taonga, the uplifting and warm waiata reo Māori ‘Tahuti’ - alongside a moving new music video!
Today’s release combines a smooth bassline, cruisy guitar riffs and bright horn section, with the soulful melodies of lead vocalist Timmy Porter - who passionately sings of togetherness, lifting one another up, and being there for our most vulnerable. Originally written in english by Timmy, the kaupapa of ‘Tahuti’ is now amplified and strengthened through its transformational journey of integrating te reo Māori, bringing new layers to its confronting and raw message.
“Born from my personal experiences, ‘Tahuti’ was written for men who may see being vulnerable and asking for help as a sign of weakness,” says Timmy. “In my eyes that is really a strength. It is very open, honest and explicit in telling our bro's that we love them. We need to look out for each other, be there for each other through tough times, and that the small things we do can make a big difference.”
The group’s first single released in te reo Māori, ‘Tahuti’ follows what has been a steady climb to the top for Shivers (Timmy Porter, Adrian Win (Ngāruahine, Te Atiawa), Rick Cranson, Josh Parata (Te Atiawa, Ngāti Toa, Te Rarawa)) since their debut single ‘Right Of Way’ (#7 Hot NZ Singles Chart) in 2021. The group were the first recipients of Toby Lloyd’s Tiny Triumph Recordings Competition in 2020 - with Toby becoming a regular collaborator for the group, including producing and mixing today’s release before the renowned Benny Tones came on board to master the track. Shivers have enjoyed radio play across stations such as Mai FM, George FM, RadioActive, Ātiawa Toa FM and more; have featured on Spotify’s Soulful playlist; and their latest single ‘Look At ‘Em Now’ reached #3 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.
Known for their hard-hitting messages, and proud to “make music with meaning” - ‘Look At ‘Em Now’ speaks of overcoming adversity and intergenerational trauma, while ‘Tahuti’ is defiantly outspoken on the taboo topic of men’s mental health and suicide prevention.
Expanding on ways to best explore this complex subject matter, and sharing another part of their musical journey, Shivers are now showcasing the beauty of te reo Māori with support from Te Māngai Pāho. ‘Tahuti’ began its journey after the group decided to translate and bring new life and meaning to 2021 single ‘RUNAWAY’ - after guitarist Adrian Win had been studying te reo Māori at Te Wānanga O Raukawa.
“Timmy initially felt a little daunted by this, being pākehā and unsure if it was ‘his place’, but after some kōrero and reflecting on his way of life - his day job as a kaiako, his bi-cultural teaching practice with an understanding of te reo, pronunciation, te ao māori and Te Tiriti, as well as wanting to acknowledge and support Adrian's journey - he knew that he had a role to play in writing and performing waiata, so fully embraced the opportunity.”
The translation was completed with support from Malcolm Win, before the group approached Te Ingo Ngaia (Master of Arts in Te Reo-Waikato University, Kaiako at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa) to help guide Shivers as their Mātanga Reo and give the waiata its final blessing.
Also released today is a moving new music video for the track! Made alongside director Ben Cushman and filmed across Te Whanganui-a-Tara in locations where band members find themselves reconnecting, resetting and reflecting - Red Rocks, Mt Victoria. Following the journey of a young man overcoming challenges, the group hope that along with this precious new waiata, today’s music video inspires listeners to reach out for help and support one another.
An uplifting, empowering, and timeless message from Shivers, paired with the gorgeous integration of te reo Māori in what will no doubt become a song of the summer - now is the time to tune in to ‘Tahuti’!
Find Shivers
SOLA ROSA RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE ‘TEARS ROLL DOWN’ FEATURING AKOSIA
Sola Rosa, the long-running project of New Zealand’s Andrew Spraggon, makes a striking return with the new single Tears Roll Down, a collaboration with Melbourne-based vocalist AKOSIA
Sola Rosa, the long-running project of New Zealand’s Andrew Spraggon, makes a striking return with the new single Tears Roll Down, a collaboration with Melbourne-based vocalist AKOSIA. Over the years, Spraggon has honed a sound that blends soul, funk, hip-hop, and electronica, steadily expanding the scope of what a beat-driven project can achieve. With Tears Roll Down, he pushes his music into more emotionally raw territory, thanks in large part to AKOSIA’s evocative, powerful vocal performance, which transforms the track from a polished groove into something far more arresting.
The single is the first release from Sola Rosa’s forthcoming EP, slated for early 2025, and the first new music since 2020’s Chasing The Sun—an album that earned widespread praise, including a four-star review in Mojo magazine. It’s a fitting way to mark the project’s 25th anniversary, a testament to Spraggon’s ability to evolve while keeping his signature sound intact, and his knack for working with fresh collaborators who push his music into new directions.
Spraggon first crossed paths with AKOSIA in 2023 during a writing session in Melbourne, arranged by his music publisher. Reflecting on their first meeting, he says: “I was heading into sessions with artists I didn’t know but thought could align with the music I was making. AKOSIA stood out straight away—there was this fearless vulnerability she brought to the room, diving deep into the material in a way that took me by surprise. Her lyrical, technical, and emotional instincts were razor-sharp, and we clicked creatively almost instantly.”
Their second collaboration, Tears Roll Down, took shape on a particularly tough day for AKOSIA, after a fight with her boyfriend at the time. “She wasn’t sure if she wanted to channel all that raw emotion into the song,” Spraggon recalls, “but we decided to run with it. She already had the lyrics and melody worked out and knew exactly how she wanted the track to feel. It was a new challenge for me—I’m usually more of a beatmaker than a classic songwriter. But this time, we wrote the music to fit her lyrics and melody, and the result is something we’re both incredibly proud of.”
Now streaming on all platforms, Tears Roll Down offers a glimpse into what’s next for Sola Rosa as the project approaches its 25th anniversary—proving that, even after all these years, Spraggon’s sound is still evolving and capable of surprise.
AOTEAROA ARTIST SAM FOWLES RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM FULL OF HOPE TITLED ‘AFTER DARK’
Bursting with raw emotion, blazing electric guitars, soulful vocals, funky rhythms and steady grooves ‘After Dark’ is an honest and authentic expression of Fowles journey in life so far and the role music has played.
Pōneke/Wellington musician, songwriter and producer Sam Fowles releases his debut album ‘After Dark’ today, November 15.
Bursting with raw emotion, blazing electric guitars, soulful vocals, funky rhythms and steady grooves ‘After Dark’ is an honest and authentic expression of Fowles journey in life so far and the role music has played.
“As a younger man I had a hard time making sense of the world, I lacked purpose, got mixed up in things I probably shouldn’t have and lost my way. The one thing that stayed constant through all of that was my love of music.
Music has been an outlet for so much of my life, helping me make sense of the world when
nothing seemed to make sense. It has given me hope in times when there appeared to be none,
providing a space to truly be in the moment and be myself. Many songs I’ve listened to over the years have given me hope, so this album is my offering to the world.”
Fowles unique sound can be described as psychedelic soul laced with blues and funk. Fowles says of the album “it's the blues really, today’s blues just dressed up differently. I believe fans of artists like Gary Clark Jr., Jimi Hendrix, Ocean Alley or even the psychedelic vibes of Tame Impala might find something here they really connect with. After Dark is also for people who appreciate honesty in music and want to feel something real.”
‘Sitting On Top Of The World’, ‘Slipping Away’, ‘Butterfly Baby’ and ‘Destination Unknown’ preceded the album's release. The title track ‘After Dark’ (Listen to After Dark here) is the lead single. “The concept for the album came late one night when I was feeling troubled. I was living in the city at the time and left my home to go for a walk to clear my head” shares Fowles “I walked down to the waterfront and wandered into Waitangi park. There I sat on a concrete stoop and was looking out into the nights sky it was a starry clear night with the full moons light beaming down on me, when it hit me the tune and the words to the title track ‘After Dark’ “into the park after dark, stumbling through my memories, Into the park after dark, reaching out for what my eyes can’t see.” I quickly rushed home and sat on the floor furiously scribbling on a note-pad whilst picking up my guitar and fleshing out the tune. The song just fell out. It was one of those beautiful moments where life made perfect sense to me. This moment inspired the concept for the whole album; finding your way through the dark.
This album is a collection of moments like this. Everything I write and have ever written is in a 2B8 notebook on the pages or on the back of envelopes or scraps of paper stored in between the pages. These writings contain snapshots of my life and this album is a collection of these moments, moments when I was trying to find my way through the dark and into the light. Music was the light that guided me through and changed/ is changing my life for the better. After Dark is my offering to the world to help those like me to find their way.”
Fowles worked alongside two New Zealand music icons in the creation of this album, Barnaby Weir was Co Producer and Warren Maxwell his mentor. “The value of collaboration cannot be overstated” says Fowles.
A serendipitous meeting with Weir (The Black Seeds, Fly My Pretties, TRiPS) at a gig in Foxton beach, completely changed the direction of Fowles path. It was the beginning of a deep friendship between the two and Weir supported Fowles in all aspects of his music, starting at Wellington's songwriter nights at Poquito, to providing tips on songwriting, compositions and production and eventually collaborating as co-producer on ‘After Dark’. “Barnaby has always gone out of his way to support me and my music” Fowles shares. “He’s got an incredible ear for the details in a track which has pushed me to think outside the box in the development of my tracks. He created a space in which I could experiment with finding my sound and he guided me towards it through that experimentation. Collaborating with him has been a masterclass in record production and it has totally changed my approach to music production.”
Fowles is a Master's graduate of Massey University's College of Creative Arts, where he studied music performance, composition, and production under the mentorship of Warren Maxwell (Trinity Roots, Little Bushman). “Warren Maxwell has been a massive influence on me, both musically and personally’ says Fowles. “He inspired me to seek inspiration from the universe around me and to utilise, to research it, and find all of the little details that could possibly inform and inspire my work. Encouraged by his master's thesis - Kia tūhono i te taiao e ngā toi anō : reconnecting with the natural world via experiential multi-disciplinary assemblages, I took that kaupapa and applied it to my own work. For Slipping Away I recorded samples of the ocean at Taputeranga in the south coast of Pōneke and wove them into the sound design of the track. Similarly in Sitting On Top Of The World I created a sound world out of samples I had captured of native birds and bush ambiences in the beautiful parks of Pōneke; Otari-Wilton, Takarunga-Mt Victoria which can be heard in the intro and outro of the track. As a person he taught me humility and to stay grounded in who I am while I am evolving as an artist.”
Fowles draws on an eclectic range of artistic inspirations such as Jimi Hendrix, Bill Withers, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, D’Angelo and Bob Marley, but he finds most inspiration a little closer to home “to be honest what I find most inspiring is living, taking in a beautiful view, having great conversations, spending time with loved ones, life experiences shape my work in a big way.”
Fowles concludes “If listeners can find some solace, joy, or even reflection within these songs, then I’ve achieved what I set out to do.”
‘After Dark’ is available on all digital platforms today, November 15, 2024.
Sam Fowles & The Experience will play an album release show on Thursday the 5th of December at San Fran (Doors 7pm) alongside Badtab and Casual Healing. Tickets available from Moshtix.
THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION On tour and new music
2025, another putrid rotten avocado of a year will be mildly improved by the ridiculously exciting news that New Zealand’s favourite ever chumps The Phoenix Foundation are heading out on tour and releasing their first new music since 2020 (remember that shithole of a year, was life BETTER THEN WTF?).
Auckland - Double Whammy - Friday the 13th of December (tix from Under The Radar)
Wellington - Meow - Saturday the 14th (tix from Moshtix)
2025, another putrid rotten avocado of a year will be mildly improved by the ridiculously exciting news that New Zealand’s favourite ever chumps The Phoenix Foundation are heading out on tour and releasing their first new music since 2020 (remember that shithole of a year, was life BETTER THEN WTF?).
These are the bands first classic, normal, unfancy gigs in years and they are frothing to get out and just play some music and reconnect with their friends and fans (and enemies?) in Auckland and Wellington. December is a nightmare right? Get the heck away from those awkward staff parties, avoid all Christmas in the park bullshit and come see Aotearoa’s best band be the best band that this band can possibly be.
They will play their new songs AND they will play their old songs. That's the way gigs work.
TPF used the week between their two Camp A Low Hum appearances earlier this year, to hang out in a recording studio together like a normal old fashioned band and the results, as we’ve come to expect from these bozos, is equally uplifting and depressing. When you hear this music a fever will take control of your insides and you will feel a strong urge to jump on X, formerly known as Twitter, formerly known as talking to each other, and say “Mamma mia, those phoenicians have done it again!” Do not fight that urge.
The first new single will arrive on streaming services this November, the 28th, that's a Friday. We can’t say much just ponder this “The squeaky wheel gets the grease, while the butcher gets the golden geese, the killer gets to be released tonight.” Sounds fun? Spoiler alert; this world is not a very nice place.
Really amazing, really qualified support acts to be announced via fax. Please forward us your FAX numbers.
‘LOVESICK’ (ft Anderson Rocio)
“I don't know if ‘love sickness’ is a real thing but it sure feels real - this song is a product of that.”
A heartfelt anthem for anyone who's ever been "lovesick."
“I don't know if ‘love sickness’ is a real thing but it sure feels real - this song is a product of that.” - Jack Robertson
Auckland based, multi instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Jack Robertson has teamed up with acclaimed artist, Anderson Rocio for a heart searing new single, “Lovesick”. The poignant duet follows both sides of the end of romance imploring, “what did you know that I didn't”?
A intercontinental collaboration, the up and coming Robertson met Rocio when she spoke at the University of Auckland, “Anderson came into the University to share her music industry experience, seeking advice, I sent her a couple demos including, “Lovesick”... within a couple of months, we were making a version of the song together.”
Of the song, Rocio recalls being captivated by Jack’s voice and his thoughtful songwriting, “The concept of being ‘lovesick’ really hooked me," she laments, "I’ve truly felt it before, but I’ve never heard it expressed that way”
The track is driven by Jack’s sincere vocal and heartworn lyrics that intertwined with Anderson’s distinctive wail paint an honest portrayal of unrequited love in all of its longing and confusion. It reflects the emotional complexity of letting go and that fine line between love and heartbreak.
‘Lovesick’ is available everywhere November 13th via Anderson Rocio’s independent label, Riverine Records
THE PICNIC MINI FESTIVAL
It’s time to truly sink your teeth into the local music scene, and there’s no better time than now! With a lineup of Auckland's finest up-and-coming artists, park yourself up at The Picnic to enjoy sets from Macey, Marmalade, The Dawns, Fan Club, and Psycho Gab.
We’re now a week out from The Picnic, a mini-fest featuring a smorgasbord of epic local acts hosted by Marmalade and Rat World.
It’s time to truly sink your teeth into the local music scene, and there’s no better time than now! With a lineup of Auckland's finest up-and-coming artists, park yourself up at The Picnic to enjoy sets from Macey, Marmalade, The Dawns, Fan Club, and Psycho Gab.
Rat World are bringing on young music journalists to cover each artist before and during the event through reviews, interviews and photo and video content. This event is curated to uplift both artists and journalists alongside creating an epic night of live music.
Marmalade are also pumped to celebrate the release of their debut EP ‘Sober’ that is fresh to the world since Friday. A timestamp of the band's first chapter, this EP encapsulates the journey from the birth of Marmalade to the band's teenagehood.
Sharing their release day is co-headliner Macey with his latest EP ‘how to say goodbye’. With new music from both acts, The Picnic is going to be a release party for both Marmalade and Macey.
Come to The Picnic and you will undoubtedly leave with a plethora of new favorite songs and artists. We hope this re-ignites your love for the Auckland music scene.
Supported by Auckland City of Music, Pals, and the Tuning Fork.
