‘Village90 deliver soulful single, On My Way with Tom Grut on the visual assist’
On My Way can only be described as an anthem about self belief, perseverance and resilience. When creating On My Way Village90 started by building the music before the subject matter, and the chords in addition with the stripped back dynamic inspired a sense of vulnerability and self analysis.
About Village90
Village90 are a powerhouse five-piece band made up of some of Ōtara's best musicians and performers. Specialising in R&B/soul with irresistible charm, the group's debut single, Young Love, was a huge streaming success while their starring role with SWIDT at the 2022 Pacific Music Awards firmly cemented their status as rising stars. On My Way follows on from the heartfelt release of U&Me in late 2024.
About ‘On My Way’
On My Way can only be described as an anthem about self belief, perseverance and resilience. When creating On My Way we started by building the music before the subject matter, and as a writer the chords in addition with the stripped back dynamic inspired a sense of vulnerability and self analysis.
This led me to write about my own personal feelings of self-doubt, lack of progression and how it was affecting me mentally; specifically the first verse. The progression into the chorus and verse then outlines how we overcame those feelings, and are now reaping the benefits of the aforementioned anthem themes. We had also written this around Men’s mental health week so it added another layer of meaning for us as males, we wanted to depict this in our visuals through the use of a “kumete” or Kava bowl; Whilst also partaking in the drinking of Kava.
We hope this song can act as a source of inspiration for anyone enduring tough times.
Daniel Patea (Village90 Vocalist)
“Linking up with Village90 is always such a fun, organic time - with plenty of laughter and kava. The guys are incredibly talented and really trust in the process. Not sure how I’d get through without Doulos letting me know which lens is best to use!”
Tom Grut (Music Video Director)
Alien Weaponry Reveals Heavy New Anthem 'Taniwha'
ALIEN WEAPONRY have solidified themselves as one of the greatest young metal bands of their generation with renewed musical tenacity and crucial messaging. Since releasing their acclaimed debut Tū (2018), the band have been lauded for their kinetic presence and sound, as well as their vital blend of culturally profound lyricism in both English and te reo Māori, the indigenous language of New Zealand.
Listen HERE
New Album, Te Rā,
Out This Friday March 28, 2025
via Napalm Records
"Alien Weaponry are back with a vengeance..." - Revolver Magazine
"...Alien Weaponry’s fusion of rage, culture and melody meshes so effectively you could catch sharks in its net." - Kerrang!
“...New Zealand's hottest property is still getting hotter, and "Te Rā" is the perfect blend of neck-wrecking heaviness and atmospheric magic.” - Blabbermouth
This Friday, March 28, Aotearoa’s modern groove metal trio ALIEN WEAPONRY will release their heaviest, most powerful and mature offering to date, Te Rā, via Napalm Records!
In celebration of this week's release, the band has unleashed one of the album's most aggressive, death-metal leaning offerings, 'Taniwha', featuring a raw, heavy-hitting contribution from longtime supporter and metal icon Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God.
ALIEN WEAPONRY says about 'Taniwha':
“Lamb of God played a significant role in making Alien Weaponry what it is today and this collaboration with Randy Blythe feels like one of those ‘pinch yourself’ moments that our teenage selves would never believe possible. Randy’s lyricism and vocal expertise was an amazing addition to this song and we are beyond stoked to share this song/milestone with the world.”
Take a listen to the new track now – a special bonus listen in advance of the album's drop tomorrow, Friday 28th March 2025! The new anthem follows acclaimed latest singles “Mau Moko” ("...top-notch technical thrash metal..." - Heavy Consequence) and "1000 Friends" ("a driving, riff forward affair that makes it super easy to bang your head to" - MetalSucks).
ALIEN WEAPONRY have solidified themselves as one of the greatest young metal bands of their generation with renewed musical tenacity and crucial messaging. Since releasing their acclaimed debut Tū (2018), the band have been lauded for their kinetic presence and sound, as well as their vital blend of culturally profound lyricism in both English and te reo Māori, the indigenous language of New Zealand.
With this third full-length album, Te Rā, ALIEN WEAPONRY expand on their hallmark messages of cultural, societal and environmental resilience while delivering their most massive-sounding, focused musical output ever. In the hands of veteran producer/mixer Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, Gojira, Megadeth), Te Rā’s gnashing blend of groove, nu, math and thrash metal shines with anthemic choruses and refreshed technical skill.
On Te Rā, listeners can hear the band doubling-down on the aggression in the verses before applying temperance, especially in the case of “Taniwha”, a death metal-leaning banger featuring the particularly raw aforementioned guest vocal from Randy Blythe. Lyrically, there’s a noticeable tilt towards despondency, hopelessness, and frustration on Te Rā. While bassist Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds' lyrics in Māori on songs like 'Tama-nui-te-rā' and 'Ponaturi' draw from the themes of history, battle lore and mysticism that made the first two albums so rich, frontman/guitarist Lewis Raharuhi de Jong's English-language lyrics illustrate the impact when culture collides with disenfranchisement day to day. 'Crown' and 'Hanging by a Thread' take us into the headspace where struggle pushes people to the brink of desperation, while on 'Blackened Sky' and '1000 Friends', Lewis addresses universal woes like the looming threat of World War III and the damaging effects of social media. On album closer 'Te Kore', Tūranga dives into primordial nothingness at the root of the Māori origin story, while on 'Mau Moko', he finds the middle ground between these perspectives. As the lyrics honour the traditional Māori practice of moko (face tattooing), they also delve into the social costs of maintaining customs that are at-odds with dominant cultural norms.
LOOPY TUNES SHARE FINAL SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM 'MĀ: MATARIKI FOR TAMARIKI'
Today (March 28) Loopy Tunes (Preschool) Music shared the final single ‘Feed The Stars (Hautapu)’ from their new upcoming Matariki album 'Mā: Matariki for Tamariki', out April 9.
Today (March 28) Loopy Tunes (Preschool) Music shared the final single ‘Feed The Stars (Hautapu)’ from their new upcoming Matariki album 'Mā: Matariki for Tamariki', out April 9.
A 13-track assortment, ‘Mā: Matariki for Tamariki’ was made with the support of NZ on Air Tamariki funding. The Ōtautahi-based sister duo, Siu and Leah, share they made the album for "our little ones to help them understand Matariki and grow up singing and dancing to the waiata".
Listen to 'Feed The Stars (Hautapu Song)' HERE
Upbeat and slightly country-esque, this waiata teaches tamariki what a Hautapu is - feeding the stars with a sacred offering, with the lyrics "Get a big pot, fill it to the top, let the steam rise, up to the sky".
‘Feed The Stars (Hautapu Song)’ follows up 'Hiwa-i-te-rangi', 'Te Waka o Rangi (Pōhutukawa)', 'I Love Huawhenua (Tupuānuku)' and 'Huarākau Is Fruit (Tupuārangi)'. These waiata are accompanied by fun lyric videos that can be found on the Loopy Tunes (Preschool) Music YouTube channel here.
Siu Williams-Lemi and Leah Williams-Partington make up Loopy Tunes Music. With ancestral links to the largest Māori tribe in Aotearoa, Ngāpuhi, and the friendly islands of Tonga, the sisters bring a super-fun cultural vibe to the children’s music world. They are recognised for their reorua/bilingual Māori and Pasifika children’s waiata, sung in their beautifully harmonious style.
With a growing catalogue of over 170 waiata, their album 'Mā: Matariki for Tamariki' will follow “Kahurangi: Little Treasures” – a 23-song assortment of mostly bilingual tunes that young tamariki and the young at heart will enjoy, released in October 2024.
2025 will see the duo touring the North Canterbury region through to Kaikoura in April, followed by an extra special tour to Northland in October to visit their iwi whenua, maunga and marae. Alongside touring, they are looking forward to continuing their new fortnightly YouTube series, “Music Time with Loopy Tunes”.
‘Feed The Stars (Hautapu Song)’ and the album ‘Mā: Matariki for Tamariki’ were made possible by NZ on Air Tamariki funding.
Feed The Stars (Hautapu Song) is out now (March 28). Mā: Matariki for Tamariki is out April 9.
EAST COAST GROOVERS SOJØURN DROP DEBUT ALBUM “LOVE IN THE WAY”
SOJØURN’s debut album “LOVE IN THE WAY” introduces the Mangawhai band’s unique sound; blending diverse influences like surf rock, reggae, disco, and psychedelic rock. The album follows the rollout of the album's three singles: "HIPPIE CHICK", "PLAY IT COOL", and "STAY", all released in 2024.
SOJØURN’s debut album “LOVE IN THE WAY” introduces the Mangawhai band’s unique sound; blending diverse influences like surf rock, reggae, disco, and psychedelic rock. The album follows the rollout of the album's three singles: "HIPPIE CHICK", "PLAY IT COOL", and "STAY", all released in 2024. Known for their vibrant, genre-defying style, SOJØURN creates infectious tracks like the nostalgic reggae of STAY, the high-energy bossa nova of PIÑA COLADA, and the Latin-disco grooves in THESE DAYS. The album also explores atmospheric electronica in THE DREAM and a country-tinged vibe in SOMEDAY. Mixed by Paul "PTK" Jonassen, produced and engineered by Noah Page at Depot Sound, and mastered by Chris Chetland at KOG Studios, the album features lush instrumentation, with saxophone and guitar playing key roles across the 10 tracks. The band’s East Coast-inspired, dynamic sound is a celebration of Aotearoa’s indie-rock scene, offering listeners a mix of nostalgic, modern, and experimental vibes—beautiful cover art & assets by Isabella Rose Young. “LOVE IN THE WAY” will be released on 28th March 2025, via DRM, and available on all good streaming platforms.
Fresh off a massive summer of performances, including Le Currents & Shipwrecked Festival, the release of their debut album will coincide with a North Island tour during NZ Music Month (May) and June 2025. Tour dates and venues below:
SOJØURN’s “LOVE IN THE WAY” Album Tour
Friday 9th May - The Yard / Raglan
Saturday 10th May - Totara Street / Mt Maunganui
Friday 16th May - Tuning Fork / Auckland
Friday 27th June - Cabana / Napier
Saturday 28th June - Smash Palace / Gisborne
Head to https://linktr.ee/sojournmusicnz for event details and ticketing - Tour announcement and ticketing will go live on 1st April 2025.
Since creating SOJØURN in 2018, the band has been busy releasing singles and EPs 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 2022. Their ultra-cruisy reggae-dub-infused Dec ‘23 single ‘Where We Go’ became a student radio fave, topping and inhabiting 95bFM’s Top 10 for several weeks over the following couple of months. This was the sequel to the band’s highly danceable ska-inspired track “Two Step”
Garnering a solid reputation as a crowd-pleasing live act, SOJØURN has enjoyed blitzing summer tours at mainstay venues, and gracing festival stages coast to coast across the motu as they cement a solid live fan base with their energising and uplifting live sets.
Casual Healing to unlock a new era of music with ‘Hypersensitive’
“When the world around us is too overwhelming, we numb ourselves. We harden our hearts so we can block out the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings that make us FEEL.” Nikau states, “We gotta feel all the feels”.
In the wake of his debut album, Driftwood, Casual Healing (AKA Nikau Te Huki) has recorded the waiata, Hypersensitive featuring MĀ, which is set for release on Friday 28th March, 2025. Thanks to the incredible support of NZ On Air Hypersensitive will be accompanied by a fun and freaky music video directed by Wellington’s finest, Mason Rudd.
Hypersensitive was produced by Te Huki at his studio Te Whare Chur and also features a unique poetic display from one of Aotearoa's most authentic rappers - Mā. This dark-psychotropic-snake-charming-trip-hop track takes the mind on a journey through the ego to the center of truth, love and discipline, while also reminding us of this young artists ability to morph a wide collection of genres including Reggae, Hip Hop, Soul and Middle Eastern melodies.
The culmination of Māori Culture, modern music and righteous messaging makes Hypersensitive another meaningful chapter in the book of Casual Healing.
“When the world around us is too overwhelming, we numb ourselves. We harden our hearts so we can block out the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings that make us FEEL.” Nikau states,“We gotta feel all the feels”.
Redefining himself as an artist in 2025, Casual Healing will release a special series of EPs inspired by the four fundamental elements in Te Taiao, the natural world, with Hypersensitive being the lead single of this first EP.
AHI features a number of key collaborations: Kenzie From Welly (‘Aroha’), Dub Princess (‘Morning Ritual’), The Hongi Slicker AKA Troy Kingi (‘Water The Good Seed’) a nd MĀ (‘Hypersensitive’). Each track maintaining its own clear sonic identity while seamlessly blending into one another in its broader context, Ahi matches Nikau’s Libra energy – everything balanced and in its right place.
Will McClean to release the first single from upcoming album with T BOOGIE.
Laced with introspective bars and dynamic production, the track embodies perseverance, self-reflection, and the unshakable drive to rise above. Will McClean’s signature storytelling flows over T BOOGIE’s crisp, atmospheric beats.
New Zealand hip-hop artist Will McClean is back with a powerful statement—his upcoming single, dropping March 28, is the first taste of his collaborative album with producer T BOOGIE, a fresh talent making his debut release.
Laced with introspective bars and dynamic production, the track embodies perseverance, self-reflection, and the unshakable drive to rise above. Will McClean’s signature storytelling flows over T BOOGIE’s crisp, atmospheric beats, delivering lines like:
"We gon’ make it always, pardon my optimism / Sip my coffee nicely, I got no opposition."
The song explores duality—the hero and the villain, the struggle and the triumph—while carrying a message of resilience. Packed with sharp lyricism and a sound that bridges classic and contemporary hip-hop, this release is just the beginning of what’s shaping up to be a landmark project for both artists.
Release link : https://music.drm.co.nz/wgmi
Butter Wouldn’t Melt announce national tour and homegrown album ‘Where the roots grow deep’
Where the roots grow deep is the first chapter in a two-part album journey, to be followed by Beneath the Stars Above in 2026. Together, these albums form a story in contrast—two sides of the same mountain, two worlds intertwined: one bathed in light, the other steeped in shadow.
Old River Records is thrilled to announce the release of the Sophomore album from award-nominated New Zealand folk/Americana band Butter Wouldn’t Melt, Where the roots grow deep, available everywhere August 9th 2025. Digital singles from the album will be released every few weeks, with the first single Song for Maurice released March 28th.
Where the roots grow deep is the first chapter in a two-part album journey, to be followed by Beneath the Stars Above in 2026. Together, these albums form a story in contrast—two sides of the same mountain, two worlds intertwined: one bathed in light, the other steeped in shadow. Both records will showcase Butter Wouldn’t Melt’s signature local storytelling and rich harmonies, weaving contemporary folk, country, bluegrass, and Americana into a sound that is as timeless as it is deeply personal.
Finalists for the 2023 Best Folk Artist Tūī | Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa, Butter Wouldn’t Melt is the very definition of a grassroots, do-it-yourself band. Every note, every frame, every brushstroke of this project is their own— written, recorded, mixed, mastered, promoted, filmed, and designed. Featuring Andrea Reid (Vocals and rhythm guitar), Nick Burfield (Vocals and lead guitar), Cara Brasted (Fiddle and vocals), Marz Connelly (Double bass and vocals), and guest appearance from Kim Bonnington (Vocals).
This album isn’t just music; it’s a labour of love from front to back. From the songs to the artwork and even the wild Oracle Card merchandise. Recorded and produced at Old River Records, located in the windy hills of Papakowhai, and stitched together with blood, sweat, and sheer determination.
Butter Wouldn’t Melt will be hitting the road in April on a thirteen destination tour across Aotearoa, from Whangārei to Gore, bringing their music to towns and cities all over the motu.
Tour Details:
● April 12 - Te Pahu, Waikato
● April 14 - Whangateau Hall, Whangateau (w/ The Pipi Pickers)
● April 15 - Oneonesix, Whangarei (w/ Gary, Dusty and The Advocators)
● April 16 - Auckland Bluegrass Club, Auckland
● April 18-21 - Hamsterfest, Paeroa
● May 2 - Whanganui Musicians Club, Whanganui
● May 3 Pop-up Gigs Taranaki, Palmerston North
● May 22 - The Globe, Dunedin (w/ Rufous Whistler [AUS])
● May 22 - Wellington Bluegrass Society (w/ Rufous Whistler [AUS])
● May 28 - Wunderbar, Christchurch
● May 29 - Pearl Diver, Dunedin (w/ Rufous Whistler [AUS] and Lara Rose)
● May 30-31 - Tussock Country Festival, Gore (w/ Elias Bartholomeo [AUS])
● June 2 - Ruby Bay Store, Nelson
Tickets for the tour and pre-orders for the album are available via www.oldriverrecords.co.nz/butter-wouldnt-melt
Social Links:
Website: https://www.oldriverrecords.co.nz/butter-wouldnt-melt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/butterwouldntmeltmusic/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrhA0jsXMACngM9YzXv5_wg
Instagram: www.instagram.com/butterwouldntmeltmusic
Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@butterwouldntmeltmusic?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
NZ producer and turntablist teams up with music wizard “MoDre”
At it again, Scizzorhands has knabbed the Audio tracks to MoDre’s latest track and given it the Iron Finger Flip
At it again, Scizzorhands has knabbed the Audio tracks to MoDre’s latest track and given it the Iron Finger Flip
One morning Scizzorhands was chillin’ in the studio listening to “They Don’t Know” - a new release from Producer / Songwriter MoDre. After inspiration hit, Scizzorhands put on his best Camouflage and hit the bushes. Using his best Rambo sneaking tactics, he was able to knab MoDre’s hard-drive from Studio 91.
Later that day, Scizzorhands got a text from MoDre, demanding his drive back. What did Scizzorhands do with the drive? Click below to find out.
But on a more serious note, go check out the track and enjoy Scizzorhands foray into the electronic music realm merging turntablism, boom-bap and bass music.