Te Rōpū Māori 30th Anniversary EP & Music Video

‘Te Rōpū Māori 30th Anniversary’ EP - Mō ngā whakareanga ā muri ake nei – celebrating three decades of Te Rōpū Māori (TRM), the Māori Students Association at the University of Otago, Dunedin, Aotearoa – New Zealand.  

‘Te Rōpū Māori 30th Anniversary’ EP features a collection of six waiata performed by Te Rōpū Māori students and alumni at the university’s Te Korokoro o te Tui Recording Studio (School of Performing Arts) recorded by Stephen Steadman and produced by Teone Hotu of TRM and award-winning Māori Music Producer Maaka ‘Phat’ McGregor.

The project is a tribute to those who have supported the students on their journey at the University of Otago, and through this musical celebration they hope to inspire future generations to strive for excellence in all that they do.

A music video has been created for track 2 of the EP ‘Te Ata o Tūmāhina’, filmed and edited by Wade McClelland and Bradon McCaughey of Scrambler (www.scrambler.co.nz), and produced by Teone Hotu & Aliyah Tautuhi-Fraser of TRM.

Composed by Kiti Te Maire Brennan and Thomas-Aerepo Morgan, this waiata draws on the essence of celestial knowledge and the teachings of our tīpuna, encouraging us to hold fast to mātauranga for future generations.

The EP was launched at a special release party on the evening of Friday 24th July 2025 at Auahi Ora events venue, University of Otago. The event featured performances by Te Rōpū Māori, a panel of kaikōrero including composers of the waiata, refreshments, and the premiere of ‘Te Ata o Tūmāhina’ music video.

‘Te Rōpū Māori 30th Anniversary’ EP is now available on all major digital platforms including Spotify and Apple Music, and ‘Te Ata o Tūmāhina’ music video can be viewed via Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Teone Hotu (of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Maniapoto), in his fourth year of studying Dentistry at Otago, had the privilege of leading the creation of the EP.

“The idea of putting together this EP came from a realisation that our waiata, many of which we sing at TRM kaupapa and house parties, deserve their own spotlight.”

“I was a Six60 scholarship student and studying music production, so I spent a lot of time in the studio and built connections with the Otago School of Performing Arts, which is where we were able to record these waiata. I saw an opportunity there to make something cool happen and, with the support of Te Rōpū Māori and my whānau, that idea was made a reality.”

“Making these waiata easily accessible online allows more people to connect with us and our experiences and hopefully inspires the next generation to walk a similar path, proudly as tauira Māori.”

“The waiata tell many stories that relate to us as tauira Māori - seizing the day, striving for excellence, letting our loved ones go, staying grounded in our Māori identity, and showcasing the ‘after-hours’ culture of student life here at Otago.”

“Initially, I think people will be thrilled to finally hear our waiata be put out there. Alumni will hear it on the radio and have flashbacks to their hectic yet nostalgic uni days. But beyond that, I hope that in 50 years from now, we can look back and see that what we did here was the start of something bigger, the first in a series of TRM waiata to be produced, or that one song inspired our mokopuna to strive for excellence and become the first teacher, lawyer, dentist, or doctor in their whānau.”

‘Te Rōpū Māori 30th Anniversary’ EP - Mō ngā whakareanga ā muri ake nei!

ADAM HATTAWAY & THE HAUNTERS RELEASE NEW ALBUM HOT VARIETY + ANNOUNCE AUSTRALASIAN TOUR

Hot Variety is the seventh full-length release from Adam Hattaway & The Haunters and it might be their most immediate, unfiltered record yet.

Recorded entirely to tape across three sessions over three years, Hot Variety is a fully analog affair. The arrangements are lean, the sonics dry and intimate, and every performance is captured as it happened. The vocals were tracked in full takes, not pieced together, giving the songs a live-wire energy. “Every decision was made to serve the feel”.

Stylistically, Hot Variety carries echoes of 2024’s High Horse, but leans further into rock and roll grit. “We like the sound of old music. That old, dark, warm sound and I think we made that happen,” says Hattaway. “There are limitations when you record to tape, but those limits give you focus.”

There’s variety here, but nothing drifts. “Ted Danson”, the first single is three minutes of rock’n’roll stumbling through a disco: swampy Rhodes, busted guitars, pounding congas, and a beat from a vintage organ hauled into the hills of Ōtiake just for its drum machine. “Two Roads” goes somewhere darker, inspired by the haunting true story behind Heavenly Creatures, Hattaway’s acoustic guitar is pushed to the edge and is wrapped in ghostly Hammond and bowed guitar. “The Last to Leave” is a strutting, loose-limbed and Stones-esque dance track, while “Baby It’s Cruel” hits straight into soul, carried by Hattaway’s falsetto. The lush, harmony-soaked “Only Love Remains” nods to Neil Young and the Beach Boys. On “Small Town,” the storytelling cuts deeper, a soul tune with teeth, full of tension and heat.

At the heart of the album is “Wild and Alone”, anchored by a haunting slide guitar and sitting somewhere between vintage Americana and indie rock, the lyrics evoke feelings of frustration and resignation, with a flicker of hope. Capturing that uneasy space between boredom and restlessness. A core theme throughout the album.

Hot Variety is out today on all digital platforms, with a very limited vinyl release (100 copies) via Leather Jacket Records.

The Hot Variety album release tour kicks off October 11th at Ōtautahi’s Space Academy before crossing the Tasman.

AfroSoul Artist Ch! Nonso Returns with “My Own” A Lyrical Dance Between Dualities

AfroSoul artist Ch! Nonso unveils his new single “My Own” supported by NZ On Air, a bass-led, mid-tempo groove that bridges Nigerian Pidgin, Igbo language, and the fluid rhythms of modern Afrobeats. The release offers the first glimpse into his upcoming 2026 album, a body of work set to weave together both energetic, layered tracks and intimate moments.

Download/stream “My Own”:https://precise.fm/myown

Produced by The Rap Scientist himself, Mazbou Q, with contributions from bassist Dave Schaevitz and Weird Together’s Mavs Adegbite (percussion), the track unfolds as a conversation between two halves of the self, the extrovert and introvert, the anima and animus, the yin and yang.

“It’s a wellbeing check-in between these dualities,” says Ch! Nonso. “They understand they complement each other, so they’re rooting for each other. Probably my most symmetrical song lyrics yet.”

Born in Enugu, Nigeria and now based in Auckland, Ch! Nonso’s music is deeply influenced by Igbo rhythms such as Amawbia and Mbaise sounds, as well as Highlife, R&B, Afrobeat, Jazz, and Soul. His lyrical storytelling draws on traditional African philosophies while exploring themes of identity, belonging, and cultural duality.

A former church choir member and university boyband vocalist, he previously performed as Nuel Nonso with Ijebu Pleasure Club and collaborated with artists like Phodiso, Mazbou Q, New Telepathics, and Sola Rosa. His debut EP, Kola Nuts & Chardonnay (2023), described by Stuff NZ as “a masterclass in bridging worlds”, blending West African rhythms with soul and jazz “in a way that feels both celebratory and grounded.”

“The rhythm comes first, I want people to let their bodies respond to it,” Ch! Nonso explains. “Then the melodies, harmonies… and for those who don’t speak Nigerian Pidgin or Igbo, there’s a kind of voyeuristic joy in hearing something so rooted in another world.”

Ch! Nonoso’s Favourite lyric from the track?

‘Welụ ọsọ, welụ ije, take the best route… home.’

‘E ji m ọsọ, e ji m ije, I’m taking the best route… home.’

“These moments feel tender and reciprocal. The inner child healed. Lol,” he says.

Supported by NZ On Air ‘My Own’ is now available on all streaming platforms.

Analog Girl in a Digital World: Crystal Chen Releases Debut Album ‘You can call me CC’

Today, Chinese-New Zealand singer, musician, and visual artist Crystal Chen shares her debut studio album You can call me CC, accompanied by a dreamy 16mm black and white music video for lead single Can’t Help It. Comprised of twelve songs that feel like handwritten journal entries translated into music – set to a backdrop of intricate compositions and ornate instrumentation provided by New Zealand’s finest jazz musicians. The album offers an intimate window into the emotional landscapes and metamorphosis of a woman who is the artist and muse. 

You can call me CC is an invitation to the listener. Ever since she was young, CC would daydream about teleporting herself into her own music video worlds. Covering all roles, she would star in, direct, edit and style the characters all at once in her mind, with the sounds of her favourite songs as the backdrop. This album is an invitation from CC to the listeners to not just call Crystal by her nickname, but to connect with the songs and to soundtrack their lives with them. Crystal says, “In Chinese culture, you don’t call someone by their first name - you can call people gorgeous or handsome, by their nickname, sister, brother, uncle or aunty - and mine is CC.”

Having steadily built success over the past year, Crystal has supported Australian alt-indie trio Telenova at their Auckland show, saw festival placements at The Others Way and Cuba Dupa, a sold-out headline show during NZ Music Month 2024, and most recently a showcase feature at Going Global. In a testament to the synergy between her sound and visual sensibilities, Crystal likes to direct her own music videos and the Love Letter music video won ‘Best Music Video’ at the HALO International Film Festival. It was also nominated for an LA Independent Women Film Award and ‘Best NZ Music Video’ at the 2024 Vision Fest Film Festival.

The work of an old soul with a young heart, or perhaps an analog girl in a digital world, Crystal Chen’s debut album unfolds at its own unhurried pace. The album is influenced by her love of jazz and soul, some of her favourite artists and composers being Minnie Riperton, Charles Stepney and Sade. The band tracks were recorded live in the studio at Roundhead, and have since been overdubbed and produced by CC herself, pianist/arranger Joe Kaptein (Nathan Haines, Six60) and Kenny Sterling of Mānuka Recording. This is the biggest collaborative project she has worked on, with musician credits which include renowned drummer Julien Dyne of Half Hexagon and Circling Sun, harpist Harrison Chau (Princess Chelsea), percussionist Ruby Walsh (Lips, Na Noise), Francesca Parussini from Wāhine in Jazz on flute & saxophone and Annika Rani (writer), to name a few.

Largely shaped from the experiences of playing live and taking her music onto the stage, You can call me CC is driven by the feel and story behind every song. With Stained Glass, there is no structure or repetition and a one track vocal. Then we have This Evening’s Affair, a heavily arranged song with two drummers and over 100 tracks of vocal and keyboard layers. Kiss it Better is a celebration of women, inspired by Latin sounds with a steady bassline holding the lush instrumentation together. The Forecast is a much more intense, psychedelic rock-inspired song reflecting CC’s mood and the unpredictable NZ weather. Although the album has many intimate moments, there are pockets of unhinged, sleepy, sexy and wild moments with themes that put heartbreak and love at equal value, as much as desire and celebration, peace amongst the chaos - all encompassed by the yin and yang of life. Along the way, she experiments with various vocal styles and songs, always striving to situate her diaristic tales within the music she makes.

Can’t Help It is a slow-burning ballad layered with soulful saxophone solos and romantic strings. At its heart, the track is a confession of CC letting go of resistance and letting herself fall - not being afraid to fall off the horse and in love. The accompanying black and white 16mm music video, co-directed by Dylan Martin and shot on location at Ness Valley Ranch in Clevedon, follows CC on a contemplative ride through open hills on horseback. With sweeping, slow-motion cantering sequences, the visuals echo the song’s gentle sway, creating a dreamlike, cinematic journey.

Watch CAN’T HELP IT music video out at 8pm tonight — made with support from NZ On Air.

Tracklist:

1. Bloom

2. I Only Miss You When I’m Bored

3. Kiss It Better

4. Stop.

5. Love Letter

6. Top Down

7. Lasagne

8. Can’t Help It

9. Let’s Kiss, Not Fight

10. The Forecast

11. Stained Glass

12. This Evening’s Affair

_______

‘You can call me CC’ Album Release Show
With special guests to be announced

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
https://crystal-chen.com/store/

Thursday 25 September
Neck of the Woods - Auckland 

REB FOUNTAIN RELEASES NEW SINGLE 'SILVER LININGS'

We all need a little light to guide the way.  Reb Fountain's new single, 'Silver Linings' does just that; it's an instant classic, full of hope to navigate hard times. 

Written for a friend in a time of need, 'Silver Linings' reminds us how to care for ourselves through the ups and downs. In Silver Linings we hear Reb stripped back; the band in the room, singing to and with one other. Showcasing Reb at her most intimate, Reb sings for herself, sings to us all, greeting life's challenges with reverence and love. Songwriting at it's finest, Silver Linings was recorded in one take to analog tape at Roundhead Studios in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.  

Listening Link 

Watch Video

Reb Fountain is a multi-award-winning New Zealand singer-songwriter whose music blends noir folk, indie rock, and dream pop. Known for her haunting vocals, evocative lyrics, and magnetic stage presence, Reb has established herself as one of Aotearoa, New Zealand’s most compelling artists.  

In March 2025 Reb released her most prolific album to date How Love Bends, to critical acclaim, debuting at #1 on the New Zealand Music Charts and marking a new chapter in her artistic evolution. This record features her fastest streaming song ever ‘Come Down’ and reaffirms her ability to craft music that is both visceral and poetic. 

“How Love Bends finally gives Fountain a platform to shine beyond those borders, her songs packing an unsettling emotional punch to rival self-acknowledged hero Nick Cave. Love is a big deal for Fountain, maybe the biggest, and against a backdrop of trip-hop-adjacent noir pop she celebrates its delirium while picking at its scabs of self-doubt. Fountain is Lana Del Rey without the decayed Hollywood glamour, Beth Gibbons contemplating a crime of passion, hurting and smouldering in the most exquisite. “ Andy Fyfe, MOJO

Reb Fountain’s electrifying live performances are key to her artistic identity. Known for her spellbinding performances and ability to weave introspective narratives through her music, those that have experienced Reb full flight live know how compelling she is on stage. 

“She bewitched and she entranced. She captivated and she enthralled. Poetic lyrics jumped out, memorable metaphors and seismic zingers flying from the stage and hitting the audience hard and fast. From the killer emotional heft of Aldous Harding to the grimy grunt of The Kills, Reb Fountain gets the standing ovation she deserved.”  Chris Schulz, Boiler Room 

Reb’s breakthrough moment came with her self-titled 2020 album Reb Fountain cementing her place in New Zealand’s musical landscape. Released via iconic indie label Flying Nun Records, the album won the prestigious Taite Music Prize and earned widespread critical acclaim. Following this success, Reb released IRIS in 2021, with MOJO calling Reb, “New Zealand's next alt-folk sensation.”  Winner of the 2021 Taite Music Prize and the Aotearoa Music Award for Best Country Music Album and APRA Best Song in 2018, songwriter Reb Fountain has headlined extensively in New Zealand and Australia, and has toured with Crowded House, Marlon WIlliams, Finn Andrews (The Veils), Don McGlashan and she joins Paul Kelly’s tour in September 2025.

GG - 'Features'

Features is the latest creation by nz indie artist Gabrielle Gilbert (GG). This quirky springtime crush is a graceful plunge into the world of indie alternative pop.

'Features' features a tune you'll be humming long after the song has ended, uplifting synth and gang vocals.
"I can read their features but I can't read yours"
Dripping in a delirious purple haze.
"The songs about crushing so hard you can't think straight" says Gabrielle. 

'Features' is holding the momentum after her last single 'Your Boss Wears Lip Gloss' earlier in 2025.
Both songs were recorded solo in a home set up paid for from busking on Auckland's Queen Street.
GG is locked in to producing and releasing original music and she is just getting started.
'Features' by Gabrielle Gilbert is OUT NOW and streaming on all platforms.

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4crL0jty56FpPjDK2QCUHJ?si=7_Fg5nSrTnioMoRYhR2YHg

Fresh from her LA sessions, 17 year-old Imani-J releases her debut EP ‘EXPECTATIONS’

“My debut EP, EXPECTATIONS, is about the expectations I put on myself and those that others have for me. Each song has its own meaning and story, but the thing that ties them all together is the expectations placed on relationships, friendships, my identity, school and my career. This EP is so special because every word has meaning and is something I have either felt or experienced. I couldn't be prouder, and I can't wait to share it with the world.”

– Imani-J

At just 17, Imani-J is already carving out a powerful voice in the R&B and Afrobeats scene. An artist in the truest sense of the word - singer, songwriter, dancer and performer - she tells stories of her own unique journey and experiences as a young Kiwi/Haitian woman in NZ.

EXPECTATIONS, the lead track on Imani-J’s debut EP, blends smooth R&B melodies with hypnotic Afrobeats percussion, and sun-drenched guitar riffs. The song explores themes of love, desire, and vulnerability. With a sound both warming and uplifting, perfect for late-night drives or dancing under warm city lights, Imani-J continues to carve a lane that’s all her own.

It’s been a whirlwind year for Imani-J, after being mentored by Tiki Taane through APRA’s mentoring programme and supporting both Ladi6 and Louis Baker, she received a scholarship to attend a song writing camp in Seattle, which was followed by her first international performance at Seattle’s prestigious Madame Lou’s The Crocodile venue.

Now fresh off the back of a writing trio to LA she is soon going to London to collaborate with leading artists and producers in the R&B and Afrobeats scenes as she develops her next project.

ANDERSON ROCIO RELEASES GRAND SCHEME — A REBELLIOUS NEW SINGLE + VIDEO DECLARING CREATIVE SOVEREIGNTY

Los Angeles, CA — September 5, 2025 — Multidisciplinary artist and songwriter Anderson Rocio steps fully into the spotlight with her new single and music video “Grand Scheme”—a powerful, theatrical rebellion against the exploitative systems that fuel the entertainment industry.

Set in a surreal vaudeville-inspired dreamscape, the video mirrors the dynamics Rocio has witnessed behind the curtain in her decade-long career in the business. Executives indulge, artists labor, and the spectacle collapses under its own excess. Yet amidst the chaos, Rocio reclaims the spotlight, embodying a radical act of creative sovereignty. True to Riverine Records’ mission, the cast and crew of Grand Scheme are artists in their own right—mentors, collaborators, and visionaries who brought their creative dominion into the project/ 

“Without art, there is no industry. Without the industry, there will always be art,” says Rocio. “Grand Scheme is about artists recognizing their power and walking away with their creativity intact.”

The release of Grand Scheme also marks the official launch of Riverine Records, an independent label founded by Rocio and dedicated to developing emerging artists across Aotearoa and Los Angeles. Riverine combines hands-on artist development with global industry strategy—bridging the worlds of creative freedom and career sustainability. At its core, the label empowers musicians to build lasting, independent careers with integrity, education, and impact, driving every release. Learn more at www.riverinerecords.com.

In tandem, Rocio continues her work with The Power In Us Project, a nonprofit channeling music collaborations and royalties toward environmental causes—proof that art can sustain both creators and the planet.

Melding camp spectacle with biting social critique, Rocio’s Grand Scheme is more than a song—it’s a manifesto for a new era of artistry, one that refuses to be owned or diminished by outdated industry models.

MORE ON THE PROJECT

Anderson Rocio is a New Zealand and Los Angeles-based artist and activist known for her emotive songwriting and environmental advocacy. Blending indie pop with cinematic depth, her music has been featured in global campaigns, TV, and film. She is the founder of The Power In Us Project, a nonprofit using original music to fund and amplify conservation efforts worldwide, and Riverine Records, an independent record label dedicated to the development and education of Artists between Aotearoa and Los Angeles. Learn more at andersonrocio.com 

The Power In Us Project is a global nonprofit initiative uniting popular music and environmental action. Founded by artist Anderson Rocio, the project connects acclaimed and emerging musicians with urgent conservation efforts, creating original songs and content that fund and amplify climate, wildlife and environmentally focused causes. The Power In Us Project harnesses the emotional power of music to inspire collective change—proving that art can be both a voice and a vehicle for impact. Learn more at thepowerinusproject.com

Riverine Records is an independent label dedicated to developing emerging artists across Aotearoa and Los Angeles. Founded by artist Anderson Rocio, the label combines hands-on artist development with global industry strategy—bridging the worlds of creative freedom and career sustainability. Riverine empowers musicians to build lasting, independent careers with integrity, education, and impact at the core of every release. www.riverinerecords.com