Newsletter Issue #336: 05 Jun 2011
New Zealand Music Month?
It happens once a year in May. It's been around for more than 10 years. It has a website, a logo and a colour... Yet, it never seems to live up to the hype...
I'm sure that if you live in one of the main centres NZ Music Month rocks.. there are numerous seminars, gigs and opportunities to hear a huge range of NZ music... but for the rest of NZ, Music Month seems to be non-existant.. aside from T-shirts for sale at Hallensteins (the profits of which do not go to NZ music) and, if you're lucky, the occassional poster.
At the end of the month it's always the same... radio stations and the like release amazing statistics that make out that NZ Music Month was the best yet, and NZ music has received even more radio airplay than ever before, yet none of it seems to be real... most of the hype just seems to miss cities like Palmerston North altogether.
Every month is NZ Music Month on muzic.net.nz, and that's because that's what we are all about - NZ music. Even if NZ Music Month didn't exist, muzic.net.nz would still be here.. doing what we do best; promoting NZ music.
From what I've seen through muzic.net.nz, the majority of musicians choose to promote themselves on muzic.net.nz outside of May... we receive the least amount of requests for newsletter and tour features during May... and it leaves me wondering if anyone really still cares about NZ Music Month.
A few years ago one of the most amazing people I know was one of the main organisers for NZ Music Month, and we received a fantastic press pack full of information, as well as t-shirts, posters, bags, badges, frisbees and much, much more to give away on the site. Last year, we received some posters in the last week of May, being too late to put them to any use. This year we've received nothing. Do the organisers of NZ Music Month no longer consider websites good enough for promoting NZ Music Month?
NZ music is worth celebrating, but after all these years, maybe NZ Music Month is the wrong way to go about it. It seems to me that everyone is over it, with most musicians preferring to promote themselves away from the hype of May. Unless the organisers of NZ Music Month are going to take the opportunity to promote NZ music through every medium, in every part of the country, it comes across as being a pointless money-wasting exercise, with the vast majority of NZers not even realising it's taking place.
I've always believed that most NZ music is capable of being ranked with the best international music, and there is definitely something out there for everyone... if NZ Music Month is going to happen every year, it needs to do more to prove those facts.
- Lisa and the muzic.net.nz team.
The Adults
Thanks to Jon Toogood for answering these questions:
What can we expect to see from The Adults over the next year?
An album released on June 20. A
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Play from the heart and give it your all.
What will The Adults next release be?
The Adults album on June 20!
How do you come up with your lyrics?
Depends. Sometimes you have something you want to talk about straight away then other times it is dictated by the mood of the music you’ve made.
Who would you most like to support live?
The Rolling Stones
How do you believe The Adults fits into the NZ music industry?
I honestly have no idea. All I know is that I love the music and all the people involved and think people will get a thrill out of listening to it.
What can you never leave home without?
My phone.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
The Powerstation in
What is the best part of being a musician?
Job satisfaction.
What is in your CD collection at home?
You really want me to list my CD collection? It’d go on too long.
What inspired you to start The Adults?
I wanted to do something different and challenge myself.
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
Supporting AC/DC at Western Springs last year. 60,000 people, my favourite rock band and doing what I love.
Website Links
Muzic.net.nz Page
Official Website
Facebook Page
Jonny Love
Thanks to Jonny Love for answering these questions:
What can we expect to see from you over the next year?
Touring, touring, touring! Just getting out and about playing as much as I can. It'd be great to do a lot of stuff out of
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Get out playing live and in front of people. It's a cliche, but a cliche for a reason, that you never know who's in the room listening. Playing live is so important these days with the way the industry is changing, so the more comfortable you are doing it the better.
How do you come up with your lyrics?
I'm always thinking of songs throughout the day. I have an extensive list on my phone of song titles and ideas!! But basically there tends to be a lot of rubbish that comes out at first which then gets refined down to lyrics I'm happy with. On the new album I've relaxed a tiny bit however and not tried to be too abstract which I've had a tendancy to do before.
Who would you most like to support live?
I'd love to open for acts like Radiohead/Coldplay/Muse/Stereophonics from overseas or bands such as The Feelers/OpShop/The Veils from NZ.
What can you never leave home without?
Picks in my pocket just in case there happens to be a guitar to be played somewhere and my iPhone...
What is your favourite NZ venue?
The St
What is the best part of being a musician?
I always remember a quote on my business studies wall at school that read 'If you choose a job you love you never have to work a day in your life' which is definitely how I feel.
What is in your CD collection at home?
Where do I start? Anything from: Radiohead; Coldplay; Sigur Ros; Stereophonics; Mutemath; The Boxer Rebellion; Arcade Fire; Bloc Party; David Gray; KOL etc etc!
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
I was doing a show in Balclutha when during a song a "more mature woman" shall we call her beckoned for me to bend down from stage as he she wanted to say something to me. She leant close to my ear and whispered, "Don't you know women only get better with age" and preceded to bite my ear! Needless to say I sang from the other side of the stage after that. I guess that's not so much embarrassing as funny though...
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
You can't beat places such as Wanaka either in summer or winter, always love being there.
What inspired you to become a musician?
I've always loved music from an early age. I didn't think I'd ever have the chance to have a career doing it so now that I am I'm loving it and making sure I don't waste it.
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
I've had a couple of really cool gigs, one was opening mainstage at Rhythm and Vines and another was opening for Newton Faulkner who's just a virtuoso.
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
Mainly on my facebook fan page. It's incredible in this day and age how connected we all are, and how accessible people have become.
Website Links
Official Website
Amplifier Page
MySpace Page
Facebook Page
Kidz In Space
Thanks to Ash for answering these questions:
What can we expect to see from Kidz In Space over the next year?
We are aiming for a "Bigger" live show, We want to do more festivals also, so expect us to get out and about this year.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
I think the best advice I could offer would be, Just do your thing, Don't chase trends and also have a solid plan in terms of Goals and how you want to go about achieving them.
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
I would say Kora would be one of my favourites, I appreciate them as people first and foremost, down to earth and real, their talent speaks for itself, so we don't need to mention that, but the fact they worked themselves into the position they are in is something to really admire. I have a lot of respect for this band.
What will Kidz In Space next release be?
Our Next release, is the Album 'Ghost' which we are really excited about, then we are hoping to get to work on a new record, with live band set up.
How do you come up with your lyrics?
A lot of the songs are just the way I feel, I like to speak on things that a lot of people, men especially don't really like saying out loud, we think it but never let the guard down and say it.
Who would you most like to support live?
Me personally, I would like to tour with say, N.E.R.D or anybody really, I just love performing
How do you believe Kidz In Space fit into the NZ music industry?
I think we fit in, by being just the regular dudes we are, we have been on bills with a lot of different personalities from our industry, but have always just been us, and as far as I know, people have been cool with us.
What can you never leave home without?
My cellphone, I swear I'm addicted to it. Arggghh!
How do you describe Kidz In Space music?
This is def the toughest question to answer, Every member of the group would have a different view, But I would say Pop/hiphop with a bit of dance.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
My favourite venues I have played would be, The Coroglen Tavern and also The Bedford in Christchurch. My fav gigs were Homegrown this year and Dunedin O-week lastyear.
What is the best part of being a musician?
Just the freedom in creation and being able to share what you create, weather live or recored.
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
Us. LOL. No, I would say I'd like to see a lot more Hip Hop acts on bigger bills, just because I miss seeing a good rap show, also would like to see more Computers Want Me Dead and The Checks, Just a fan and really enjoy these acts.
What is in your CD collection at home?
Anything from, AC/DC to WuTang, AL Green to Maisey Rika's 'Tohu' CD to Jay-Z and even a little Arctic Monkeys, I like different stuff.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
Realising my zip was down on my Jeans, the thing is I realised on the 2nd to last song, and yes my boxer buttons were undone!!
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
I always love going to New Plymouth to see my family, but lately I have been liking Mangawhai, or Magical Mangawhai as they say.
What inspired you to start Kidz In Space?
I wanted to make something fresh, I was bored with my sound i had been making, so I guess alot of it came out of boredom, also the fact I wanted to test myself over different production.
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
Like I said earlier I would have to say Dunedin, because of the rowdy students, also the fact we messed up during our set a few times, the crowd let us know for sure but was such a great vibe.
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
We are always down for a good yarn.
What rumour would you like to start about Kidz In Space
Hmmm?? That Jay-Z, Pharell, Mick Jager and Bono are on our album, but you have to buy it to find out. LOL. Do it, they are.....!!!
Kidz In Space are Ashley Hughes, Mat Neshat and Josh Fountain.
Website Links
Muzic.net.nz Page
Amplifier Page
MySpace Page
Facebook Page
NZ Music News
Country Music Awards Winners Announced
She has opened for Don McLean of American Pie fame and her creativity has been likened to that of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. Now Auckland’s Donna Dean has taken out the nation’s two highest honours in country music writing and recording.
At the nation’s biggest country music awards night the award-winning singer-songwriter has taken home awards for both the RIANZ Best Country Music Album and the APRA Best Country Music Song of 2011 at the New Zealand Country Music Awards in Gore.
Donna’s fifth album ‘What Am I Gonna Do?’ won out over The Brendon Ham Band’s ‘The Live-Demo's’ and Jackie Bristow’s ‘Freedom’ in the best album category.
In the best country song category, Donna’s album’s title track has been judged ahead of Jackie Bristow’s ‘Freedom’ and Tami Neilson and Lauren Thomson’s ‘No Good for My Soul’.
‘What Am I Gonna Do?’ is Donna Dean’s first album since 2002. She is swiftly gaining international acclaim, her material has been translated into French and she has toured Germany bi-annually since 1998.
Donna has also worked alongside an impressive list of America's song writing legends including Don McLean, Russell Smith & The Amazing Rhythm Aces and Willie Nelson.
The liner notes to Donna’s album tell a story of a woman who has had her fair share of challenges and triumphs - leaving home at 15, children, marriage, divorce and then growing success on the country music scene.
Full Article
Pacific Music Awards Winners Announced
Much-loved hip hop and R&B group Nesian Mystik is the big winner at the 2011 Polynesian Blue Pacific Music Awards announced in Auckland tonight (May 28).
The Auckland-based six-piece band has taken out three of the four categories for which it was nominated – and just for good measure the Nesians have also been voted the Auckland Council People’s Choice Award winner for Best Pacific Artist.
The only other artist to take home more than one award was soul diva Ladi 6 who won the Best Pacific Female Artist award and the Best Pacific Urban Artist category for her album ‘The Liberation of…’.
In addition to their People’s Choice Award win, the Nesians also won Radio 531PI Best Pacific Group and Polynesian Blue Best Pacific Music Album for ‘99AD’ and took out the APRA Best Pacific Song award for ‘Sun Goes Down’. They missed out to Ladi6 in the Best Pacific Urban Artist category.
Muzic.net.nz News
New Artists
The following musicians were added to the muzic.net.nz website during the last fortnight:
| Falconhood | Kaze and Tyza |
Want to add yourself or your band to muzic.net.nz?
Add Artist Form
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Reviews
These reviews were added to the site in the last two weeks, check them out at the links below:
- The Adventures Of Mikejoffa - Eventures EP Release Gig @ Bar Medusa, Wellington on 6 May 2011
- Last Train To Brockville - Shayne P Carter Tracks Back @ Bar Bodega, Welling - 6 May 2011
- Kyuss Lives! @ Hunter Lounge, Wellington - Sunday May 15 2011
- Crackpot Theory - Desperation Album Review
- Mali Mali - Brotherly EP Review
- Capital Punishment - 28 May 2011 @ Bar Medusa, Wellington
You can check out every single interview and review in our Articles Page.
Tour Features
Every feature we have ever had on the site can be viewed here.
Information about muzic.net.nz newsletters
The next muzic.net.nz newsletter is going out on Sunday 19 June
and it will feature Villainy!
Feature space is available in our newsletters from 19 June!
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The next muzic.net.nz gig mail out is going out on 12 June.
- The muzic.net.nz team
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