Cking - Single/Video Review: No Snakes Feat. Dilz
21 Oct 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Cking is the Brisbane-based, New Zealand-bred rapper who’s eclectic catalogue of hits has seen him share the stage with everyone from T-Pain to Kerser, and now, he’s linked up with fellow NZ emcee Dilz for a hard-hitting banger, No Snakes. Cking and Dilz each come lyrically strapped with passionate and emotive verses, matching the energy of the rapid-fire, earth-rattling production alongside them.
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Ms.Take - Single Review: Maybe That's Just What I Am
11 Oct 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
The dystopian Trap Jam Maybe That's Just What I Am is the second official single from Ms.Take, a follow up to 2018's Silver & Gold, and a 2020 lockdown collaboration with Melbourne-based artist F.
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Louis Ross - Single Review: Here To Help
27 Sep 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Local Tauranga DJ and Producer Louis Ross has created a new song Here to Help to bring awareness to mental health issues ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week. After losing his father and Grandma within a few months of each other and navigating his way through loss and grief, Louis is combining his own mental health struggles with his love of music to help others.
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Sam V - Single/Video Review: Wired
10 Sep 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Sam V's newest track Wired is another demonstration of how Sam keeps refining his sound. His vision has been getting more focused over time, based on his previous tracks like Cotton Candy which is actually a Y$O track, and Up Up Down.
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2Fly Ty - Single Review: That Track Feat. Dilz
03 Sep 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
2FLY TY's newest track entitled That Track is out now and features bars from Dilz. Both Ty and Dilz perform well here with TY’s flow being delivered on a rather flat way; not hyped and not like he’s not trying.
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Dilz - Single Review: Resurrection Feat. He Ra
22 Jul 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Dilz is real. He is authentic.
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And$um - Single Review: Ride The Wave Feat. Valle
26 Jun 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
I’m a big fan of Hip-Hop - I teach it at school to my students. Hip-Hop is about being real and it has an honest vibe to it.
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Y$O - Single Review: M.I.A
23 May 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Combining the forces of artists Sam V, Aidan Fine, JARNA, Brokeboi Ace and producers EDY, CreationKit & M4, Young & $lept On (Y$O) is New Zealand's newest supergroup. This stable of talent is set to disrupt airwaves and social media with their eclectic sense of style, talent and vision - demonstrated by the group's first release M.
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D.Matthews - Single Review: Melanin Skin
29 Apr 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Melanin Skin is a new single from Auckland-based Nigerian singer-songwriter, D.Matthews (aka David Matthews) who has curated his own brand of energetic calm Afrobeat/Afropop.
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Hawkins - Album Review: Hawkins
21 Apr 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Yep. I knew that voice immediately.
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Aidan Fine - Single Review: CLV
21 Mar 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Quick fire rapid lyrics. That’s what I like here.
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Keeley Shade - Single Review: On My Mind
11 Mar 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
On My Mind is a perfect example of how simple ideas can become fleshed out to provide the listener an experience worth repeating.Keeley Shade, a Canadian-born New Zealand-based singer-songwriter is releasing her debut single On My Mind.
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JAN - Single Review: Wud?
06 Mar 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Wud? is a new track from JAN featuring Anna Bennetto and Sam Higham.
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Raw Collective - Album Review: The Good Things
18 Feb 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
The Good Things is the latest LP from the 10-piece live hip-hop band Raw Collective from Wellington. The album is quite something that showcases the versatility of the group's ability to swing from different styles of hip-hop, funk and soul.
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Craig Payne - Album Review: I'm Not Giving The Game Away
10 Feb 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Ah. That's refreshing.
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Dilz - Single Review: Don't Trip
30 Jan 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Don't Trip is the latest track from Dilz, and slick production with a catchy chorus kicks this song off.  In what I would classify as pop-rap (this isn't a negative), it captivates the audience with a catchy hook.
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Mema Wilda - Single Review: How I Long
21 Jan 2021 // review by Ben Ruegg
Mema Wilda's newest track How I Long starts off with a simple acoustic guitar and vocal, but it's quick to showcase a track full of plenty of goodness. It's the type of song I would want to hear on modern pop radio; it's catchy and you can easily sing-a-long to it.
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Th' Dudes - Gig Review: Th' Dudes @ Town Hall, Auckland - 19/11/2020
21 Nov 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Arriving at the Auckland Town Hall and subsequently finding parking was a lot easier than I had anticipated. The town seems very quiet at around 7:30 pm, although there is a large gathering of people around the Town Hall, an indication that something big is happening.
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The Jordan Luck Band - Gig Review: The Jordan Luck Band @ Pukekohe Cosmopolitan Club, Pukekohe - 6/11/2020
08 Nov 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
It’s a Friday night in Pukekohe and as I walk into the Pukekohe Cosmopolitan Club just before 8 pm you can feel the anticipation in the air. Looking like a high school ball, there is a large dance floor in front of the stage while the rest of the venue is lined vertically with tables.
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And$um - EP Review: Late Nights
29 Oct 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
And$um has returned with a new EP. Made up of six tracks, this is yet another collection of songs that demonstrate the sound Sam brings to this project.
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theajsound - Single Review: Sorrow
12 Oct 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Auckland based Indian born singer and songwriter theajsound (AKA AJ) has released a string of singles this year which have amassed hundreds of thousands stream on Spotify, and his latest, Sorrow is a catchy new tune that instantly catches your ear.The guitar sound is clean and an instant classic.
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An Electric Heart - Album Review: Otiose Me
06 Oct 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
As you press play, the prologue hits you hard and it is obvious that Luke Pell, known as An Electric Heart, has a great understanding on sonics and dynamics on his new album Otiose Me.Luke Pell describes the An Electric Heart sound as 'alternative pop'.
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Lester - Single Review: Sometimes Feat. Aunty Rae
29 Sep 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
On Lester's latest track Sometimes, featuring Aunty Rae, the New Zealand Hip-Hop artist turns his focus inward and discusses the things that we miss when we are away from home; which in his case is a list of memories that make home what it is. And yet, the real meaning of home is blurred and put to question.
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Troy Kingi - Album Review: The Ghost of Freddie Cesar
10 Sep 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Genius. Honestly.
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The Settlers - Single Review: Love
06 Sep 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Driven by a catchy guitar loop and backed up with a beat that ebbs and flows, the new track Love from The Settlers really puts its focus on its lyrics and delivery.Keeping the vocal effects to the minimum here allows the verses to sound authentic and real.
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Investigator - Single Review: Bad Luck Shoebox
17 Aug 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Classic rock vibes crossed with modern rock sound drives this new track from Investigator. Driven by Adrian Drew, Investigator has a sound that is clear and defined and Bad Luck Shoebox adds another track to an ever-growing catalogue that showcases his ideas and sounds that make up Investigator.
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TheOpHilus - Single Review: My Little Rugrat
02 Aug 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Authentic and real; that’s the best way to describe the new track My Little Rugrat from TheOpHilus. True Hip-Hop has always been, in my mind, sampling and talking about how things are where you are right now.
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Steffany Beck - Single Review: I Have A Dream
13 Jul 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
The new track I Have a Dream from Steffany Beck is a wonderfully uplifting song that feels authentic and honest. The mix and overall sound of the track allow for the recording to feel natural and heart-warming.
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The Beths - Gig Review: The Beths @ The Powerstation, Auckland - 11/07/2020
12 Jul 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
The Beths truly showcased why they are so beloved by so many people. The way Elizabeth Stokes and her band, made up of Jonathan Pearce, Benjamin Sinclair and Tristan Deck, commanded the stage so effortlessly was refreshing.
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Ekko Park - Single Review: All On Eyes On Me
24 Jun 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Wow! Hit repeat.
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She Loves You - Single Review: Devout
28 May 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Devout is the latest single from She Loves You, a 4-piece Auckland-based fast-talking all-action girl group.The track starts off quietly but quickly builds in a dance-rock song in the chorus.
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Outside In - Album Review: Karmatrain
17 May 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
The debut release from Outside In is incredible, and it's currently up there as of the greatest debuts from a New Zealand band. Ok, let me explain.
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Demons of Noon - EP Review: The Summoning
30 Apr 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Doom rock, metal or whatever you want to call it has been a fascination of mine since hearing it on a Guitar Hero game a while ago as a young lad. There was something about that wall of sound guitar and bass sludge sound that was almost hypnotic.
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General Vibe - EP Review: California Rocket Fuel
22 Apr 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
From the low-fi sound that kicks off with the opening track Secondhand, the jazzy elements are right there interwoven amongst beat and pulsing beat. And then, so subtly the vocals transition out of the low-fi realm into crystal clear, as does the rest of the band.
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DRXNES - Video Review: Zero
02 Apr 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Wow. This video is an incredible insight into the life of DRXNES.
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Column of Sand - EP Review: Head Damage
18 Mar 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Wide-open space greets the ear from the opening track Head Damage. In the modern world of music, sometimes I forget just how much has changed so it is so nice to hear reverb-soaked guitar lead lines over the top of a driving rhythm section.
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The Wake Up - Single Review: Dark Horse
06 Mar 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
This new single from The Wake Up is a solid pop rock/pop punk track with a fantastic chorus. From the moment Dark Horse starts, you can tell you are about to have a rocking good time and I certainly wasn't disappointed.
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The Settlers - Single Review: Swimming
25 Feb 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
New Zealand hip-hop is a thriving collection of artists who bring who we are and present it in musical form. The latest track Swimming from The Settlers is a fine example of what NZ can do.
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Domes - Single Review: Time and Relative Dimension in Space
22 Feb 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Domes newest release, Time And Relative Dimension in Space, is an incredibly deep track that offers so much to the listener. It interweaves soaring melodies and harmonies into what you would be forgiven in thinking was a thrash metal song from the explosive introduction.
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Sam V - Single Review: Shawty
10 Feb 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
The production is very slick on Shawty, the new track from Sam V. The vibe and the melodic idea captures you right from the get-go; and there's a real middle eastern vibe to it.
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Tony Lee - Single Review: Man On Mars
24 Jan 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Man On Mars is the latest single from Tony Lee.A mix between a sort of country vibe and rock, this song is well written, recorded and arranged.
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Saurian - Single Review: Tyre Tracks In The Sky
01 Jan 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
“You left this world with tyre tracks in the sky.” The new single from Saurian opens with this line and it sets the tone for the song, a story about living life with no regrets.
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Marina Bloom and Moving Stuff - Album Review: Back Where We Started
01 Jan 2020 // review by Ben Ruegg
Marina Bloom’s newest album, Back Where We Started is a rock solid modern contemporary record.Starting with the title track, the upbeat pop rock creates an upbeat feel with a catch melody, driving electric guitars and a very catchy chorus.
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The Feelers - Gig Review: The Feelers @ Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club, Auckland - 19/12/2019
19 Dec 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
The Feelers performed tonight to a small but passionate crowd of fans at the Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club. And I was one of them.
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Grace Duncan - Single Review: Come, We Must Go
03 Dec 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
Grace Duncan's new track Come, We Must Go takes sounds from our lands and combines them into a cinematic experience that breathes with dynamics, taking us on a journey that begs to heard again. Te Reo is interwoven into the track, and transitions between languages is smooth and seamless.
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The Lite Works - EP Review: 11:11
29 Nov 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
The Lite Works newest EP, 11:11, is a prime example of quality rock music that I personally grew up on. It’s like they have taken some of my favourite rock acts from the 90's and early 2000's and captured it in a bottle.
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Dr.Reknaw - Single Review: Kereru
15 Nov 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
New Zealand dub music is something I feel is rather a special thing to New Zealand. That Reggae sound, shaped into our music, is synonymous for a sunny day on the deck with your mates having a BBQ, or hanging out at the beach.
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Empire To Ashes - Album Review: Sequence Two: Our Secret, Silent Storms
11 Nov 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
I remember it vividly. I woke up on the ground, face down, looking directly under my dresser.
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Miss Used - Gig Review: Miss Used @ Ophir Street, Auckland - 26/10/2019
26 Oct 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
Miss Used is a group that you should take notice of. Powerful, driving rhythms are just one part of their blues rock influenced sound.
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The Response - Single Review: Picture Undefined
17 Oct 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
The Response’s new song Picture Undefined is a blend of pop, alt rock and electronic music that works brilliantly. The guitar tone, the way it’s played and how the effects are layered help build an atmosphere which is wonderfully captured in the video shot by Johnny Knopp.
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Arrays - Single Review: The Enemy
03 Oct 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
The Enemy is the new track from Arrays, the studio project headed up by JP Carroll. One of the most important elements of rock is to have a riff that stands out and cuts clear through the mix so you get a feel for the song.
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Paige - Single Review: Bloom
03 Oct 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
Paige’s new song Bloom is like a throwback to some of the best RnB songs from the 2000's while still maintaining a modern feel to it thanks to its slick production. Tight vocals are front and centre here, but do not let that get in way to hear the exceptional instrumental track in the back.
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The Echo Ohs - EP Review: Wild Weeds
11 Sep 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
Man, I love music. I love how it can take me back to different memories, times in my life and past experiences.
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The RVMES - Single Review: Callin' My Name
31 Aug 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
Context. It is everything.
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Geoff Ong - Single Review: All The Hours
23 Aug 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
Geoff Ong's new single and video is a flashback to so much great 80's sounds, but yet it still sounds fresh like it's from Geoff. His unique approach to pop music is commendable.
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Hybrid Rose - EP Review: Awkwardly Eccentric
13 Aug 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
Hybrid Rose’s EP, Awkwardly Eccentric, is an enjoyable ride through different emotions. On the opening track Pearl, featuring Jahleel, the passionate lyrics and delivery take this song through different waves of emotion.
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BENEE - EP Review: Fire On Marzz
17 Jul 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
Fire On Marzz. This EP is actually on fire.
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Kings - Single Review: Flex
09 Jul 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
Flex is the new single from one of New Zealand's foremost hip-hop star, Kings. The Don't Worry 'Bout It hitmaker continues to prove that he is not just a one-hit wonder and his momentum does not seem to be stopping.
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Ahjay Stelino - EP Review: Makes Me Smile
25 Jun 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
Ahjay Stelino has written some fantastic songs that require to chill, find a comfy couch and listen to the way the music tells a story in each song. The is a lot of space, dynamically and instrumentally to allow for each song to breath.
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Missy - EP Review: Strange
13 Jun 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
At 25, Missy is someone that you must keep on your radar. From the moment the EP starts, it is evident that Missy means business.
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SHAYNA - Single Review: I Know
03 Jun 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
There is something about modern pop music that seems to resonate with so many people. I'm not entirely sure if it is to do with the general similarity between each pop hit that fills the airwaves that gives the listener that sense of 'having heard it before', or if it the lyrical content that, in most cases, is about getting drunk, regretting it and then singing about it.
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Will Saunders - EP Review: Oh It's A Sound
09 May 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
Will Saunders EP Oh, It's A Sound is an experience from start to finish.Beginning with the title track, machine-like drums reverberate and create a landscape in which guitars start to play all over.
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*JOY* - Album Review: Moonboy
18 Apr 2019 // review by Ben Ruegg
The opening track A Hard Blow Kiss sounds lo-fi and telephony at first. But it quickly opens up to become a sonic landscape of all sorts of frequency.
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