Newsletter Issue #181: 11 May 2008
NZ Music Month 2008
May is New Zealand Music Month, a celebration of all things New Zealand music. Check out our NZMM08 feature for all of the latest news and our special gig guide with events happening in your town.
Have you got something happening during NZ Music Month? Send the details through to [email protected] and we'll get it up on the website!
El Schlong
In the beginning there was nothing. After the Big Gravy Stroke the myriad of splatterings pulsed with life and congealed into planets, life forms, and El Schlong. Their numerous musical influences combined with their own creative juices leaving the stiff cloth you hear today. El Schlong's music is metal with a twist of random. Like Satan in the bath puzzled by the ginger pube on the soap. Like a bloodied 2 by 4 with tinsel trim. Like Colonel Mustard in the ballroom with the meat tenderiser............ El Schlong have just released their debut album 'The Baddies Are Coming'. It is an 8 song collection of sometimes heavy, sometimes nice, sometimes strange little ditties. You may purchase this through their websites, from Read Groovy Records, or from the sifty one-eyed man in the alley down yonder. If he tries to sell you the "coathanger combo", politely decline..........
El Schlong are relocating indefinately to London in July 2008, so catch them live while you can.
El Schlong is Nick Baldwin (bass, vocals), Leah Hinton (guitar, vocals) and Jordan Tredray (drums, vocals).
-- El Schlong's new album 'The Baddies Are Coming' is out now.
Website Links:
Muzic.net.nz Profile
Official Website
MySpace Profile
Amplifier Profile
Katie Thompson
What is the best gig/event you have ever performed at, and why?
One event that stands out in my mind would have to be in 2007 when I went to the Tamworth Music Festival in Australia. There I entered a competition called the Jazzer Quest. People from all over Australia and New Zealand had entered, so I was stoked when I got into the finals. They read out third then second place and I though “bugger, I would’ve liked a placing“, and just as I was about to go grab a beer they called my name out as first place. I was lucky enough to have my family and band members with me to celebrate the event.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
That’d be a tie between the Woodstock Pub and the Red Lion Tavern (Hokitika). They both hold regular jam nights. This is where I got the courage to get up and perform, learnt some good old country music & met many of my mentors/musicians. These venues and guys have made me who I am!
What can we expect to see from you over the next year?
At the moment I’m getting ready to record my first album at Sunset Records so I’m finalising which of my own songs I want on their and it’ll be all go very shortly. At the moment I’ve got two demo songs on my Myspace site. After recording I hope to go back Tamworth Australia to promote my album and when I get back I will start promoting it here in New Zealand.
What other NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
I’m based on the West Coast of the South Island and unfortunately hardly any of the big New Zealand acts come our way, so really all of them!!! I would love to see Anika Moa back this way, Atlas to do a gig at the old Regent Theatre, OpShop, Goodnight Nurse, Scribe, Elemeno P etc. I’m into every genre, so bring ‘em on!!
If you could, what rumour would you start about yourself?
That I’m already famous in Australia and if New Zealand doesn’t hurry up and claim me as their own the Auzzies will take me!!!
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
If you’ve got a passion for music - stick to it! Practice up on your instrument and/or voice and learn from other musicians. Some of the best advice I’ve been given has been from an old muso at the end of a gig. Music may not make you rich, but would you have it any other way? You can’t buy happiness.
Website Links:
Muzic.net.nz Profile
MySpace Profile
Sora Shima
Sora Shima makes instrumental music using (mostly) guitars and drums. Based in Hamilton, the band has gigged regularly since April 2007 throughout the North Island, highlights being support slots with Jakob, Dimmer, Broken Social Scene and The Mint Chicks as well as playing at the uber awesome Camp A Low Hum 2008.
The band's sound has been likened to that of Mogwai, HDU and Explosions In The Sky, and has been captured to date on two self released different sounding EP's - 'Distancing' with it's beatless experimental soundscapes, and 'Spinetingler', containing three tracks recorded live and left unmixed and unmastered, the truest reflection of the bands mammoth live sound.
Versions of these tracks will form part of the bands debut album 'Destroy Electronica' which is scheduled for release towards the end of 2008 with a NZ tour to follow.
Check the Sora Shima MySpace page for more info and free download of the EP's
Sora Shima is Adam Fulton (guitar), Gavin McDermott (drums, clarinet), Jason Lurman (guitar) and Rob Shirlow (bass).
Website Links:
Muzic.net.nz Profile
Official Website
MySpace Profile
The Bathtub Sophist
The Bathtub Sophist is the home-recorded solo project of Hamiltonian, Arron Stewart. A mixture of organic and synthetic layers, the music covers a range of styles and moods. His approach involves real and/or sequenced beats, guitar & bass work, keyboards, sound effects, midi comps, sampling, voice synthesizers, vox, object-foley, looping, field-recording, fractal/math generators and much more. An inventive, alternative artist with a strong D.I.Y ethos and a socially conscious mind, the Bathtub Sophist currently makes his material available to his fans for free under the philosophy of ‘buskernomics’.
Website Links:
Muzic.net.nz Profile
MySpace Profile
Amplifier Profile
What's Up?
New Artists
The following musicians were added to the muzic.net.nz website recently. Check them out:
Competitions
Congratulations to the winners of our Goodnight Nurse competition:
M. Thomas, Mt Wellington
N. McLay, Christchurch
J. McSaveney, Pokeno
R. Boekhoff, Porirua
J. Nicol, Oamaru
To be in the chance to win more prizes, check out our competitions page today, or click on the links below:
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Crash Test For Favourite Things - 'We All Want To Be Just Like You' EP |
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Album Releases
Keep an eye out for new albums from Moana and The Tribe and The Shrugs.
ChartFest 2008 - Christchurch Music Career Expo
Are you ready to rock but not quite sure where to start?
ChartFest 2008 is the place to be for young Cantabrians considering a career in the music industry.
The brainchild of local organisation, CHART, ChartFest 2008 will be held at the Christchurch Town Hall on Friday, May 23. It kicks off at 1pm with the High School Day Out which will offer students advice about careers in the music industry. It's also an opportunity to learn from the best at the various guitar, drum and vocal clinics on offer.
"Christchurch has been a hotbed of musical talent over recent years and more and more people are embarking on successful careers in the industry,'' says Jeff Fulton, Manager of CHART.
"CHARTFEST 2008 has been designed to open students' minds to the wide range of career possibilities available, and to help turn musical dreams into reality."
The event, coinciding with New Zealand Music Month, will be the largest dedicated Christchurch music event of the year. It will feature live music showcases, music clinics, workshops, stalls and prizes.
Ever wondered how music videos are made? What really happens backstage? Get the answers at HSDO and talk to those working in the industry to find out how they got their big break.
The High School Day Out wraps up with performances from Christchurch's top High School bands. Heats are being held between May 6-15 at various Christchurch High Schools, and the top three bands will get to play at CHARTFEST 2008. Prizes up for grabs include cash, gear, recording time and the coveted opening slot on the main stage.
But don't think it's time to go home. Following on from the High School Day Out is the Christchurch Music Industry Expo. This is a great opportunity for attendees to meet venue managers, talk to music funders, and to discover practical music courses available in Christchurch.
Nope. Still not time to go home. Between 6pm and 10.30pm an incredible mix of Christchurch's freshest and most exciting music talent will take part in the CHARTFEST Live Christchurch Music Showcase.
On three different sound stages a mix of established acts and the hottest up-and-coming local bands will strut their stuff.
CHARTFEST 2008 tickets are just $10 for students when purchased through the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand (MAINZ). Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketek for $17.50 (plus booking fee) from Thurs April 24 2008.
You have until Thurs, April 24 to register for the NZ Music Month Christchurch High School Band so there's still time to get involved.
Or contact [email protected] or [email protected]
About CHART:
The Christchurch Music Industry Trust is music industry representative body for contemporary popular music in Christchurch. With a dedicated manager and a Board made up of passionate local music advocates with extensive industry experience, CHART acts as a support and advice network for the Christchurch music industry.
For more information visit www.christchurchmusic.org.nz
Next Issue
The next issue of this newsletter is going out on 25 May and will feature Lauren Thomson, Gridlock, Doppler and Bulletproof.
We now have spaces available in the newsletters going out in June (8th and 22nd), so if you are a NZ musician or in a band and would like to contribute towards our newsletter by writing a guest editorial or by featuring in it, please email Lisa. We can also feature NZ music websites, venues and record companies.
If you would like to advertise in our newsletter and/or gig mail out email Adam.
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