28 Mar 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Music News - New EP for The AJ Crawshaw Band

26 June 2015 - 0 Comments

Kapiti Coast four-man group the AJ Crawshaw Band launched its much-anticipated EP Phoenix Burning on Saturday June 13 at the Waikanae Hotel, in a unique fundraising-inspired initiative that will fuel the upcoming launch of its full-length debut album.

Seeking to raise $1000 for the mastering and printing of its own album, which will be recorded at Crawshaw’s Raumati South home studio, the band hoped to see a sell-out crowd for the public release of its two-year creative project.

The EP’s diverse selection of songs tracks the band’s journey over the years, representing what Crawshaw described as themes of hope amidst a sense of loss.

“The whole idea of Phoenix Burning is about a phoenix rising from the ashes, and the songs sort of track from hopeful to dark, to hopeful again,” explained Crawshaw, a multitalented musician who plays in the band alongside bassist Simon Laracy, guitarist Cam Sutton and drummer Aidan Corlett.

“It’s about letting things go.”

Drawn to music as a child, where he learnt classical piano at nine before venturing into guitar at 13, Crawshaw appreciates music’s ability to unleash creative concepts and personal expression.

“In one case this couldn’t have been truer,” explained Crawshaw, of an incident that saw his music career take a halt last year.

Despite having a gigging portfolio that boasts a collection of Kapiti and Wellington-based bars, events and festivals, Crawshaw had to re-find his feet recently after an unfortunate online catfish scandal left him out of pocket and emotionally discouraged. 

Crawshaw said next month’s EP launch is a testament to his ability to rise from the depths.

“The band was going quite well and picking up a bit of steam, when a bar I played at passed me on to an Australian guy who invited me to tour the country with him,” Crawshaw said.

“I took some time off work and it looked really good, but when he got here I found out he’d been making a lot of stuff up.”

Having liaised with Crawshaw over the internet, the man pretended to be his manager and other sources supporting his music, and went on to lip sync on stage while heavily under the influence of drugs.

“His father was there at the gig to support his son, and the next day we were meant to do a gig in Palmerston North, but we received an email from the guy’s manager saying his father his had died.

“I thought it was awful, so put out the word the tour was cancelled.”

“Then our drummer Aidan was at the rugby and saw the guy together with his dad.

“It was so bizarre, but made for interesting music!”

Having ascended from hard times, through hard work and on-going support from a growing local fan base, Crawshaw hopes music lovers will come and embrace Kapiti Coast sounds and good genuine music.


Next: The Church Tour 2015

Prev: Vince Harder To Release Rare Vision EP On July 10

Comments

There are currently no comments for this article. Please log in to add new comments.

Return to News Archive

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
    Ariana Grande
  • BEAUTIFUL THINGS
    Benson Boone
  • END OF BEGINNING
    Djo
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • TEXAS HOLD 'EM
    Beyonce
  • STICK SEASON
    Noah Kahan
  • PRAISE JAH IN THE MOONLIGHT
    YG Marley
  • CARNIVAL
    Kanye West And Ty Dolla $ign
  • SATURN
    SZA
  • LOVIN ON ME
    Jack Harlow
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem