It has just been revealed the 2024 Recorded Music NZ Music Hall of Fame inductee is Dame Hinewehi Mohi.

Dame Hinewehi Mohi’s remarkable story and ongoing contributions highlight her as a trailblazer in the revitalisation of te reo Māori and Māori music in Aotearoa.

Dame Hinewehi’s journey began with a deeply personal connection to her cultural roots, inspired by her father’s decision to reclaim his birthright and connect with his cultural identity at the age of 30. Immersed in te reo Māori through daily lessons with her father and exposure to Māori waiata, Hinewehi became an advocate for the everyday use of te reo Māori in New Zealand.

Her advocacy took a significant turn when she sang ‘God Defend New Zealand’ in te reo Māori at a Rugby World Cup match in 1999, sparking renewed debate and ultimately normalising the singing of the national anthem in both Māori and English.

Dame Hinewehi’s impact extends beyond her groundbreaking performance. As the Manukura Puoro Māori at APRA AMCOS NZ, she champions the growth of Māori music and the development of a bilingual music industry. She initiated the Waiata Anthems project, which supports artists in recording their hit songs in Māori, resulting in a chart-topping album that spent 27 weeks in the Top40.

In addition to her musical endeavours, Dame Hinewehi is the founder of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, providing music therapy to those with special needs. Led by Dame Hinewehi, the Trust will be celebrating this anniversary by reclaiming the record for world’s largest haka (4028 people) from France, at an event at Eden Park on 29 September 2024.

Dame Hinewehi Mohi will be celebrated at the Aotearoa Music Awards on Thursday 30 May at the Viaduct Events Centre. The event will be livestreamed by Official Media Partner RNZ via rnz.co.nz and across its social media channels.

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Drax Project, the multi-platinum pop powerhouse from New Zealand, today release their second album, ‘Upside.

This new album marks a triumphant return for the band, following their self-titled debut album, which featured chart-topping hits like “Woke Up Late” (ft. Hailee Steinfeld) and “Catching Feelings” (feat. Six60).

‘Upside’ is a testament to the band’s growth and artistic evolution over the last five years. Showcasing their remarkable versatility in songwriting and production, this album seamlessly blends elements of Pop and RnB with their signature sound, characterized by incredible saxophone drops and irresistibly danceable rhythms.

Collaborating with a star-studded lineup of writers and producers, including Rogét Chahayed (known for his work with Drake, Travis Scott, SZA), Imad Royal (Doja Cat, Chainsmokers), Ferras (Katy Perry, Dua Lipa), and Marlon Gerbes (of Six60), ‘Upside’ delivers a 10-track collection that showcases Drax Project at their very best.

In the words of the band, “This record is the amalgamation of years of hard work and love, and we can’t wait to finally share it with the world! We hope you enjoy the music as much as we’ve enjoyed making it.”

Drax Project’s debut album achieved immense success, earning global accolades, including US RIAA Gold and over 20 platinum certifications across Australasia. Their collaboration with New York Neo-soul group Phony Ppl on “Catching Feelings” made waves in the US RnB radio top 40 throughout 2021 and 2022.

Known for their infectious sound and dynamic live performances, Drax Project has earned praise from music industry insiders and fans alike. Billboard has noted, “Drax Project knows how to put on a show, with four-part harmonies, funky pop beats, and a whole lot of charm.” Earmilk describes their music as “catchy, upbeat tracks perfect for summer listening,” while TMRW Magazine applauds their “eclectic mix of pop, R&B, and jazz with seamless harmonies and irresistible hooks.”

The band has continually honed their musical craft and artistic identity, and this dedication is evident in ‘Upside’, an album that promises a musical journey like no other.

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The special box set collection, releasing to celebrate the pioneers of New Zealand music Herbs, is extremely limited.

Delving into the rich potpourri of sounds and ideas the early Herbs collection contains – it will include five studio albums: Whats’ Be Happen’ (1981), Light Of The Pacific (1983), Long Ago (1984), Sensitive To A Smile (1987) and Homegrown (1990).

Each studio album has been pressed onto 180-gram beautifully coloured vinyl, and packaged into a limited edition numbered box set which also includes a special fold out poster and liner notes for fans.

Herbs were among New Zealand’s first reggae bands to explore important Aotearoa New Zealand issues, standing up as a voice for people that weren’t getting heard.

Throughout their career and journey as artists, Herbs were important figures in New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance, the Rainbow Warrior affair, and Māori land rights, most notably Bastion Point.

At the time of the release of their debut EP/mini-album WHAT’S BE HAPPEN? the cover of their recording debut displayed a black and white photo of the infamous police eviction of the Bastion Point protestors on May 25 1978.  It set the tone for where Herbs were coming from and that they weren’t afraid to use their music to make social commentary on issues affecting them.

This year marks 45 years since the occupation at Bastion Point.

“Herbs was the voice that rose- up from The Streets of Auckland, that called out the injustices of South Africa, identified the misery of the dawn raids. This was the band that called out for one brotherhood in Aotearoa – NZ, where the different races that existed in this country could come together to sing and dance in the one place. This is a beautiful collection. And when I sit down and think about the journey of the band indeed, this is the time to celebrate”.  Hugh Lynn – Herbs Manager

The band welcomed many musicians throughout their active years, resulting in a rich line-up totalling some 27 members across their catalogue. Current members Dilworth Karaka, Maurice Watene and Tama Lundon, have been instrumental in getting this significant project off the ground.

Herbs were inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame at the 2012 APRA Silver Scroll Awards, where seventeen of the band members past and present came together onstage, and Dilworth made a short and moving speech honouring his band members including those who had passed away.

2023 is also a special year for the album collection release, as it marks the 40th anniversary of the release of the album LIGHT OF THE PACIFIC (1983). The 1983 mini album featured the hugely popular single ‘French Letter’, a song that stayed in the singles chart for 11 weeks in 1982, with almost no radio airplay.

“This is exciting to be acknowledged and release this album after about 50 years of work.  The introduction of pacific reggae brought a new flavour to the mix back then, but things weren’t so easy for a group of brown boys from the Pacific, central Auckland, Aotearoa to be “heard”, even in our own country.  We wanted to get our message out there through the only way we knew how, for everyone to listen to and enjoy.  Things have changed somewhat in regard to the protection of our whenua, moana and people, and we are humbled that our music continues to be enjoyed to this day. Some of the brothers aren’t here to share in this celebration, but we thank you for laying the foundations, and we thank you all for your support and love over the years. Chur…” – Dilworth Karaka, HERBS

Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua

(I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past)

The Herbs repertoire includes albums that are nothing short of iconic.

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New Zealand art-pop duo Clementine Valentine, formerly known as Purple Pilgrims, have announced their upcoming album, The Coin that Broke the Fountain Floor, out August 25th via Flying Nun Records, and have also shared new single ‘Time and Tide’.

The Coin that Broke the Fountain Floor is a pivotal album in the creative evolution of sisters Clementine and Valentine Nixon. It finds them leaning further than ever before into collaboration, folklore, poetry, and power. Their intertwined vocals reach for loftier, more operatic heights of pop and myth, heartbreak and desire, suffused with the spirit of storytelling heroines long lost to time. The album title alludes to the tipping point extremes of recent years, coloured by dreams crushing, wishes gathering, and an abundance of hope.

PHOTO CREDIT: Katherine Brook

The Coin that Broke the Fountain Floor sees the duo working alongside NY city producer Randall Dunn (Oneohtrix Point Never, Danny Elfman, Jim Jarmusch) and legendary drummer Matt Chamberlain (David Bowie, Lana Del Rey, Fiona Apple). Final audio finessing came courtesy of Brooklyn mastering engineer Heba Kadry (Bjork, Beach House, Slowdive). The results are regal and richly layered, softly orchestral yet lithe and shimmering.

Building upon the momentum of ‘Endless Night’, today’s new single, ‘Time and Tide’ captures moments of liberation, free from overthinking and regret, with its ethereal and anthemic quality propelled by the cascading string arrangements of Randall Dunn and the Matt Chamberlain’s fervent drumming.

Speaking about the track, Clementine Valentine say: “Without giving too much away, this song is a kind of mantra of radical acceptance. Our songs usually overflow with words and imagery, this one we consciously left open – you’re invited to fill the space in between.”

The ‘Time and Tide’ music video, directed by Auckland-based photographer and filmmaker Greta van der Star (Kate Sylvester, Ingrid Starnes, Penny Sage), draws inspiration from American artist and photographer Francesca Woodman. It explores the feelings of isolation and confinement that came about during the song’s creation during the COVID lockdown.

Sisters Clementine and Valentine Nixon draw inspiration from their nomadic family heritage, creating music that evokes contrasting moods: ancient and modern, paradise and isolation, beauty and brokenness, ritual and the present moment.

Having grown up between New Zealand and Hong Kong, the sisters gained experience by performing in unconventional spaces and rogue music venues throughout Hong Kong’s abandoned industrial estates, captivating audiences with their blend of experimental noise and futuristic dream-pop as Purple Pilgrims.

The duo have since toured the world extensively alongside the likes of Ariel Pink, Aldous Harding, John Maus, and Weyes Blood. It’s a lifestyle embedded in their lineage; travelling musicians and performers go back hundreds of years on their maternal side (as documented on recordings such as The Travelling Stewarts, from 1968). As children, the sisters were taught to sing traditional balladry by their grandmother, daughter of revered Traveler musician Davie Stewart (later recorded by Alan Lomax).

While their earlier works were self-produced and released through underground labels, the sisters have honed their skills to create a more fully realised and sophisticated new sound.

To celebrate the album release, the duo will perform four intimate shows around New Zealand this September (2023).

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Today, New Zealand singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Amelia Murray, the artist behind Fazerdaze, announces her first project in over five years.

The EP takes stock at an emotional bottom and crafts an empowering portrait of surrender and personal reclamation.

Fazerdaze’s debut LP, 2017’s Morningside, launched Amelia onto the global stage with rave reviews from publications like Pitchfork and Mojo and tours to the other side of the world from her previous home base of Tāmaki Makaurau.

But the wheels were coming off behind the scenes. A combination of unhealthy personal relationships, feelings of unworthiness regarding her burgeoning success and general mental exhaustion soon began to manifest in her musical output; for years, Amelia found she couldn’t finish a single song.

That is until she relinquished resilience as a badge of honour and let herself crack open.

Break! was completed during a three-month-long lockdown in NZ while Amelia was living in solitude for the first time and directly in the aftermath of a nine-year-long relationship. Amelia says of Break!, “I wish I had broken earlier because it was one of the truest things I ever did for myself. This EP is about finally allowing myself to give up. It’s about severing from the people in my life that weren’t good for me and ditching the false parts of myself that were conditioned and not authentic. It’s everything I wasn’t allowing myself to feel over the past few years; angry, disappointed, cynical, exhausted and over it.”

The forthcoming EP Break! is out on vinyl 14th October 2022 via Flying Nun Records in New Zealand and Australia.

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SIX60 have returned with their first new music of 2022 – brand new single ‘Before You Leave’.

With a back-to-basics sound and approach, the new single sees the New Zealand 5-piece in a renewed and refreshed place – with lead singer Matiu Walter’s vocals addressing the new state the world finds itself in, as well as his fresh perspective as a new father. He says: “A lot has changed since our last album. There have been highs and lows: our hugely successful tour was a special moment for us last year, but the pandemic obviously brought the world to its knees. My biggest change though, was becoming a father – you always hear when you have kids that your life will change forever and you really can’t understand it until it happens. One day you think you have the world figured out and then the next you realise how little you actually know. I felt the overwhelming urge to pass wisdom on and what knowledge and experience I have acquired onto my newborn daughter. She’s still a bit young to have a conversation, so with the help of the boys we tried to put it all into this new single.”

The new single, out now via Universal Music NZ / Virgin Music, was written and recorded by the band in their studio in Dunedin, New Zealand. At last able to spend time in the same room together after a long and strict national lockdown, the 5 musicians relished the opportunity to be reunited again and opted to make their new album live, in-person, in the studio together – performing all instruments and vocals themselves – hailing back to their formative years as a college house party band.

Due out October 7th, 2022, the album will feature 10 brand new tracks including new single ‘Before You Leave’. Of the new album, Matiu says: “We are very excited to share the new music, give over the single and get everyone ready for a new album. Our music never really feels finished until it’s been experienced by our fans. Some of the early feedback we have gotten is about how live the new music sounds. That’s really a product of how we made it. The lockdown that cancelled the last tour really forced us to spend significant time away from each other for the first time in a long time, so when we finally got back together it almost felt like being a new band again and we wanted to showcase each individual and what it means to be a band. This isn’t the kind of music you can make by yourself in your bedroom. It won’t just be our instruments you hear on the upcoming music, but all our vocal harmonies and BVs were done by the band as a whole. It really lets you feel the breadth and spirit of SIX60. An album that is real takes a lot of love and trust by the people involved and adding our fans into that circle is a really exciting next chapter.”

Though the most commercially successful and award-winning band in New Zealand’s history, SIX60 gained worldwide recognition last year when they performed a sold-out tour across their home country, while the rest of the world isolated. This captured the world’s attention, as images and footage of their joyous, celebratory performances in New Zealand highlighted just how much the world missed live music performance.

SIX60 were covered by the world’s media at the time, as the band were featured on TV, radio and press across the globe. The show was the most-shared entertainment story in the world that week – despite taking place the same weekend as The Oscars.

Formed in 2008 and named after the student house they met in, SIX60 are a multi award-winning, platinum-selling five-piece pop / rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand.

They have released four number one albums, and a string of top ten singles including mega-hit ‘Don’t Forget Your Roots’ and live fan favourite ‘Sundown’. Their sound melds roots, reggae, rock, pop, soul and dance – a mix of the band’s 5 members’ disparate influences.

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Kiwi rock band Shihad are today celebrating the 20th anniversary of their iconic record PACIFIER.

To mark the occasion and to fan’s delight, Shihad have announced the pre-order of the first ever vinyl release of the record, set for February 17th, 2023.

At the time of its release in 2002 – and prior to their name change – the band were known as Pacifier and their self-titled album was quick to gain huge success and hit #1.
At the time singles ‘Comfort Me’, ‘Run’ and ‘Bullitproof’ from the album went on to be hit singles nationwide, with ‘Bullitproof’ peaking at #27 on the global Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and #37 on the global Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

“Finally! To celebrate its 20th anniversary, we’re releasing our Pacifier album on vinyl!! This super deluxe version is a thing of beauty and has been remastered to sound awesome! (Especially at high volume!) This very limited edition is gonna go quick so make sure you grab yours before they’re all gone!” Lead Singer, Jon Toogood says.

 The news of the special edition vinyl comes off the back of the recent announcement of the Shihad tour. With New Zealand’s return to the live music scene, Shihad will soon be touring their recent #1 2021 album OLD GODS; a long overdue opportunity for the band to reconnect with their fans. Ready to rock n roll – the band has a lot to celebrate.

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In celebration of New Zealand Music Month this May, independent emo revival band The Not Okays are this week releasing a reimagining of the classic Kiwi track ‘Sophie’ by Goodshirt.

“Sophie has and probably always will be one of my favourite Kiwi songs, so it felt like the obvious choice for us to celebrate this May” says vocalist Lauren Kate Borhani. “Even down to the iconic award-winning music video we all know and love, Sophie has a place in a lot of Kiwis’ hearts and provides such a strong hit of nostalgia, so it was important to us to give the original as much respect as possible while adding our own flair.”

While The Not Okays’ version of ‘Sophie’ starts similarly to the original, guitarist and vocalist Aaron Prictor produced the cover to build organically into a pop-rock anthem.

“Had we not been fighting covid at various times in the band, we’d absolutely intended to recreate the music video too,” laughs Lauren. “We just hope the Goodshirt lads don’t mind a bit of eyeliner and a lot of straightened hair.”

‘Sophie’ will be available to stream on all platforms on Friday 6th May 2022.

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New Zealand producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Devin Abrams charts ‘new waters’ with his latest solo offering as Pacific Heights.

Abrams continues to transcend the notion of expectation; with his fourth studio album THE WATERS BETWEEN, out July 15 2022, set to be his most warm and inviting yet.

The release marks the first album in four years from Pacific Heights and is a powerful follow up to the critically acclaimed album A LOST LIGHT in 2018 and the top ten charting, award-winning THE STILLNESS in 2016.

“It’s the first record that is not bound to a concept. It’s just reflective of how I was feeling and what I was inspired by at the time,” Abrams said of the new album.

Both sonically and as a songwriter, Abrams believes this is his most accomplished solo record to date, “I’m hoping that this album is a beautiful alchemy of all the worlds that I have inhabited so far; electronic music, ambient music, and progressive pop music.”

Recorded in Aotearoa, America and Australia, THE WATERS BETWEEN moves beyond continents, oceans and musical boundaries, to propel a supremely talented group of artists from around the globe into the world of Pacific Heights.

The album is graced by guest appearances from upcoming Australian artist Bri Clark, local legends Stan Walker, Louis Baker and Gramsci, the breakthrough talents of Foley and Lepani, and upcoming artists Solomon Crook, LANCE, and Jack Page.

“It’s a truly awesome collection of artists to work with,” Abrams said. “It’s been a beautiful, colourful kaleidoscope of styles and voices to paint from.”

Today’s announcement aligns with the release of a brand-new single, ‘Back to You’ (feat. Louis Baker), the third track taken from the forthcoming album. The uplifting track merges the soulfulness of Baker’s voice with the emotive tenderness of Abrams’ production into an uplifting power ballad for these times.

Pacific Heights has been a longstanding avenue for Abrams’ solo musical explorations. Deeply personal but never too precious on its parameters, it began as an avenue for his own work outside of his time with Shapeshifter, of which he was a founding member and principal songwriter, producer and performer for 15 years.

Abrams’ abilities as a producer since then have made him one of the most sought-after musical accomplices in Aotearoa and abroad. Most recently he produced Louis Baker’s Love Levitates EP, the new album from Stan Walker and an upcoming EP from Fat Freddy’s Drop’s Dallas Tamaira. This follows on from his work with Drax Project –co-writing and producing their hits ‘Woke Up Late’ and ‘Catching Feelings’, as well as several other tracks from the group’s best-selling debut album and previous EP.

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Following the release of her EP Lychee on Friday, BENEE reveals the video for her new single ‘Never Ending’.

Directed by Devan Narsai and Riley Coughlin, the glitchy video shows a different side of the New Zealand alternative pop star, further showcasing BENEE’s evolution as an artist and her knack for pushing genre boundaries.

Of the video, BENEE says: “From the start, I knew I wanted the Never Ending video to be driven by lots of fast cuts and lots of post-production to make it a really cool visual trip! The video was made with two friends of mine Devan & Riley – Devan has a really good eye for shots & Riley is super skilled at creative direction. I also knew Riley would kill the whole post prod side of the project! This has been my favourite video to date as I just love how well it suits the song. It was a last minute decision to put my dog Tūī in it, but I knew she’d make my performance walking down the street feel more natural (.: ”

“Never Ending,” co-written with and produced by Rostam, has already received early praise around the globe, with Teen Vogue proclaiming, “The smooth, mellow song is questioning and raw,” and DIY Magazine declaring, “The pick of the bunch is ‘Never Ending’, where ‘90s alt-rock guitars are subtly updated via a ‘20s alt-pop filter, paired with hip hop rhythms and the singer’s typically heart-on-sleeve lyrics for a low-key anthemic track.”

BENEE set the stage for the EP with the singles “Doesn’t Matter” and “Beach Boy.”

To bring the EP to life, she collaborated with producers on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. In California, BENEE worked with Greg Kurstin, Kenny Beats, and Rostam. Back home in New Zealand, she completed three tracks with her regular collaborator Josh Fountain.

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