BIG SUR — PHOTO PROVIDED BY BIG SUR / LOGO BY ZOE HANNAY / (MOST) WORDS BY CARLA CAMILLERI
BIG SUR — DEBUT SINGLE 'THE JURY’
Tāmaki Makaurau folk outfit Big Sur have emerged with their debut single 'The Jury', after teasing it across their social media and performing across the city.
The song is a beautiful introduction to their windswept, warm-toned world — lead singer Niamh Pritchard's vocals lay confidently across its dusky sonic landscape, which sparks with the most gorgeous, surprising textures — my personal favourite being the banjo that peeks through the refrain. We love the track, and are excited to hear more.
You can listen to Big Sur and support their debut single via Bandcamp HERE.
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EBONY LAMB — 'SALT SAND SEA' + A NEW ALBUM ON THE WAY AND A TOUR ANNOUNCED
Pōneke-based songwriter and Top 20 Silver Scroll Finalist Ebony Lamb has announced their debut solo self titled album — out October 20 via Slow Time Records — as well as a celebratory seven-stop release tour alongside it. Released this week is 'SALT SAND SEA', her new single which sews a thread through previously released 'MY DAUGHTER MY SISTER MY SON' and 'TAKE MY HANDS AT NIGHT', which appear on the forthcoming project's tracklist. Recorded and produced alongside the very safe hands of legends Bic Runga and Kody Neilson, as well as long-time collaborater Gram Antler, the album journals "impressionistic memories, observations and intimate confessions", emotions that came into prominence during her rise as an in-demand photographer in Aotearoa's music and landscape scenes, released five years after the parting ways of her previous group, alt-country band Eb & Sparrow.
You can pre-order Ebony Lamb's debut self-titled album on LP or CD via their Bandcamp HERE. For more information on her upcoming tour and where to get tickets, click HERE.
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SEREBII — 'REALLY YOU'
If you haven't heard Serebii's music yet, get ready to fall in love. The Tāmaki Makaurau-based producer has always been busy behind the scenes, working for the likes of Leisure, KÉDU CARLÖ and more, so his forthcoming debut album Inside is a gift we cannot wait to unwrap. Serebii taps into elements of neo-jazz and R&B, but sprinkles of homespun, organic sounds make the sound he conjures up truly his own. If the singles released so far are anything to go by, the album will be a sure treat to the ears. He is currently releasing special Spotify live-sessions alongside each single — be sure to check out the one above, plus a few others which you can find via Youtube HERE.
You can pre-order Serebii's upcoming debut album Inside— out September 15 via Innovative Leisure (home of the likes of Badbadnotgood, Nosaj Thing and Allah-Las) — via Bandcamp HERE.
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RAIDEN FREEMAN — ‘STOP MESSING ME AROUND’
Raiden Freeman has been keeping very busy, releasing his album Within The Speed Limit of Love in December of 2022, and despite what the name suggests, he has been showing absolutely no signs of slowing down, releasing yet another album Deep Farm 2 (or DF2) last week. This is the follow up to 2017's Deep Farm released via Prison Tapes, and features a vast troupe of guest features amongst its eclectic sonic vignettes. My favourite of the bunch is titled 'Stop Messing Around', which takes on a confident Prince-esque flair, Freeman's statements as slick as ever, and the simple instrumentation brilliantly elevated by synth accents that bring it further to life. Love it.
You can listen to and support Raiden Freeman's new album DF2 via Bandcamp HERE.
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CRYER — 'COLD INSIDE' FROM NEW ALBUM AFFLICTIONS PT. 1
Tāmaki Makaurau sound artist Cryer has unveiled their debut album AFFLICTIONS pt.1, and it's hard not to get lost in its ethereal beauty. Compiling layered guitar loops with their whispered soprano, each song pieces together fragmented ideas, veiling them with equal parts light and shadow to create something utterly immersive and touching.
You can support CRYER's music and their new album via Bandcamp HERE.
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VIOLET HIRST — 'COUNTING DAYS' FROM DEBUT ALBUM DONEGAL
Violet Hirst (who you may know as the champion of our In Conversation interview series here on Flying Nun) has finally released her long-awaited debut album Donegal. The project places Hirst's songwriting mastery at the forefront, encasing listeners with intimate tales from her various homes over the years in Te Whanganui-A-Tara and Te Waipounamu, recorded alongside De Stevens and featuring performances from Reuben Scott. Violet Hirst is currently on tour with her full band (who include members of Office Dog), and has two more stops in Tāmaki Makaurau and Pōneke. Sink your ears into her new album below...
You can purchase and support Violet Hirst's new album via Bandcamp HERE. The final two stops on her Donegal tour are in Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday night (that's tomorrow) and Pōneke next weekend — tickets available at those links.
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HANNAH EVERINGHAM — ‘MERCURY’
Otāutahi-based songbird Hannah Everingham has been keeping busy since first dazzling us with her debut single 'So Long Underground', followed closely by her debut album Between Bodies. She has now released a new single 'Mercury' (after teasing it in a brilliant live video shown above a few weeks ago). The song is yet another display of Everingham's fluency as a guitarist and vocalist, and spins a gorgeous vignette which beckons to be immersed in. Hannah's Mercury Release Tour is happening right now, with guests including Samara Alofa and Pickle Darling — more info below.
Listen to Hannah's new single on Spotify HERE. Hannah's single release tour kicks off this weekend — click HERE for Christchurch tickets, and HERE for Wellington tickets.
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QUALITY USED CARS — ‘ME AND DAMON DRINKING BEERS AT THE GRANDVIEW HOTEL’
Introducing Quality Used Cars, a band from Naarm/Melbourne on the ever-excellent Spoilsport Records. Their alt-country style centres around the lyricism and storytelling prowess of frontman Francis Tait, but by no means is this the only tool in their kit; the songs are well written and keep you engaged from go to whoa. This is the case for Me And Damon Drinking Beers At The Grandview Hotel. The song talks about two mates catching up at the not-so-aptly named Grandview. It's so heartwarming - it speaks to the moments of reflection that come from two old pals catching up about the latest happenings, as they let themselves fall deeper into the yarns. Gradually the refrain introduced early on, 'Doesn't get much better' comes back towards the end with rising tension and harmonies over the top, and it's true - it really doesn't. I don't know 'Me' or 'Damon', but I'd love to hang out with them at the Grandview. — Words by Callum Campbell.
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