D.C MAXWELL — PHOTO BY NGARU GARLAND / LOGO BY ZOE HANNAY
NEW MUSIC
D.C MAXWELL — 'LONE RIDER'
D.C Maxwell has been teasing a new album for a little while now, playing his dazzling array of unreleased material to sold-out audiences all over Tāmaki Makaurau. Finally, we now have one to look forward to, as he has announced that his new album Lone Rider is out August 18 via Danger Collective. His first single 'The Leading Man', was a bold introduction to the project, but his new single (and the title track), takes a more tender approach. The track puts spectacle to the side this time, stripping back instrumentally and allowing the songwriting itself taking centre stage. D.C Maxwell (AKA Daniel Smith) sings about navigating life after loss, wrapping his sentiments of grief in warm comforting accompaniment, paired with a music video directed by Jack O-Neil.
“This song is about the choice you have to make when someone you love chooses to leave this world. Do you stay on without them? Do you wallow in grief? Or do you choose to carry on, keeping them alive through the love you continue to hold for them in your heart? I think choosing to continue to exist while your heart is broken is noble, but god does it hurt. I wanted this song to acknowledge that choice, and the people all over the world that make it every day.” — D.C. Maxwell.
D.C Maxwell will be touring the new album in Auckland and Wellington, as well as in Australia. Tickets are below.
You can pre-order Lone Rider by D.C Maxwell on LP and digitally via Bandcamp HERE. Tickets for his tour are available via UTR (Auckland) HERE and his website (for the rest) HERE.
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JUNO IS — 'THE HIGHWAY SONG'
Juno Is recently released a new track, 'The Highway Song' — and we absolutely love it. You can always count on Mackenzie Hollebon to write a catchy number, and this song takes it to a whole new level. The track dances along with a breezy psychedelica, with roaring synth breakdowns that erupt into a euphoric riff. The music video is equally as charming, as Mac and the gang (including Ōtautahi-based songwriter Hannah Everingham) take a drive whilst being chased by a bunch of horses. Awesome.
You can listen to more Juno Is via Spotify HERE.
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ELLIOTT SMITH — 'NO NAME #1'
We recently acquired a lot of Elliott Smith on vinyl. I've picked one of my favourites — Roman Candle, released in 1994, which just so happens to be his debut. Apparently, the record was never intended to be realised in entirety (Smith only received a 7" deal at the time), but upon playing it to his label, he was encouraged to drop the whole thing on the spot. It's Elliot Smith in all his glory, stripped back to vocals and guitar recorded on a 4-track recorder with that homemade sound that highlights his masterful songwriting to the fullest.
You can buy Elliott Smith's album Roman Candle via the Flying Nun Record Store HERE.
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BABE MARTIN — 'VERSOIX'
Babe Martin (AKA Zoë Larsen-Cumming) has returned with the title track from her upcoming debut project The Versoix EP, produced by Jazmine Mary. The Tāmaki Makaurau-based singer songwriter turned heads with her enchanting first single, 'Knocked For Six in BHX', and 'Versoix' proves that Larsen-Cumming is already a skilled songwriter even this early in her career (where have you been hiding, Zoë!?), crafting beautifully delicate compositions that lean on sparsity to highlight intimate memories.
"The song is a snapshot of a time in your life where you're almost an adult, but not quite, and everything is shifting simultaneously very quickly and very slowly." — Babe Martin.
Be sure to hit play above — the full EP is out September 7 via Sunreturn.
You can pre-order The Versoix EP by Babe Martin via Bandcamp HERE.
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DICK MOVE — 'SMALL MAN, BIG TWEET'
There's really no other way to say this, but the dicks really are moving in Dick Move's new music video for their song 'Small Man, Big Tweet' (just watch the video, okay?), freshly unleashed this morning. Inspired by "dick-swingers will go to have their voices be heard above the rest", the track packs a hell of a witty comeback to them all, paired with an absolutely brilliant music video directed by Stella Reid and made with the help of NZ On Air. The punk outfit (consisting of Lucy Suttor, Hariet Ellis — yes, our A&R manager is also a musical legend — Lulu McRae, Luke Boyes and Justin Rendall) have also announced their highly anticipated sophomore album Wet, out October 6 on CD, LP and digitally via 1:12 Records and will be playing a celebratory show at Whammy Backroom tomorrow night, July 22nd, alongside Nuggiez and Cindy.
Pre-order the new album, Wet by Dick Move HERE— available on LP and digitally.
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AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE — 'PASSING CLOUDS'
It's been 12 years since African Head Charge's last album, and they have made their return with A Trip To Bolgatanga, produced by veteran On-U Sound producer Adrian Sherwood. The album is a sonic-scape of AHC's Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah's surroundings in his home of Bolgatanga in Ghana, laced with gorgeous loops and deep, entrancing sound washes. My personal highlight is the percussion, hand-drummed by Noah himself.
You can buy African Head Charge's new album A Trip To Bolgatanga via the Flying Nun Record Store HERE.
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DEEPSTATE — 'DREAMS'
With every new release deepState does nothing but prove that she is a frontrunner of Aotearoa's electronic and dance music scene. 'Dreams' is the second single (and the title track) to drop from her upcoming album — out September 1 via Sunreturn — and like the first ('Don't Let U Down'), it plays heavily into 90's club-house ecstasy, this time taking a dreamy, introspective approach to dance-floor intimacy. Absolutely love this track and can't wait for the full project to drop, as it will no doubt continue to cure a little of my winter blues.
You can pre-order deepState's new album Dreams via Bandcamp HERE.
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IMPRESS — 'WYD?XOXO'
Te Whanganui-A-Tara producer impress (AKA Sam Curtiss, who you may know from Flying Nun 7-piece band Recitals) has released her debut EP IM 1 today, comprising some of her first compositions, that according to her, have survived "three laptop migrations, a hard drive corruption, irretrievable projects, preservation in single files, a total change in taste and the continuous gain of new experiences." Regardless of what they have been through, the final result is five dancefloor-ready tunes packed full of an array of samples and influences, highlighting the artists talent as a producer and beat maker. Can't wait to hear more from Sam's impress output.
"Finally releasing these songs is not unlike releasing a bird into the wild after nursing it back to health over a month, but you and the bird are kind of sick of each other at this point anyway so it isn't a big deal."
You can pre-order IM 1 by impress via Bandcamp HERE.
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SHOW / TOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
KRAFTWERK — AOTEAROA HEADLINE SHOWS
Electronic pioneers Kraftwerk are in Aotearoa for the first time since 2008 this December for two arena shows in Auckland and Wellington. Kraftwerk have been huge spear-headers for the electronic scene, shaping so many genres and inspiring sounds that have carried on into this day, such as house, synth pop, electro, dance music and everything in between. Yeah this one is going to be good — don't miss out!
Tickets are available via Ticketmaster HERE.
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VIOLET HIRST — DONEGAL NATIONAL TOUR
Violet Hirst has an album called Donegal on the way and she's taking it on the road with her full band. Touring all around the motu in some interesting spaces including Vogelmorn and Old Folks Association, be sure to grab your tickets to see her masterful compositions live and in person.
Tickets are available via HERE via UTR. You can also pre-order her album via Bandcamp HERE.
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SOFT BAIT — AOTEAROA TOUR
Post-punk outfit Soft Bait are taking a trip around the country to warm you up this winter, unleashing their raw energy in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and Dunedin and no doubt treating them to some material from their 2022 album Plot Points.
Tickets and more details are available HERE via UTR.
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HANNAH EVERINGHAM — 'MERCURY' SINGLE RELEASE TOUR
Hannah Everingham has made quite the splash since her debut release 'So Long Underground' (an absolutely fantastic track) followed swiftly by the release of her debut album Between Bodies. With a new track 'Mirage' on the horizon, Everingham has announced a three-date tour across the country, with a show in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, the latter featuring special guest Pickle Darling.
Wellington tickets are available HERE via UTR and Auckland/Christchurch tickets are available HERE.
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