DICK MOVE — PHOTO BY FRANCES CARTER / WORDS BY CARLA CAMILLERI & CALLUM CAMPBELL / LOGO BY ZOE HANNAY
DICK MOVE — 'FEEL BETTER'
Five-piece punk band Dick Move is the gift that keeps on giving. After announcing their highly anticipated sophomore album Wet in August, they have blessed us with not only a new song (titled 'Feel Better' — more on that soon), but also a whopping 7-date album release tour, kicking off in October. Anyway, back to the song. Have you clicked play yet? Because I hope you're not reading this and watching at the same time. The visuals (directed by local legends Sports Team) are worth every second of your focus, bestowing a very 4am-at-Bar-101-chic music video upon us, as Lucy Suttor takes to the streets of Tāmaki Makaurau to get amongst its night-life "and ask a very important question — 'do you feel better?'". Not to mention our A&R manager Hariet Ellis apparently has a second job as a news anchor/weather assistant, and looks like she does a darn good job at it (fellow anchor/weather reporter Luke Boyes does a stellar job too).
Dick Move show us time and time again that no matter how many catchy, explosive-punk anthems they have, they can always write another one. So yes, I do "feel better" after watching that. Thank you!
You can pre-order Dick Move's forthcoming album Wet via the Flying Nun Record store HERE. Tickets to their nationwide tour are available HERE via Undertheradar.
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D.C MAXWELL — 'I'M WITH YOU'
D.C Maxwell has finally dropped his new album Lone Rider, and it's certainly gearing up to be one of the best releases of the year. Maxwell (AKA. Daniel Smith) rides his trusty steed with confident flair throughout the entire album, touching our hearts with tender ballads (such as the above — 'I'm With You' — hit play on that above) and shaking our cores with intense passion. Spinning tales of bank robberies, murder, lost love and more, enter the wild and wonderful world of Aotearoa's latest cowboy, D.C Maxwell.
You can purchase D.C Maxwell's new album Lone Rider via the Flying Nun Record store HERE.
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MERMAIDENS — 'I LIKE TO BE ALONE'
Mermaidens are back, and we couldn't be more pleased. Their new single 'I like to be alone' is a heartwarming ode to solitude, and is a sign of more to come, with the trio also announcing their new self-titled album which will arrive in early November. Member Gussie Larkin wades through a sea of double denim in the song's accompanying video (directed by Larkin herself), whilst settling into a wholesome hook "put your hand in my back pocket" in her own little patchwork jean cave with fellow band members Lily West and Abe Hollingsworth.
"The giant jean pocket and denim world were created by Hannah Webster, a textile designer and illustrator based in Wellington. Hannah took all the wild ideas for props and made them come true! I’m still in awe of how she managed to sew a 6x6 metre backdrop for the denim world out of whatever scraps she could find. The video captures our playfulness and sense of humour, and is a hint of what’s to come for the rest of the music videos. I love the way the story wraps up with the three of us together, literally playing “in the pocket”. — Gussie Larkin.
You can pre-order Mermaiden's forthcoming self-titled album via the Flying Nun Record store HERE.
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BAR ITALIA — 'CHANGER'
London trio Bar Italia has unveiled their latest album, Tracey Denim, their first for new label Matador after long-time associations with Dean Blunt's label World Music. Infused with shattered grunge and weathered melodies, the release maintains a 90's rock foundation while exuding contemporary charm. The incorporation of duetting voices on each track adds a novel dimension. The album's raw, unrefined quality is akin to a cherished, dust-covered favorite on repeat.
You can pre-order your copy of Bar Italia's new album Tracey Denim via the Flying Nun Record Store HERE.
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GRAEME JEFFERIES — AUCKLAND SHOW ANNOUNCED
Legendary post-punk spearhead Graeme Jefferies (co-founder of This Kind of Punishment, Nocturnal Projections and The Cakekitchen) has announced a rare performance at Tāmaki Makaurau's Unitarian Church on Saturday September 23rd, featuring organ chops by Hermione Johnson, who will be making good use of its newly restored pipes. Be sure to get in quick to secure your place in the pews and witness the legend himself, who has been busy making music solo music — 2022's Porridge and Heffalumping and Canary in a Coalmine released this year.
Tickets to Graeme's show in Auckland are available HERE.
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DEEPSTATE — 'NOW THAT YOU'RE GONE'
I've been waiting for this record since its announce, and it's finally here. This is Dreams by deepState (AKA Tāmaki Makaurau producer and beatmaker Jessica Morgan), driven by impeccable beats that reach highs and lows. Boasting track after track of glossy, bliss-house, Dreams is dance floor escapism at its finest.
"I really wanted to explore a range of the electronic genres that I love. I feel that the album has come out as an eclectic mix of these influences that is quite specific to my musical tastes. I went into the making of Dreams determined to achieve a higher production level than my previous releases, it was a huge learning process particularly in terms of production and mixing. I learned a lot about the kinds of sounds I really like to work with, synth lines, keys and textured pads are definitely my favorites." — deepState
Be sure to catch deepState at her album release show on Friday September 15th at Whammy Backroom — tickets available HERE via Undertheradar.
deepState's brand new album Dreams is out today! You can listen to and purchase it via Bandcamp HERE.
SOFIA KOURTESIS — 'SI TE PORTAS BONITO'
“My heart is very Latin American, but my motor is German.” This is how the Peruvian, Berlin-based electronic artist Sofia Kourtesis describes herself. Her songs brim with life and drive, but also have a tinge of the bittersweet which make them stand out. You may not necessarily hear it on ‘Si Te Portas Bonito’, which is a genuine House track with Latin flavour, but the more you dig it appears that the song is a form of escapism. An embodiment of letting loose. Kourtesis’ upcoming debut album, Madres, was written during a time of budding success while her mother was suffering with cancer. She has survived (a remarkable story which merits reading for yourself), but these contrasting elements make for intriguing music and an album to watch out for come October!
You can pre-order Sofia Kourtesis' upcoming album Madres via Bandcamp HERE.
JUICE WEBSTER — 'RETURNING'
Juice Webster’s music has been compared to a fragrance. It’s delicate, and it wafts into your conscience. This feels apt for ‘Returning’, which starts gently with soft vocals and swells to a peak as the song progresses. All the while, the swell is anchored down by a melody rather unique in its shape but which never changes the entire song. This is a reflective track about wanting to return to moments that were significant in our lives and really soak them up, and in this context, the dependable melody allows for each repetition to be held to the light and savoured. It’s an affecting track.
Juice Webster’s debut album Julia comes out September 15th via Cohort Records. You can listen to and pre-order it via Bandcamp HERE.
HEMI HEMINGWAY — 'JANUARY LAKE #3'
Hemi Hemingway has been busy spending time in London over the past few years, and upon spending time back in Aotearoa, his debut album was completed. Strangers Again feels like an open-hearted projection of emotion, anchored in his roots and expressed through his captivating vocals. 'January Lake #3', written and performed entirely in Te Reo Māori, is a synth-drenched ballad that displays Shaun Blackwell's songwriting prowess at its most glorious.
“On the Strangers Again cover, I’m dressed all in white, and there’s all this openness, and me standing up tall on the edge of New Zealand looking south. I feel like this relates to the openness that I felt when I returned to New Zealand and finished Strangers Again, compared to the isolation I was feeling when I wrote and released The Lonely Hunter. Writing this album has definitely helped me to open up again, and to heal somewhat from the last few years.” — Hemi Hemingway
You can purchase Hemi Hemingway's new album Strangers Again via the Flying Nun Record Store HERE.