Photo is of Tigger the cat in a state of deep transcendence whilst listening to the following songs.
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Ben Woods - 'Hovering at Home' Single/Video (+ Album Announce)
Ōtautahi's Ben Woods has dropped a new single and video today, as well as announcing his new album, Dispeller, out July 15th via Melted Ice Cream (NZ). The song is harrowing and experimental, yet remains absolutely poignant and above all, very beautiful. Horns peek and bleed into the noise, yet his voice remains the anchor along with the facile guitar motif. The video, directed by Woods and filmed by Martin Sadagin (Aldous Harding, Mousey, Merk) is a puppet-starring fever dream - the perfect pair.
Says Woods of the video, “'Hovering at Home' is about the magical world we hold onto in hermitude. Initially, I thought it was about hiding, but as we carried on building the song, I came to realise it was more about finding points of connection between that inner world and the outside.
The video is a retelling of a paranormal experience I shared with my cousin as a child. One night we were visited by an inhuman entity dancing at the window. Initially, I was frightened of its thin gyrations but have come to think of it as a fond memory.
You can watch the video below.
Presave Dispeller | Preorder Dispeller
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Brandn Shiraz + Christoph El Truento - NO WARNING EP
Brandn Shiraz is one of Tāmaki Makaurau's most exciting rappers, emerging from The Grow Room community and releasing numerous projects as well as collaborating with many local artists. One of these people is Christoph El Truento, the production mastermind behind numerous projects such as @Peace, as well as his own records, including the critically acclaimed LWMP18. NO WARNING is a magical coming-together of sounds, with Brandn's smooth, subtly autotuned raps dancing over Christoph's luscious production. Support and listen below.
Standout song: RATCHET
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Satin Sheets - 'Air 98'
Tāmaki Makaurau based electronic artist, Satin Sheets, has released the first single, 'Air 98', from his long-awaited upcoming second album, St Francis II, out later this year. Satin Sheets' debut album, St Francis, was met with high praise and since its release, Satin Sheets has developed a bit of a cult following as one of the best vapor-wave artists out there. St Francis II will once again be released on U.S label 100% Electronica who harbour numerous artists such as George Clanton, Neggy Gemmy and Death's Dynamic Shroud. Listen below.
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Mokotron - Tawhito EP
Tāmaki Makaurau based producer, Mokotron, combines traditional Māori instruments with jungle/drum and bass and other club-sonic electronic elements on their latest EP, Tawhito. The title track, 'Tawhito' is a particular standout, with the reedy vocals and hard hitting drums leaving a heart-thumping impression.
Of the project, Mokotron says,
"Tawhito, meaning ‘ancient’, is an exploration of Māori ancient futurism that imagines a reality without colonisation, where the ancestors transition from the ancient world into the modern world to create futures of hope. Tawhito combines vintage synths and drum machines with the ancient voices of pūoro (traditional Māori instruments), karakia (chants) and mōteatea (songs of lament), complemented by the artwork of Manaia Toa / James Paratii Lainchbury"
Support and listen below.
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deepState - 'Redux' (Van Staden and Böhm Remix)
Tāmaki Makaurau electronic artist deepState aka Jessica Morgan has unveiled a remix for her trip hop-ambient track, 'Redux' by Van Staden and Böhm, who flipped it into a joyful, rave realisation. The track will appear on deepState's upcoming collection, MMXXI The Remixes. Listen below.
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Tami Neilson & Willie Nelson - 'Beyond The Stars'.
Aotearoa based country superstar, Tami Neilson, released her latest single, 'Beyond The Stars', in which she teamed up with the legendary Willie Nelson. A pretty spectacular pairing; the song is a beautiful, soothing ballad, capturing "Neilson’s pain at the loss of her father and her longing to be with him once again," co-written with Delaney Davidson. The song is from her forthcoming album, Kingmaker, which is available for preorder now. Watch the music video below.
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