IMNZ Charts to March 20: SXSW WSraps Up for 2011

IMNZ Charts to March 20: SXSW WSraps Up for 2011

This week we feature two albums which are finalists in the Taite Music Prize; keep an eye out for two finalists per week until the winner is announced on April 20. And many of the New Zealand contingent are heading home from South by Southwest - although many of them are also staying in that neck of the woods to play shows and woo the US public. Check our 'Around the World' section for some great goss!

Taite Music Prize: This week's featured finalists

Dudley Benson - Forest: Songs by Hirini Melbourne (Golden Retriever Records) Inspired by his love for the waiata of the renowned composer Hirini Melbourne (Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Kahungunu), Benson arranged his own interpretations of Melbourne's bird songs and in late 2010 announced their release as Forest: Songs by Hirini Melbourne. Recorded almost entirely with only the human voice and sung largely in te reo Maori, Forest tells the stories of New Zealand's native birds through seven vividly textured pop pieces that exist somewhere between the traditions of folksong and barbershop, choral anthem and hip hop. Read more...

Connan Mockasin - Please Turn Me Into the Snat (Self Released) Written and recorded over 18 months, from East Sussex in the UK to an abandoned haunted house in Wellington, Please Turn Me Into The Snat introduces the listener to the amazing world of Connan Mockasin, from cats with larger-than-life personalities and unicorns in uniform to alter egos like Don Dicaprio. Somewhere between fantasy and reality, innocence and wisdom, pop music and an art form as yet unnamed, is the world of Connan Mockasin. Read more...

For more about the Taite Music prize, visit www.indies.co.nz

This WeekLast WeekWeeks InTitleArtistLabel/Distributor 125Like WaterLadi6/Rhythm/DRM 214Love Will Always WinOpShop/Rhythm/DRM 3314Summer TimeTiki TaaneDirtyDub//Rhythm/DRM 4687Always On My MindTiki TaaneDirtyDub//Rhythm/DRM 542Light Years AwayTiki Taane feat. CrushingtonDirtyDub//Rhythm/DRM 6551Poi EThe Patea Maori Club/Jayrem/DRM 7815Maori BoyJGeek And The Geeks/DRM 8754One DayOpShopSiren/EMI 9-1Morning Light (Anthem For Christchurch)Ric KnottParachute/Soul/DRM 10913Groove AgainKatchafireKatchafire

McLaughlin Law is an Auckland based law firm which specialises in providing legal advice on all issues and agreements encountered in the music industry both within New Zealand and abroad. In some situations a certain amount of free advice can also be provided to new and emerging labels and artists.

Check them out here if you want to learn more:

www.mclaughlinlaw.co.nz

This WeekLast WeekWeeks InTitleArtistLabel/Distributor 115Like WaterLadi6/Rhythm/DRM 2224Moving OnSteriogram/Border/DRM 3517Groove AgainKatchafireKatchafire 4410Love Will Always WinOpShop/Rhythm/DRM 588I See Forever In You4 Da Grind/DRM 6314Can't Fix Methe feelers/DRM 710315 MinutesBlack River Drive/Rhythm/DRM 8933MaybeOpShopSiren 9-1New Hot NightsLuger Boa/DRM 10-7Swagger Of ThievesHLAH/Rhythm/DRM

International and Industry Action

The Thomas Oliver Band’s new album Baby, I’ll Play (DRM NZ) spent last week as the #1 album on the iTunes Australia Blues chart after being released last Monday. That’s ahead of albums by B.B. King, Cyndi Lauper, Seasick Steve, The John Butler Trio, Gregg Allman, Gary Moore, Robert Cray and Joss Stone. http://www.myspace.com/thethomasoliverband

Amplifier alerted us to the fact that the Phoenix Foundation's Flock Of Hearts is currently included in two separate listener-voted competitions - one on BBC6, and the other on BBC2 - go and cast your votes if you're keen to support the band. (1) BBC6 MUSIC http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/steve-lamacq/features/rebel-playlist/ (2) BBC2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/the-radcliffe-and-maconie-show/contact/

The Phoenix Foundation recently finished an amazing few months in Europe and have some band-made tour videos here. They've also announced that they're returning to the UK for a Northern Hemisphere summer tour. Batucada Sound Machine this week played Singapore's MOSAIC Festival, which also hosted artists in the ilk of Joanna Newsom, Aphex Twin, The National and Gotan Project. http://www.mosaicmusicfestival.com/2011/microsite/ Surf City are heading out on their first full tour of the USA in support of their album Kudos. While Surf City didn't make SXSW due to visa delays (along with 80 other international bands this year, due to recent changes in application process) they are still undertaking an extensive US tour kicking off now in Dallas. With almost 30 dates booked in as many cities betwen now and late April, the band are sure to make an impact. Read more...

454 Life Entertainment, an independent film and music label based in San Jose, California has signed an exclusive one year distribution and marketing deal with Dawn Raid Entertainment / Universal Music to release their materia in New Zealand and Australia. The new deal includes the release of compilation album As Real As It Gets, anchored by Samoan rapper Drew Deezy and respected Vietnamese MC Thai, with additional rights to upcoming solo albums and feature films starring 454 Life artists. www.dawnraid.co.nz

New release fanfare

New York based Kiwi Simon Spire is set to release his sophomore album Four-Letter Words on April 4th (his debut was 2008's All Or Nothing). The album includes recent radio hit ‘Liberate Your Love’ and the new single ‘A Four Letter Word’. Simon calls himself a New Yorklander, having lived in New York since 2008. Having worked with the likes of Lenedra Carroll (former longtime manager of multi-platinum artist Jewel), Simon already has a foothold in the punishing US music market, with radio play, an Honorable Mention Award as a double-finalist in the USA Songwriting Competition for his first album, and a selection by TV network Channel One as one of the Top 20 artists of 2009. Catch Simon Spire live back home in Auckland: Four-Letter Words Album Release Show, Thursday April 7th – Juice Bar, Parnell. http://www.simonspire.com/

Back in December, Shapeshifter announced plans to free the stems of The System Is A Vampire’s track ‘Longest Day’ for remixers and versionists worldwide, leveling the playing field so that any producer ¬had the chance to sit alongside heavyweight production talent like Netsky, B-Complex, State Of Mind, and Camo & Crooked on Shapeshifter’s box-fresh long player, System Remix. Classically trained musician, audio engineer, DJ and producer with roots in hip hop and soul, Swaren ‘Dhalsim’ Veygal smashed through with ‘Longest Day’, taking the track into unchartered terrain by matching PDigsss’ soulful vocals with driving synth lines and punchy bass for a bass bin-challenging affair. Dhalsim is already a winner of the Otago University Student Association’s Future DJ competition, and now the Wellington native’s remix will take pride of place alongside Optimus Gryme, Truth and The Upbeats and more on Shapeshifter’s Sy stem Remix, which was released this week on Truetone Records. http://www.shapeshifter.co.nz/

In the middle of a hectic international touring schedule, Antagonist A.D deliver a taste of what the future holds for this uncompromising modern hardcore band on their new 5 track digital and 7inch vinyl single 'Old Bones Make New Blooms', steering in a new direction both musically and lyrically. Touching on historical and social subjects, vocalist Sam Crocker describes it as 'easily the best lyrics I have written’. The single is available this week from online digital retailers and the 7inch including digital download is available now from Trial & Error records web store. http://store.trialanderrorrecords.com.au/ Further copies of the 7inch vinyl will be made available through all vinyl loving New Zealand music retailers late March early April. http://www.myspace.com/antagonistad Will Crummer is a living Pacific treasure: a master singer and encyclopedia of Polynesian song, and Shoebox Lovesongs is his first album in almost four decades. It comes with a 50-minute DVD documentary, showcasing his songs and telling the story behind his music. In late 2010 Will Crummer went into Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios to record the album with producers Nick Bollinger and Arthur Baysting, film-maker Costa Botes, and a group which includes daughter Annie Crummer on harmonies and pa’u (traditional Rarotongan bass drum) and son Pat on guitar and ukulele. It also features a guest appearance by The Yandall Sisters, a duet with Annie and a string arrangement by Don McGlashan. http://www.myspace.com/willcrummer

New Zealand songstress Michelle Nadia has been writing and performing her songs since the age of 18 and she has played for audiences up and down NZ as well as further afield in London, Los Angeles, New York, Dublin and Sydney where she majored in vocals at the Australian Institute of Music. The studio band for her debut album Firefly includes Bruce Lynch (Cat Stevens, Kate Bush), Nic Manders (Brooke Fraser, Lydia Cole, Bridgette Demeyer), Andy Lynch (The Feelers, Zed), Murray Grindlay (Goldenhorse, Co-Composer - Once Were Warriors Soundtrack), Murray McNabb (Co-Composer - Once Were Warriors Soundtrack), Jollyon Mullholland (Gasoline Cowboy, Neil Finn), Patrick Khutze (Carly Binding) and Daniel Irvine (Brooke Fraser, Luke Thompson). She is currently on a nationwide tour. http://www.michellenadia.com/fr_homecfm

Vocalist Fran Barton and well known award winning pianist-trumpeter-arranger-composer Kevin Clark first teamed up in the ‘70s. Their new album The Gentleman Is A Dope is a celebration of the past forty years that Fran and Kevin have worked together, and their songs are a reflection of their penchant for humorous and quirky songs with the occasional dash of better known “American Songbook” standards and some Latin style music. Bright and breezy in an easily accessible jazz setting, superbly produced, it’s great for listening to with a glass of fine wine. Read more...

Andrew Keoghan is a songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist who combines his classical training in singing and violin with elements of pop and folk – you could even call it chamber-pop. Keoghan’s songs reflect his fascination with the intruguing little things that sprinkle life’s everyday encounters – ‘Clean Sheets and a Fishbowl’ describes being accidentally flagged down by an eager escort near Auckland’s K Road. At 21, he sung in Puccini’s opera Turandot in Christchurch before moving to Wellington, where he sang in various jazz ensembles. Keoghan then moved to Auckland and began unassumingly making a name for himself in the music scene by writing songs and playing memorable shows, initially as a solo artist and more recently with a live band. Read more...

Daze is the latest single from Die! Die! Die! Taken from Form, the band’s third album – and recently nominated for this year’s Taite Music Award The song’s video, directed by drummer Michael Prain, is a nod in the direction of Chris Knox’s pioneering and still brilliant stop animation. Shot using a collection of super 8-film and digital footage taken around Auckland and Sydney, it was also an exercise in the power of Youtube tutorials on the finer art of video editing. Watch the video for ‘Daze’ here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUolVxlrbpc

'Terminus' is the debut album from Cern, who since 2001 have been collectively producing drum&bass and downbeat music for the main purpose of having a good time and making use of their creative tendencies. A widespread name around the globe already, Cern's production has seen material released on many of the scenes leading European record labels including the UK's Renegade Hardware, Critical, Cylon, Deep Soul Music and Revolution Recordings; Netherlands' Citrus Records, Smptm and Syndrome Audio; Germany's Basswerk imprint as well as New Zealand's own Samurai Music. Cern was originally the combined talents of Ollie Macky (Omen) and Jonny Beck (Climate), starting out at Auckland's Fu Bar. However, in mid-2008, Jonny (Climate), sadly passed away, leaving behind a bright future in the international drum and bass scene, and a huge number of close friends and family. Remaining member Ollie (Omen) toured Europe and Australasia solo as Cern at the end of that year as a tribute to his late friend and collaborator, helping to keep his memory and ideas alive and extending their music to everyone who has supported them over the years. Read more...

On the live front

Radio Active presents Cuba for Chch is on this Friday March 25; Fat Freddy's Drop headline a strong line-up of local musicians, which includes: Barnaby Weir, 47 Diamantes, Eva Prowse, The Family Cactus, Bella Kalolo, The Rounds, DJ Zen, Redbird Jnr, Newtown Rocksteady, Nudge, Kev Fresh, Marek, Gus, TV DiSKO, Maximum Joy and WTFFF!! Special guests Bang Bang Eche from Christchurch add Southern spice to the mix. Venues include San Francisco Bathhouse, Mighty Mighty, Matterhorn, Good Luck, The Southern Cross, Havana, and Manky Chops, and the Amazing Traveling Photobooth will be in Cuba Mall from 6pm. All proceeds from the $10 passport will go to New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal. http://www.radioactive.co.nz/cubaforchch

Nathan Haines and Sola Rosa are amongst the artists performing at The Waiheke Island International Jazz Festival which returns to the island this Easter. Nearly 20 acts will perform at the festival, last held in 2006, including international acts the Dixieland Gipsy Band (Denmark), Shaynee Rainbolt (USA), Jonas Julio (Indonesia) and other locals Nairobi Trio with Nigel Gavin, Graham Wardrop, The Grand Central Band, Caitlin Smith and The Jimmy Garden Quartet. The festival will be held from April 22 – 24 across four venues including The Dunes in Onetangi, The Bay in Matiatia, the Waiheke Island Resort and Rangihoua Estate. Read more...

Also running over Easter weekend is the Borderline Festival, gracing Auckland's Whammy Bar and Wine Cellar for its fourth consecutive year. Borderline provides an annual platform on which a wide range of alternative musical artists can showcase their work, and this year's lineup includes Sharpie Crows, Popstrangers and Dylan Storey with Reb Fountain. Read more...

The Drab Doo Riffs will embark on their first ever nationwide tour this month, either side of three dates across the ditch. They startat Chicks Hotel in Dunedin and Ward Lane in Hamilton before heading to Australia for a few dates; then they head home to play Wellington and Auckland. http://www.myspace.com/thedrabdooriffs

Around the World This year The Naked and Famous headlined the traditional New Zealand South by Southwest showcase at Austin venue Brush Square Park with Street Chant, songstress Brooke Fraser, Liam Finn, Zowie and David Dallas also playing to a packed tent over the course of the three hour showcase. Also in Austin were Battle Circus, Kids of 88, King Kapisi and Surf City.

One of the highlights for a couple of our local acts, at least, would have to have been the invitation to play on famed blogger Perez Hilton's fourth installment of his musical showcase, "Perez Hilton's One Night in Austin Party." The party was held at the new ACL Live venue at Austin's new W Hotel. DJ Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe entertained the audience between sets while Hilton introduced all acts which included our own Zowie and Kids of 88. Read more...

All data is compiled by www.radioscope.co.nz To be eligible for the charts the release has to be by a NZ artist or Artist residing in NZ; and the master recording needs to be owned by a NZ Record Label or company that is an IMNZ member.

IMNZ is the trade association for Independent New Zealand record labels and distributors. Our core objectives are to advocate the values and interests of our members, aid their development and knowledge and provide collective group benefits to the NZ independent music sector. Our 70 plus members release the majority of all kiwi music and we want to tell you about them. GO BUY NZ MUSIC! If you would lke to unsubscribe to this newsletter please email Renee at IMNZ renee@nzmusic.org.nz Copyright 2010, Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) www.indies.co.nz

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