Covid-19 Alert

NZ moves to the Traffic light system at 11:59pm on Thursday 2 December 2021 with Auckland at RED. The rest of New Zealand level is still to be decided.
Scan QR Codes & get your Vaccination Pass | Save Lives | Be Kind

Wednesday, June 07, 2023

RIP: Astrid Gilberto, The Girl From Ipanema throws in the towel.

Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto, the undeniable voice of Bossa Nova, whose trademark soft and dreamy rendition of "The Girl from Ipanema" became an international success hit during the 1960s, has died, aged 83 year old.  According to a statement on Social Media poster by members of her whanau, Gilberto died on Monday 6 June at her home in Philadelphia.

"Life is beautiful, as the song says, but I bring the sad news that my grandmother became a star today and is next to my grandfather Joao Gilberto," Sofia Gilberto, her Granddaughter wrote. 

Born on March 29 1940 Astrud Weinert was born in Salvador, in the northeastern state of Bahia, to a musical family that moved to Rio de Janeiro when she was a child.

Astrud's former husband, guitarist Joao Gilberto, passed in 2019.  He was a pioneer composer and songwriter of Bossa Nova, which mixed Brazilian samba music with "cool jazz" in the late 1950s.   He collaborated with the American saxophonist Stan Getz in 1963 on their album "Getz/Gilberto".  That went on popularise the new Brazilian sound worldwide.  Astrud performed the vocals in English, including the song "The Girl from Ipanema", a duet, which was the album's major hit. "Getz/Gilberto" won three Grammys (incl. Album of the Year, the first time a jazz album received the accolade).

"The Girl from Ipanema" was the first song Astrud (22yrs old at the time) recorded.  It launched her career - almost by accident. 


In later interviews, she said she was hanging about in the New York studio where Getz and her then-husband were recording.  Joao Getz suggested she do the song as he did not sing in English.

She later moved to the US, toured with Getz, singing Bossa Nova and American Songbook jazz standards.  

Her first solo album was called "The Astrud Gilberto Album," released in 1965 and featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim, the Brazilian musician who had written "The Girl from Ipanema" with poet Vinicius de Moraes and played the piano on the Getz/Gilberto original.

She recorded her own compositions in the 1970s in Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian, French, German and Japanese.

US guitarist Steve Van Zandt tweeted in tribute that Gilberto's "beautiful, natural, untrained vocal genius and unplanned career" influenced other singers from Sade to Lana Del Rey.

Brazilian performer and songwriter Ivan Lins said that "she was one of the main voices of Bossa Nova, the one that was most heard abroad. It had a unique, mellow timbre."

"The Girl from Ipanema" is one of the most recorded songs in history and has been interpreted by many singers, from Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole to Madonna and Amy Winehouse.

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Fans of Aotearoa New Zealand music reveal their True Colours

Audioculture (The Noisy Library Of Aotearoa) has just revealed that Split Enz’s 1980 album True Colours has taken the top spot in the publicly voted AudioCulture Classic NZ Album Readers Poll for 2023.

The poll launched on AudioCulture Iwi Waiata on Monday 1 May to celebrate the site’s 10th birthday, which is today, 31 May 2013, the last day of Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa NZ Music Month.

True Colours – the band’s fifth album – was a popular choice from the start. The 1980 release includes the trans-Tasman No.1 hit ‘I Got You’, plus Top 40 hits ‘Shark Attack’ and ‘I Hope I Never’. As voter Darryn Harkness eloquently put it, "I think Split Enz could quite possibly be the crown jewel of NZ rock 'n' roll...and this album has it all, the songs, energy and drama!" 

In 1980 True Colours was a shot in the arm that re-energised Split Enz. The album launched the band into widespread popularity and the top of the New Zealand album charts, remaining in the Top 40 for 79 weeks. The Split Enz line-up on True Colours was Tim Finn, Eddie Rayner, Neil Finn, Noel Crombie, Nigel Griggs and Malcolm Green.

In a 2020 piece on the album for AudioCulture, Gary Steel writes “... 40 years later it remains what it always was: a poptastic selection of great tunes that remains fresh ...”

Fiona McQuarrie voted all the way from Canada, and says, "It's a classic that sounds like New Zealand, and sounds like the world at the same time."

Split Enz also claimed the number three spot in the AudioCulture Classic NZ Album Readers Poll, with their 1975 release, Mental Notes.

As they say on their website "AudioCulture concentrates on New Zealand popular music history, rather than topical music events and contemporary releases. So it is true that acts that have been around the longest will have an advantage. But the output of New Zealand popular music, its profile and fanbase, have increased exponentially in the 2000s – as reflected in the number of different albums that received votes. Up until the 90s, it was rare for a New Zealand album to have a broad impact, outside an act’s fanbase. Airplay and awareness have increased remarkably in the past couple of decades, but the field is now so crowded it’s harder for an album to be noticed."

The top 10 albums are:

1.   Split Enz – True Colours (1980)

2.   Fat Freddy’s Drop – Based on A True Story (2005)

3.   Split Enz – Mental Notes (1975)

4.   Various – AK79 (1979)

5.   Hello Sailor – Hello Sailor (1977)

6=  Shihad – The General Electric (1999) 

6=  Toy Love – Toy Love (1980) 

6=  Supergroove – Traction (1994)

9.   Bic Runga – Drive (1997)

10. The Chills – Submarine Bells (1990)

The time something like this was undertaken was the 2001 search for the “top New Zealand song”, undertaken by APRA, accross its songwriting membership and some non-writing musicians, commentators, and producers.  Back then, the Finn brothers were prominent in the Top 30, with three songs by Tim, two by Neil, and one they co-wrote. Dave Dobbyn had four, plus one collaboration with Ian Morris.

Read the full story on the Audio Culture Website


Monday, May 01, 2023

AudioCulture Classic NZ Album Readers Poll for 2023

They've reached double digits! AudioCulture Iwi Waiata, the noisy library of New Zealand music, turns 10 years old this month, with the site being launched on May 31st 2013, to coincide with the last day of NZ Music Month.

To mark 10 years of celebrating Aotearoa New Zealand music, and in a first for the website, AudioCulture has launched the AudioCulture Classic NZ Album Readers Poll for 2023. It’s time for you, the public, to tell them which locally recorded and produced album you consider to be the very best of all time.

 Aotearoa is teeming with award-winning, chart-topping, and critically acclaimed albums worthy of consideration. Or perhaps your idea of classic is something a little more seminal? Everyone who casts their vote goes into the draw to win a Thorens TC201 turntable* and $500 credit to spend, thanks to Real Groovy. There will also be spot prizes of exclusive AudioCulture merch to be won over the month.  *Terms and conditions apply

Go to the AudioCulture website to select your favourite New Zealand album from the provided list of possible contenders, or feel free to enter another of your own choosing.

Voting is open now, running throughout NZ Music Month and closing on Sunday May 28th. The number one voted album, and winner of the Real Groovy prize pack, will be announced on Wednesday 31 May.

Over the last decade, we’ve published nearly 2000 pages which document the diverse musical history of Aotearoa. Of these pages, we have just ticked over 1000 individual artist profiles, which tell the stories of solo artists, groups, and key individuals who have been change makers within the local music industry.

The other 1000-odd pages take in other crucial elements which have helped build our vibrant musical history. These include Aotearoa-based record labels – the foundations of our recorded music history – and scenes which have brought like-minded music lovers together, with our first example being jazz fan clubs of the 1920s.  


Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant of KITA helps put on EAST COAST RELIEF show in Te Whanganui-a-Tara this Sunday, 2nd APRIL

 


Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant of KITA helps put on EAST COAST RELIEF show in Te Whanganui-a-Tara this Sunday, 2nd APRIL:
"For those of you that have enjoyed my poetry, my music, and other forms of storytelling: a lot of it has been the influence and experience from my visits to the East Coast of our motu. The East Coast is very close to my heart - the whenua, the people and the spirit. After the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle, it took me a while to be able to transmute the upset I felt for the region into some positive action. This is why I have teamed up with an amazing collective of humans, to pour our hearts into a relief fundraiser this Sunday 2nd of April, 4pm-11pm at San Fran."
 
TICKETS: MOSHTIX, 

*cash doorsales on the night subject to availability

Everyone on this Sunday's bill including the crew, are giving their time and talents to fundraise as much as they can to awhi the ongoing relief needed on the East Coast. Pōneke-based KITA don't play very often in town, and they have just released their EP LOVE LIVES HERE, and returned from their Summer Festival circuit.
Nikita from KITA has a wee kōrero Monday on RNZ Music to shed light on where and how we are directing the funds raised.

They have set up a tiered ticketing system should you wish to donate more at Moshtix, if you're out of town and still wish to donate, please label the ticket DONATE A TICKET under 'name'. 
The collective would prefer if you bought your ticket prior to the show, however there will be tiered ticketing system on the door too, subject to availability.

Tickets and details here:

FB Event:
*Honest footage in promo video in the above link taken by one of the organizers of this event, when he went up a couple of weeks ago to volunteer.

Monday, March 13, 2023

WOMAD kicks off this weekend

Kicking off this Friday, WOMAD NZ 2023 celebrates its 20th anniversary at the award-winning Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Park in New Plymouth, March 17-19. Final tickets are on sale now from www.womad.co.nz

We would LOVE any mentions/features/highlights/coverage/love you could give the festival in the final lead-up.

Media assets are here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rSjqdrXls36p4xeH1XUDCFAIEy2wcBQ2 - and of course, we are here to help with any questions or facilitate any last-minute requests.

***

The World of Music, Arts and Dance festival boasts eight stages, each featuring an eclectic and cross-cultural line-up with talented musicians, artists, and inspiring speakers for three days and nights of extraordinary music and culture like nothing else in Aotearoa.

From; Afghanistan to Zambia, psychedelic rock to incredible vocalists, classical to hip hop, Grammy award-winning to up-and-coming, traditional to contemporary, The 2023 festival features incredible artists such as; Avantdale Bowling Club, Deva Mahal, Mdou Moctar, MEUTE, Sampa The Great, Youssou N'Dour and his backing band Super Étoile de Dakar many more musical acts.

And from memoirs to mathematics, outside of the live music programme, the WOMAD festival also showcases people at the top of their fields pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. Inspirational speakers such as beloved painter Dick Frizzell and metrologist Lisa Murray will speak at World of Words and OMV STEAM Lab. Te Paepae proudly hosts Māori Culture workshops and activities, and music, food, and conversation are at the heart of Taranaki Offshore Partnership Taste the World.


Saturday, March 04, 2023

Review - The Culture (Powersuit Productions) Gryphon Theatre 28 feb - 4 March (Part of the Wellington Fringe Festival)


The 'Culture' tackles the very real and difficult modern landscape of relationships that have been tainted by the ever-present micro and macro aggressions that ooze from every pore of a tolerated, and often celebrated, toxic male culture.  
One that is present in nearly every nook of Western Society.  And they are over it.  They are over dating traps and pitfalls and clichés.  They're over swiping right!  They co-host a podcast called ‘Don’t Even Get Me Started’, the perfect platform to bitch about life, the universe and the poisoned hell that is hooking up in the modern world.   

Katie aspires to be Prime Minister one day, her role models being Julia Gillard and Jacinda Adern.  She quotes them ad nauseum, along with other female leaders.  The show even starts with sound bites and short clips of men in Office and on TV behaving badly.  Julia gives them 'what oh!' for being dicks in the house!  Too right!  

The couple have a number of 'routines' and in-jokes, developed over many years of BFF co-dependency.  Familiarity like brother and sister, lovers, mates.     At home, they are brave, fearless.  Safe, happy, cocooned bliss.  No one can hurt them. Everything they need. Almost.  But in the real-world things are more complicated.   Their sheltered sub-culture is tested when Katie falls for her co-worker, Kale.  Stupid name.  Stupid bloke.  but none the less.  A muscle-bound fitness freak.  A name like a salad vege.   

Will also pursues a romantic relationship, Kale's friend, who is still in the closet.  That sets up the dynamics.  The friendship is tested, in many ways - jealousy, abandonment, and later, when things go sour for Katie, a return to emotional support and a re-union.  Yes a spoiler.  But what did you expect? 

They’re safe, happy.  No one can hurt them. They have everything they need. Almost. Set in the Sydney club and dating world 'The Culture' is a look at a deep and enduring friendship, and the follies and, yes, sometimes dangers of looking for love in today's digital world.  

We are welcomed into their living room to watch this all unfold and, as a consequence are dragged into a more important, wider conversation. Although it's set in Australia, the cast, playwrite and actor Laura Jackson (Katie Monroe) and Mina Asfour (Will Archer) first performed the show in New York.  They told me after tonight's performance that following the Wellington run they were taking it to Adelaide and Sydney.  The Kiwi/Aussie crossover and references, were definitely stronger for the Capital's audience.  

Nods to Cherry Ripe (candy bars) and Jacinda's recent step down as PM, were topical and, fun but loaded with meaning, too.  References that we'd get more than an American audience, perhaps.   

Production Director Bethany Cuputo, who is an acting coach and director in NYC has extensive experience, working with Alec Baldwin, Laurie Metcalf, TV shows like 'FBI', 'Law and Order' and Marvel's Jessica Jone's' and her influence on the production shines through in the quick witted banter, delivered with perfect timing and energy.   The set is simple, created for touring and quick pack outs.  The furniture probably came from K-Mart or Ikea, all flat packs.  A couch, coffee table and two free standing wardrobes.  

The players will use these to change outfits, at pace, lounge on, roll about, sit and scroll.  Costumes are mainly street clothes.  Katie prefers geeky outfits that show off her lanky, awkward frame.  Exceptions are a hugely loud pink two suit and a contrasting black demure dress (which Will refers to, insultingly as 'Armish').  The dress is a metaphor for the containment of Katie's personality, which comes when her new boyfriend starts to control everything in her life, from her movements to her phone and dress.  Will is always in understated t-shirt and jeans.  His personality is loud, but his conservative dress reveals his, shy, insecurities.  He needs Katie to really shine out and this is clear through out the show.   

 Jackson's acting feels very natural.  Having briefly met her afterwards, she seems on stage pretty close to her character on stage.  Her experiences writing the show, she told me, came, in part from experiences from friends.  She didn't specifically say there was an incident that inspired the domestic violence that crops up towards the end, but a collective experience by just being a woman is clearly the pivot point for everyhing that feeds into this narrative. Will will sum it up, at a point where he states the hypocrisy of media reportage of victims of domestic violence as the women and children harmed but never mentioning the man who caused it.  That and the chilling fact that one out three women will come into contact with some kind of abuse in their lifetime.  "Not her.  Not Her. Her!" Katie singles out audience members like a police line-up in reverse.   Jackson plays Katie with an explosive energy that matches Asfour's, particularly in the early stages of the show.  

Asfour plays Will as camp and loud.  Both characters are clearly holding their optimism masks up high, to protect themselves.  Will hides his hesitancy, learned from trying to connect with men at school who aren't ready to come out, with bitter consequences.  Jackson carries the shame of teenage body same T- perfect on the outside but always vulnerable to the reminders of earlier days when she 'carried a little fat."   They both reveal these very real experiences. 

Why can't we go through our teen age years without being outed, judged, body-shamed?  That's the micro-aggressions that haunt us and force us to judge ourselves and others constantly.  And everything feeds into that - from advertising to politicians to newsreaders.  That's the culture we navigate everyday.   

 Credits should also go to sound designer Charlotte Leamon and graphic designer Brandon Wong who were instrumental in putting together the media sound bites and film footage that provides the context for the show and wider conversations as well.  There is the additional use of text messages, portrayed on the screen, which pop up, in certain places.  

My only bug bear was that these were a little small and hard to read from the back row.  But overall, that had no effect on the plot or my enjoyment of the show.  I should have taken my glasses.   

The show is immensely funny at times, witty and very clever.  It makes you think, it angers you, challenges you.  It pushes you, not too hard, in the right direction.  It will make you cry, at the end at least. This is an important work.  It traverses a huge range.  I wonder if it would be suitable for schools.  Many senior students would recognise themselves in these characters and their future selves as well. 

When Powersuit Productions return for the next Fringe Festival, and I hope they do, I'll definitely be going.  I can't wait to see what they do next! 

A final point.  Powersuit Productions, in conjunction with the Robson Jackson Foundation, supports the work of Wellington Womans Refuge and Te Whare Rokiroki (The Maori Women's Refuge), matching donations from patrons of this season of 'The Culture' dollar for dollar up to $2000 per show.   

Groove encourages readers to generously support the important work of those at the forefront of domestic violence.           

 SHOW CREDITS: The Culture Cast: Laura Jackson & Mina Asfour Director: Bethany Caputo Creative Producer: Carly Fisher Dramaturg: Catherine Fargher Lighting Designer: Capri Harris Sound Designer: Charlotte Leamon Stage Manager: Natalie Low Graphic Designer: Brandon Wong 

Thursday, February 16, 2023

TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT!: WGTN FRINGE FESTIVAL KICKS OFF!

The Fringe Launch - Dec 2022 (Photos Tim Gruar)

It's finally happening! The New Zealand Fringe Festival has returned to the capital with more than 160 arts events due to be held over more than 40 venues.

It will run from tomorrow night, February 17 until March 11, hosting several award-winning international acts.  International shows that will be performed include The Pandemusical Diaries (San Francisco), Concept for a Film + Invisible Mending (United Kingdom), I Am King/Queen (Sydney), and Pillow Fight (Melbourne).

Local shows will include ARAWHATA by Wellington Ballroom and Suitcase Show by Trick of the Light.

The 23-day season is “set to wow and inspire Pōneke, offering an incredible lineup of local talents as well as welcoming back an array of exciting international artists, all spanning a myriad of genres and styles”, said Vanessa Stacey, director of the Fringe Festival.

New Zealand Fringe Festival welcomes first-timers, one-off attendees, and seasoned Fringe fanatics!

NZ Fringe Festival is an open-access festival, which means that artists and performers are free to register their events without any barriers. Each year's programme depends entirely on who decides to register and we're lucky to always have a stunning array of talented people join us each year. It's a real lucky dip of bold, daring and diverse works!

OK, so where is it?

The Festival isn’t held in one singular location, rather a myriad of venues all across Wellington to the outskirts of town partake in facilitating the Fringe. For example, we have shows happening from seasoned arts venues such as Te Auaha, Hannah Playhouse, The Gryphon, to out-of-the-box spaces like the Wellington Zoo, Botanic Gardens and even a board games cafe... anything is possible! Refer to our venue map here to see where NZ Fringe is happening in 2023.

Get Fringeeeeee! 

Step out of your comfort zone. Go to shows you wouldn’t normally go to. You never know, you just might discover something new about yourself. The most important part of Fringe is getting out there and having fun.

Take me to the Tix! 

Nau mai haere mai to the Fringe Box Office! Located at 17 Allen Street, Te Aro, Wellington. You can pick up your physical tickets here at the following times:

10am to 6pm, Tuesday - Saturday.

11am to 4pm, Sunday - Monday.

From 15 February 2023 onwards.


Get online and get to the shows! 



Friday, February 10, 2023

We say goodbye to Burt Bacharach -


Burt Bacharach, the songwriter and performer extraordinaire was a writer beyond simple composition.  He turned easy listening into high art.  All in all he scored 73 Top 40 hits in the US and 52 in the UK.

Musicians, Singers, artists, admirers and friends all paid tribute to the late performer who died in London at 94. 

“Burt’s transition is like losing a family member. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family letting them know he is now peacefully resting and I too will miss him.”  Dionne Warwick said in a statement. 

Brian Wilson wrote on Twitter: “I’m so sad to hear about Burt Bacharach. Burt was a hero of mine and very influential on my work. He was a giant in the music business. His songs will live forever.”

In his tribute, the Kinks’ Dave Davies called Bacharach as “a great inspiration” and “one of the most influential songwriters of our time.” 

Gilbert O’Sullivan tweeted about him.  "He was a “huge influence” on his songwriting career and created “timeless melodies never to be forgotten.”

Bacharach was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1928 and raised in New York.  He'd sneak into jazz clubs underage to hear performers like Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie, immersing himself in the work of composers like Stravinsky and Ravel. 

He was classically trained at schools in Montreal, New York and California.  after a stint in in the US army he became a piano accompanist to musicians, such as Vic Damone, the Ames Brothers and his first wife, Paula Stewart. He was also arranger and conductor for Marlene Dietrich when she toured Europe in the late 50s and early 60s.


Hi songwriting breakthrough came in 1957, after meeting and working casually with lyricist Hal David at the famous New York pop powerhouse, the Brill Building. They scored back to back UK No 1s with two of their earliest songs, The Story of My Life by Marty Robbins (Michael Holliday in the UK hit version) and Magic Moments by Perry Como.

Topped by David’s variously whimsical, wounded and earnestly romantic lyrics, Bacharach created expert arrangements featuring close vocal harmonising, string sections, jazz piano and distinctive details, such as twinkling percussion and whistled melodies. 

With David he created a string of all-time classics: I Say a Little Prayer, sung by Aretha Franklin, What’s New Pussycat? by Tom Jones, The Look of Love by Dusty Springfield, Make It Easy on Yourself by the Walker Brothers, and many others.

Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head, performed by BJ Thomas and featured in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, went on to win a Grammy and an Oscar in 1969, while Bacharach’s music for the film won the Oscar for best original score.

Dionne Warwick became one of Bacharach’s most enduring and fruitful collaborators. Their hits together include Walk on By, Do You Know the Way to San Jose?, Anyone Who Had a Heart, A House is Not a Home (later a hit for Luther Vandross) and her own original version of I Say a Little Prayer. Warwick later successfully sued Bacharach after he and David stopped working together, stranding her without material. It was a “very costly and unfortunate” dispute, Bacharach told the Guardian in 2019: “I stupidly handled it wrong.” He and Warwick reconciled for the 1985 Aids charity single That’s What Friends Are For.


After he and Stewart got divorced in 1958, he married three more times, first to Angie Dickinson in 1965, then to Carole Bayer Sager in 1982, and last to Jane Hansen in 1993. 

Bacharach and Hansen, who remained married until his death, had two children, Oliver and Raleigh. Nikki Bacharach, his daughter with Dickinson, killed herself in 2007, aged 40, after a history of mental health issues.

His hit rate tailed off after the mid-80s, but he continued to pursue eye-catching collaborations, with, among others, Ronald Isley, Dr Dre and Sheryl Crow. He made a pair of albums with Elvis Costello, plus a version of I’ll Never Fall in Love Again with him for the 1997 movie, Austin Powers.

Friday, February 03, 2023

The Womad 2023 Stage Schedule if finally here!



The stage schedule for WOMAD New Zealand 2023 has just been announced.  Get your friends together and start planning who'll you'll see and what you'll be doing over the full three days of the festival.  Don't forget to leave room for lunch and comfort stops! 

For all the info go to www.womad.co.nz

WOMAD NZ 2023, March 17-19  Celebrating 20 years, 17 Festivals And Over 1500 Performers / Be Part Of Global History. 


WOMAD 2023 tickets on sale now from www.womad.co.nz

Friday, December 02, 2022

How very dare they - Womad sign's missing 'M' given a 'deliberately shoddy' replacement

ANDY MACDONALD/STUFF

Following the theft of the letter 'M' from New Plymouth’s Womad sign, the Taranaki Arts Trust (TAFT) have erected a deliberately 'shoddy' replacement.

The M, which was stolen taken earlier this month, was one of five colourful letters making up the name Womad, the World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival, which returns to the city’s Brooklands Park from March 17-19 next year.

TAFT), the organisers of Womad, removed the remaining four letters after the theft, but then replaced them with a new 'M' created from pieces of 4x2 donated by a local builder.

“It’s a way of drawing attention to the fact that the M is still missing while also still being able to have the letters up,” TAFT chief executive Suzanne Porter told www.stuff.co.nz.

“It would be a real shame to not have the letters up around Taranaki in the lead up to Womad - it’s one of the local signs that summer is coming, and Womad is on the horizon.”

She said TAFT did not want to keep the letters in storage but also did not want to waste time and effort running around trying to find them. They would much rather have the missing M back.

Ms Porter appealed to anyone who knew the whereabouts of the missing letter to contact police or get in touch with TAFT, either at their Brougham Street office, or by calling 06 759 8412.

Friday, November 11, 2022

DÉJÀ VU! L.A.B REPEAT HISTORY IN THE 2022 AOTEAROA MUSIC AWARDS

L.A.B - Topic Photography (via Facebook)


Repeating their 2021 haul L.A.B has secured their spot in award history, taking out the same four Tūī for the second year running.

Their success story continues with the group taking home Recorded Music NZ Te Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of The Year for their fifth album L.A.B. V, Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘Mr Reggae’, Te Roopu Toa | Best Group and Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa | Best Roots Artist.

Tami Neilson - Topic Photography (via Facebook) 

Country singer-songwriter Tami Neilson has won three Tūī: her 6th Te Kaipuoro Tuawhenua Toa | Best Country Artist, as well as Te Kaipuoro Takitahi Toa | Best Solo Artist, and Massey University Te Kaiwhakaputa Toa | Best Producer for her album Kingmaker. Tami’s Best Producer nod makes her the first solo female to win the award since Bic Runga in 2006.

Fresh from their APRA Silver Scroll win, Rob Ruha has been recognised as 2022’s Te Kaipuoro Awe Toa | Best Soul/RnB Artist for his album Preservation of Scenery and under his mentorship, Te Tairāwhiti tira waiata Ka Hao received Te Māngai Pāho Te Kaipuoro Māori Toa | Best Māori Artist and the Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo Tūī for Ka Hao: One Tira, One Voice and ’35’ (ft. Rob Ruha) respectively.

Rob Ruha and Te Tairāwhiti tira waiata Ka Hao - Topic Photography (Via Facebook)

Tauranga-based artist and first-time nominee Georgia Lines has scooped the Tūī for Te Kaituhura Puoro Toa o te Tau | Breakthrough Artist of the Year for her sophomore EP Human, while pop juggernaut BENEE takes home the 2022 Te Kaipuoro Arotini Toa | Best Pop Artist for the fourth year running.

The other winners this year include Waipu-based metal band Alien Weaponry for Te Kaipuoro Rakapioi Toa | Best Rock Artist, Vera Ellen for Te Kaipuoro Manohi Toa | Best Alternative Artist for the critically acclaimed It’s Your Birthday, first time nominee LEAPING TIGER for Te Kaipuoro Tāhiko Toa | Best Electronic Artist, and Robert Ashworth & Sarah Watkins for Te Kaipuoro Inamata Toa | Best Classical Artist for their album Moonstone – a collection of works by New Zealand composers.

Two-time 2022 Pacific Music Award winners Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan and P. Smith also took home the Tūī for Te Kaipuoro Hipihope Toa | Best Hip Hop Artist for The Panthers OST.

Vera Ellen - Topic Photography (Via Facebook)

Another year, another awards season for Six60 who continue to show us why they’re history makers, taking out Te Toa Hoko Teitei | Highest Selling Artist for the fourth year running, and Te Rikoata Marakerake o te Tau | Radio Airplay Record of the Year for the sixth time for their single ‘Someone To Be Around’.

There will be one surprise award announced tonight – the Tūī for Te Kōwhiri o te Nuinga | People’s Choice will be tallied up and presented to the recipient this evening and on social media.

Announcing the Artisan Awards winners

Alongside the main awards finalists, the behind-the-scenes heroes of the hapori puoro were also announced and celebrated today.

While Tami Neilson received Best Producer, the Tūī for Te Kaipukaha Toa | Best Engineer went to Simon Gooding for his contributions to Tami’s album Kingmaker.

L.A based Chelsea Jade Metcalf was awarded Te Toi Ataata Pukaemi Toa | Best Album Artwork for her album Soft Spot while Joel Kefali and Ella Yelich-O’Connor (Lorde) were recognised with the NZ On Air Te Kiko Puoro Ataata Toa | Best Music Video Content for Lorde’s music video ‘Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen It All)’, the video which features three different versions of Lorde — literally and figuratively.

Recorded Music New Zealand Kaiwhakahaere o Ngā Tohu Puoro o Aotearoa Sarah Owen says this year’s awards are a testament to the passion and commitment displayed by the local music scene.

“Being able to see such deserving artists receive recognition for their art is an honour – such a broad range of recorded work with originality and artistry, showing the depth and breadth of talent in Aotearoa,” says Owen.

“With many of our 2022 award winners being first-time nominees, we hope it also encourages our aspiring and emerging ringapuoro across the motu to press ahead with their own musical journeys.”

With thanks to NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho for their continued support.