The Future Of Music Today

The Future Of Music Today

NEWSFLASH!

IMNZ is thrilled to be able to present you with the very first edition of the IMNZ Independent New Zealand Chart. This is a monthly chart, which we will be publishing in Median Strip and on www.indies.co.nz. We’ll also be distributing printed copies to the main centres around the country. This Chart reflects the sales of Independent New Zealand releases, so you can see which Indie titles are doing the business. We have a few more ideas about how to grow this baby too, so watch this space!!!

We have some other IMNZ news for you too - the edited version is also on the Chart but if you want the full monty, here you go...

Nominees for the 2003 b-net New Zealand Music Awards were announced on July 2, and, as was expected, the majority are from independent labels, with a large number being from IMNZ labels. So we’ll be keeping an excited eye on the results – although it does make it really tricky to know who to vote for!

Tracks from artists on IMNZ member labels are starting to appear more often on Air New Zealand inflight entertainment audio programmes, thanks to links being forged with Inflight Productions, the producers of the programmes. If you are flying at the moment you may be lucky enough to hear tracks from Trip, SJD, Onelung, Johannes Contag and Lucid 3, with much more Indie noise to come in future programmes.

There will be a showcase of Urban music from New Zealand at the PopKomm music convention in Germany this year. The show features 2 artists from IMNZ member labels – Rhian Sheehan from LOOP Recordings Aot(ear)oa and Pitch Black of Kog Transmissions – as well as King Kapisi and Trinity Roots. The show is scheduled for Saturday August 16 and is set to be a stunner. And even better the entry is FREE! We just have to raise enough cash to all get over there now...

Entries are still open for the 2003 NZ Battle of the Bands competition. The Battle of the Bands has been bringing New Zealand’s finest talent to the forefront of the industry for 11 years. Previous winners and finalists include: Star Drunk (2002), Tadpole (1995), Stoods (2001), Blindspott (finalist 2000), Mama Said (2000) and Pan Am (finalist 1999). This year’s event commences in July with heats held at various venues throughout the country, leading up to the National Final in Auckland at the end of September. The prize package includes musical equipment, recording time and the New Zealand release of the winners CD through NZ Independent record label Intergalactic Records and distributed in New Zealand through the label ’s NZ distributor, Global Routes, both members of IMNZ.

Auckland label Sugarlicks have just released their 2003 statement of unique future soul. Gathering artists from inside and outside the label family, “Ultrasound Volume 1” (selected by Manuel Bundy), is another strong step along the road to establishing a fresh global sound in NZ for the label, and a present day snapshot of the label’s agenda to bring future soul to the melting pot of NZ music. Featuring tracks by One Million Dollars with Manuel Bundy, This information, Murk108, T-Son, Nat Rose, Mark de Clive Lowe and more, the compilation reaches across many genres of modern dance music from hip hop and R&B to house and broken beat, all with a distinctly Pacific flavour. And you can also pick up a set of limited edition artist trading cards!

Nelson breaks group Minuit have announced that they plan to release 'The 88', their debut album on August 22. The record will come out via Auckland label Tardus Music, who are new additions to the IMNZ family.

The Kog Transmissions’ Breaks compilation “Return of the Boom Shwack” comes out Friday July 18th. It features tunes from the cream of both New Zealand's and Australia's Breaks community with contributions from Freq Nasty, Phil K, Baitercell vs.Timmy Schumacher, Minuit, Substax and more. It features the current #1 track on the alt charts, 'Lay it Down' by Baitercell vs Timmy Schumacher. There will be a national tour in support of the release starting Friday July 18 in Auckland’s FU Bar.

LOOP Recordings Aot(ear)oa have 3 brand new recordings to look forward to in the very near future. In association with the Green Party of NZ, LOOP present “The Green Room 002: Wahine”. The second installment in this series showcases the spirit and strength of the women in New Zealand. Again the project aims to promote local creative culture and combine creativity with positive messaging to facilitate education and empowerment of environmental and global issues. Also “The Green Room 001: Eco Nation” is to be released by prestigious German label Select Cuts/Echo Beach worldwide in January 2004. The worldwide release of “The Green Room 002: Wahine” is planned for 2005.

Also courtesy of LOOP Recordings Aot(ear)oa, Twinset are delighted to announce the release of their fourth album, “Mystical Soul”, following the success of 2002 album It's A Summer Feeling, which saw them gaining a nomination for Best Jazz Album at the New Zealand Music Awards 2003. Recorded at The Surgery in Newtown, Wellington, organist Chris Yeabsley, twin brother Dan Yeabsley on sax/flute and Paul Hoskin on drums present vocal collaborations with such luminaries of the Wellington massive as Lotus, The Black Seeds frontman Barnaby Weir and Dallas of Fat Freddy's Drop fame. Engineering is by Dr Lee Prebble, and Mu provides the magic touch on mixing and mastering duties.

New Zealand's red hot TV show “The Strip” is back with new episodes and now available via LOOP is “The Strip Soundtrack”, featuring an all-star line up of New Zealand artists. There are tracks from Cloudboy, Gramsci (one featuring Anika Moa), Lucid3, Cassette, Goodshirt , Bressa Creeting Cake, Twinset, Che Fu, The Black Seeds, The Phoenix Foundation, Goldenhorse, Pluto, Greg Johnson, STYLUS77, and Garageland - whew! That’s quite a package.

Arch Hill jetsetters Pine played recently at Cargo in London with Wildside boys Rubicon and were treated to a good turn out of public and music industry types, including some expats - Brent Hansen, Roger Shephard and others. On Thursday 10th July they played two gigs in one night in New York, first at CBGBs, and then they taxied it across town to play the Issue bar. Sunday 13th was the SummerStage alongside fellow Kiwis Greg Johnson, Wai and King Kapisi, and Monday 14th was the NZ showcase at the Piano bar. Somehow they’ ve also found the time to do a bunch of press for US newspapers and magazines.

The second Arch Hill compilation called 'The Hill Is Alive' is released on September 4th, featuring Pine, Fang, David Mulcahy, Gasoline Cowboy, Mestar, Minisnap, Ghostplane, and others...

8 Foot Sativa’s debut album “Hate Made Me” was released in Australia on Monday July 14 through Intergalactic's license to Roadrunner Records. They have a new album currently in production at Auckland’s York Street and Area 51 which is scheduled for release locally in September and in Australia in October. They’ve also planned a national tour for October and Australian tours in September and November. And watch out for a new Mama Said video for “Elements” due for release on August 1st.

Following the recent release of Onelung and Sleepytime Vol.2, comes the second album from Wellington-based hummel, titled “Mediochre” to complete a triumvirate of terrific tune-laden treats from monkey records. In the monkey studio Eightfold and Dystopia are in the final stages of recording their albums and recent guests helping out in the studio have included gospel choir Heaven Bent, Kingsley Melhuish (Brassouls) and Nigel Gavin (Jews Brothers, Nairobi Trio, Gitbox rebellion). Dystopia will be previewing new material from “The Rough Art of the Spiritual” at the Odeon Lounge on Thursday 7th August.

New monkey signing Peachy Keen have just made a music video as part of the 48 hour film competition for their song “Big Truck” which, given its Tarantino style and high body count, probably won’t be seen on a TV screen near you. However they are in pre-production for their second video, “Not Your Kind of Girl” to be shot on 8mm by Simon Parsons. Peachy Keen will be recording their debut album over the next few months and you can catch them on August 14th at the Odeon with support from Tors (from Lucid 3).

In news from Dawn Raid, July 18 marked the release of Mareko’s (of Deceptikonz) solo debut "White Sunday". The majority of the album was recorded in NY with a host of the best MCs in the world including members of the Wu Tang Clan, Beatnuts, Roc Raida and the Liks, plus production from E swift, Da Beatminerz and New Zealand's own P Money. The album is a first for New Zealand Hip Hop music and Dawn Raid are expecting big things from this young star.

“Slowpoke”, the debut album from "2001 Best New Act b-Net awards nominee" Phelps & Munro, is the musical rollercoaster just released on Round Trip Mars. Most recently seen supporting Kid 606 there can be few artists who have built up such interest on the basis of the release (and massive student radio support) of only two tracks and a handful of frequently shady live assignations. After much confusion, some of it perhaps deliberate, we are now at liberty to reveal that in fact the duo of Phelps & Munro is entirely the work of one man, Gerald Phillips. Like “Ex-Sports Star Turned Commentator”, the other previously released tune that has already found favour with John Peel on Radio 1, “Horse Winning Without A Rider” has been remixed and remastered (by studio don Angus McNaughton & Mr Phillips Esq) for the album release. With more recent airplay in the UK on Mr Scruff & Treva Whateva's Hot Pot show as well as transtasmanic broadcasteration on the ABC Network, the spectacularly singular Phelps & Munro has been getting it about a bit.

Muse Records releases the long-awaited second album from Damien Binder on September 9th. The new album is titled "Til Now" and sees Damien working with his usual production team of Bob Shepheard & Steve Garden, as well as Chris Van de Geer. "Til Now" is the first project Chris & Damien have worked on together since the demise of their band Second Child in 1997.

In news from the world of Pagan and Antenna, Tadpole, featuring their new line up, have been touring in the UK doing a series of sold out shows in London, Scotland, Ireland and Switzerland. Crumb recently spaced out Space and are playing the “Lord of the Rings” wrap party and their next single “Stay Hard” is being mixed now by engineer of the year Dave Rhodes. Pagan are about to release an 18 track compilation of new and classic tracks from the Warratahs - the pulling power of this band throughout New Zealand is still unprecedented. Fou Nature are working on demos for a new single. And Luke Casey from Relaxomatic is a proud new dad! Both Indicator Dogs and Relaxomatic are finalists in this year's b-Net awards. Dub Asylum is having trax from his album “She Dubs Me, She Dubs Me Not” remixed by hot producers round town ... and far from home ...Trip albums are selling in Sweden ... pretty cool!

And in travel news just to hand, Murray Cammick has returned to NZ after four weeks away as manager of his Wildside band Rubicon in London and the USA. Rubicon played Walkabout gigs in London to expats, Aussies and South Africans plus a gig at London rock pub, the Monarch, and a showcase gig at cool venue Cargo. A large contingent of expats in the music business made it to Cargo. The best showcase was a week later in Los Angeles at the Viper Room where there were loads of music business people (both expats and locals) and there was strong interest from A&R scouts. Rubicon are following up the interested Los Angeles A&R people now.

>From Global Routes HQ, the Managers’ debut album “Special” has just been released. They’re getting some good radio airtime too on the Rock and Channel Z throughout August and September and the Edge countrywide in September. There’s a national tour to look forward to in September; make sure you catch them if they’re in your town as they are indeed a pretty special live act.

Following on from the "Metrobeatz" trans-tasman drum 'n' bass compilation (April 2003) and the successful Pacific Heights Ep (Sept 2002) the Pacific Heights "Frozen Fears" Album is the third release on fabelmusic's Reserve Recordings imprint. "Frozen Fears" is the debut album from Devin Abrams aka Pacific Heights. Devin recently returned from performing in London as part of the SPACIFIC NZ showcase and the "Frozen Fears" album is due for release in August 2003.

Fabelmusic is also part of the Wellington Urban Music Collective, which has received funding from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to travel to Europe to attend seminars in London, and the Popkomm music industry conference in Germany. James and Rangi from fabelmusic will be attending, and will also travel to the US and Australia to further investigate distribution in those markets.

Finally, in news from Propeller, “Give it A Whirl” is almost gold and they’ ve just re-issued the legendary "Bigger Than Both of Us: NZ Singles 1979-82" Compilation. “Room Service 3”, on the Huh label, has just been released in Australia. And on the Joy imprint, 3 The Hard Way's first single off the new album "It’s on (Move to This)" is going to radio very soon, and has a video made by James Barr (Crumb/Rhombus/Black Seeds). This single is off the new album "Burn Rubber", produced by Alan Jansson.

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