Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Main navigation list - the services of Radio NZ

• Home
• National
• Concert
• News
• International
• Sound Archives

March 18 2010

Arch Hill Records 10th Birthday

The label that brings you The Bats, David Kilgour, Luke Buda, Don McGlashan, Bachelorette and many more fine acts is celebrating a decade in the business by having a sun-drenched barbeque at the Kings Arms in Auckland. The Music Mix speaks to founder Ben Howe about the relentlessness of running a label and touring international bands. We also get Ben Howe's picks on his latest up and comers.

Anonymouz at Pacifika

The Music Mix went to the Pacifika festival on at Western Springs, Central Auckland. It's a huge festival celebrating all things Polynesian. The festival had a definite Samoan focus this year and we hang out with talented pianist and rapper Anonymouz, A.K.A Matthew Faiumu Salapu. He's on the bill for a sixth straight year and his tales of growing up and making music in Mangere are compelling.

March 11 2010

Hollie Smith

Her new album, Humour And The Misfortune Of Others is out March 15th. We talk to Hollie about the bluesy gospel choir and the unhinged guitar solos that pepper the record. She's had Radiohead playing non-stop in the car recently. She also waxes on the unusual harmonic structure underpinning one of Gin Wigmore's early compositions, These Roses.

Broken Bells

It can be intriguing when an ensemble is billed as a "project". When Brian Burton, a.k.a Dangermouse and James Mercer from The Shins announced this new act last September the epithet of "band" didn't seem to fit. With obtuse binary postings on their website and melodic, yet experimental music available for free download it's all very modern. Kirsten Johnstone reports.

4 March 2010

Mint Chicks new EP, Bad Buzz

Balancing on loops of razor-wire and teetering above a three-story drop is just part of Kody Neilson's job description. The crowd winced at the lead-singers antics during a roof-top launch of the Mint Chicks new EP, Bad Buzz. Meanwhile Ruben Neilson beat his aged telecaster accompanied by two bass players spanking out the bands new tracks. With Ruben ruminating on turning thirty and drummer Paul Roper wanting to join The Veils the band are as mysterious and unpredictable as ever. The Music Mix catches up with this ever compelling ensemble. We also talk to the founders of musichy.pe who have manufactured the Bad Buzz EP in the form of a sexy rubber USB stick. Musichy.pe is a new web-site dedicated to facilitating a creative dialogue between fans and acts.

The Ruby Suns new album, Fight Softly

The new Ruby Suns album is upon us. Kirsten Johnstone has charted their career path for several years now. She talks to Ryan McPhun ahead of their frankly brutal tour of America and beyond. Marvel at the subtle African influences infused into the new tracks as Johnstone speaks with Californian Kiwi McPhun.

Scalper new album, Flesh And Bones

The Music Mix goes bush to talk to rapper, producer and chicken farmer Nadeem Shafi, alias Scalper. He's got wind-chimes, a massive pig and a serene view from his Bethels Beach balcony. Yet his music is, as his niece says, scary. We find Scalper in a state of inspiration; waxing on unity and the magnificent unlikelihood of existence. A Londoner of Pakistani stock, Nadeem calls on a diverse and street-savvy collection of influences. A deeply urban man making records in his converted rural laundry.

25 February 2010

Mark de Clive-Lowe in LA

He's been jammin' with Pahroahe Monch and Sheila E. He's just released a brand new track called Hope featuring the silken vocals of Rahel and he's living an idyllic new life in LA cycling along beaches as dolphins gambol in the surf. Sounds a little far fetched. Tune in Thursday evening to hear Mark de Clive Lowe, a.k.a. Mashi, extol the virtues of being a Kiwi musician living state-side. Download Hope for free at Mashibeats.

Connan Mockasin in person

Music 101's presenter and ace reporter Kirsten Johnstone has been keenly anticipating Connan's debut album. She selects the choicest cuts from Please Turn Me Into The Snat while delving into the mysterious genesis of Connan's music. Among many revelations unveiled is the assertion that Connan doesn't listen to music. Also contains references to dolphins.

Nick D in Africa

Broadcasting powerhouse and afro-beat fanatic Nick D is off on a global odyssey producing another series of making tracks, the influential and original series in which he takes classic New Zealand songs to far-flung, musically diverse countries to be re-interpreted by local musicians. National Geographic are aboard for the second series. We focus on the African leg of Nick's tele-visual journey. You can catch Nick D and his Yewala Yewala sound system perform at Auckland's Secret Garden on March 5.

18 February 2010

Sacha Vee

Her grandfather was cricket's first double international - playing for the West Indies and New Zealand test teams. She sounds like a cross between Hollie Smith and Chaka Khan. Sacha Vee has just released her debut EP. We talk to her about her Carribean heritage and her jazz-heavy record collection.

The Cribs

Three brothers from Yorkshire have distilled the essence of being a British rock band into four records over the past twelve years. But for their latest release they've enlisted The Smith's Johnny Marr on lead-guitar. The Cribs tour NZ at the end of February.

Little Bushman

Warren Maxwell grew up in Whangarei and now lives in the Wairarapa. But he's always had close ties with the Hawkes Bay. Home, Land And Sea, the final Trinity Roots album was recorded there and his current band Little Bushman always receives a warm welcome from the region. On March 7th Warren and his band join Fat Freddy's Drop and Ladi 6 at the Black Barn Vineyard for an epic afternoon of music. We speak with Warren and drummer Rick Cranson about their ties to the region and the style of music they'll be playing there.

11 February 2010

Florence And The Machine

This week The Music Mix talks to Florence Welch of Florence And The Machine who wowed audiences across Australia and New Zealand at St Jerome's Laneway Festival. We are with her when she gets the news that her debut album has held the number 1 spot on the UK charts for three consecutive weeks! Unmissable.

Massive Attack

Kirsten Johnstone speaks with Daddy G about the new and hotly anticipated Massive Attack album Heligoland. Already fans are frothing at the chops at the prospect of seeing the band perform at Vector Arena on March 25.

Eagles Of Death Metal

Richard Wain interrupts the Rock'n'Roll antics of the Eagles Of Death Metal ahead of their New Zealand dates with Faith No More. Then we spice up the show with Panamanian rappers and leaven the dough with DJs from Montreal. The bowl is chock-full of exotic ingredients for this weeks edition of The Music Mix.

4 February 2010

Shapeshifter and Tiki Tane

This summer Shapeshifter played to 26,000 kiwis and grossed the best part of 1.5 million dollars. Nick went to their second sold-out show at Mangawhai Tavern to find out why Tiki still has to load the PA, how the drummer Redford came to leave the band and will the band eventually loose their hearing from the excessive crowd noise and awesome onstage volume the group produce.

Nick is talking to Sam Trevethick from Shapeshifter

The Veils

Prolific travellers and captivating performers The Veils are also breaking in a new drummer. Nick caught up with Finn and Sophia before their Big Day Out show and then spoke to Finn the week after the big festival. With a speaking voice that could seduce an iceberg Finn spun captivating yarns about the ensemble almost catching fire in Portugal among other things.

Passion Pit

This baby-faced set of synth scientists from Boston were the must-see it-band of the Big Day Out. Nick spoke with the cherubic Ian Hultquist as the rest of the band succumbed to a battery of interviews from all sectors of the New Zealand music press. Hultquist is the bands multi-instrumentalist switching from guitar to synth with searing speed and dexterity. Fans of Phoenix and dance-music, Passion Pit are being worked hard by SONY as they bludgeon themselves against a relentless touring schedule. Perhaps the question is how bright will this flash in the pan burn?

28 January 2010

New Music Mix producer Nick Atkinson takes a walk through his record collection with Kirsten Johnstone. Beginning with a Front Lawn track recorded live at Roundhead studios Nick charts his musical odyssey through rock, rap and soul. From the latest Julian Dyne cut to Ellington from archives, from Fugazi to Bachelorette, Nick picks a hand-full of tunes from acts that have had a lasting influence on his musical development. Tune in to hear an essential mix 35 years in the making.

Nick's Mix Tape track listing

Andy. Don McGlashan and Neil Finn recorded live at Roundhead by Radio New Zealand

I'm Coming Home. The Spinners recorded live in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1974

Home, Land And Sea. Trinity Roots

Thanks For The Beautiful Land On The Delta. Duke Ellington

Long Division. Fugazi

On My Radio. The Selecter

Her Rotating Head. Bachelorette

Lie In The Arms. The Stereo Bus

More Music Content

Remember that song?

Weekly nostalgia and musical memories with Peter Fry.

Find out more about Saturday Night Requests.

Enzology

This 10 part documentary about Split Enz is now available as a web-only feature.

Find out more about Enzology

Music on Radio New Zealand Concert

See what's coming up on Radio New Zealand Concert as well as checking out the Highlights on Radio New Zealand Concert

Search

Search