Banana Mundo is back with Intercultural Appreciation Day. This track is literally dripping with sublimely blended culturally iconic instruments and tones, and is an homage to that famed multi-cultural festival in their base, New Plymouth, over there in sunny Taranaki. We have a reggae base, with some fabulous salsa brass. There’s some wood and steel…

Another from the ‘Naki! That region is pumping out the artists in genre after genre, and Lauren Nottingham, AKA Frau Knotz, joins the roll of honour. Her new single Odyssey I, from her forthcoming debut EP Nextraterrestrial (due in August ’24), is out on Wednesday 24th April, and I get to tell you all about…

Based in South Auckland, Filipino-Kiwi hip-hop artist Ray Leslie comes to us with a dreamy number called The Fridge All Stocked. Putting me in mind of a time when I was sitting in a fale (pronounced fal-ey to those unfamiliar with the South Pacific) on the south coast of Upolu at a magical place called…

And the man from Taranaki with the Welshiest name outside of Llanelli (and before you ask, yes I can say that Welsh place name too; the long one), Evan Rhys, is back with an uplifting anthem called It’s Not Your Fault. Release date is 12th April, so diarise. We’re treated to some intricate guitar layering,…

Ms. Mia is the brainchild of Manila-born Mia Caintic. The lady now resides in Tāmaki Makaurau and is certainly making waves in the industry. Following successful releases in 2023, Ms. Mia brings us her first 2024 release Going For The Kill, to prelude her upcoming E.P. Living In The Shadows, due later this year. Going…