Decorated time is the solo project of Wellington multi-instrumentalist Adam McDonald. His latest single, Where The Hills Meet The Sea, features Sam Minot on lead guitar break and lead fade out. Produced at Adam‘s home studio, we have some interesting indie pop/rock with generous allowance for instrumental pairings and fiddling around. It absolutely smacks of…

I’ve never hidden the fact that I absolutely love 80s music. This adopted homeland of mine, Aotearoa New Zealand, appears to be rich with talented musicians, many of whom seem to share this love of all things 80s. isunray and Cosmic Address evidently fit into this clique. Kudos to them, says I! These two intrepid…

I’m seeing the names Scott Seabright and Chris Chetland popping up regularly in New Zealand bands EPKs. Not surprised. These engineering work-horses certainly know how to pull a number through the studio and keep its heart and spirit. No different here, with Medusa Glare‘s newest release Winning The Game. The band together with Scott produced…

Zoë Larsen-Cumming (she/her), musician and songwriter based in Tāmaki Makaurau, is the brains behind Babe Martin. I’m reviewing the debut single from her newly launched E.P, also named Versoix, and this is most definitely an interesting song from an interesting act. With some intense restraint, Babe Martin brings us an organ-driven folk/dream-pop crossover of surprising commerciality.…

Well now, this is different. Not unwelcome either as it has allowed me to utilise an external reviewer for the first time – namely my 5 year old son, Codez. His actual name is Cody but he insists on Codez because, well, that’s just soooo much cooler! Ngāti Porou musician and entertainer Eden Mulholland is…

Pōneke legend Darren Watson is a man who lets his music talk. And boy does it talk! This is the guy who got his single Planet Key banned in 2014, only to successfully appeal the ban. Sticking it to the man always goes down well in my book. Darren says he’s an albums man, generally.…

South Auckland based multi-talented Siavani brings us what I can only describe as audio beauty. Partnering with his son Lively, the single Love Look Easy is absurdly catchy, beautifully melodic, and one of the most Pacifica sounding R & B songs I have heard in quite some time. Siavani has caught something inherently Polynesian in…

Mmmmmmmmm, this is what chocolate would sound like. Warm, smooth, velvety, puts a naughty smile on your dial, and sends you somewhere sweeeeet… which is great, because I’m writing this while knocked sideways with dose number two of the Rona. Say aww now! Aja Wairere Ropata (Ngāti Raukawa, Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti…

Fiffdimension is multi-instrumentalist Dave Black. He’s based in beautiful Wairarapa (like me, yay!), and his repertoire spans over 25 years. There are times when you come across something so utterly avant-garde you’re momentarily left at a loss for words. This isn’t a bad thing. Not a criticism. Music can, and often should, challenge barriers and…

Raglan based singer/songwriter Soulti – otherwise known as Teresa Michels – is stepping out of the acoustic, electronica and DJ sets at places such as the iconic Yot Club, and is launching her debut single Evergreen. This one is a more thoughtful, introspective debut that a lot of your usual high energy, in-you-face debuts we…