NEW Singles & Videos + Release Announcements + Brand New Signings
SPOON announce new EP & share new song 'Sugar Babies' | NZ Show with War On Drugs announced!
Announced today - SPOON are coming! SPOON are coming!
Out digitally on June 13, Memory Dust features three new Spoon recordings – the original songs ‘Sugar Babies’ and ‘Silver Girl,’ plus a cover of Bo Diddley’s ‘She’s Fine, She’s Mine.’
These aren’t b-sides. The recordings began during sessions for Spoon’s Grammy-nominated album, Lucifer on the Sofa, but were left unfinished. Following the record’s release and at the tail end of a year-plus of intense touring, the band came back to the sketches with renewed energy and fresh perspective. The completed tracks retain a touch of Lucifer’s character – rock ’n roll music, played in real-time – but stretch out hypnotically.
KEVIN MORBY launches THISISAPHOTOGRAPH.COM + NZ Shows |Listen HERE
Kevin Morby and The Salvation Choir are proud to present “This Is A Photograph (The Salvation Choir Version),” a new reimagining of the title track from Morby’s acclaimed 2022 album. The Salvation Choir is a Congolese rumba choir from Congo and Tanzania based in Kevin’s hometown of Kansas City. “This Is A Photograph (The Salvation Choir Version)” is a stirring iteration of Morby’s original, and is presented alongside a new website on which others can access stems, instrumentals, tutorials and templates so they can make their own family history epics. Wed. Sep. 27 – Auckland, NZ @ Hollywood Avondale Thur. Sep. 28 – Wellington, NZ @ Meow
INTERPOL - 'Passenger Jeff Parker Interpolation'out now | Check it out here
Last month, Interpol launched Interpolations, a series of collaborations that finds songs from the band’s latest album, The Other Side Of Make-Believe, reworked by artists Daniel Avery, Makaya McCraven, Jeff Parker, Jesu, and Water From Your Eyes.
Today, you can hear the second instalment, an interpolation of ‘Passenger’ created by guitarist and composer Jeff Parker. “When asked to make a remix for Interpol, I was intrigued and initially excited to make something from the drum breaks on the original version of ‘Passenger,’” explains Parker. “However, the muse had other plans for me, and it went in a different direction.”
The debut instalment of the series arrived in April, with Makaya McCraven’s interpolation of ‘Big Shot City.’
KING KRULE share new single + video 'If Only It Was Warmth' - album out soon |LISTEN HERE
King Krule shares a new single and video for ‘If Only It Was Warmth’, the latest piece of new music from the highly anticipated forthcoming new album Space Heavy, out 9 June via XL Recordings. Listen at the leap!
PICKLE DARLING shares “Invercargill Angel” | Watch the video hERE
Pickle Darling (Lukas Mayo they/them) shares their synthy new single “Invercargill Angel“, which premiered just hours ago by U.S. magazine FLOOD Magazine. The latest single is accompanied by a celestial video directed by Aimee Cooki Martin. Check it out at the link in title! Shoulder tapped by Three's The Project as an artist OnThe Rise - you can see that here: https://youtu.be/6Cf-V1KN1qE
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - new album out June 16th, first single out now! | Liam Lynch created lyric video HERE
The first offering from In Times New Roman… is ‘Emotion Sickness,’ which wraps listeners in a warm blanket of patented QOTSA hypnotic choruses and off kilter grooves—punctuated by tinges of psychic turbulence. The past few years have been tough on everyone, and it’s no secret the members of QOTSA have endured their share of heartbreak and loss. But whom amongst us hasn’t dealt with a recent bout (or two) of emotion sickness?
THE DRUMS share two new songs 'Plastic Envelope' + 'Protect Him Always' | NYC's fave indie pop band are back!
Fresh off the release of last month’s comeback single ‘I Want It All,’ The Drums have debuted a symbiotic duo of brand new songs today: ‘Plastic Envelope’ and the accompanying vignette ‘Protect Him Always.’ Ripe with introspection, the pair of tracks find Jonny Pierce – founder of The Drums – accepting and nurturing each version of his younger self against a backdrop of gently, fluttering guitars.
ANOHNI AND THE JOHNSONS New Album | New Music HERE
ANOHNI announces My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross, a new album by ANOHNI and the Johnsons, out July 7th on Rough Trade and presents its lead single/video, ‘It Must Change.
New Albums & EPs Out Now
BAR ITALIA release new album 'Tracey Denim' | Our fave new indie pick!
bar italia – the London trio ust released their new album Tracey Denim digitally and on CD via Matador / Remote Control alongside focus track ‘changer’. The album will be available on vinyl everywhere on September 8. Tracey Denim was recorded and produced by bar italia with mixing from Marta Salogni. It features the single ‘Nurse!’ which was released in March to acclaim, and described as “a hypnotic post-punk ballad” (The Guardian) and “narcotically arresting” (Pitchfork). And no - that's not Pickle Darling in the band - but we see what you're saying!
MOOR MOTHER releases ‘Jazz Codes’ digital deluxe edition | Check it out here!
Today the artist and educator Moor Mother aka Camae Ayewa is releasing a digital deluxe version of her 2022 album ‘Jazz Codes’ with three new tracks. “Moor Mother’s ‘Jazz Codes’ is a master class in giving vintage sounds a new spin,” declared The Fader.
BLAWAN releases 'Dismantled Into Juice' new five-track EP |Full details here.
Jamie Roberts, better known by his stage name Blawan, is an English DJ and record producer from South Yorkshire. He is best known for his track "Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My Garage?" and his remix of the Radiohead track "Bloom", which appeared on their album TKOL RMX. Blawan releases Dismantled into Juice, the highly anticipated follow-up EP to Woke Up Right Handed. Out now via XL Recordings / Remote Control, Dismantled into Juice started with captivating original vocal cuts from rising singer Monstera Black and evolved into five tracks that are Blawan’s most riveting and genre-bending to date. “Blawan breaks the mold again, letting his unbridled knack for experimentation take the wheel” – Beatportal
Tours, Events and Festivals
TINY RUINS share live session video for 'Out Of Phase' + new album out now + Auckland show this weekend! | Watch HERE
Following close on the tail of their much-praised new album, Ceremony (out now via Ursa Minor in Aotearoa), Tiny Ruins – the project of New Zealand musician Hollie Fullbrook have shared a new live version of current single ‘Out Of Phase’. + Touring - DO. NOT. MiSS May 25 - Theatre Royal, Nelson w/ O & THE MO * May 27 - Hollywood Avondale, Auckland w/ Ebony Lamb Tix at banished Music https://banishedmusic.com/tiny-ruins-ceremony
The War On Drugs Returning To New Zealand with Spoon - Music News at Undertheradar
Award-winning US group are headlining Auckland's Spark Arena and Wellington's Anderson Park in December. The War On Drugs with special guests Spoon
Friday 1st December - Anderson Park, Wellington Saturday 2nd December - Spark Arena, Auckland
Industry PSA for our musical friends - JICYMI
Going Global | Artist Applications For Showcase to Internationals OPEN NOW! | CLICK HERE
Artist Applications for showcasing at Going Global 2023 are open now to all original music artists nationwide.
THIS FRIDAY! - NZ Music T-Shirt Day 2023
Do you love Kiwi music? Do you care about the people who make it and the at-risk and vulnerable in our communities? Then be a part of #NZMusicTShirtDay! It's about celebrating great New Zealand music and showing your support by sporting your favourite band tee. It's all about fun, but also has a really important purpose in raising funds for MusicHelps.
MusicHelps supports hundreds of projects across Aotearoa, each using the power of music to change the lives of thousands in need. This includes music therapy, music programs in respite and palliative care, music education programs (particularly in low decile environments), music programs in prisons and rehabilitation and music in aged care to name but a few initiatives they support.
MusicHelps also provides emergency assistance to thousands of music people experiencing hardship and illness through their suite of music support services.
Whether you're an artist, music worker or music lover, get involved, make a donation, then post and share your best band t-shirt pics using the hashtags #NZMusicTShirtDay and @musichelpsnz. Create a Team and get your workplace, school and friends involved! Share the love on your social networks and your followers will be able to donate to your team and earn you a place on the Honour Roll!
We Are Back!
Thank you for those lovely messages saying you missed us... nawwh - so nice! Here's a little round up of all that's cool in the land of Indie Music....Love youse. xx
SLEAFORD MODS instore signing THIS Friday @ Auckland's Flying Out | Show ticket link HERE
Thrilled to announce Sleaford Mods will be at Auckland’s Flying Out this Friday, May 26 from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm to sign your records!
One chance to get your records signed Modsters! Get your Xmas pressies sorted early…Nana will love a copy of UK Grim!
The shows are mere DAYS away - there are a couple of tickets left - Please dear GOD - don't miss it!
ICELANDIC SINGER SONGWRITER : ÁSGEIR - AUSTRALASIAN TOUR STARTS IN AUCKLAND MAY 30! More info HERE
AUCKLAND - TUE 30 MAY 2023 - HOLLYWOOD AVONDALE
As one of Iceland’s most successful exports, Ásgeir has spent the time between his record-breaking debut album (now celebrating its 10th anniversary) and today pushing the boundaries of his textured, thoughtful brand of folk-pop. He released his fourth studio album, Time On My Hands, in October via One Little Independent Records and shared a new single this month, ‘Dan Nos Rêves’ (In Our Dreams), a collaboration with French singer Clou.
At only 20 years of age, Ásgeir released the fastest-selling debut album in Icelandic history – ‘Dýrð í dauðaþögn’ / ‘In The Silence’. The album was made up of 10 tracks of soul-searching folk featuring lyrics penned by his father, Einar Georg Einarsson – a retired school teacher and poet. Winner of the 2012 Album of the Year at the Icelandic Music Awards, it sold so many copies that it is estimated one-tenth of the population in Iceland owns the album.
Don’t miss his highly anticipated return to Australasia in 2023!
On The Horizon
Out This Week - May 26, 2023 | Order Up!
Zoom into your nearest record store immediately on Friday morning to snafu this bunch of album goodness! - Lucy Dacus, Gia Margaret, Water From Your Eyes, bar italia!
NEKO CASE to release 'Wild Creatures' on LP & CD! | Listen to the gorgeous new song hERE
The career retrospective album ‘Wild Creatures’ pulls together the high points of feral joy from over twenty years of solo work by Neko Case. Debuting last year digitally, a physical 2 LP set on limited edition colored vinyl and a CD version is now going to be released on June 30. Pre-order it HERE.
Nominated for Best Re-Issue at this year’s A2IM Libera Awards, the twenty-three song ‘Wild Creatures’ compilation is accompanied by an immersive website containing animated artwork by Laura Plansker and features short essays and track-by-track commentary celebrating Neko’s two decades of solo work.
Contributors include long time collaborators A.C. Newman, Dan Bejar and M. Ward, culture-defining contemporaries David Byrne, Shirley Manson, Jeff Tweedy and Rosanne Cash and new generations of artists like Waxahatchee, Julien Baker, Kevin Morby, Allison Russell and Margo Price. In addition, folklorist Adrienne Mayor, ANTI- Records president Andy Kaulkin, and longtime New Yorker staff writer & author Susan Orlean also contributed pieces, among many others. Read about ‘Wild Creatures’ at https://nekocase.com/. The album’s one new song “Oh, Shadowless” features an animated music video created by Laura Plansker.