100 Issues - 100 Covers

Probably our nation’s most beloved pop musician, Dave Dobbyn was the very first Kiwi artist to feature on the cover of NZM - the third issue. Returning to grace the 10th birthday celebration issue cover in ‘98 also makes him the only solo artist to have made the cover twice. Seven years further on and Dave has clearly changed. His overcoming of a long-standing alcohol addiction and discovery of God have been well documented. The more recent challenge to overcome has been finding the necessary discipline to complete his seventh studio album. "I’m a new guy. I’m writing better songs and enjoying things so much more. My music has a larger audience, both young and not so young. And I’ve a wiser take on my life. I know how to stick around." This is certain. His as-yet-untitled album is scheduled for June release through Sony/BMG. "It’s a beautiful thing. Recorded in Auckland at Roundhead and in Wellington at the Surgery." Asked to pick a career highlight, Dave answers that he is grateful for "... being alive and sober, and having a career in music every day." A favourite song? "About the last 14 songs or so. You’ll hear them soon. It’s a tease I know, but hey, they make me stand up and shout and they come with a lifetime guarantee - you will cry."

When Auckland metallers 8 Foot Sativa graced NZM’s cover the band’s third album ‘Breed the Pain’ was about to hit the shelves. Manager Andrew Featherstone says the record has sold nearly 3000 copies here to date, "...pretty much on par with the other two records for this stage in its release". And that is something 8FS can be happy about. Their 2002 debut ‘Hate Made Me’ is officially gold. No mean feat a death-metal act - no matter how melodic. With around 6,000 sales, 2003’s follow-up ‘Season for Assault’ is hot on the heels of the debut’s impressive success. More importantly is the international reaction since ‘Breed the Pain’ was recorded in Sweden and given a Euro-metal sound by Swedish producer Pelle Saether. The album has received rave reviews, and has an April release schedule in Australia under Roadrunner. Between March and May distributors Black Mark Records will release it all over Europe, America, Canada, Japan and South Korea. There will probably be a European tour sometime this year and 8FS also intend returning to Studio Underground in Sweden later this year to record album number four.

Bic Runga is soon to be a film star. She has a cameo appearance in a movie called ‘Little Fish’ - starring Cate Blanchett - which is due out at the end of the year. No surprises, she’s playing a singer. The filming was just before Christmas, and since then she’s been supporting the Finn brothers’ world tour. They have completed the North American shows, and are now in the middle of European dates. Bic is now based in London, and with 466,000 copies of ‘Drive’ and ‘Beautiful Collision’ sold (204,000 of them internationally), she is easily on of our most successful musical exports. She has also had hit singles in Ireland, England, Japan and Italy. It looks like her success is set to continue. Paul McKessar from Bic’s management company says she’s all set to record her third album when the Finn’s tour finishes. "She spent the summer writing songs when she was back here, and she’s continued to write songs getting ready to go into the studio while she’s got the time off in London," says Paul. The album will be recorded in LA, and produced by Joey Waronker, who played drums on ‘Beautiful Collision’, and has also worked with Beck and REM.

Since appearing on NZM’s cover, ahead of the launch of their debut self-titled album,Blindspott’s world has exploded. A powerhouse album, ferocious live peformances and excellent videos propelled them into mainstream popularity here and across much of Asia. "I think locally we sold about 40 or 45,000. Worldwide I think we sold 80 to 100,000," says vocalist Damian Alexander. "That far exceeded everything we thought we’d ever sell, and we never expected it to be released in so many territories." To date, the album has been released in Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Phillipines, Malaysia and Japan, and the band has toured most of those regions. "We made a dent in Japan and I think the next one will send it through the roof. Our record company in Japan [the independent Hipland Music’s sub-label, Grindhouse Recordings] had an expectation of what they were going to sell and they’ve sold triple that." Although Blindspott is yet to launch an assault on the US, Damian insists the band is just biding time. "I think the highlight for us so far would definitely have to be the success at home. It’s our friends, our peers. But any success worldwide is good," he laughs. "A lot of bands spend their time focusing on the territories that are harder to break."

Blindspott’s second album is on its way sometime this year, but no one’s putting a date on it just yet.

Darcy Clay’s raw, guttural twang will remain familiar to the ears of anyone who had the good fortune to see him perform live, or purchased his 1997 EP ‘Jesus I Was Evil’. The record, on which he played all the instruments himself, was a testimony to Darcy’s (aka Daniel Bolton) emotional intensity and unconstrained creative genius. It showed a raw (in its purest sense) talent which was to be lost to NZ audiences within just a few months. March 15 this year was the seventh anniversary of his death by suicide. Trevor Reekie of Antenna Records (Darcy’s label), says his absence is still felt. "Given he had such a short stay, he had a huge influence... he showed you could record on a four-track in your bedroom and impress the world." It wasn’t just Reekie’s record company that believed Darcy Clay was an important talent, the editorial team at NZM broke one of our own rules in featuring him on the cover when his only release to date was a six song EP. Despite, or more likely, because of his total irreverence for the way things ‘should be done’ Darcy’s 4-track cassette recording careered into the national Top 10. His live performance ofDolly Parton’s Jolene andElton John’s English Rose, recorded when he opened for Blur, remain spine tingling and unique. Jesus he was brilliant.

Nathan Haines’ ‘Shift Left’ album proved to be the biggest selling jazz album in New Zealand’s history - an incredible feat by anyone’s standard, especially for an artist of comparative youth in a genre best served by long established musicians. "Every album is a blessing," says Nathan, who has by last count released four of them. Despite spending much of his time overseas, he says the home-grown scene continually inspires him. After several years based in London, Nathan spent the bulk of 2004 at home in Auckland. Already known for his ability to fleetingly touch and quickly master a wide variety of jazz-related genres, Nathan’s next album is a self-produced live recording of last year’s Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch gigs with the NZSO. The full orchestra plus-jazz-quintet performances also featured his father Kevin and brotherJoel, plus arrangements by Kiwi two-time Grammy award winner Alan Broadbent. It was a "great honour" to work with the NZSO says Nathan, "And a long time coming". It is expected to be released in July through FMR, and by the end of 2005/beginning of 2006 Nathan plans another solo album (being recorded in London), and a NZ tour to promote it.

In the four years following their 1997 cover,Eye TV enjoyed its most successful period. But having two Top 10 singles, (including One Day Ahead, the most played song on NZ commercial radio 2000-2001), didn’t stop the members of Eye TV from parting ways. "We all decided that we wanted to do different things," says drummerLuke Casey. "We’re still friends. It was very much a mutual decision and a very smart one. We did a hell of a lot and achieved most of our goals."The members went off to pursue non-musical ventures, but it wasn’t long before they were drawn back to what they loved. In 2004 Luke released his own album ‘Tinpot Guru’, on which he sings and plays some guitar, but spends little time on the drum stool."Michael Scott (bass) went to live in the UK.. I had a family and Sean (Sturm, vox/guitar) went to complete his PhD at Auckland University, and is now in a band called The Exiles." Between the NZM cover and the band’s split in June 2002, the one time power trio gained a fourth member in Grant Winterburn on keyboards. "He’s playing jazz around NZ. His band is called The Grant Winterburn Experience, because it’s an experience watching them play," chuckles Luke. "Michael has returned from the UK and is playing bass in Tinpot Guru with me. We just had our second show at the Auckland Zoo supporting Goodshirt."