Bond Street Bridge is the solo project moniker of Sam Prebble. This particular Prebble a multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist who has worked with a number of Auckland acts and is a key member of the Broken Heartbreakers as well as Reb Fountain’s band. Lydia Jenkin caught up with him to find out how he managed to put together the lush soundscape of his charming and quirky debut album ‘The Mapmaker’s Art’ all on his own ...more

Most bands will release an EP as an early indication of what they’re capable of with a full-length recording. In Cobra Khan’s case, their 2006 ‘Sleepless Lions’ EP – a raucous, balls-to-the-wall punk rock affair – couldn’t be much further from what they’ve come up with on their debut album ‘Helgorithms’. The band seems to have all but turned its back on its foundation sound, even omitting the older material entirely from recent live set lists. Chris Leggett talks to Khan frontman Milon Williams about their new direction. ...more

They are a genuinely bright star among the Southern Cross cluster of our international flag flyers, but don’t beat yourself up if Cut Off Your Hands seem only vaguely familiar. They have, after all, been based offshore for much of the last two years and have had only the one EP ‘Blue on Blue’ to their name to date. Oh, and that name – you may still know them better as Shaky Hands, the band that introduced themselves with an early 2006 EP recorded in the drummer’s lounge and itself called ‘Cut Off Your Hands’. Richard Thorne talked with the band’s songwriter/singer Nick Johnston and bassist Philip Hadfield ...more

Three quarters of George & Queen have music degrees, so it’s not surprising that their latest offering ‘The Wind Is Up’ is a superbly arranged album, with beautiful melodies and catchy tunes you will hum merrily through the rest of the day. Over a quiet one at Auckland’s Wine Cellar (a favourite haunt of the band), Melanie Selby started by asking about the remarkably quickfire release of this second album. ...more

Auckland’s Stamford Plaza hotel ought to have been first in line for a trophy at the 8th annual Juice TV Awards party held on September 30th. Come to think of it, the Juice team ought also to have given themselves a Best Hotel Hi-jack award for persuading the prestigious downtown hotel to host what is always one of the music industry’s best-drunk annual parties. ...more

Karoline Tamati has been making her mark on the NZ music scene for a decade, first notably as a member of Sheelahroc, then with Verse Two and more latterly as herself, Ladi6. Along that winding road her silky smooth voice has been key to a number of songs that have been hits for others, so it may seem a little odd that she’s only now releasing her own debut album. Actually, for Ladi6, it has almost come as a surprise to find herself poised to drop ‘Time Is Not Much’, as she tells Lydia Jenkin ...more

It seems that members of Wellington’s Phoenix Foundation have so much creative energy they’re not only making award winning albums for the band, but also pouring themselves into solo projects. ‘Vesuvius’ is the fourth album from a solo Phoenix crew member this year and the second solo album project for leading man Luke Buda. He talks to Rebecca Thomson about playing with drum machines and unintentionally making a pop album. ...more

Nesian Mystik first gained attention in 2002 with their triple-platinum selling debut album ‘Polysaturated.’ It was four years before the release of their follow-up. ‘Freshmen’ was aimed at the overseas market and this change of focus may have contributed to the album’s comparitively lukewarm reception at home. Gareth Shute talked to guitarist David Atai about how they approached their third album which they have mystikly titled ‘Elevator Musiq.’ ...more

To steal just a little from Mitre 10, Big is Good – and the 43rd NZ Music Awards night on October 8th was definitely big. It was a night when Flight of the Conchords absently took off with all the glory, most of Opshop grabbed most of the most-of awards, and the remaining Tuis on offer got spread among a dozen or so other artists and bands – most of whom were unfortunately not there to get them ...more

The APRA Silver Scroll Award for 2008 was fittingly claimed by a song which had enjoyed over 30 weeks in the Top 40, been in the Airplay Top 10 for nearly five months and comes from a double-platinum+ selling album. Opshop’s One Day proved a popular winner among the mostly-APRA member audience, one for the band who were also Silver Scroll finalists (with Maybe) last year and came away Tui-less despite four finalist spots at the 2007 NZ Music Awards. ...more

Rhombus has been an evolving feature of our music scene for over seven years. They’ve been on a rollercoaster ride of changes and developments which have seen them release three albums, win awards and perform widely here in NZ, make one of the most definitive Kiwi music videos (Clav Dub’s crazy Mini road trip directed by Chris Graham), and make in-roads into Australia and Japan. Having recorded a track with legendary UK hip hop MC Rodney P while he was here recently, Rhombus were readying to release their new self-titled album when Martyn Pepperell caught up with the band’s creative core ...more

Auckland electro rockers The Tutts are responsible for one of the most catchy Kiwi guitar riffs of the past two years. They became a household name when their first single K was picked up as a promotional track for C4 in late 2006, the song’s video also judged the winning Breakthrough video at the Juice TV Awards that year. But that was two years ago and The Tutts are only now getting into the album club. Drummer James Percy and bassist John McNab met with Lydia Jenkin to explain what’s been going on in Tutts town. ...more

Having started my research for this article by questioning some of the highly regarded musicians who have worked on stage and in studio with ‘Dr’ Lee Prebble, I admit to being slightly intimidated by the pending interview. Lee Prebble has been a musical guide for many artists and I was completely taken aback by the level of praise freely doled out by those I talked to. He has also just collected two 2008 Tui awards, one for his engineering the other for production – plenty of reason for attitude. However, after a few introductions, a cuppa and a look around his ‘Surgery’ I soon began to feel the calming influences of the good Dr. ...more