Like all good hustles this one started on the street. Drummer Myele Manzanza was busking in Wellington’s Manners Mall back in 2006. As the pair tell Karl Puschmann, Dave Wright (aka Taay Ninh) who is Electric Wire Hustle’s creative driving force, keyboardist and MPC operator, just happened to be out rolling with Shapeshifter’s Devin Abrams that fateful day. ...more

A year ago NZM’s bumper 20th Anniversary issue included an Industry article introducing the complex issue of the future re-allocation of the UHF frequency band. ‘Freeview vs Wireless – Miscommunication Across the UHF Spectrum’ reported that early digital television transmission trials which caused havoc at Te Papa had alerted wireless system importers and users to the potential loss of established short range system UHF operating frequencies. In August the Ministry of Economic Development and Ministry for Culture & Heritage released a 50-page discussion paper entitled ‘DIGITAL FUTURES: Planning for Digital Television and New Uses’, revealing the current thinking of the MED and seeking submissions. Here Richard Thorne reports on the current state of the debate, the grave posibilities and the pressing need for political agitation by radio microphone users. ...more

She may well be the captivating blonde with a unique voice who’s going to conquer the global music industry but Gin Wigmore is no diva. In fact she’s more like your best mate, refreshingly open and honest with plenty of true blue Kiwi self-effacement. The talented 23 year old has the ability to convey an unchecked enthusiasm and excitement at the prospect of releasing her debut album ‘Holy Smoke’, while maintaining a genuine charm. She spoke with Lydia Jenkin on a fleeting, and increasingly rare return to home soil. ...more

Having first gained attention with Casandra’s Ears, Jan Hellriegel made her own major label debut in the early 1990s with ‘It’s My Sin’ and subsequently took NZ by storm. Now, some 17 years on, and with her own family growing up, she is on the verge of releasing album number three ‘All Grown Up’. She talked to Mark Bell about getting back in the game, and realising those long held ambitions ...more

Kidz In Space are not upstarts from another universe, but a trio of young Auckland musicians looking to capitalise on their locally produced, purposefully intergalactic sound. The music’s cross-over appeal and synthesiser-based dance tracks are creating a solid foundation and fast track for the group as Andrew Hughes explains. ...more

Like a true troubadour, though Matt Joe Gow grew up in NZ, he’s spent much of his life exploring the globe, finally settling (sort of) in Melbourne where he recruited a band and recorded his debut album ‘The Messenger’. Right out of the Tasman blue Matt recently returned to these shores to release the album and turn heads with his until now unheralded talent. He talked alt country rock n’ roll with Kara Segedin. ...more

Already 32 when she released her widely acclaimed 2006 debut album, Miriam Clancy has been busily making up time and delivering on her promises since. Following the release of ‘Lucky One’, she spent four months travelling and recording in America (specifically Nashville), returning to Auckland to have a baby. She has supported alt-country rockers Wilco and Ron Sexsmith on their recent NZ tours and is now about to promote ‘Magnetic’, her sophomore album release. Natalie Pease sat down with Miriam to talk about her career, the new album and new life. ...more

They were playing with her delirium at the 2009 NZ Music Awards, but electro-popster Ladyhawke showed admirable self control as she systematically cleaned up half a dozen of the major awards at the 44th annual ceremony. Starting out early on with the International Achievement award Pip Brown, aka Ladyhawke, was back on stage repeatedly to collect Tuis for (in order) Best Dance/Electronica Album, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Best Female Solo Artist, Single of the Year and Album of the Year. ...more

With their fourth studio album ‘The System is a Vampire’ due for release mid-November, Mark Bell sat down with keyboardist/guitarist/percussionist/co-producer Sam Trevethick to seek some insights into what makes our own Shapeshifter such an influential force on the world’s electronica music stage. ...more

There’s been a car crash on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Twisted metal. Chaos. Early txt reports inform us that vocalist Steve Gibb has avoided serious injury and is, in fact, unharmed. We have it on good authority that he is able to walk. This is largely down to the fact that he was not actually involved in the collision at all. He is however helplessly stuck in his car, sitting in the resulting motorway gridlock and will be late for the interview. ...more