Something in the manner of a ‘Celebrity Chef’ or ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ show, five famously creative musical friends last year came together in the five star hotel kitchen-like surrounds of Auckland’s Roundhead Studios, the aim to prepare a collaborative Spring feast. The result is ‘BARB’, a suitably mouth-watering selection of Southern Pacific indie cuisine; felicitous flavours, exotic ingredients, delicate sauces, freshly tossed ideas and quickly flamed prime cuts. Now that the album is out, the industrious five are predictably scattered to the four musical winds, but Lydia Jenkin managed to track them down for some feedback on the album. ...more

If Delaney Davidson were an actor he would surely be in demand to play those unpredictable babyface, could-be-psycho kind of roles – witness his macabre magician image on the cover of his engagingly-titled third solo album ‘Self Decapitation’ (released on Switzerland’s Voodoo Rhythm Records). But he is a musician, and a traveller, a regular ‘one man, renegade ghost orchestra’ as it states, in suitably gothic script, on his MySpace profile. And for now that’s about as close as we can get to the man, as illustrated by his emailed response to the suggestion of an NZM article. ...more

It’s been almost three years since the arty noise-pop merchants Die! Die! Die! released their critically acclaimed sophomore album ‘Promises Promises’. In that time the trio have toured the world constantly, shed all their record labels, gained a silent fourth member and sat on ‘Form’, their long-since finished third album, for almost a year. Karl Puschmann caught up with guitarist/vocalist Andrew Wilson and drummer Michael Prain for a highly amusing, occasionally controversial and surprisingly informative interview on a balmy winter’s morning. ...more

To walk into Riki Gooch’s warehouse is to step into the mouth of madness, or, to use rather less hyperbole – a miniature labyrinth. Tucked down a side alley in central Wellington a reinforced glass door opens at the base of an industrial concrete staircase. Three flights up, another door sits ajar, leading down a hallway to a cavernous room of curious design. In the centre sits a makeshift table covered with vintage keyboards, drum machines, computers and speakers. Just beyond the table rests an L-shaped rack of record crates, box after box bursting to the brim with forgotten, dusty jazz classics and rarities. To the right, more musical machines, percussion instruments and a collection of gold sales plaques from his time spent drumming and handling samples in TrinityRoots. ...more

She’s best known for her rocking guitar and vocal skills as a member of Fur Patrol, but after a mini break from the music industry Julia Deans is back with her debut solo album entitled ‘Modern Fables’. Though it may have been a winding journey in the making, the album arrived decisively, entering our album charts at #12 and receiving glowing press, single A New Dialogue also earning her a Silver Scroll finalist spot. These days resident in Melbourne, Deans talked with Lydia Jenkin about her musical roots, finding her own path for the album, and why she’s definitely still a rock chick. ...more

When Sam McCarthy (left) and Jordan Arts (right) started making music together at St Peter’s College in Auckland, it was a fun hobby, exploring their way around a donated music production software package. They both went on to play in various rock or punk outfits (first as 2004 Rockquest winners Incursa), McCarthy later becoming known as the talented Goodnight Nurse guitarist, before deciding to embark on their own electronic pop project in 2008. As they release their debut album ‘Sugarpills’ it looks like their bedroom recordings as Kids Of 88 may become some of the most popular and innovative Kiwi tunes of 2010. The pair spoke to Lydia Jenkin about the oxymoron of their completely unexpected, but also carefully executed rise to fame. ...more

It’s already gained them plenty of publicity, but in case you haven’t heard already; after 10 years at the top of their game, this country’s most successful hip hop act have decided to call it a day, and will split after seeing out the promotional commitments for their fourth and final studio album ‘99 AD’. Nesian Mystik have had more than their fair share of highs: gold and platinum albums, industry awards, devoted fans, an incredible 11 Top Ten singles (a NZ charts record), and no doubt the odd low too. Mark Bell caught up with rappers Junz (Junior Rikiau) and Oldwun (Donald McNulty) at a Grey Lynn café to talk about the new album and what the future might hold in store for these six talented individuals. ...more

On the eve of the release of Street Chant’s debut album ‘Means’, Karl Puschmann met up with guitarist/vocalist Emily Littler and drummer Alex Brown to discuss the record, their perfectionist streak and recording an album cheap as chants. ...more

Following their first EP, many pegged Surf City as Flying Nun revivalists intent on bringing back the noisy pop of the Clean and the 3Ds. The band’s live shows added weight to the theory, yet their new album ‘Kudos’ shows them delving into new areas of sound. The main thing that they continue to share with their musical predecessors is a strong desire to break their music overseas. They spoke to Gareth Shute. ...more

Clever North Shore rockers The Earlybirds have been ‘catching the worm’ since they began playing together in 2005, earning themselves chart placings with their first two singles Runaway and I Killed The DJ, and garnering a wide fan base with support slots for some of NZ’s rock royalty, including Opshop, the Jordan Luck Band and Midnight Youth. Now these young guns (all five are aged between 19 and 21) are about to release their surprisingly epic debut album ‘Favourite Fears’, through Warner Music. Stephen Heard sat down with lead vocalist Filip Kostovich and bass player Jared Aisher for a session of Q&A. ...more

In Auckland city’s all-vegan Golden Age restaurant, The Mark of Man guitarist Andy Chandler peels the wrapping away from a newly purchased copy of the band’s debut album, fresh in stores that day. It’s close to a year since his current bandmates – vocalist Ben Read, guitarist Christian Humphreys, bassist Steve Boag and drummer Corey Friedlander – decided to move on from their stagnant former band 8 Foot Sativa. Now the fruits of a painful, but necessary, decision are finally out there for the world to hear. ...more

Timothy Blackman may be a new name to some, but the Wellington multi-instrumentalist has been making indie-folk music for nearly half a decade, and is about to release his self-recorded, self-produced debut album entitled ‘I’ve Never Lived’. He spoke to Amanda Mills about the influence of a nomadic existence, challenging modern society and making records on a shoestring. ...more