For performers there's no escaping your past so let's just get it out there: Carly Binding was a member of that original made-on-TV all-girl pop group TrueBliss. Fans then (back in the Popstars glory days of '99) referred to her as 'Coppertop', and later likely some pre-teen variation on 'traitor' when she became the first to shuck the Popstars limelight. ...more

This is not good. The message from Mai Music's Victor Stent appears to have torpedoed my last opportunity to interview Hamilton based reggae eight-piece Katchafire, supposedly up in the Big A putting the finishing touches to their debut album 'Revival' at Mai FM's studio (with Dubious Bros' Chris Macro at the controls). The gist of the message is that a couple of members have copped a nasty virus (gotta eat those greens on tour, boys), the band are still in Hamilton, and that is where they are staying until well after print deadline. ...more

Nervous excitement bubbles down the telephone line from Christchurch. Lindon Puffin – formerly with Christchurch band the Puffins, now a solo act – is fighting a losing battle against stress on the eve of his ambitious four month NZ tour. ...more

Having little common sense and absolutely no navigational abilities I was relieved (and somewhat impressed) when my cellphone informed me that I was at 'Parachute'. The Parachute Festival at Totara Park, Matamata, to be more exact. ...more

While dub, drum 'n bass and all related stylistic off-shoots thrive in Christchurch, the Garden City is not exactly known for its love of dance music's most popular genre, House. ...more

With its meeting of musical minds between leading local DJs such as Roger Perry, Greg Churchill and Cuffy and some of this country's top producers, Kog Transmission's 'Algorhythm 2' compilation promised so much potential from New Zealand's then fledgling house musicians when it was released in 2000. But the 'Algorhythm' brand has since been discontinued and the only full length albums to emerge locally from house artists have been House of Downtown's 'Release' and Subware's self-titled debut. ...more

Despite being popular across the Tasman for some time, breaks only began to take off in our clubs over the past year with DJs like Timmy Schumacher beginning to make a name for themselves on the dancefloor. Now as a prelude to NZ's inaugural breaks compilation expected later this year, Kog Transmissions will in April release Substax's 'Teleporter', the first album by a Kiwi breakbeat artist, a label that the band's main fulcrum Nick Farrands doesn't mind wearing. ...more

In recent years a lot of musicians have gone from playing in bands to working with computers in smaller units or solo; Dejusa have chosen to go in the opposite direction and March sees the release of their debut album 'Buy The Numbers' on Tardus Music. ...more

Interviewing some bands is like drawing blood from a stone. Not so The Phoenix Foundation. Luke Buda has told me stories about half of the band's songs while we wait for co-leader Sam Scott to arrive to start the interview. Such vigour and enthusiasm makes Wellington's Phoenix Foundation a pleasure to speak to, and typifies their approach to their music and recording. ...more