Katchafire Stay Put At #1 On IMNZ Chart

Shows sales from 1 – 28 February 2004.

Firstly a welcome is in order for IMNZ's three newest members: 1157 Records, Jayrem and Dirty Records.

Congratulations to the IMNZ artists who took home the silverware at the 2005 Pacific Music Awards. Ardijah won the Tui for the Niu FM Best Pacific Music Album category for ‘Journey’, Adeaze took out the Radio 531PI Best Pacific Group for ‘Always & for Real’ and the C4 Best Pacific Female Artist for music released in 2004 is Sara-Jane Auva’a for her self-titled album ‘Sara-Jane’.

Much international activity has been happening for IMNZ labels lately, including 8-Foot Sativa’s latest album ‘Breed The Pain’ being released worldwide this month, and in Australia in April. Intergalactic's owner Andrew Featherstone is trekking around Asia over the next four weeks finalising plans for the WBOB 2005. Plans are to add two new Asian countries to the current four involved, and this year the World Final is in Hong Kong at the end of the year.

After their trip to MIDEM in Cannes, Monkey Records has signed a licensing deal with Pump Audio based in New York. Ishta are currently finishing their debut album at the new Monkey Records studio in Kare Kare. Noir lounge pop group Peachy Keen have disbanded not long after the release of their debut album due to irreconcilable differences.

Te Vaka (Warm Earth) are preparing for return tours to Hawaii, Fiji and Samoa with invitations from other countries, such as Pakistan, Vanuatu and the USA, arriving daily.

The Bleeders (1157) are back from a highly successful Australian tour along side US giants Good Charlotte. They played to over 35,000 screaming teens across Australia as well as taking in their own side shows along the way, in support of the Australian release of their self-titled CD containing tracks from both the 'A Bleeding Heart' EP and the 'So Lonely' single, through Melbourne based label Casadeldisco Records.

This Night Creeps (1157) hit the road with The Mint Chicks for dates across the

North Island throughout April on the ‘F#@k the Golden Youth’ album release tour prior to their own debut album ‘The Noise of Music’, currently scheduled for a June release.

There’s a swag of new albums out soon. Bench Records is this week releasing ‘Jambalaya 2005’, which will be available at the Festival itself over Easter, and in stores through Rhythmethod. Baitercell & Schumacher’s highly anticipated debut album ‘The Wall Of Bass Technique’ is out on April 11. Special guests include live favourite Bex Riley, Tuff Enchant, Mareko, Flow On Show, Jordan Reyne, Niki Ahu and 4 Corners. Savage’s debut album ‘Moonshine’ (Dawn Raid), featuring the monster hit Swing, is also out on the 11th.

Things are crazy at Kahu Records’ HQ. Kahu Records and Maorimusic.com/Tangata Records are collaborating together on various projects for the new year, Ruia's new single and album project will be the first produced by Richie Campbell and co-produced by Ruia who has just recently won the 2004 APRA Maioha songwriting award and best Maori album of the year at the 2004 New Zealand Music Awards.

Salisha Taylor (Kahu) is about to release her single and video I Saw An Angel, and Chritchurch’s Vicki Eaton has signed to Kahu Records, whilst ReQuest have been signed to Kahu Management and are in development for an international showcase later this year.

Thoughtful popsters the Heavy Jones Trio are heading out on tour in April to celebrate the release of their debut album ‘Nobody Town’. The four-piece have been kicking around for five years and moved to Auckland from Christchurch in 2002.

In news from Jayrem, Mahinarangi Tocker and her group The Mongrels (including Shona Laing, David Downs and members of Rua) recently performed at WOMADELAIDE and WOMAD. Her show ‘The Mongrel In Me’ includes new material that will be recorded later this year as well as songs from her most recent album ‘Hei Ha!’

Katchafire have released their new single Rude Girl, which features mixes by Baitercell & Schumacher, the Sun Valley Allstars and Macro & High Speed Dubbing, which is already receiving UK interest. On March 21 a limited run of 300 12" singles is being released. In early April Whirimako Black will release her new album ‘Kurahuna’.

And speaking of 12"s, we just heard that the Fanatics ‘Fanatics’ EP is out now on bright shiny vinyl – but it’s limited so get in there.

Daemang Productions ‘Baraji’ (833/Global Routes), Various ‘Jambalaya 2005’ (Bench), Heavy Jones Trio ‘Nobody Town’ (Global Routes), Savage ‘Moonshine’ (Dawn Raid), Baitercell & Schumacher ‘The Wall of Bass Technique’ (Kog), Whirimako Black ‘Kurahuna’ (Mai Music/Out There)

Tour Dates

Te Vaka: April: Saturday 2nd - Fundraiser for Tokelau preschool Mangere Bridge, Saturday 30th - Southern Lakes Festival of Colour, Lake Wanaka

Heavy Jones Trio: April: Wellington 1st, Palmerston North 2nd, Queenstown 7th, Dunedin 8th, Christchurch 9th, Leigh 15th, Auckland 16th, Mt Maunganui 22nd.

8 Foot Sativa, Dawn of Azazel & Frankenbok: The ‘Breed The Pain’ Tour: April: Wed 13th Auckland (Auckland), Thurs 14th Hamilton, Fri 15th Mt Maunganui, Sat Napier, Wed 20th Invercargill, Thurs 21st Dunedin, Fri 22nd Christchurch, Sat 23rd Nelson, Thurs 28th Palmerston North, Fri 29th Wellington, Sat 30th New Plymouth