ALIVE: April / May 2015 by Greta Yeoman

an online magazine for christian young adults in new zealand | april - may 2015 | issue four

ALIVE magazine

1 interview for each day of NZ Music Month Exploring Europe | Parachute - 25 Years Strong | Streaming Now The Three Days of Easter | When Your Faith Is Tested | Let Hope Rise

EDITOR GRETA YEOMAN deputy editor NICOLA FROUD EVONNE KEY THE ALIVE TEAM ANNA GREENWOOD PAUL MCDONALD CONTRIBUTing writers GEORGIA LEANE LYNDON ROGERS MATT JOILS (FORGOT TO INCLUDE LAST ISSUE) DESIGN & LAYOUT GRETA YEOMAN SUB-EDTIORS EVONNE KEY (GRAMMAR) GRETA YEOMAN (ARTICLE STRUCTURE) ******* ALIVE IS RELEASED EVERY TWO MONTHS. DEADLINE FOR JUNE/JULY IS MAY 20. ******* IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVERTISING OR STORY IDEAS PLEASE GET IN TOUCH ASAP. THE DEADLINE IS FOR SUBMITTING FINISHED STORIES NOT CREATING IDEAS. ******* ALIVE MAGAZINE IS A FREE ONLINE MAGAZINE FOR CHRISTIAN YOUNG ADULTS IN NEW ZEALAND. WWW.ALIVENZ.WORDPRESS.COM ALIVEMAGAZINENZ@GMAIL.COM ************ ALL PHOTOS (UNLESS SPECIFIED OR INTERVIEW PROMO PICS) ARE BY GRETA YEOMAN. COVER PHOTO IS OF DAVE BAXTER (FRONTMAN OF AVALANCHE CITY)

CONTENTS Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Column ... page 4 Easter feature... page 6 NZ Music Month Special.. page 12 1000 Little Ways ... page 72 Columns... page 74 Opinion piece - Greta.... page 76 Exploring Europe... page 78 Streaming Now... page 88 Let Hope Rise ... page 90

EDITORIAL What would you say if you knew we were already 8 months into ALIVE? I can’t believe we’re into our fourth issue already! And what a beauty this issue is! We crazily put together 31 interviews for the 31 days of NZ Music Month. I really can’t believe we managed that. Even my friend Silke from NZ Musician thought I was mad (they only do 15 per issue). I pity you if you’re not a Kiwi music fan, you will be by the end of this magazine. I think my all-time favourite quote from this issue was from Great North’s Hayden Donnell, who commented: “I think many of the Christian heroes we see on TV screens talking

wood has written our fantastic feature piece for this issue, covering some of the amazing content for thought around Easter! Our Deputy Editor Evonne Key had a wee adventure to Europe late last year (she still co-wrote our Christmas feature while she was overseas) and it’s become the right time to publish a little record of some of the adventures she got up to on her travels. We also have, of course, our staple pieces of opinion, columns, Streaming Now (kindly put together by Evonne this time - though I chose the fantastic cartoon). Hope you all have a wonderful time as we approach the mid-

“We crazily put together 31 interviews for the 31 days of NZ Music Month. I really can’t believe we managed that. Even my friend Silke from NZ Musician thought I was mad (they only do 15 per issue).” about Jesus are exactly the people Jesus would be shouting down and rebuking if he were around today.” Isn’t that something to think about? But yes, don’t worry if you’re not keen to read 31 interviews with NZ musicians, our lovely Wellington-based writer, second-year student and accident-prone angel Anna Green-

dle of autumn (I’m writing this in early March just having had a wicked storm that has now turned into blue sky). Our next issue is out in June, which should be good fun as we launch into the winter months. As always we would love to hear from you, receive any thoughts on the magazine itself, the content, if you have a story idea or would even like to join

Hi, I’m Greta and the editor of this magazine. I’m an 19-year-old with a slight obsession with music, namely the Christchurch music scene. I am a songwriter/musician and also a film-maker/photographer. I studied journalism last year and have grand plans for this magazine. This is my part-time project whilst working and in my spare time (when I’m not editing this) I like reading Narnia and Jodi Picoult, reading Relevant Magazine and admiring their awesome magazine and attending gigs. I also enjoy travelling and planning things far far in advance of what’s needed to be planned.

the wonderful group of people that make up the ALIVE team. Flick me an email at alivemagazinenz@gmail.com and we’ll definitely get back to you. Keep being awesome, keep sharing the magazine and reading it yourselves. In the name of faith, hope and love! Greta Yeoman

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the three days of easter

Easter is the high point of the Christian year, the most momentous weekend in the history of the world. As we approach the Easter Season, there is so much to be reflected on.

BY ANNA GREENWOOD

GOOD FRIDAY: FAITH FOUNDATIONS Good Friday is essentially the foundation of our faith. This day says that we cannot save ourselves. Without the selfless act of Christ, without His choice to give His life, we would today be living by the law and not by grace. It is Good Friday that so clearly

reflects our bleak reality and yet somehow causes the entire church to turn their eyes to the cross, and we hear the words, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do”. And so, despite our inherently sinful nature, we see in the cross on that Good Friday, a love so

“This day says that we cannot save ourselves.”

amazing, so utterly divine, that even though we rebuke it, turn from it, or crucify it, He still loves us. It is through the cross that we are offered a glimpse into the very heart of God; a heart overflowing with grace and mercy for every single individual, no matter what we’ve done wrong. Good Friday marks the day where wrath and mercy collide at the cross. Across denominations, Christians around the world fix their gaze on the cross of Calvary on Good Friday. It is that one day in which every believer solemnly seeks the truth to discern the extent of suffering and pain Jesus experienced to acquisition our redemption. It is on this day that we acknowledge that we are now dead to sin. As it is written in Colossians chapter 2 “He cancelled the record of charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross”. Although the term, ‘Good’ Friday may seem a contradiction when we’re addressing the day the Savior of the world was executed, its name is in fact justified. ‘Good Friday’ remains appropriate because, despite the pain and suffering endured that day, the crucifixion marked the dramatic culmination of God’s plan to redeem His people from their sins. It is the day that we celebrate and honor the fact that Jesus chose to die for us, the day Jesus knew that His mission was all but complete, the day He surrendered to the will of God. In the story of Easter, Saturday is

eASTER SATURDAY: AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE generally overlooked. The days, and even the years preceding it, were some of the most incredible in human history. They were filled with amazing encounters, miracles and words of wisdom. The sequence of events: the initial arrest and trial, the beating and crucifixion, the ultimate suffering on the cross, the death, the coming of darkness, the earthquakes, the tearing of the veil.. If it were a symphony, it would have undoubtedly escalated to an emphatic yet harrowing crescendo. And then in one moment, with one last breath, Heaven looked away. It was over. Finished. What did His friends, the disciples do on Easter Saturday? We can only speculate. But let’s be honest, they had just had the ground torn from beneath their very feet. The man they’d followed, respected, learned from, and loved for three years was dead. There were probably bounties on their heads just for following Jesus, for being associated with Him. So where were they? Locked away in a room together, praying?

Fleeing the city as fast as they could? Or were they out in the wilderness reflecting on both the most incredible years, followed by the most devastating day of their lives? We’ll never know exactly what they were doing, but we know this: Jesus made a promise. He promised the gift of the Holy Spirit and He spoke of His coming resurrection. Yet the disciples, those closest to Him, had all but forgotten those promises. They had a choice that Saturday. They could either choose to live in the hope of those promisesbelieving in the coming resurrection, or they could dwell in the grief of yesterday and live in fear of what could happen tomorrow. How many of us believers live with a Saturday mindset? You’ve had some great times in the past, but you can’t seem to escape the pain and rejection of yesterday, nor see a joyful tomorrow? You’re living somewhere between the truth of Jesus’ life on earth, and the glory that He brought in His resurrection; you’re searching for that bridge which vali-

dates everything He did and said. It is so incredibly easy for us to mock the lack of faith of the Disciples. They believed He was the Messiah, and yet they refused to believe that He was returning to them. But are we actually that different? We all make our own plans and push the contract of life to God for Him to scrawl his signature. Somehow we believe that life will be simpler if He, and everyone else, just followed in accordance with our plans- and then we get frustrated when things don’t play out that way. But the truth is this: the disciples hadn’t yet received His glorious gift, they hadn’t received the Holy Spirit, but today, His Spirit is completely with us. They did not have the compilation of God’s Word, the history of the world, and the power of God bound in one volume. We have it readily accessible, available to our very fingertips in a thousand languages and translations. The disciples were living on the other side of Christ’s resurrection, but we are living in its reality.

eASTER SUNDAY: HE HAS RISEN INDEED! Easter Sunday is perhaps considered the superstar of Easter, for He has risen indeed! Easter is not merely about the resurrection of one man. It also commemorates the resurrection of all of mankind. And through His resurrection, we have been given five hugely important gifts: Forgiveness, an eternally reliable source of trust, guidance and unmoving definable truth, an enviable life and an everlasting joy. The book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 15 discusses the Resurrection in reference to these glorious gifts. How is Jesus’ resurrection linked to our forgiveness? He bore the price of our sins, and he took our judgment upon himself as those nails were driven into His flesh. The connection of the resurrection is hugely important. Romans 4 puts it like this: “He was handed over to death on account of our transgressions, and He was raised on account of our justification”. Through His death, He paid the penalty for our sins; He purchased our acquittal, our justification, and our forgiveness. Since the achievement of the cross was so complete, and the work of our justification so decisive; God raised Jesus from the dead to validate our forgiveness, to vindicate His son’s righteousness, and to celebrate the work of justification. Every individual needs forgiveness, and deep inside, even when we don’t think about it, we long for it. We long to be accepted by God.

“Whether you are living in the grief of the Friday, the nothingness of the Saturday, or the joy of the Sunday, I want to encourage you.”

We fear the alienation of our guilt. But Paul says, because Christ rose from the dead, we are no longer in our sins. This is the first and most basic longing of our hearts. Our faith is not in vain, it is well-founded. Because of the resurrection of Christ, we were provided with someone who we can trust implicitly. Buried in the deep desires of every individual is a distinct longing for a friend, for someone whom you can trust through every season, who will never mess up or let you down. God made us with that desire, but no earthly relationship will

be comparable to that which He ordained between you and Christ Jesus. The death of Jesus proved His infinite love for us, and His resurrection proved His power over every enemy of life. He is absolutely and wholly trustworthy. Jesus is alive to be trusted. Because of Christ’s resurrection, the faith and words of the apostolic leaders and teachers are true. In education systems today, children and young adults alike are taught that there is no absolute truth. Lines are blurred between the black and white, and it appears the shades of grey are increasing in

every area of our lives. However, the desire for truth is a fundamental element of the human existence. Jesus rose from the dead in order to vindicate his claim: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). Jesus has a right to tell us what is absolutely true because in the resurrection God proved Him to be absolutely true. This scripture also declares that we are to be envied. 1 Corinthians 15:9 says that we are to be sincerely pitied if Christ has not actually been raised from the dead. If he has not been resurrected, we then are living in a state of delud-

ed hallucinations. But simply because He has been raised from death to life and set apart as the King eternal; all of our obedience, love and selflessness is not only not-to-be-pitied, but it is seriously covetable. From the perspective of some, though, we are still to be pitied. We are not understood- we are persecuted. But I absolutely love what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

It actually gets even better! We as individuals carry within our hearts a deep-seated desire to do something significant; to change the world, to reach the end of the race and have God whisper in your ear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”. We subconsciously desire to live a life that’s not pitiable, but covetable. And so as believers we are called to stand firm, to let nothing move us, and to always give ourselves wholly to the work of the Lordfor in that way our lives will not be in vain. Your life is not in vain. You are significant. You are redeemed. You are valued. Verse 20 speaks of the final gift God has given us- Those who have fallen asleep are alive, and therefore we have been offered eternal joy. Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Because of the resurrection, life does not stop at the final breath of a significant life. Nor are we damned to an eternity of suffering, devastation and guilt. Instead- we do not perish because God has given us eternal life. Those who have fallen asleep are now more alive than ever! Whether you are living in the grief of the Friday, the nothingness of the Saturday, or the joy of the Sunday, I want to encourage you. As Easter draws near, consider the deeper aspects- look to the real heart of that weekend 2000 years ago. Reflect on the goodness of God, the gifts He has given us, and the suffering that He endured to redeem our freedom. Remember the truth: He bore a crown of thorns, that we might forever wear His garland of grace.

h t n o m c i s u m nz may 2015 8

The ALIVE team undertook 31 interviews of music-related beauty for the 31 days of 2015 May NZ Music Month.

Now travelling Europe, musician Emily Rice caught up with Nicola Froud to talk her EP, too many projects and losing her voice at Switchfoot. It was a pleasure to hear from a girl in the thick of her adventures in Europe, with thanks to votes and support from NZ on Air and theaudience funding. Previously found as half of a duo, We Stole The Sun, Emily Rice is busy pursuing solo artistry in Berlin. Find Me Here was her debut release, birthed just over a month ago, and it can be tracked down on Emily’s website www.emilyrice. co.nz and other online musical places including Soundcloud, Spotify and iTunes. The first marker of many was Emily’s being born into a noisy musical family, with learning music almost seemingly unquestionable, before getting on the jazz scene at college and majoring in song-writing at Auckland University. The latest in a long line of successes was receiving funding to go abroad and pursue music, driving her Facebook friends “crazy” asking to vote. “It was exhausting but so worth it!” She is now exploring Berlin, also meeting up with people in the music industry and getting her foot in the door of the European music scene.

EMILY RICE FIND HER HERE “[I’m] taking lots of time to wander and write and turn my thoughts into songs to share.” Last year was a big transition for Emily, moving out of duo work and into solo music, and the end of the year saw her performing frequent gigs and recording Find Me Here. Last summer however, was “really fun and full on” with all the gigs from both duo and solo groups. “I like the madness of doing heaps at the same time!” As a duo, Parachute Festival 2013 provided Emily with Switchfoot … and reason to lose her voice. “I lost my voice after enjoying

A big influence has naturally been God. “When He’s the centre of your life, everything comes back to him – I’m just joining in with Him really! … He’s the breath behind every idea that pops into my head, and He’s the reason I’ve been able to make music in the first place … He’s just everything!” With God, the Giver, who gives life, Emily’s own song The Giver resonates with her most at this point in her life. “See her wandering, wandering by,” is an image of her travels and her globe wandering, - our giver of life, with her the entire way.

“[I’m] taking lots of time to wander and write and turn my thoughts into songs to share.” Switchfoot far too much on the Saturday night before our Sunday slot.” So in “classic Emily” style they did “a bit of an impromptu performance” with dancing, trying to sing with “the husk”, and playing a sneak bit [of the then un-released EP], and lip syncing with it. Festival One, she reflects, felt a lot more intimate, kind of like the White Elephant stage of the older Parachutes. She enjoyed the community vibes at One, - and that Graham Burt came and sat with her and friends in the village one night after Jon Foreman’s impromptu set.

As for what Emily thinks about New Zealand Music Month; she loves it. “[I think] New Zealand is so good at getting behind their musicians … I’ve felt so backed by them.” Her musical highlights include collaborating with other musos, and various New Zealand artists like Andy Lovegrove and the team who have been part of the EP and music videos. She recommends Tiny Ruins and Baloo, a band of brothers, but one of Emily’s biggest inspirations is Kimbra. “I’ve never seen an artist with energy like her.”

MALCOLM GORDON SONGS OF FAITH

Nicola Froud talked to Malcolm Gordon, a man who’s been well-known for his worship music for a long time. It was a joy to stop and chat with Malcolm Gordon, official title Worship, Music and Arts Enabler of the Presbyterian Church – a role helping churches to creatively conduct what they do on Sunday mornings, and enable those with creative gifts to share them. Malcolm started singing lessons at age 6 and has a history of musicals including a role as Friedrich in The Sound of Music – the boy whose note to sing is La. He’s a bagpipist; part of the Celtic influence that feeds into his music was first fed by involvement in pipe bands. “[This has] informed the way I think and hear music.” Fittingly, Malcolm’s recent song St Magnus was heard by a Scottish minister and has resulted in an invitation to Scotland with his family. Malcolm started out in a band, and recording just a year into their formation, they contacted another band who, at the time, had just recorded an album and were able to connect them up with their album makers. “How do you leave your music for people when you’re not there?” By making an album. One afternoon and three hundred dollars later, the band had their debut.

“God is the only thing that I’ve ever really thought was worth singing about.” As for music, it is just simply the language that his soul is able to speak. “When I sing and play I give a more honest and whole-hearted expression of who I am than in other times.” Out of this passion has come several albums, with 2013’s being entitled Into The Deep. It’s the title of the last track, the track that began the whole project. “[It’s] about [letting go of] security in employment and home, and leaving to travel/tour for a year – Jesus’ invitation for us to go where we could no longer be in control;

One of his highlights would have to be the time when iTunes asked him to describe his sound for his listing. After entering Folk, he then added Celtic as his sub-genre. This catapulted him into iTunes’ World category, and he soon topped the charts with his album that sounded nothing like the panpipe melodies that read alongside his. “It looks like I’m number one in the world.” Beneath the Southern Cross was one of Malcolm’s projects in 2014, which was shared with churches nation-wide and will be part of this year’s Waitangi celebrations. He doesn’t follow NZ Music Month as closely as he once did,

“God is the only thing that I’ve ever really thought was worth singing about.” it was scary and it was about trusting.” Taking two years to write and a year to record, his favourite track on it is Lazarus. “I related to Lazarus, that coming out of parish ministry and into musical adventure was for us like coming out of a tomb and into the light.” His next project is writing a song for Stand Against Slavery (a predominantly Baptist group against human trafficking) and doing a music video for it. He is also writing material for a (hopefully) 2015 album with a full band.

believing that a good thing to aim for is to warrant people’s attention by oneself. On the other hand, he conceded, “there is value in home-grown stuff; our stories can’t be sung to us by people who’ve never been here.” Malcolm would recommend Fea St Hustle, Albion Place and Joshua Aaron. A previous New Zealand Music Month saw Radio Rhema using Malcolm as a prize, allowing a Mosgiel crowd to give a concert to thirty people crammed into their living room.

TAIPEI TEAHOUSE

COUNTRY-WIDE COLLABORATION

Teahouses in Taiwan, dressmakers in Afghanistan and country-wide collaboration are all part of Taipei Teahouse as Greta Yeoman finds out. The last six months of 2014 were “really awesome” for Taipei Teahouse, according to frontwoman Kerry Coulshed. The Christchurch-based indie-electronica project has expanded their creativity across the country, opened for Minuit and raised a couple of grand for their Beautiful Beast project. Spearheaded by Kerry, the act, formerly a duo with Billy Mills, has stretched larger than that with another musician, Janelle Palmer, joining the band and Kerry’s husband Mike at the controls of their visual effects. In November Taipei were asked to opened for Minuit as part of their Final Fling tour, which was “an amazing night”. “We love Minuit and so to open for them was a real honour and a total buzz.” “Unfortunately, Billy couldn’t do that particular gig so a good friend of mine, Janelle Palmer aka Maiden and Machine (a super talented electronica artist), joined forces with me. It was such a fun collaboration that we’ve continued to work together.” Janelle is based in Northland, Billy has moved to Wellington and Kerry still in Christchurch so they are working “remotely”, though Kerry says it’s working well. “Over the summer Janelle sent me some beats and I worked through

some melodies and lyrics …. We are currently working on 5 or 6 new tracks for an upcoming EP.” Their Beautiful Beast project is continuing to slowly move ahead, with the band doing some fundraising gigs for the project in Christchurch, Auckland and Hamilton in late 2014, which raised a few thousand dollars for the cause and allowed the band to meet some cool musicians and supporters along the way. Beautiful Beast, a song from Taipei’s debut self-titled EP was inspired by The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gaylene Lemmon, a story of Kamila Sidiqi who was an underground dressmaker in Afghanistan during the Taliban regime.

to raise but we know it will happen eventually, one person at a time giving just a little is making all the difference.” The project can be donated to at: http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/ BeautifulBeastProject, and they also have a Beautiful Beast Project page on Facebook, which can follow for updates on the Project. She describes NZ Music Month simply as “epic”, and asks if she can recommend six Kiwi musicians, suggesting Luckless, Little Bark, Yumi Zouma, Doprah, Estere and Sparkle Kitty. As for the coming months, Kerry says the band will be working on a new EP and hope to release it mid year. “We’re also organizing a ‘Wom-

“We still have about $5000 NZD to raise but we know it will happen eventually, one person at a time giving just a little is making all the difference.” Inspired by Kamila’s story Kerry wrote the Beautiful Beast song and emailed it off to Kamila, who now runs an organisation empowering Afghani women and men. Kamila loved the song and they communicated through email, eventually connecting in with Kamila’s friend Roya Sadat who was the first woman filmmaker in Afghanistan after the Taliban, who is now making a music video for the song. Kerry says filming has been completed for the video and Roya’s Roya Film House is in post-production phase. “We still have about $5000 NZD

en of the Electronic Arts’ gig at Dux Live in July and getting a few female electronica artists on board for that which will be fun.” The inspiration for the band’s name, Kerry says, were teahouses in Taipei (in Taiwan) which were traditionally a place where people could go and debate and philosophize regardless of whether their views and values were opposing. “The creative process can be a bit like that with our taipei teahouse actually! It’s a meld of different experiences, knowledge and values morphing together with occasional bursts of randomness. Woohoo!”

A move to the Northern Hemisphere signals a new change for the Christchurch-based indie-pop duo. They talk to Greta Yeoman. It’s not often you see a girl taking charge of the percussion section of a duo but The Response challenge the boundaries their sound in many ways. Andy and Victoria Knopp, a married couple from Christchurch, make up The Response, a powerful slick indie-pop duo who are heading away from their quake city roots to set up new ground in Canada. Andy describes the move as feeling “a little bit crazy”. “I’ve always been keen to see some of the rest of the world but never thought it’d happen. We’ve been saying goodbyes to people the last couple of days and it’s all a bit surreal.” He says it will be interesting to see how the move will influence their music and what opportunities may arise out of it. Andy also alludes to more musical “fruits” to be released later this year, as the duo are always writing and recording. “[Though] we only put out music that we think is great but it’s nice to know it’s not just us who think that.” The comments come after asking about the feedback from the 2014 album, North of Nowhere, which Andy says has received “over the

THE RESPONSE

MOVING NORTH OF NOWHERE top positive” comments. “It would be cool if the move north might bring it to a larger audience.” As for their songwriting inspirations, musically they just take in everything they hear and it comes out as an “unique expression of ourselves”. “Lyrically, it’s very much an exposition of our personal journeys. A bit of self-therapy.” The duo have put out 3 albums among other recordings, performed slots alongside Jesse Sheehan, Tom Lark and Little Lapin, and played festivals all over the country, including the final Parachute in 2014.

really like our arrangement of the song when we play live.” And what does Andy think about NZ Music Month? “We haven’t experienced much of a difference in gigs etc from Music Month but any initiative that puts the spot light on music in general can’t be bad.” The three kiwi artists he’d recommend are The Map Room (“ridiculously great.”) “We’ve played a number of gigs with them now and toured with them for their South Island shows. Their debut album is perfect and definitely worth checking out.” He also suggests Swifts and Sparrows, a melodic hardcore act from

“I’ve always been keen to see some of the rest of the world but never thought it’d happen. We’ve been saying goodbyes to people the last couple of days and it’s all a bit surreal.” So with many shows and a handful of records under their belts, ou have to wonder what are their favourite songs to perform are. For Andy it’s Counting, the third track off their North album. “I really love playing this song. It’s got some sweet guitar licks that I’m never certain I’m going to pull off. haha. Also, it’s quite a happy sounding tune that mostly deals with death and I like that playful juxtaposition.” For Vic, it’s Watching Me. “I love how delicate this song is. It totally changes the atmosphere when we play it. Everyone gets really quiet and just listens. I also

Wellington. “We met them a few years ago at a festival in Dunedin. We’ve bumped into them at two or three festivals since then and have been friends ever since.” And lastly, American French Fries whom they have recently released a collaborative EP. The EP, which came out in early March, is available on iTunes, Bandcamp and Spotify. “It was a bit of an experiment for us, sending tracks back and forth. We weren’t sure how it’d turn out but it sounds fantastic (if we do say so ourselves) and can’t wait to share it.”

TERRIBLE SONS IN LOVE WITH THE MUSIC

The former frontman of Dukes, Matt Barus, told Greta Yeoman about his new project, and talked faulty pianos, toddlers and biblical judgements. There’s an air of mystery around Christchurch-based act Terrible Sons. Formed by Matt Barus, former frontman of pop band Dukes, the act was later joined by his wife and fellow Dukes bandmate Lauren Barus (aka LA Mitchell) on piano and vocals and drummer Joe McCullum. They’ve only played two shows so far, and Matt says it’s actually “pretty exciting” as no-one quite knows what they sound like. “I love pop songs, and I still try to write them. Maybe the difference is I’m really trying hard to be less of a chameleon and please myself. And Lauren. We talked about writing honest songs, beautiful songs, songs that made us excited about sharing with others.” Their seemingly silent appearance back onto the scene - there’s only two solo songs from Matt on the Terrible Sons Soundcloud - hasn’t meant the band has petered out, quite the opposite, they’re still hard at work. Their debut show, at Christchurch’s Chambers Sessions, in late 2013 was followed up by their second show in 2014 at the Lazy Sunday programme in Christchurch’s Botantic Gardens. Lauren attended the second show

heavily pregnant and the couple had their first child soon after, but even with a child in tow they haven’t stopped making music. In the last year or so they’ve been recording an album of Terrible Sons tunes with award-winning producer Ben Edwards at his Lyttelton studio, The Sitting Room. And Lauren’s recently been back on stage with the Fly My Pretties collective. On the topic of Fly My Pretties, which is an ever-evolving line-up of some of NZ’s most-talented musicians, Matt recommends Lawrence Arabia, Nadia Reid and Popstrangers as his three Kiwi muso suggestions.

are still in the pipeline, though they do have a an interesting story about their “piano”, which they bought off TradeMe from someone who said it was amazing and worth doing up. “When we picked it up, it was a wreck, with chords written on the keys, some missing etc. I think they were a little naive about the quality of the piano. Our friend Matt took a chainsaw to it and cut it down to a simple frame for Lauren’s keyboard.” So they now have a keyboard that looks like a piano. As for where they draw their songwriting inspiration from, Matt says life is all about relation-

“We talked about writing honest songs, beautiful songs, songs that made us excited about sharing with others.” As for his thoughts on New Zealand Music Month, he asks why people need to stop supporting at just a month. “Go see some shows and have an NZ Music Year, why stop with a month.” Regarding the name Terrible Sons, he jokes it sounds like a heavy, biblical judgement - “you shall have terrible sons.” “My parents assured me that the name wasn’t accurate.” “So I suppose I like that the name seems to give us heaps of freedom with regard to what sort of music we create.” Matt says funny stories for TS

ships. “Life’s all about relationships, there’s inexhaustible depth and humour in that, and it’s the common language we all speak. And words are so intoxicating, I want words that sit beautifully together.” The future holds releasing their debut TS album, working on shows, fresh writing and possibly a tour with a toddler in tow “Nappies during intermission!” But in the end Terrible Sons is all about the music. “I’m in love with music and I really want to make music that tells people that.”

SILKE HARTUNG BEHIND THE SCENES

Behind NZ Musician Magazine, Freak the Sheep and general NZ Music support is Auckland-based Silke Hartung. Greta Yeoman reports. Silke Hartung is at the forefront of NZ music promotion. Silke, pronounced Zilka, will have been working at NZ Musician Magazine for five years, this year. She is the editorial assistant for the NZ Musician, a magazine for Kiwi musicians by Kiwi musicians. “I love being able to make a difference for musicians, but practically on the job it’s a love/hate relationship to curate the content. That is the most fun as it involves research and listening to a lot of music, but at the same time it can really do my head in to get the right mix of locations, genres, genders and ethnicities. I guess I love a challenge.” As for difficulties of the job she says it’s not all just music-focused, it’s also an office job. “You have to look after a database of distributors which is a tedious task. On the upside, whenever I get to that point in our bi-monthly cycle, I know that very soon we’ll hold the new issue in our hands, which is very exciting every single time. As editorial assistant she rarely takes on interviews, only picking them up if she’s into the music or loves the people, finding it hard to choose a favourite. “A local favourite would have been one with Rosy Tin Teacaddy from

Wellington outside the Wine Cellar in Auckland. I loved that chat we had.” Her best point of discovery for new artists is Bandcamp. “Big fan - it’s the best.” In addition to her NZ Musician role, she hosts Freak The Sheep, a radio show on 95bFM in Auckland and also works at gigs. “I have a thing for doing the door/ merchandise for people.” Unsurprisingly, she loves NZ Music Month. “Any reason to bring the community together and help to promote music is a great thing. A lot of

she thought that it was “outrageous”. “I wish there was more music that directly critically reacts to what’s happening in this country. We can be a passive lot at times, trying not to make anyone angry, but sometimes that’s exactly what it takes to make a change.” The three bands she’d recommend include the (mostly defunct) Steffan Van Soest Hit Machine, SJD and Bressa Creeting Cake. Her three favourite Kiwi songs are Crowded House’s Distant Sun, It Dawned On Me by Dave Dobbyn and Aldous Harding’s Stop Your

“I wish there was more music that directly critically reacts to what’s happening in this country.” people still suffer from the good old cultural cringe.” She’s most excited about the the DIY scene in terms of kiwi music at the moment. “[It] in is in full bloom - not just as far as recording goes, but also in terms of venues, websites/zines, and entire festivals. If you look at what’s going on in smaller centres, it’s nothing short of inspiring. Even a lack of funds can’t stop great ideas and great music.” As for her concerns, she recalls when “a clearly satirical song”, Darren Watson’s ‘Planet Key’, wasn’t allowed to be aired or sold before the elections - something

Tears. As for the best music venue Silke says The Wine Cellar in Auckland is the finest place there is. “I love everything - the music, the people, the staff, the funny old sofas, the pictures on the wall, the... everything.” Silke is in the loop with upcoming releases and tours and with that insider knowledge, we had to ask who to catch on tour in the coming months. She suggested Marlon Williams. “Phoah, he can sing. He’s also a super rad human being, so go see him and his band - to make your life a better place.”

Relocating to Christchurch, recording with Jamie McDell and brainstorming sessions are all part of Jaz Paterson’s musical journey, as Evonne Key discovers. Young Geraldine-born Kiwi artist, Jaz Paterson is back in the music business. In 2014, she took a break, left home and started teaching, having “ran out of motivation” and being spent “emotionally and physically”. But she couldn’t help writing and singing and her friends pushed her to get back into recording and doing what she loved, as her passion for music was obvious. She comments that she “can’t think of anything else as fulfilling.” She plays guitar and piano and first began writing songs at the early age of twelve, when she saw a girl at a folk festival and thought “That’s cool, I’ll give it a go.” Having growing up a Christian, when she first started her songs were very obviously a lot about God. Now, however, she likes to write about His overall plan, and how things are bigger than just her, but ‘If he’s got something, you need to say it’. She says rather than writing ‘Christian music’ per se, she is ‘a Christian who writes music’, and therefore she is able to ‘impact people without knowing it’, because her faith is something that will shine through her writing an-

JAZ PATERSON A CONSTANT PASSION yway, and she states it is ‘authentic and sincere’ that way. Having released her first EP in 2013, she is currently working on a new EP with a new producer in Christchurch. The EP will feature five new songs with effects like vocal stacking which Jaz is very excited about. She is also getting back into live gigs, which she loves and hopefully some live shows will be a thing soon too. Her favourite place to gig is The Wunderbar in Lyttleton; which has ‘wack decorations’, which make the atmosphere cool.

top and listen to the ambient noise and write whatever comes to her head. She has brainstorming sessions to follow a theme or simply tries to capture and experience or feeling or even a person in a song. If she has one idea, then she’ll just go with it. She likes writing so much, she’ll often get distracted at work, when writing a song in her head. When she gets stuck though, she’ll put on Tennis Court Remix by Flume, pick a random thing in the room, like a curtain, and write about that and everything that

“Now, however, she likes to write about His overall plan, and how things are bigger than just her, but ‘If he’s got something, you need to say it’.” She has also recorded with Jamie McDell, an opportunity that arose when she one a YouTube cover competition. “It was so much fun. Jamie was so chill to work with.” She also says York St in Auckland was a ‘cool studio’ to work in. She comments that it was an experience ‘out of the blue, but especially as she was then at a stage where she questioned whether or not she was ‘good enough’ to make it in music, the opportunity was super encouraging for our young songwriter. For inspiration, the young artist likes to go to a café with her lap-

follows until it turns into a song. Jaz states that she is ‘Liking a lot of the new stuff that is coming out of NZ’, and that it is moving away from the more traditional and organic style to the techno and electronic sound, which Jaz likes. In regard to NZ music month, she states that ‘young people from NZ are developing a real mature sound, a real artistry and maturity’. Her top three Kiwi artists are LORDE, Broods and Kimbra, while her favourites outside the Land of the Long White Cloud include Banks, Tinashe, and Drake.

photo by Madeline Brighouse

HOLLY ARROWSMITH LOVE IS THE DRIVE

Holly Arrowsmith talked to Evonne Key about falling into music, God and why she keeps love as the backbone to her songs. This twenty one year old artist, born in the States, but having grown up in Central Otago, starting writing songs when she was fifteen. “My songs weren’t very good - if I could actually finish one! It wasn’t until I was 17 that I began writing ‘good’ songs.” Although she now has a an EP under her belt and quite a sizable little following across the South Island. When asked how and why she started writing, she says it’s a hard question. “I suppose I would say I fell into music.” Her mum bought a beautiful guitar, took a few lessons and decided it wasn’t for her. “I was given that guitar, and fell in love! I always wanted to do something meaningful, something that would help people in some way, but I was a little scared. I was kind of shy and not one to ‘perform’ in front of a crowd. I think a lot of my school friends are confused as to how I ended up on this path.” She states that what helped her keep going was “a very supportive church community” and learning “‘how to be’ without worrying about what people are thinking of you”, a tool she carries with her even now; ‘this ease in front of

a crowd and almost a sense that they aren’t focusing on me but solely on the music’. She says playing at church was a great way to gain confidence as you are playing your instrument in front of a large group of people, “but they aren’t looking at you- it isn’t about you!” She garners a lot of her inspiration from nature, stating simply it is so pure, it isn’t trying to be anythingit just is. “I learn so much from observing the natural world, there are countless lessons and metaphors in the rivers, mountains and oceans.” In being asked about God and her musical journey, she says when

Arrowtown, she recently shifted to Auckland, and states ‘There are more people in Auckland and more places to play. Arrowtown is home but it was beginning to stifle my opportunities.’ Although pronounces with enthusiasm that she will definitely be back. “I have just been there for a visit and I did not want to leave. It is the most beautiful small town in NZ, in my bias opinion.” Over the past year, one of her best highlights in the music industry was opening for Rodriguez at the Aotea Centre to 3,000 listening people, while non-music scene wise, was getting married.

“From the start I have believed that this is what I have been called to do, I have believed that it will work, that things will fall into place..” you have a faith, you believe that God is at work in your life. “From the start I have believed that this is what I have been called to do, I have believed that it will work, that things will fall into place. It is the faith I’ve been given to believe this is bigger than me, that my own striving and trying to ‘make’ it happen won’t ultimately bring me success that has propelled this journey. I have hardly doubted that this might not work out. As soon as you doubt you lose momentum.” It is obvious that the Lord is the keystone to her life and musical career. While she grew up in Central’s

“It was the best day ever, a huge party with all the people you love most! Now I have my best friend with me all the time, he is incredibly supportive and we have a lot of fun together”, she comments in regard to the big day and her husband, Mike Gilling. And she most recently finished up a wee tour of New Zealand, which she thoroughly enjoyed. “One of our shows gathered the most people that venue had ever seen, which was a nice surprise to us and the bar manager! We want to establish the music and get heard around Auckland, and there are some ideas floating around to head to The States- but we don’t CONTINUED >

know when yet.” Holly recommends Luke Thompson, Ciaran McMeeken, Strahan, as New Zealand artist to look out for, and Josh Garrels, Zach Winters, Sufjan Stevens, when branching out of our blessed country. A Bible verse that is instrumental in her life is 1 Corinthians 13:1. ‘If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.’ And she explains why in a very succinct way, that sums up her passion for music and her love of Christ. “My main aim is to always keep love as the drive behind my music, no other agenda but to love people. That is how Christ loved- He showed kindness and mercy to everyone, regardless of whether they chose to follow him. He healed them and then he kept walking. “I meet hundreds of people, I can’t talk to all of them, I can’t remember most of them. Some I will never see again. But I can show them this love through songs and then continue to the next place. I believe when love is your motive, nothing you do is worthless.”

Thanks to Tim Richards for helping arrange this article.

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The Eastern often sing ‘a little faith is stronger than any man’. Greta Yeoman talks faith, politics and favourite lyrics with frontman Adam Mcgrath. ‘Keep the faith’ is the catchphrase of The Eastern’s frontman Adam Mcgrath, and he says world needs as much love, hope and faith as it can get. The main voice, guitarist and songwriter for the Christchurchbased folk band says we live in a selfish time full of greed and vanity and we need to “kick against those things”. The Eastern, the core crew made up of Adam and co-pilot songwriter/guitarist/banjo freak/vocalist Jess Shanks, have been on the road since 2006, releasing four albums and three EPs, touring the country numerous times as well as a debut tour to Europe last year. The band has changed over the years, numerous fiddle players and backing vocalists coming and going, with the current band lineup including bassist Jono Hopley and violinist Alice Williams, along with occasional tour friends. The current band toured Europe mid-2014, came back to Christchurch and a month later put out their current record The Territory, which they toured around NZ for the rest of the year. Adam says his favourite song off the new record is “People Like Us’” and the verse about the kids

THE EASTERN MY LOVE IS A WEAPON

locking themselves in the bedroom while their parents start fights. “The oldest says to the youngest ‘don’t you fret don’t you fear one of these days we might make it out of here’, and the youngest replies ‘we probably won’t, people like us just don’t’. He says it’s a true story however, he was “delighted” to find the younger child in that conversation ended up playing rugby league for the NZ Women’s team. “Maybe sometimes you do get to make it out.” The band is often political, singing of old political events and current issues, and Adam says when songs

has written comes from Be True which sings “They say never fall in love during times of war but my love is a weapon I use to threaten old scores”. The three Kiwi artists he’d recommend are Barry Saunders, Lindon Puffin and Upper Hutt Posse. As for Music Month he doesn’t believe that music is inherently good just because comes from a certain place. “That’s not music, that’s patriotism and as soon as flags start waving you start walking a slippery slope toward nationalism and that ain’t good for anybody. “But the world outside our shores is so loud and filled with resource,

“When you say you’re not affected by politics you become like a flightless bird with its head in the sand. Bob Dylan said ‘We live in a political world’ he was right.” show up “that need to get in the dirt with politics” he hopes that they engage with the audience. “When you say you’re not affected by politics you become like a flightless bird with its head in the sand. Bob Dylan said ‘We live in a political world’ he was right.” “I admit that and I draw a line in the sand and say if I must stand somewhere I hope to have the strength and courage to stand for people, for social justice, for community, for equity, for love and the freedom to access such things.” His favourite of the song lyrics he

so if we can take a moment shine a light around our backyard and make sure we’re not missing out on any voices amongst the din then that can only be a good thing.” And so, what does the year ahead hold for the frontman of the band often known as New Zealand’s hardest working band? “I’m gonna try and have some time off, come off the road for the first time in eight years. I’m gonna go to Europe and get some non-song-related writing done and hope for the best.”

10 Philip van der Wel plays alongside some of NZ’s folk biggest names but remains relatively unknown. Greta Yeoman talks to the man, known by his last name, of his new album, friends and covering hymns. Philip van der Wel has bucked the trends of normal folk music from the beginning and continues to do so with his new EP. His band, van der Wel (“with a lowercase v and d”), was named so as Philip was trying to avoid using cliché band names/monikers. “I also liked the idea of using my family name because the plan was/ is to include family in my music from time to time. My wife, Talia, often joins me on stage, as do friends (read: honorary family).” The Hamilton-based musician also chooses to use an electric guitar over the preferred acoustic guitars of most folk musicians. “Well, I like my electric guitar and dislike my acoustic guitar. I play the one I like. I’m in the process of having an acoustic guitar built for me; hopefully it’s perfect.” For a little-know musician, he often joins some big names in Kiwi music on stage. “In 2013 I spent a lot of time playing music with Lydia [Cole], Luke [Thompson], and Dave [Baxter of Avanlanche City]. I have a ton of respect for them musically and consider them close friends.” Philip also recorded a cover of the

VAN DER WEL A LITTLE-KNOWN HERO hymn When Peace Like a River/It Is Well With My Soul with Lydia Cole, for his latest EP, O’ Canada. “There is a recurring end of days theme in the other songs which matches well, and the style I was previously playing When Peace Like a River made me think it would be a good fit.” “I loved singing with Lydia; her voice is out of this world. Her songs are incredible too - heartfelt, heartbreaking... all the hearts.” He also dreams of recording a hymn with each set of songs he releases. “I grew up on songs like When Peace; they are my bread and butter.”

home; You board a plane south for San Antone. Feelings fade, feelings grow.” He says he feels most inspired when faced with a song or songwriter which captures or challenges him. “As far as inspiration for the content of my songs, I guess I focus a lot on my experiences, failures, memories, and how my faith and beliefs are intertwined with it all.” As for three Kiwi musicians he would recommend, he chooses Mali Mali, Ben Tolich (who is actually Mali Mali), and award-winning Hayden Donnell of Great North.

“I grew up on songs like When Peace; they are my bread and butter.” As for his aforementioned release, O’ Canada, which he released last year, he says his second favourite song off it is Happy Man due to the lap steel at the end. “My favorite song from the record is I think British Columbia; the part about the peace I found swimming underwater in the lake there is my happy place.” Philip lived in Canada for a few formative years and borrowed the name from the title of their national anthem for the album name. His favourite song lyric of his is from an as yet unreleased song. “Holding gloved hands I walk you

His thoughts on NZ Music month, “used to be pretty dire”, however in recent years he says he has seen “beneath the grimy, oily surface into cool, clear depths of talent here”. “As far as the month goes, you asking for an interview is the first I have ever been involved in any sense.” And so what does the future hold for Philip van der Wel, a littleknown hero of NZ music? “I want to make a concerted effort to play, write, record, and listen to more music this year; here’s to hoping I have something to show for my efforts at the end of it.”

11 Ivy Rossiter isn’t all doom and gloom but the woman behind indie-rock act Luckless says it’s what draws her to the music she listens to. She discusses with Greta Yeoman about collecting words, plans for touring Europe and the good and evil sides of NZ Music Month. NZ Music Month is an interesting tool, according to Luckless’s Ivy Rossiter, that can be used for “good or evil”. Ivy, the woman of the ever-morphing indie-rock act that is Luckless, says there are certainly opportunities that exist during Music Month that otherwise wouldn’t. “It opens up business-owners, mainstream media and general-public minds to engaging with music in a way that they might not do during the usual months of the year.” “But then, for musicians who live and breathe music every day of the year, it really doesn’t make much of a difference to us. We’re still slogging it out at our day jobs to pay for the music that we make, even in May.” She says she isn’t sure if it’s important to sing about the more difficult sides of life, but it is what has always drawn her to the music that she listens to. “There is something communal in the experience and communication of pain that I think brings

LUCKLESS MORE THAN THE BLUES people together, where often songs overtly about joy and happiness can be alienating, false, insipid and uninspiring.” She doesn’t “deal with” singing sad songs all the time, it’s something she does which “satisfies the need that lies deep in my bones” and she says she couldn’t do it any other way. “I don’t think of my songs as innately ‘sad songs’ - they are reflections of the world and the experiences I see around me.” “I don’t blinker myself to the parts of the world that I don’t want to see or that cause me pain; I think

other’s creations, saying often other people’s music sends her to writing and literature pushes her to paper and pen as well - she’s currently reading Joan Didion’s Slouching Towards Bethlehem. “I try to stay alert to the words around me, to collect and save for a later date.” The three Kiwi musicians she’d recommend include Quail State (aka Jono Aidney) who recently released his debut album ‘Volcanic Hazards of Auckland’. “It’s unabashedly romantic and wholehearted, which is just how I like my music.”

“There is something communal in the experience and communication of pain that I think brings people together.” a certain ostrich-type-head-inthe-sand stance is how a lot of people deal with the darker parts of this world.” Ivy released her second album, Vindication Blues, in mid-2014, and describes the meaning of the title as “the feeling stemming from being right in the worst circumstances”. “When everything falls apart, you get the sweet and bitter pleasure of knowing that was the way it would always turn out.” She says her favourite song off the album is Dry Eyes, when she plays it with the full band, “loud and shouty and soul-satisfyingly vitriolic”. She draws her inspiration from

Her second suggestion is The River Jones - “the best live band I’ve seen in Christchurch”. Ivy also mentions Bond Street Bridge, aka Sam Prebble, who left us last year. “I carry him with me in my heart every day.” As for her plans for the coming year, Ivy is embarking on a nation-wide tour with Hannah In The Wars, who is releasing her debut album in April. “Then I’m going to up sticks and try my luck on the other side of the world, rolling around the UK and Europe on the trains trying to eke a living in countries where I don’t speak the language.”

12 Talia Caradus plays songs for an internet audience, streaming her music through videos from her house to fans all around the world. She talks to Greta Yeoman about her fans, family and old recordings.

TALIA CARADUS SINGING ACROSS SCREENS starting to get back into writing and singing again. “It’s really exciting, there are so many possibilities. I’m starting to get into YouTube again and hope to do some more recording this year.” Talia began playing the piano around age eight and fell in love with it. She now plays both guitar and piano, dabbling in other instruments including mandolin, violin and dolcimer. “But the piano will always be my favourite.” She’s had a big four years, music wise, playing at both Parachute and Samstock festivals, touring with Steve Apirana and Paul Cole-

brother was, and that I didn’t want to be in the music industry unless he was in it with me.” She’s also recorded and released two records with Matt, the Talia EP in 2010 and an album, The Shelter, in 2011. “Looking back at the songs on the Talia EP I think ‘Oh wow, that lyric is awful’. My music has developed so much since I wrote those songs. I was only 15 when we recorded that album and I had limited knowledge of music and songwriting.” “I have grown and changed so much as a person since I first started songwriting, so obviously my music has grown and changed

Talia Caradus takes the meaning of house concerts to a whole other level. The Dunedin-based musician and YouTuber records videos at home of covers and original songs for her YouTube channel, which she began at age 16. In the four years since then she’s gathered over 1000 subscribers “My Youtube fans are are all lovely people and very supportive so I’m never and over 100,000 views on her scared to release music online. It’s like a big extended online family.” cover of MGMT’s ‘Kids’. She says she loves all of the songs that she’s covered, but her favourman and being under Parachute’s with me. I feel I am a much ite is probably a recent cover of Artist Development Scheme in stronger writer and singer than Song for Someone by U2. 2013. I used to be - although there is “I am a huge U2 fan and their new She says working with Parachute definitely a lot of room for imalbum is no exception. The song is was a “different experience”, havprovement.” so simple yet so beautiful.” ing only worked with her brother As for plans for more releases she As for her fanbase, she says after a Matt until then. says she intends to record songs festival performance or a tour she “He produced all of my music, throughout the year and release always has an influx of followers gigged with me, and helped me them for free online, with “a few but finds that most people come to develop my songs. We were ideas” for a new album as well. to her music through the Youtube incredibly close and I felt my creThe three Kiwi artists Talia recchannel. ativity was almost tied in with his ommends are Ciaran McMeeken, “My Youtube fans are are all lovely - so it was really difficult for me Holly Arrowsmith and Strahan, people and very supportive so I’m to record, tour, and write without saying she thinks it’s “great” that never scared to release music onhim.” there is a month of the year where line. It’s like a big extended online “While my year with Parachute media focuses on music. family.” was beneficial to me in so many “Every month should be NZ 2014 saw her take a year off with ways, it made me realise how imMusic Month.” serious illness, and says she’s just portant my relationship with my

13 Ben Tolich, who performs under the name Mali Mali, talked to Nicola Froud about a new album, love songs and his day job as a window-cleaner. Ben Tolich is the man behind Mali Mali. He’s a Kiwi muso with a “textured, lyrical and focused” sound that has been heard on several releases and at Parachute Festival also. Ben is a window-cleaner by day. “We drive around in a van and clean windows and water blast schools. It’s great and it’s hard not to stay creative and dream when you spend your days washing away dirt and looking through window panes. I feel a metaphor in there somewhere.” His ‘Brotherly’ EP was released in 2010 and album ‘Gather Round the Gooseclock’ in 2013. A split EP with Stacpoole was released in May last year. On it there is an alternative version of Mali Mali’s 2013 single Song For The Sun, and a Stolen Violin cover called World of Sun. Lately he has been writing a soundtrack for a friend’s video game called Desolate, and has started recording his next album himself. “[It should] be much more personal in sound and in theme. … I now feel like I have full control of the whole painting which I imagine will be quite rewarding even if I lose my mind in the process.”

MALI MALI A PLACE OF WONDER On inquiring about how a new album might differ from his last, and with so much having changed in these recent years, Ben reflected on the personal growth and self examination that changed circumstances have instigated. “In all the dark times though, there has been immense fascination with the way my / our brains work. With some clarity now I feel the new songs are more of less trying to get an insight into my sometimes anxious and depressed mind - but coming from a place of wonder more than pity.” And, so, while a 2015 album isn’t promised, Ben is working on get-

and which was “a blast”. Ben and fellow musician Luke Thompson enjoy a good friendship across their different cities and catch up when they can, having done a few shows and tours together in the past. “[Luke] is a good friend and mentor … He’s always been very encouraging when I’ve lacked self belief. I like that guy. We have good laughs.” With this I challenged Ben of his motives for being a musician. “[Music] stimulates my imagination like nothing else can and that’s important to me. Even the emotional connections I feel with

“[Luke] is a good friend and mentor … He’s always been very encouraging when I’ve lacked self belief. I like that guy. We have good laughs.” ting better at recording himself. He is backed by supportive friends, who are familiar, too, with the recording process. He has married since his early releases though he is “still unable to write a good love song” but suggests one may be on the next album. Every new song he writes proves to be a highlight, but also says recording his first album with Mark Myers and meeting Jack Carty and touring Australia with him were also highlights. Plus all his New Zealand tours. He recently supported for Perfume Genius’ New Zealand shows

music are only there ‘cause of the images they conjure up in my head. I drew a lot before I started playing music and have always been quite visual. Music just took over from drawing.” From his past album he is partial to Swims Alone. “It’s one of those songs that made more and more sense to me that more I played it … I like it’s simplicity and the melody.” Ben, who once played a double bass with his head, and thinks that “every month should be music month,” would recommend artists Tom Lark, Seth Frightening and Anthonie Tonnon.

Awards, an album and Anika Moa have been the past for Shayna King, but Paul McDonald discovers the day is young for the Christchurch-based muso. Ever since she first picked up a guitar at a young age, Shayna King has been writing music. Shayna established her new home in the Garden City once she left high school and began going to open mic nights where she begun meeting other musicians, a move which she said kick-started her career in music. “[After these open mic nights I] slowly started to become involved with the local live scene. “That’s when I started to think seriously about taking the steps to pursue a career in music. “ In a city like Christchurch, with so many talented female singer/ songwriters around her, King began to draw inspiration from her fellow musicians and begun to establish her own sound, although she admits her influences are ever changing. “When I was in my teens I wanted to write songs like my favourite Kiwi songstresses: Anika Moa, Bic Runga etc. “At the moment I’m all about discovering music expression through different instruments and arrangements, and I’ve taken a real liking to artists such as Active Child, Andrew Bird and NZ’s Sheep Dog and Wolf. “They all think outside of the box

SHAYNA KING THE DAY IS YOUNG in terms of instrumentation and bringing a song together,” she says. In the past 12 months, Shayna has kept busy with the release of her new single “Calling You” which was released in August, and the video which accompanied it. This single came after a nationwide tour of New Zealand in support of Shayna’s debut album ‘The Day Is Young’. Shayna received the 2014 Taite Music prize and the album’s title track was a semi-finalist in the International Unsigned Only songwriting competition, while the album peaked at number six on the iTunes charts after its December 2013 release and reached number

ing, Shayna says she has found the industry to be very supportive and encouraging, and finds Aotearoa a country “full of exceptional talent”. “I love the genuine, hard-working and honest feel that a lot of Kiwi musicians have. We are a small country and most of us make music simply because love it and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.” She says it’s good opportunity for Kiwi artists to showcase their music. “It can be a great marketing tool if you have an upcoming release or tour, as there are more avenues opened up for promotion

“I’ve spent a lot of time writing new material - this has been my main focus for the past couple of months.” 14 on the NZ Top 20 during her nationwide tour in May 2014. Asides from her two nationwide tours with her band, Shayna performed “a tonne of other shows” which included supporting New Zealand music collective Fly My Pretties and a headline show in her hometown’s Botanic Gardens as part of the ‘Lazy Sundays’ summer series. Shayna says she has also been working on something new. “I’ve spent a lot of time writing new material - this has been my main focus for the past couple of months.” With NZ Music Month approach-

and sponsorship during Music Month.” It makes sense, she says, to “take advantage” of opportunities where the “spotlight” is on NZ music and new releases, but at the same time it can be a little “release-crowded”. Shayna plans to spend the next 12 months writing and recording for a new release in the near future and she hopes to perform live both here and in Australia before the year is out. “You can probably expect at least one tour with hopefully a trip across the Ditch… But who really knows - That’s what makes it exciting!”

AVALANCHE CITY

LIVING OFF LOVE LOVE LOVE

Avalanche City exploded into the airwaves with their hit Love Love Love in 2011. Greta Yeoman talks to frontman Dave Baxter about an upcoming release, strange encounters with Love Love Love and why he records by himself. It’s been pretty silent on the release front since Avalanche City sprung into the airwaves of the world in 2011, but the music hasn’t stopped for frontman Dave Baxter. Playing shows around the country and the world, taking his music to Australia, America, England and now recording a new album, has been the life of Dave Baxter since the release of his popular 2011 album. “I’ve been writing and recording a new Avalanche City album, the final mixes are back and it’s sounding cool.” Avalanche’s Our New Life Above The Ground album was originally released as a free download, and it’s lead single Love Love Love hit the radios and headphones of up-beat, folk-loving music fans around the country (and globe). But instead of putting out another Avalanche City release, Dave put out the 2012 “Let It Go EP” in the style of the first album, for free, but under his own name. “I had a bunch of slow songs that weren’t right for Avalanche City

and I really wanted to release something for free again, so it just made sense to release it as something different to AvCity. I had a really good year or two with fun shows and good crowds so it was like a thank you present to everyone who supported me with Avalanche City.” “My record label, although they’re a major label, have a very un-major label approach to music and they were totally cool with me releasing a bunch of tracks for free, which is a pretty stunning and rare quality in a label.” Dave recorded the entire Our New

technical stuff makes the recording sound better but there’s no point if you lose the moment.” He does add that, of course, there are good sound engineers and people to work with, but the reason he recorded his first album himself was because he couldn’t afford to pay someone else. “I fell in love with the process and recorded my second album the same way, which will be released soon. And I definitely encourage anyone else who doesn’t have a big studio budget to try it out.” “I don’t actually have another job, music is the only thing I do for a

“I used to write music and be in bands as a hobby, but when that becomes your job you need to find other things to do.” Life album by himself, and he says he loves the challenge and level of control of working solo on project. “When recording a song I usually have a pretty strong idea of how I want it to sound in my head, so working by myself tends to work best for me.” “Recording is about capturing creativity, and when special moments happen and you’re not ready you can lose them. I’ve stood in recording studios for 15 minutes while the engineer has dithered over what mic to use, what pre amp it should go into, then what compressor would sound best. And in that time the creative spark has died a little. All that

living. And I’ve been pretty lucky with that last album and have been able to live off it.” “I used to write music and be in bands as a hobby, but when that becomes your job you need to find other things to do. So I started taking photos and I really love it. It’s not something I take too seriously but it’s super fun.” He also occasionally records and produces for people and he’s recently been recording folk musician Strahan’s upcoming EP. “We work really well together, it’s always a lot of fun recording him. His new EP is sounding so cool, quite different from his previous stuff.” CONTINUED >

Dave’s best story of the popularity of single Love Love Love was being in a store in Japan where it came on the radio, though he says he doesn’t hear it that often. “I have friends that have weird experiences with it though. One was somewhere in Yemen and it came on the radio. Another friend of mine was an adventure tour guide in the Greek Islands, he was at a huge outdoor rave one night with thousands of people and a techno remix of Love Love Love came on! How weird is that.” The three Kiwi musicians he would recommend are Van der Wel (“fairly unknown but he is so good”). Holly Arrowsmith, who he says is a “really talented songwriter from Queenstown”, and Late Night Poets, who “have an amazing live show with great energy, and killer songs too”. He thinks NZ Music Month is a great idea, saying it’s nice to have a a whole month dedicated to celebrating NZ music. “I remember when I was growing up and you could tell which bands on the radio were from NZ because they didn’t sound as good as the rest. Thanks to the great initiative from the government to help fund NZ artists and get them off the ground music in this country has come a long way. We have a really vibrant and exciting music scene and it’s definitely worth celebrating.” As for what the future holds for him, it’s all live shows, an album release and hopefully co-writing with other musicians, something which Dave really enjoys. “It’s really fun to just hangout with another musician and write a song together.” And so with all these plans ahead, I think we can be quite sure this won’t be the last we’ve heard from Dave

Thanks to Dave Baxter and Andrew Stone for helping arrange this article.

“I have friends that have weird experiences with it though. One was somewhere in Yemen and it came on the radio. Another friend of mine was an adventure tour guide in the Greek Islands, he was at a huge outdoor rave one night with thousands of people and a techno remix of Love Love Love came on.”

FRENCH FOR RABBITS SINGING HER OWN SONGS

Paul McDonald talked to French For Rabbits’ Brooke Singer about touring Europe, singing her own songs and Spirits. Some things in life are not planned, this is a fact French for Rabbits’ vocalist Brooke Singer knows all too well. After guitarist John Fitzgerald finished studying jazz at university and Singer had completed her degree in composition, the Waikuku group formed French for Rabbits. The group comprised of four friends, Brooke, John, Ben and Hikurangi combined to form the dream-pop group. Singer said although she had been in bands before, she was apprehensive about singing. “I used to play in a couple of other bands, and write songs for them, however I didn’t sing. “French for Rabbits is the first band I have sung my own songs in, and John was the only person I would sing to, to begin with as I was shy about it.” When it comes to drawing inspiration for writing music, French for Rabbits has not gone the traditional route of finding inspiration from other artists. Singer said there were a few bands and artists, but it was their surroundings which influenced the band in the writing of their debut album Spirits. . “We drew influences from all sorts of places though, sound textures in day to day life, ideas from our

own brains, things we’d read in books.” Singer said the type of music French for Rabbits made did not follow the traditional rules of the music industry. “There is not much ‘industry’ around the kind of music we make - it is just a bunch of friends and bands who do what they do for the love of it - despite the lack of money to be made!” The band released its debut album ‘Spirits’ in October last year, but in the last 12 months they have spent very little time in New Zealand, with plenty of travelling around Europe playing shows. “Lots and lots of traveling - planes,

With NZ Music Month just around the corner, Singer shared her thoughts on the music business in the Land of the Long White Cloud. “I think New Zealand produces some of the best music in the world - we really punch above our weight so to speak. “Probably half of my favourite bands come from here, I think we have a true diversity and individuality. Each band seems to offer something distinctive and new. I’m a total advocate!” However, she believed NZ Music Month should be celebrated on every sheet of the calendar, not just in the month of May.

“French for Rabbits is the first band I have sung my own songs in, and John was the only person I would sing to, to begin with as I was shy about it.” hours driving on the autobahn, truck stops, backstages of venues, theatres, halls, bars, meeting new lovely people every day around Europe, new and ever evolving landscapes, lots of computer screens and emails and interviews, lots of recording and mixing and creation of music. “Last year was really wonderful and busy - we toured Europe twice, playing 108 or so shows there, plus tours in New Zealand.” The group have toured New Zealand since returning home, with a nationwide tour and an evening slot at the annual WOMAD Festival in New Plymouth.

“I think it has its purposes, but it doesn’t mean much to me. If there is good music coming out of New Zealand, it should be enjoyed and in the spotlight every month of the year!” Singer said there was no intention of slowing down for French for Rabbits and she hoped the next 12 months would involve more of the same, recording and touring – playing music alongside friends, the very reason French for Rabbits started in the first place. The only difference? This time it is most definitely intentional.

17 Sparkle Kitty is one of Christchurch’s emerging bands. Simon Brouwer and Lucy Macilquham talked the band’s formation, winning RounDUp and compared Kanye to local acts, as Greta Yeoman finds. Jazz School often lands you more than a degree, and the formation of Sparkle Kitty is no different. The Christchurch-based band came together after graduating from Jazz School in 2012, with Lucy Macilquham, Chris Wethey, Harry Knight and Anna Provan studying together while Lucy and Simon Brouwer already played music at church together. Lucy says their connections made it easy to start the band together. “It was easy to begin an adventure with these guys as I already had a solid musical relationship with them all and trusted them enough to let me try something new even if it took us a while to achieve the sound I had envisioned.” As for the band name, Lucy says it started off as nickname, with friends suggesting if she ever started a band she should call it Sparkle Kitty. “So she did.” Under two years later SK won the RDU RounDUup (Battle of the Bands-esque competition), which Lucy says was amazing. “It was a bit of an emotional roller coaster as initially we didn’t make it through the semi-finals but then we were announced as the Wild

SPARKLE KITTY TO BE OLD AND WISE Card which was a huge relief.” “Winning felt surreal. It was really validating and made me feel like my music isn’t actually that bad and that maybe I should keep writing songs.” After the winning the biggest thing to come out of it all was the publicity. “A lot of people who wouldn’t have heard of us do now and that’s really cool. It means people actually come to our gigs other than our mums.” She wrote their first single, Finch, which was released in May 2014. “The song [is] about feeling that the grass is always greener and

it themselves with friend Lukas Theilmann. He says they draw their songwriting inspiration simply from bad days. Simon’s three Kiwi artists he would recommend are Dictaphone Blues, Marlon Williams and Asian Tang, and Lucy would suggest Chelsea Jade, Batrider and The River Jones. Lucy also thinks NZ Music Month is great, saying it’s “a bit stink” that there is not a culture of supporting NZ music all year ‘round. “There are heeeeeaps of amazing bands in our wee country that haven’t been heard and that’s a real

“It means people actually come to our gigs other than our mums.” feeling trapped in your youth and wanting to be old and wise and not young and dumb.” They went on to record some music with respected and award-winning sound engineer Ben Edwards at his Lyttelton-based studio, The Sitting Room, an opportunity that arose from winning RounDUp. “We recorded Venom and Knuckles with Ben. Venom is about forbidden love and liking someone who is bad for you. Knuckles is about having a caring about someone more than they can care for you.” Lucy says the highlight from the band so far is “definitely” winning RounDUp, though Simon says it was good to get Finch “playlisted” as they had produced

shame.” Simon says the major radio stations sometimes act like NZ music is a charity, only putting in support for May. “But there are great bands and artist out there, Kanye, Gaga and co. all needed to start somewhere so get out and see local bands.” The future for Sparkle Kitty is a bit unclear, as Lucy says the band is rethinking their sound as they lose guitarist Harry Knight to London. They do want to record an EP, however. Simon says they got some new new gear with RounDUp vouchers. “We’re trying to push things in a slightly more electronic direction and do most of it ourselves.”

18 Nicola Froud found out about the diverse backgrounds of Mosaic Music’s band-members, new material and the highlight of winning a Tui. Mt Maunganui-based worship act Mosaic Music have previously played at Parachute, Eastercamp and Festival One, and were the recipients of the 2014 Best Christian/Gospel Album Tui award. The core band, connected with Mosaic Church, is comprised of six musicians - Josh Turner, Dan Leigh and Si Heyward on vocals and guitars, Steve Fruish on drums, bassist Jared Harper and Kelly Hayward on keys. The band have a diverse line-up of day jobs. Two of the band teach music at high schools; one is a life coach; one works for Mosaic, having been a secondary teacher prior; and one runs a design business. Mosaic is the band behind the church, and the name stems from the idea that all of us are broken and create a beautiful masterpiece when we come together with God. Their sound is created by all the typical band instruments, but they say they would love to see more percussion in their music. The members felt the call to play the songs of their community, and they now produce a sound that is, “delicate and vulnerable, but equally capable of being joyous,

MOSAIC MUSIC ALL ARE BROKEN

upbeat and full of energy”. And it’s heard by many more than their Mosaic church members, including the thousands that flock to the annual Baptist Youth Ministry Easter Camp. They have also performed at the final Parachute in 2014, and played a headlining Sunday night show at the debut of Festival One this year. Vocalist/guitarist Si Hayward’s favourite song from Mosaic is ‘Room For You To Move’. He likes the thought that “in a crazy, busy world … we can be still and know our God.”

worship band Lifestyle (Of Worship). They also say vocalist Josh Turner’s win for Play it Strange was a highlight. The band also shows plenty of other musical talent with Georgia Lines, who is part of Mosaic, but not the core group, taking out the Smokefree Rockquest Musicianship Award last year. As for what God is doing with Mosaic, they say He is the centre of their journey. “All our songs come from Him; [they] find life in Him and [are] rewritten to give language for peo-

“All our songs come from Him; [they] find life in Him and [are] rewritten to give language for people to connect with.” Together, the future invites them to lead worship – at their home church and abroad – and continuing to write. “[We are] looking to record fresh material towards the end of this year.” When one or two of the band have a song idea, they tend to, “work on it for a while, then bring it to the group to see if it will fly.” Stand-out moments have been Mosaic’s winning a Tui (New Zealand Music award) in 2014 for the best Gospel album. The band won against fellow Parachute 2014 perfomers hardcore-metal band Saving Grace and

ple to connect with.” The band loves New Zealand Music Month. “There is something unique and special about the sound that comes from this part of the world – it needs to be celebrated.” They wish to recommend 3 Kiwi artists including fellow Mosaic musician Georgia Lines, psalmist Hans Kraenzlin and Alexander Wildwood for readers wanting more listening material. Their award-winning album 2014 ‘You Surround’ and 2009’s ‘The First and Me’ can be purchased from their website, yousurround.com, or iTunes.

19 Paul McDonald caught up with Luke Shaw, frontman of Nelson-based worship band City of Light. It all started with a call from God – a call which City of Light vocalist Luke Shaw was not going to let go to voicemail. After working in Auckland as a youth pastor, Shaw moved back to his homeland of Nelson, where he felt a call to start up a band. Shaw said he had been in bands before, but he felt this band would be focussed on worship and made of musicians with a passion for God’s presence and would use their gifts accordingly. “After a few months of testing the waters, waiting on God and jamming on some original songs and riffs with various local musos, the band had its first gig on Pentecost Sunday 2011.” The band drew its name from the nearby town of Reefton, the first town in the southern hemisphere to receive a public supply of electricity. “It’s a reminder that we are each called to shine our light in the world around us.” Shaw said the band’s line-up consisted of himself on vocals and guitar, Tim Stewart on guitar, Antonio Sardella on bass and vocals and Tim Did-Dell on drums and percussion. Four lads who came from different church backgrounds and each have various musical backgrounds as well.

CITY OF LIGHT LIGHT IN THE WORLD “Some of us hail from punk bands, others from metal/thrash bands and [even] Elvis tribute bands (but I won’t say who). “My road to the band consisted of being involved in or starting various youth group bands and playing at youth events or at youth night on a Friday night, which really shaped me as a person and honed my skills.” Shaw also plays solo acoustically on the side which helps him to keep a foot in the local music scene. Although he grew up on classic rock acts such as Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Daddy Cool and Nirvana, Shaw’s time in youth group intro-

With NZ Music Month fast approaching, the Nelson lad shared his thoughts on how he saw the New Zealand’s music scene at the moment. “I enjoy the fact that NZ music is home grown and locally made. I like the sense that we’re not bound and reliant on labels these days but have an independent streak and just love to create music. “I‘m always impressed by the quality of music coming through as well and have a lot of respect for those artists who put in the effort themselves to produce and perform and build their profile because it’s hard work. “I think people respect artists who they know have given time

“It’s a reminder that we are each called to shine our light in the world around us.” duced him to Audio Adrenaline, Bleach and the OC Supertones which inspired him to write from a faith perspective. “[However], each of us in City of Light have different tastes when it comes to music, but we seem to have found a unique sound that fits us as a team which is great. “Some say we sound a little like U2 mixed with Delirious, others have said we sound like the band Live.” Over the past 12 months, City of Light have certainly kept busy with plenty of church camps and conferences seeking the band to play at their events.

to their music and honed their craft, and we’re always inspired by someone who has a story to tell with substance. “We all know the big name bands in the New Zealand scene but I’d like to see more emphasis from New Zealand music month in promoting and celebrating the local bands and artists out there every week creating and inspiring.” With a new website on its way and the promise of new material, the next twelve months for City of Light will be busy, but they are still on the line to the one who gave them the call to do what they love.

Greta Yeoman got confused by the explanation of Amy Tucker’s inspiration for her stage name, but the woman behind Auckland-based act Parabola West is far more clear about her love of music and her craft. There’s often interest in the origins of peculiar band names, and Parabola West is no different. The name of the indie-pop project of Auckland-based Amy Tucker, came about when she was researching how to build a parabolic solar heater with household materials - “please don’t judge me!”. “The more I learned about the way a parabolic curve can focus light - and sound - the more fascinated I became. I likened it to the way I try to focus my emotions and experiences into my songwriting, and that’s how the name Parabola came about. West is my married surname.” (Sounds confusing right?) Amy’s first performance as “Parabola West” was in December 2013, previously touring with UK-based act Dreamfield before moving to New Zealand in 2003. “I’d never actually performed any of my own original music in front of people before that, so I was both excited and terrified.” Though she never performed originals until a few years ago she grew up around a lot of instruments and always tinkered on the piano.

PARABOLA WEST NO TURNING BACK “I started to really discover that I was a musician in my late teens when I began earnestly teaching myself the piano and writing my own songs.” She was away studying at the time, and there was a building just full of beautiful pianos and practice rooms which became a “bit of a sanctuary”. “At the same time, I joined an all-female acappella singing group, so I guess the desire to sing and write songs started bubbling away then.” Amy recorded her debut EP, Did You Hear, in about six months. “Most of the songs were already written in some form, but Matt

“It tends to work its way through me in the form of music.” Amy also writes about the lives of people around her, sometimes from their perspective, so she says it is very much what’s happening in her world at the time. “Sometimes a song just pops up and I have to get the idea or feeling down onto paper or recorded into my phone before it’s gone forever. So there are a lot of random snippets of paper and twelve second soundbites in the process.” As for a highlight of her career she says it has been a year since the EP release and there have been so many highlights, but it’s likely the music video for Did You Hear

“I’d never actually performed any of my own original music in front of people before that, so I was both excited and terrified.” Chapman [her producer] really taught me a lot about song structure and thinking about the listener’s experience and we did a lot of tweaking from the original formats.” She would sum up the album in her lyric “like a train on a track, once we go there is no turning back”, and says the experience of making the six-track EP (released last year) revealed to her that making music what she wants to be doing with her life. She draws her songwriting inspiration from when she feels strong emotion or are impacted by an event or feeling.

that’s the best memory. The three Kiwi artists she would recommend are country musician Katie Thompson, country duo Into the East and ex-Parachute Band’s Omega Levine. She likes the of NZ Music Month, saying that anything that encourages Kiwis to get behind their own artists is a great thing. “I keep hearing people say that you can’t find success as a musician in New Zealand and that you have to go overseas to make it a sustainable career, and I think that initiatives like NZ Music Month are trying to change that for the better.”

21 Great North’s Hayden Donnell talked to Greta Yeoman about questions of faith, beer companies and winning another Folk Tui. With a second Folk Tui, four albums and numerous tours behind them, Great North are still powering on ahead. The Auckland-based folk band, fronted by Hayden Donnell, released their most recent album Up In Smoke a year ago, which bagged them their second Best Folk Album Tui. Hayden says the win felt “really good” - at least as good as it did to win their first. “I was more surprised about this one. And I’m pleased that Up In Smoke was recognised in some way, because I actually think it’s a better album than Halves.” A lot of the album confronts a fading faith, Hayden’s “short answer” is that it was his experience at the time. “I got halfway through writing the songs and started to look for a theme. I wanted something a bit interesting - that feels common to everyone, but isn’t a well-covered topic. This kind of struck me as something albums don’t always talk about in-depth. Questions of faith, of the meaning of life, of doubt and the transformation of your beliefs, and how that affects you profoundly.” As for his current stance on faith, especially after writing such an

GREAT NORTH YOU GO UP IN SMOKE album he says he has more of a hope than a faith. “I’m not certain of anything but I like to think that there’s going to be grace for the hopeless, justice to heal injustice, judgement for the judges: a still-unrealised future world where we can fix the wounds we create day in and out as part of living.” “Having said that, I have no interest in much of contemporary Christian culture. I think many of the Christian heroes we see on TV screens talking about Jesus are exactly the people Jesus would be shouting down and rebuking if he were around today. Not even

Regarding Music Month, he says it helps with getting big, mainly beer, companies to invest in music. “They can put on an event, hire some bands and attach their name to the existing Music Month brand. That helps popular acts. Rock and pop artists. They get these gigs that pay better than anything else around, because God knows beer companies have more money than anyone or thing that actually puts on music for a living.” “It doesn’t really help bands like us, except in the sense that there’s a little increase in media attention

“I think many of the Christian heroes we see on TV screens talking about Jesus are exactly the people Jesus would be shouting down and rebuking if he were around today.” just on TV screens. In some cases heading up local churches.” It has been a year since the release of the album, but the band haven’t stopped in the last year, doing an an album tour then going away to France and the US for a few months. “Soon we’ll be going on tour again. Eleven dates around New Zealand. It’s with The Bads and Brendan and Alison Turner, and I’m really excited about it.” And then after that Hayden says it’ll be back to thinking about recording. “There’s almost enough songs, just not quite.”

on music, so it might be easier for us to publicise a tour or album.” And the three fellow Kiwi musos he’d recommend - “Anthonie Tonnon, The Eastern, Bill Morris.” The band all have day jobs in addition to their musical talents, and with five people in the band, it’s a wonder how the manage their touring, but Hayden says he’s now part-time which makes things “easier”. “The answer for the rest is that it’s not easy. It’s really hard. You’ve got partners, families, responsibilities, and you can’t starve. It’s not an easy life, but I guess being an artist never was.”

NAKITA TURNER

Nakita Turner understands the power one voice can make. She talks to Greta Yeoman. It’s been a big year for Christchurch-based Nakita Turner. At only 16, she’s played at Parachute and Festival One, released her One Voice anti-bullying song (with help from the Dukes), released anti-bullying resources and is still “going strong” at school. Nakita says the last year has been “so amazing”, working on her “craft” more intently, writing more songs. “This year my focus is more on growing as an artist and developing my songwriting skill, but hopefully sometime in the near future you will be able to hear some new tunes.” She got involved with Parachute at age 13, and describes them as her second family. She attended Parachute Festival and while up there she was able to meet the team, who told her that they were considering her as one of the artists for their development program. A few months later she was picked. “I think so, so highly and respect Parachute and the team up there so much. They are absolutely incredible and so supportive of me and my music.” She loves the other Artists In Development - Airports, from Australia and the other three (Lit-

ONE VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE tle Oceans, Lil Trigarow, and Ben Mollison) from New Zealand. “At the start of this year I got to catch up with them and we all did a couple of shows together and honestly it was incredible. Each of these artists/bands are so diverse and special and we all immediately clicked when we first meet each other.” Her ‘One Voice Project’ started off a tiny idea which then turned into something far bigger, an anti-bullying song that has grown into an online resource for schools. “Being able to see that grow was so honouring.” The song was recorded with pop band Dukes, whom Nakita describes “such super talented musi-

but of Festival One this summer, an event she describes as “a feel good, safe and chill festival” and says she can’t wait for next year. She gets her songwriting inspiration from events that happen in her life. “Through the songs I write, I try thread a positive massage through them and write them in a way so people can relate. The songs I write are basically like my little diary.” Though still in school, her future dream would be doing music fulltime when she finishes up, though she says her creative side means she would also love to study graphic design part time. Nakita’s plans for the year include

“The songs I write are basically like my little diary.” cians”, and a choir of young people from around the country. “The most important thing for me was the impact it could have and how it could help many people.” “Being able to help people through music and sharing the anti-bullying message, just made it so rewarding.” With the success of the song she teamed up with an “amazing” youth organisation, Zeal, to create an anti-bullying resource which has gone out to schools across the country. “The pack has been received so well and it’s amazing to hear about the continuous impact that it [is] causing.” Nakita also performed at the de-

improving her songwriting and hopefully recording some more music. As for the three Kiwi musicians she’d recommend (besides those in Parachute’s Artist Development) she’d choose Broods, Ginny Blackmore and “all-time favourite” Brooke Fraser. She says Music Month is an awesome way to celebrate and expose the musical talent that we have here in NZ. “[It’s] so encouraging see how there are so many Kiwi artists leading the way in the music industry.”

Thanks to Parschute Music for assisting with this interview.

23 Georgia Leane interviewed now Melbourne-based Lisa Crawley about her move, new music and shoes. Lisa Crawley is writing the answers to this interview in a Gold Coast venue, her soundtrack the act on stage before her and a metal covers band “blasting through”. She’s a keen New Zealand musician who is now living in Melbourne, currently on tour and writing before she gets on stage. She moved to Melbourne about a year ago and has been gigging quite often with various bands, but also taking the solo route. She has been on tour in Australia this March with her new single/music video “Stranger”, and once that tour is finished in a few days, Lisa plans to come to New Zealand for a few weeks to tour with Greg Johnson. She plans to keep busy, recently making a new music video for a song off her latest album, “All In My Head” and has been recording demos of new tracks. Lisa will continue to write and record new music after touring America and playing for Canadian Music Week in May, so we can expect exciting, new things from her in the near future. Lisa’s big move from small New Zealand to bustling Melbourne has had great effect on her music; “there are more musicians, more competition”, perhaps this has pushed her harder to strive to

LISA CRAWLEY

MOVING TO MELBOURNE become more of who she really is, who she wants the world to see her as. Even a big city like Melbourne has a sense of community in different musical scenes, she says. In New Zealand she is involved with a range of musical categories like working as a keyboardist and vocalist, but her song-writing is where she is most experienced. She is enjoying the change, having spent most of her musical career in NZ, but misses those familiar faces! Though being a talented musician, sometimes there can be… mis-

different which is a good thing! Often I’ll tour and get local support acts meaning they are different in every city.” Being a solo artist has its pros and cons. The convenience of traveling is made simpler but when it comes to song-writing, booking gigs and throwing ideas into the air all by yourself, things can get a little overwhelming. However, because Lisa wants to tour as much as she can, being a solo artist is what works for her. Her goal is to have a new album out by the end of 2015, also planning to stay put in Melbourne to

“I think New Zealand Music Month is a great opportunity to celebrate great talent that never stops despite what month it is.” takes. “I seem to have issues with shoes”, she states. On a trip to perform the Australian National Anthem in Sydney, Lisa had bought some suitable shoes for the event only to realize that when she put them on, both were right feet and one was two sizes too big. “I’m a bit on the clumsy side at times.” Every tour Lisa has been on brought a new experience with it. She has met so many cool people and definitely can’t pick a favourite tour partner. “Every tour has been completely

face any new challenges that may come her way. “I promise I won’t get an accent!” Lisa says her chosen three New Zealand artists are Grand Rapids, Nadia Reid and Tom Lark. “I think New Zealand Music Month is a great opportunity to celebrate great talent that never stops despite what month it is.” “I’ve had some great gigs during New Zealand Music Month, but with all the successful musicians in New Zealand doing so well locally and beyond, I’m intrigued to find out how NZ music month will be celebrated in the future!”

24 Ashei is one of Christchurch’s emerging rock acts, as Paul McDonald reports. It has been a long and winding road for Christchurch band Ashei, but it appears the four piece from the Garden City is now making inroads in the local music scene. The band’s vocalist, Emma Cameron, said it went through a series of line-up and name changes in its early years, but under the name Ashei, the band had flourished. “We’ve all been playing music and in bands since we were very young - Liam and Dan performed in a band together for a number of years during their high school early 20’s called Ample Cleavage.” She met Dan in high school and started a band called What Action, which, after a few member changes - including Liam joining the force, eventually became Ashei. “Curtis has played music for a long time and we recruited him from a covers band he played in with Liam to pay the bills after our old bassist, Dove, moved to Melbourne! And it’s been the perfect lovey-dovey relationship ever since.” Emma said while every member of the band drew inspiration from different musicians, which enabled them to write music from different perspectives, a mutual love of alternative pop/punk/rock has helped to shape them. “Taking Back Sunday is a

ASHEI AN AMAZING YEAR long-running influence we cite a lot.” The last year has been a busy time for Ashei with touring and recording, but it appears there is still plenty more to come. “The last twelve months has been the best twelve months of our band, we released our debut EP (titled Music Is Boring), did our first headline tour and our first ever shows in Australia, released two singles and videos that were received very well, and have begun working on our debut album which has so far been the most educational, rewarding and exciting process we’ve embarked on.” While the band has worked tire-

Christchurch, and their show the night before, then Ashei and what we’re up to.” McIlrath asked Emma write down her details so he could hear Ashei’s cover of ‘Savior’, something which she was quite humbly embarrassed about later. “I went and re watched [the video] and thought to myself I have made a terrible mistake!” Emma says she loves NZ Music Month just like how she loves music from any other country. “I don’t think music made here is unique or special.” “I’m not all that patriotic, just if an artist here is good and I connect with what they’re creating, then I

“I’m not all that patriotic, just if an artist here is good and I connect with what they’re creating, then I like them, and it’s cool that I have a better opportunity to see them live more frequently.” lessly on its own material, it has also paid homage to the artists which it has drawn inspiration from via its YouTube channel. Covers of Taking Back Sunday, Frank Ocean, Imagine Dragons and Rise Against have all received praise from its fans. These covers became the topic of conversation when Emma had a chance encounter in a cafe with Tim McIlrath, the vocalist of Rise Against when the band recently visited Christchurch. “I was like, I’m 98% sure that’s the vocalist from Rise Against so I just skipped over and asked. “We had a long chat about

like them, and it’s cool that I have a better opportunity to see them live more frequently.” Emma also had fun with NZ Music Month last year, helping friend Katie Thompson do 30 NZ Artist covers in 30 days. The next 12 months are set to be a busy time for Ashei with a “crap tonne” of writing, recording and touring on the cards. “We’re dying to start doing shows again, but we’re very meticulous in our live show so rehearsals are always intense and currently we need that intensive focus on the creation of our album. It’s going to be an amazing year.”

25 Genre-crossing, Jazz School and Jeff Buckley are all part of Nick Dow’s musical career as Greta Yeoman finds out. Nick Dow can’t stick to one style. The Christchurch-based Jazz School graduate says he cannot choose his favourite genre of music, switching between many sounds. “I have a very distracted and indecisive mind when it comes to genres. Jazz is definitely up there, but Neo-Soul, R&B and Funky Electronic Fusion along with the classic Singer-Songwriter styles.” He first began playing music at age five on the violin, adding piano to the mix a year later. “Obviously because of my age it was my parents who pushed it, particularly my mum who also studied piano, harpsichord and organ at Auckland Uni when she was younger.” As for his experience of Jazz School he says the tutors understand everyone has a different musical path. “They figure out how to work with you. They are mentors as well, and sometimes you even get to create and perform music with them.” “I struggle to find the words to express how invaluable the Christchurch jazz school has been for me and for all my other musical mates that have gone through there. There are so many other places I could have gone to to study jazz, but I have no regrets.” He opened for Invercargill-based

NICK DOW

JUMPING FROM GENRES band Nation at the beginning of the year, his first time performing all originals live, something he loved but was nervous about. “As a songwriter and musician you usually create to share, and sharing your own songs gives off the biggest buzz, especially when you see others enjoying it.” Though he records songs online, he says he often forgets about them. “I often forget I have Soundcloud and should really clean it up because there are some very average rough recordings on there. Thanks for the reminder.” He mainly records at home, though his good friend Barnaby

endary Heart. “I have a special place for this song, which I wrote a few years back when a mate was killed in a car crash. I wrote it simply about how you don’t always get to know someone as much as you’d like to but you can still say they are a legend when they are gone.” Nick hasn’t released an album but hopes to start work on a proper EP in May. “I don’t want to rush it, but I definitely feel the urge to put something out soon.” He says his generic answer to his inspiration for songwriting would be from life experiences, though overthinking and being introvert-

“I have a very distracted and indecisive mind when it comes to genres.” Coxon recorded and mixed a few of the songs in the Jazz School studio. “He’s been helping me a lot with ideas and inspiration for my songwriting style and is a great producer.” As well as his originals he also does covers, with his favourite being an unreleased version of Jeff Buckley’s So Real. “I’ve just arranged and recorded it with my jazz piano trio. It’s so hard to pull off because of Buckley’s crazy emotion in his voice which just makes his music what it is! Hopefully I did it justice.” His favourite original song is Leg-

ed also contribute inspiration. “If you write things down, overthinking can be quite a positive thing. The problem is, I usually don’t write it down.” The three Kiwi musos he’d recommend are Nation, Drax Project (alt-pop act) and Polo Sweater. As for NZ Music Month he thinks it’s important for New Zealanders to really appreciate what we have to offer the world music industry. “Music Month is a great way of reminding the country just that. It’s also a cool way for unknown people, like me, to spin my view and share my music with everyone.”

26 The teenage trio behind rising Christchurch band, Nomad, talk to Georgia Leane about their formation, recording with Dave Dobbyn and being musicians while still at school. A teenage trio from Christchurch, known as Nomad, has certainly left their audiences wanting more of their incredible talent. Nomad, originally known as AashaWillandCullen, was formed by the three 16-year-olds, Aasha Mallard, Will McGillivray and Cullen Kiesanowsk in 2012. The three Shirley Boys’ high school students began their journey by discovering each other’s talents at school. Originally the style they went for was barbershop but over time instruments were added, such as a drum kit, and eventually produced the current sound of their band. They won the Sunday night slot of the 2013 Smokefree Rockquest Canterbury Finals and they now play at big events like the recent Wellington Homegrown festival, New Plymouth’s Festival of Lights and opened Winterfest in Queenstown last year. Aasha says they’ve also had the privilege of supporting Fly My Pretties, Marlon Williams and Salmonella Dub. “We really enjoyed attending the Music awards and meeting ar-

NOMAD SCHOOLYARD SONGS tist[s] we look up to.” The band has had its challenges such as being at school and still having to study but they’ve definitely made it all work. Cullen says being at school has been a “bit of a setback” as it is hard to put as much time and effort into their music as they would like. “And people sometimes overlook us as we are still studying.” Will says they wouldn’t exactly call their following “national fame” though they are starting to become known throughout Christchurch and people are com-

use his recording studio.” He even taught them how to play their single on the guitar, giving them a copious amount of his time just to get them out there into the world music scene. The three boys plan to do more writing and playing of their own music, and they’re working on releasing some new music. Although they are studying fulltime and planning for the foreseeable future is difficult, Aasha says they hope to go as far as they can with their music. Will says Music Month has been great for them.

“People are starting to come to watch us regularly and we sometimes get recognised which is really cool.” ing to listen to them play, which they are ecstatic about. “People are starting to come to watch us regularly and we sometimes get recognised which is really cool.” Picked up by Lorraine Barry, who also manages Dave Dobbyn, Will, Aasha and Cullen had the opportunity to record with Dave, something Cullen says was an “awesome” experience. Dave helped the band produce its first single ‘I Will Find You’ and offered them the chance to use his recording studio. “It was so generous of him to give us so much of his time and let us

“It has helped introduce us to people and we played two music month shows last year.” As well as being incredibly musically talented themselves, Cullen, Aasha and Will have some favourite artists that share the same passion. Cullen suggests Benny Tipene and Aasha says @Peace, while Will recommends Shapeshifter. Nomad definitely have a great future ahead of them and we can certainly expect great new things from them in the years ahead.

Thanks to Lorraine Barry for helping arrange this article.

PAPER CRANES

TRAVELLING THE ROAD HOME

A debut album for the Paper Cranes signals the next step on the road for the Auckland-based band, as Greta Yeoman discovers. A time of wanting to wanting to escape and re-discovering what is around you sums up the Paper Cranes new album. One of the core duo of the band, Fraser Browne says the album name, The Road Home, was taken from a time of “flux”, not knowing where he and wife/fellow bandmate Naomi would be living in the next year. They spent a lot of that time writing out at Huia in the Waitakeres, a place Fraser describes as “so beautiful” and really peaceful. “At night the sky is so clear that you can see all the stars, there are beaches and bush - your only distraction is nature. No phone reception. No net. It feels so different from our life in the city that getting on the road out there became a real escape.” “Then there’s the road home mixed feelings after you’ve been on a holiday and you’re heading back home. I think that sums up the album in a way: wanting to escape, re-discovering what’s all around you - the good and the bad. The clash between your daily life and where you’d go if money was no object.” As for their thoughts on the album, Fraser says it really feels like them.

“We’re really happy with how we captured the sound. And the recording process was really good - it helped having a producer who understood what we wanted.” The album was produced by Nic Manders who has previously worked with Lydia Cole, Brooke Fraser, Parachute Band, among others. Naomi is happy they’ve finished the album and is happy with the outcome. “It has consumed my life for the last six months and it has been everything we’ve talked about, so I’m glad we’ve got there. The great thing about an album is that

sure where it will lead. “I heard about this old miner’s cabin in the South Island, from over a hundred years ago. It’s in the middle of nowhere and there’s no electricity and noone can find you. Sounds perfect to me.” Selecting the tracks for the album was really hard for Fraser, as they had written over 60 songs, a fact he says Naomi didn’t believe. “I still don’t believe him”, she says, though Fraser says has “a geeky spreadsheet” keeping track of the number of songs. In the end though, Naomi says they chose the ones that told seemed to go together the best,

“I think that sums up the album in a way: wanting to escape, re-discovering what’s all around you - the good and the bad.” it seals memories and emotions from that time in your life. Like a photo album.” As for why they write folk music over another genre, Fraser says it reflects what they’re doing better than other genres, and Naomi says it’s easier for them to tell stories through folk music. In regards to their musical future, she says you don’t know how your songs will be received or who will listen to them. “But our hope is that in years to come it will still have some sort of relevance in people’s lives.” As for Fraser, he’s going to start writing in June again, but is not

telling the best story as a whole. Regarding their thoughts on NZ Music Month, Naomi sees it as a great opportunity to see what’s out there in NZ music, citing her three Kiwi musician recommendations as Jesse Sheehan, Aldous Harding and Arthur Ahbez. “The whole country comes alive and it’s almost like a month-long festival.” Fraser, who recommends French for Rabbits, Tiny Ruins and Mice on Stilts, says it’s a great chance for people to reflect what’s happening closer to home. “I love getting out and watching a lot of bands. One big party.”

28 Ex-Parachute Band frontman Omega Levine talked to Evonne Key about changing times, a new EP and touring with Parachute Band.

Parachute’s ex-lead singer, Omega Levine says that while he misses spending time with the guys’, “new things are happening” and times are changing. He has a tour in May of Canada, for two weeks, then onto New York City and Los Angeles in June, and then all the way over to the United Kingdom in August. On top of that he would like to release an EP, hopefully in the next few months. So the singer/songwriter is keeping himself busy. He grew up as a Pastors kid and in church, and these factors were big influences on his life and music journey, however making the decision to go to church for himself and not his parents was a significant stepping stone in his faith, and where he has come since then. The young artist first started writing music and songs at the age of 15, when he says he fell “madly in love with a girl and wrote a song about it”. Whenever he feels a story to be told, it turns into music. Levine has

OMEGA LEVINE A PAST WITH PARACHUTE

since studied at Excel School of Performing Arts, in Auckland. Life experiences and his faith often inspire his music; he says what he believes has an impacting influence. But also his wife and child, as well as just being on the road, and being in different places on tour, going to the beach will produce the seeds needed to grow a song. Being part of Parachute Band meant that they often travelled and toured for nine months of the year, becoming closer to each other than their actual families. Levine mentions that

all, he still keeps in touch with the guys, and says they’re all doing their own thing now, like Sam Dion being on X-Factor. He recently played at Festival One and comments, “I loved it eh”; he loved the vibe, the people and that the CEO Graham Burt was incredible. He states it was an interesting transition from Parachute Festival, although with similar people involved. He says it had the angle of wanting to build a community again and get right down to the grass roots of festivals. Parachute was a huge catalyst in

“Life experiences and his faith often inspire his music; he says what he believes has an impacting influence.” some of his favourite memories and experiences while in the band were travelling to third world countries, and being able to play in front of seventy five thousand people in the US. But the best were seeing that many people singing at the top of their lungs to ‘Glorify’, all worshiping the same Creator, he says “it was incredible.” And he loved the ways God worked with the band’s testimonies, impacting and inspiring people and to “help them move forward in their faith”. Despite no longer being involved with Parachute Music at

Christian Music, but ‘exciting new things are happening’, says Levine. As for NZ Music Month, Levine says it is good to focus on New Zealand artists, as there are some ‘incredible artists’ out there, and to share what everyone is doing around the country. He thinks it will only ‘keep growing from where it is’. The singer/songwriter has three singles available on Sound Cloud, which are played also on Life FM, and hopes to focus on more crossover music, in his upcoming EP.

[SHIFT] A COMING-OF-AGE

was intrigued about. Eight band and [it] explodes at the end.” had a song entitled Shift that Sam The music video for In The MidSettling down for a thought sounded like an awesome dle captures the band jamming in Q&A session with Auckband name, as he went through a the studio in which they mixed land-based band [shift], phase of writing square brackets their songs – Neil Finn’s Roundthey talked to Nicola around everything. head Studios. Froud about Jerusalem, Jerusalem is based on Revelation In this studio they stayed the brain farts and meeting 21, and the coming of the new night, and with two days of Neil Finn. Jerusalem when heaven and earth straight mixing had completed Auckland-based band [shift], will be one forever; no more sickThe Traveller. most notable for their 2011 single ness and no more pain. Myke had an encounter with Neil Jerusalem, I enquired about the “Bury your dead a little longer; … Finn, whereupon he greeted him band members, their adventures with a great, great sigh of relief, and was greeted back, and had a in and out of musical circles, and we’ll say goodbye to this ancient “star-struck moment”. their nearly six-month-old album grief,” epitomises the promise of [shift] hopes to write a lot this The Traveller. this passage. year; something they’ve already The band is comprised of Danny Jerusalem features on The Travstarted. Doyle, Peter Hall, Myke Wilson, eller; the general theme encom“We’ve got heaps of ideas now.” Sam Burrows and the newest addition, Adam Whybro. Myke is a builder studying prima“It felt like a coming-of-age thing [for the band] … [we] were ry teaching and Danny is a softbetter known.” ware salesman. Pete, newly married, is a solicitor, Sam is an intermediate teacher passing all the songs on the new The band played at Parachute and Adam is a barista, busy both album is making a point about Festival some years ago, on the teaching music, jet-setting around what it is to be human. Apollo stage. the world and, “probably occupied “We have distinct journeys but Sam recalls mistakenly driving instagram-ing mangoes with the shared experiences … we share all the way to Matamata before hashtag #ctfu [Carve The Fruit death, [sorrow in] relationships, asking for directions to the festival Up].” personal battles, all particular and being told that it hadn’t, in Myke is a bit of a music veteran to us, but also universal. We’re fact, been hosted in Matamata for (18 years playing). travellers and [we show] what the a number of years. “My music career can drink, journey will look like.” “I had a brain-fart to be honest.” Sam!” he retorts to Sam’s 14-year Sam’s favourite song off the new The drive to Mystery Creek was a music history. album is Anyway. prompt one, and Sam catapulted Sam, Pete and Danny were at “[It’s about] knowing you’ve got out of the car, down the hill at the school together and formed a coping mechanisms that end up Events Centre and jumped backband, performing covers, and taking you deeper into the holes stage a minute or so before going added a drummer, who, in time, you dig yourself.” onstage. was replaced with Myke. Myke loves Dirty Little Fights, “The sound guys weren’t too hapAdam is the most recent installthat it is “one of those fix-you type py with me.” ment to [shift], a name which I songs – mellow in the beginning Festival One, this year, however, CONTINUED >

was a “phenomenal” experience. “We got put onto a pretty cool stage, got to play two shows, and had a blast.” [shift] had made a little more of a name for themselves and found themselves even giving autographs. “It felt like a coming-of-age thing [for the band] … [we] were better known.” I questioned the boys about their thoughts on New Zealand Music Month. Myke commented that he’s always thinking of it, - moreover, that they should book a show in May. “I like that they draw attention to it – there’s heaps of kiwi bands out there.” Sam hasn’t seen too much but appreciates that New Zealand backs itself. Historically, they haven’t commemorated Music Month in a big way – aside from, “guilt tripping people into listening to our music by giving away something for free”. And when they’re not jamming? “We act like fourteen year olds; way too much man love goes on. For anyone to come and hang out with us they’d have to become accustomed to about five thousand in-jokes.”

“And if these mountains had eyes, they would wake to find two strangers in their fences, standing in admiration as a breathing red pours its tinge upon earth’s shore. These mountains, which have seen untold sunrises, long to thunder praise but stand reverent, silent so that man’s weak praise should be given God’s attention.” - Donald Miller

30 The Wellington folk act are turning to be fully fledged full-time musicians. Greta Yeoman reports. Eb & Sparrow are flying on. The genre-defying, five-piece Wellington folk act that has been built up around frontwoman Ebony Lamb, are taking new flight as full-time musicians. Lamb says her plans for the near future involve trying to live entirely from music as a livelihood. “And support that dream by working for it.” But hard work is no stranger to Lamb and her band-mates, who in the five years since they formed the band have opened for numerous bands including Rodriguez, Beth Orton and Wagons, released three EP’s and one album, toured the country many times and all while holding down day jobs. While she’s recently come off the back of a national tour with ex-Lyttelton songwriter Marlon Williams, it certainly isn’t those stories that form her funniest touring tale. “Just before going on Good Morning TV to help promote our tour, realising I had left my tights behind, our PR helper had to take hers off and let me use them for the 10 mins we were on. It’s hard to explain, not so much funny as extremely distressing and wee bit funny after. (She is a not a sharing tights person by nature I suspect).” “My life with tights is a saga that

EBFLYING + SPARROW FORWARDS continues...hiking them up on stage etc, I need the boys to help me all the time. I’m basically a tomboy, so this stuff is a like a wild boy shoved into a golden dress, always a bit awkward.” But tights or no tights, there’s still no stopping Lamb, with plans for another record this year. “The plan is to try and do it in a new place this year in the Hawkes Bay - my hometown. We have another album already being played at shows, so just working on funding the next recording.” “Will keep you posted.” Her favourite Eb & Sparrow song is Mt Victoria which is not yet

She also recommends folk act Tiny Ruins, whose album and live shows have been gaining notice worldwide. “Incredibly atmospheric experience, beautiful intelligent songs that wind in a journey, get you hooked on her sound pretty easy and crave it on busy days.” Steve Abel is Lamb’s last kiwi act suggestion - noting the beauty and the sound of New Zealand, along with lots of human moments. “All three songwriters really capture the same thing in their own ways, I think its about the human condition, and relating to each other, the world etc.”

“I’m basically a tomboy, so this stuff is a like a wild boy shoved into a golden dress, always a bit awkward.” recorded. As for her songwriting inspiration, she draws it from nature. “When I have a lot of space and time alone. Life situations formed into thoughts.” She says there are so many other artists on her list of NZ musicians she recommends but narrows the choice down to include previous tour mate Delaney Davidson. “It’s true, he is a rough diamond and everyone can find something in his take on life through his lyrics. Live shows are an original experience, somewhat electrifying, especially when coupled with Marlon Williams.”

So with Lamb’s shift into fulltime musician mode, what does she think of NZ Music month for supporting kiwi artists? “It’s good to bring bands into the presence of the public, then again every month there are amazing New Zealand bands on tour, making records, trying to work on their ‘art’. So supporting them is vital.” “I’m super proud of this little country and its high achievers musically. I am in no way ‘bagging’ it, because without it, your average person may not be aware of the awesome things music is bringing.”

25 YEARS STRONG AFTER PARACHUTE MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCED ITS CLOSURE IN EARLY 2014, THE PARACHUTE MUSIC TEAM NEVER SLOWED DOWN. PARACHUTE’S LUKE ORAM TALKS ABOUT THEIR NEW STEP FORWARD. WORDS: GRETA YEOMAN PHOTOS: PARACHUTE WEBSITE A renewed focus on its core statement sees a new step forward for Parachute Music, after the announcement of the closure of its festival just over a year ago. In the end it was money, Parachute’s Luke Oram says, that made the final vote towards the festival’s closure. “We’d been struggling to keep

the festival afloat for a few years, experimenting with the lineup, cutting operational budgets and a bunch of other measures, but the thought of closing the gates permanently didn’t occur to us until after Parachute 2014. We took a good hard look at the saturated events industry, the sustainability of festival, and the risk it was put-

ting our wider organization in – in the end, we felt it was important to end well.” As for the response from festival-goers, Oram says people were phenomenal. “I still remember the day we announced the cancellation – my finger quivering over the ‘Send’ button, about to break the news. We had no idea how people would react, but we got such an overwhelming rush of support from people – people thanking us for a great 24 years, sharing their memories of growing up with Parachute, calls from people offering whatever help they could.”

“Maintaining the festival took up a lot of our time and energy – it also wasn’t hugely conducive to building deep relationships with artists. Now we fill up our time with developing musicians; spending an intensive year with them and helping them get a holistic start to their careers.” Their studio is busier than ever too, with people recording and rehearsing in there every day. “We always dreamed about being able to have an artistic community hub around us, and now it’s being realised. An annual event of 20,000 people is amazing, but

of her teens who’s anti-bullying anthem is being used as a resource in schools across America.” “We’re talking about not only world class talent, but artists who are aware of the power of their voice, and are determined to use it to speak life, not death. We live in a world where musicians are as influential as politicians, I’m excited by a group of people who have that realization and don’t take it lightly.” In a recent article “The Milieu Divin” on Parachute’s website, Oram commented “as an organisation, we’re not interested in protecting

“We think artists should exercise their vocation wherever they feel called, be it a church or a pub; after all, Jesus said people would know us by our inherent love, not by our genre label.”

But Oram wants people to know Parachute Music is still live and kicking, even without the festival to offer publicity. “The ironic thing is that Parachute Festival started as a side project, a little event to help Christian musicians have a platform – obviously, it took off beyond our wildest expectations. It’s an interesting challenge to continue without the public face of the festival, but there’s still plenty going on.” And there certainly is plenty going on in Parachute HQ, with the organisation going back to the core of their mission – helping Christian musicians shift pop culture.

we’re starting to realise that the power of just one song can change an entire culture – we’re dedicating all our time to the people writing that song. Our door’s open. We mean it.” The Parachute crew are certainly dedicated to helping and assisting people who are writing songs to change an entire culture, with their artist development scheme powering ahead. Australian family folk band The Soorleys have become “alumni” of the scheme, along with Nakita Turner. Australian’s Airports, the mysterious Ben Mollison (all I found was that he got into the regional finals of Rockquest last year), Aucklander Lil’ Trigarow and Nelson-based Little Oceans have also joined the fold, with Oram commenting of his excitement about the artists’ potential for influence. “We’re excited about people like Nakita Turner, a girl barely out

Christian musicians from the big, bad world. We don’t feel called to make a quiet retreat from pop culture, bunkered down in subculture. Instead, we feel the weight of the milieu divin, the idea of God being right in the middle of the music industry, waiting to be discovered and revealed in every corner of it. We want our artists to be ambassadors of the Milieu Divin – in the middle of pop culture, showing the world that He is there to be found.” Oram thinks the statement for their artists to be in the midst of pop culture, not protected from the world, is important because it’s the “key to our relevance as people of faith”. “It feels like Jesus spent most of his time on earth trying to drag the Pharisees out of the temple, literally and metaphorically. As Christians, I think we mostly get the whole “In the world but not of it” ethos, but I think we still CONTINUED >

“We live in a world where musicians are as influential as politicians, I’m excited by a group of people who have that realization and don’t take it lightly.” struggle to put it into practice in some areas – the music industry, for example.” “We live in a world where spirituality is hugely embraced in the mainstream culture, and artists are responding to that. Artists who are Christians no longer want to be judged by their beliefs, but by their art – just as Jesus didn’t want to be judged by his political affiliation, but by the way he loved people. We think artists should exercise their vocation wherever they feel called, be it a church or a pub; after all, Jesus said people would know us by our inherent love, not by our genre label.” As for the suggested parellel “them and us” christian music industry sub-culture, Oram says that everything is sacred. “The very act of creation is a sacred wheel that God himself set in motion. It’s not our prerogative to decide which parts of creation are

deemed ‘secular’ or ‘sacred’ – that’s a massive call. Look at Lecrae. The dude tops the mainstream Billboard charts in America, but he’s caught in this culture battle; the Christian scene says he’s too gritty, the mainstream scene says he’s too clean. Christians accuse him of selling out, while he’s gained massive respect in the secular scene for his uncompromising faith.” “Why are these things so important? I wonder if these arguments miss the point. If you’re an artist with a faith – MAKE GREAT ART. That’s it. Aspire to be the best. Not, the best Christian artist, the best artist, period. But here’s the caveat; in all things be uncompromising about what you stand for, your faith especially.” Oram winds up the interview with a quote from William Booth that his friend sent him; “Secular music, do you say, belongs to the devil? Does it? Well, if it did I

would plunder him for it, for he has no right to a single note of the whole seven…So consecrate your voice and your instruments… Offer them to God and use them to make all the hearts about you merry before the Lord.” Oram concludes, “That’s it, in a nutshell. Cheers Boothy”. So now, a year on from the closure of Parachute Festival, the “Thankyou and Goodnight” announcement, what does the future bring for the Parachute crew? Oram says just to stay tuned. “It’s been 20 years since we’ve been able to take a year off, breathe and think of the next step. Be warned though, we don’t like to stand still for too long.” “We’re just starting to look at artists for development this year – there’s nothing more exciting than scouting for new talent.”

1000 little ways OPINION

Yesterday, Sa got punched in the face several times in front of her own kids. I know Sa because my close friend is a teacher, and has Sa’s son in her class. So, last night, my friend visited Sa with some beautiful lilies and some chocolate, and they chatted and got to know each other. I went along to visit with my friend – I know Sa’s whanau too – and I felt like I was watching one of those inspirational teacher movies – about the teachers who go the extra mile and move beyond professional boundaries to love and do the best for the kids who are struggling in their class. Of course, we’re all told what happens when professional boundaries are broken. Burn-out, illness, inappropriate relationships and eventually someone gets fired. Teachers should really just focus on the student, not on the child. But to me, it seemed like my friend was just putting Sa first: she cared about another person who’d been hurt. In the car on the way to visit Sa

and her whanau, we prayed for a really good conversation. That we could be open to Sa, and Sa would be open to us. That Sa wouldn’t be put off by my friend’s job, but that they could just connect as people. A lot of young adults I know talk about feeling less ‘themselves’ in their work. They talk about work as if it was a kind of disease, robbing them of their self. But last night, I felt like my friend put her disease to death. How? By surrendering to something bigger than her job. By giving part of her life to something bigger than her 9 – 5. And the result wasn’t burn-out, illness, an inappropriate relationship or her getting fired. In fact, my flatmate’s school Principal loved it – and it brought so much joy to both of us to hang out with Sa and her family. My friend said afterwards: “that’s exactly the type of teacher I always wanted to be.” It was a small thing, but a beautiful thing. Ahakoa iti, he pounamu. [The smallest things are the most

BY LYNDON ROGERS

precious.] I think the beauty of last night was that in a teaching environment where love is mistrusted and undervalued, my friend’s love brought smiles and laughter to a family under serious stress. There’s a story around Easter time of death that brings new life. My friend gave up a little part of her life, and saw new life spring from that small sacrifice. Of course there are far greater and more memorable stories of sacrifice, and renewal – but most of us are asked to make a thousand small decisions each day, not just one big decision in a lifetime. The point is, when we give our lives for others, both us and the other person get way more life in return. So, I pray that you can start finding your 1000 little ways to give your life for God and for others – and that as you die in those 1000 little ways, you see and experience endlessly more joy, meaning and love as a result.

WHEN YOUR FAITH IS

TESTED OPINION

ear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4 (NLT) I’d always treated the above verse with a bit of caution, sure, it had good intentions and all, but what did it mean when bad days came along, were they God-sent, tests for us? A revelation through the wonderful daily devotions website Proverbs 31 Ministries changed my viewpoint on the verse so much. “When our faith is tested” doesn’t mean God is testing our faith, it means our faith is tested. God does not test us. The test is how our faith is tested and how we respond to that test. “Consider it an opportunity for great joy” when we can endure

grunt of frustration, put it into the microwave instead and then proceeded to have a good laugh about it with each member of my family as they came in wondering if tea was ready. Can we have faith in God, and faith in the fact that if this really is the worst day of your life (is it really?) won’t tomorrow just have to be better? As Hillsong’s Oceans singss “You call me out upon the waters, the great unknown where feet may fail”.

BY GRETA YEOMAN

those days of continued things failing on us, people letting us down, making mistakes ourselves, forgetting important things and seemingly world-shattering stuffups. Out of those days we can discover more about ourselves and further learn how to handle those awful times. Just because we are having a hard day, do we have to look at it so

We do not know where our bad day will next proceed to, but we also need to be on the lookout for wee bright things amongst the hard times. For example, I was feeling a bit exhausted and stressed today and as I called my friend to discuss some youth group planning her husband was making silly sounds and comments in the background. It made my day though. To close, I will leave you with one of my favourite quotes from Narnia, to remind us that whatever our days are like, that whatever

“And we can have faith in God, and faith in the fact that if this really is the worst day of your life (is it really?) won’t tomorrow just have to be better? ” badly? Recently we were running late for dinner, about to host youth group at our house, when I realised as I took our dinner out of the oven that I’d turned the heat on for the lower wee oven and the ‘fan bake’ setting on for the top oven, so it wasn’t even hot. I freaked out, let out a unhappy

troubles come our way, God is always with us, and sometimes I think God needs a laugh, so we better laugh along with our mistakes and muck-ups and world-ending fails. “But courage, child: we are all between the paws of the true Aslan.” Because will this really matter in a years time?

Winter In Auckland

My favourite kind of adventures happen sandwiched between stressful Fridays and chaotic Mondays. Our student instincts, (no matter how deadline-free we may happen to be at the time) regardless of when, are sceptical that, as students, we can afford to take off on an adventure all weekend long. It’s when our inner student’s voice is dubious that we most need time off for adventuring. On Saturday I piled into my youth leader’s car with my best friend and we took off with no idea where we’d end up. The GPS made a mistake in taking us to Hunua Falls and so our stops afterward just became made up on the spot. We were at the mercy of any of our whims! We ended up in Te Aroha, climbed up to Wairere Falls and walked across the top of them. We found a geocache, had a picnic lunch and dinner, sat on the ledge of the waterfall and made pancakes in the outdoors. We left early and returned late, jamming with the windows down and the sun pouring into the car the whole day long. The combination of the weather, the laughter, the music, and the spontaneity left no vacancies for stress or even sensible thought to squeeze in there. The fact that it was the middle of the term gave me a gleeful, “We shouldn’t be doing this!”, delight, but it is a voice that could be made still quieter, .. because who told us that university would utterly consume us in life and in time? What first led us to believe that, and how true is it, at this time of year?

NICOLA FROUD (AUCKLAND)

Hey all, Nicola here! I’ve been set apart as the one Aucklander in the team so far. I’ve lived in the big smoke all my life, and it’s fabulous – $12 hourly carparks and all – but give me mountains any day! I’m a second-year student at Auckland Uni and it seems that I spend the rest of my time on publictransport, but I also manage to squeeze in youth, music, reading, babysitting and rock-climbing, thank goodness. Nicola is also the deputy editor of ALIVE.

FADING SUMMER What is it about the South of New Zealand, that as soon as the month changes, so does the weather? You’re breezing through February and it’s gorgeous; the sun is shining, there’s apricots and peaches on the trees, its typical barefoot weather… and then BOOM. Suddenly it’s March and the skies are grey and the cloud cover draws a chill in the air and the first frost is seen on the paddocks. And for someone who was just getting used to the warmth again after Europe’s early winter… I am not ready for the cold again. It’s not that I can’t survive it, I’m just not a cold bunny. Which, I might add, is different from snow bunny. My brother is a snow bunny. He’s slightly addicted to skiing. Especially in Japan. And a friend of mine actually likes grey skies… But see, just because I’m not too keen on perpetual cold, does not mean I like the heat either. On the contrary, I would melt if it got too far over thirty. Melt and die. I don’t know how the Aussie’s do it. New Zealand late Summer though… that I can handle. And that I love. It’s not too warm, but it’s warm enough to wear shorts and a T and bare feet everywhere. It’s warm enough to go for late walks and it doesn’t get dark till ten thirty. It’s warm enough to swim in the river, the lake, the sea, and be refreshed. It’s a nice temperature.

EVONNE KEY (ARROWTOWN) My name is Evonne Key. I am a fruit freak, a name nerd, a wordsmith, a languagenut, a fangirl and sometimes an introvert. I have Obsessive Compulsive Daydreming Doodling Disorder and I can’t sit still to save myself unless it’s to play sleeping lions. I am writing a book which I can’t explain in one sentence very easily.

That being said, Spring and Autumn are my favourite seasons. Again, because they’re not too hot and not too cold. But Autumn seems to have hit early this year (it probably actually hasn’t it just seems like it to me), and I find myself wanting to chase the sun. The blackberries are ripening, and the peaches are rotting, the leaves slowly turning and the skies darkening. I love it, but I’d rather it stayed in that change over place, rather than shift into the looming Winter. All change is a bit like that. We love what it was like then, not what it will be like tomorrow. We want to hold onto a captured moment in the time, when time is ever moving and falling over and over again, like a water wheel. But after the Winter comes Spring, and after the Night comes the Dawn; the Sun, she will come back. And the best thing about Winter? It is blessed with snow and its harsh frosted beauty. The best thing about the Night, is that it is blessed with the stars.

EXPLORING

EUROPE

ALIVE’S DEPT EDITOR AND WRITER, EVONNE KEY TRAVELLED EUROPE FOR THREE MONTHS IN LATE 2014. hERE’S SOME OF HER TRAVELS.

When you say you’ve been travelling for three months and people ask where, and you say ‘Europe’, undoubtedly the most general assumption to where in Europe would be the usual tourist destinations; Paris, South France, Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Venice, London etc. They probably don’t expect you to say that you spent a month in Scotland and Ireland by themselves, didn’t drink Guinness, and still didn’t see all that you wanted to see. Especially in October through December. Most people would think you were crazy. And to be sure, I got a fair few weird looks when I told people when and where I was going. But see, weather is weather, and you really can’t do anything about it, no matter how much the Scottish apologise and the English complain about it. So if I want to travel Scotland in October, I can bally well travel Scotland in October and still enjoy myself thank you very much. Besides, free health care in the UK makes getting sick a whole lot less of a hassle. But see, if I went from one tourist attraction to landmark to famous historic sight to another, constantly for three months, I would get very worn out and very tired very quickly. I’m not that kind of person. So I didn’t try to do too much. I didn’t plan every step and I spent a minimum of three days on each place. Because I would rather get to know a country for what it really

is, how it works, find it’s quirks and nuances, rather than cram my head and memories full with what a million people have seen before. Most people would not have taken the bus that runs three times a week up to Tongue, or spent a weekend under the mantle of Snowdon in a Bed and Breakfast

friends, hostels and out of the way bed and breakfasts, which meant I met lots of new people, and did things I perhaps wouldn’t do on my own, but also had time to relax and have time to myself and with my thoughts. The family friends I stayed with were for the most part, a blessing straight from God.

Most people would not have taken the bus that runs three times a week up to Tongue, or spent a weekend under the mantle of Snowdon in a Bed and Breakfast on a road to nowhere. on a road to nowhere. One thing I did love about my trip though, was that it had the right amount of balance between busy and quite, social and silence, people and abandoned sky. It wasn’t planned that way, it just happened, mainly though my accommodation choices. Where I stayed was a mixture of family

Unexpected but sincere and fun Christian fellowship, and flats and families that made me feel one hundred percent at home, were a true gift. I don’t mind being alone, and I didn’t mind particularly being so far from home, but sometimes you don’t know what you need, till it plops itself into your lap and purrs itself to sleep. CONTINUED >

Originally my plan had been to do a short term mission trip in Ireland, but I am glad I didn’t in a way, because Ireland, although I didn’t go to that many places, was beautiful in very way, I loved it dearly and am so glad I got to see more of it than I had originally planned. From the Dark Hedges to the Giants Causeway, to the lonely bus trips from Downpatrick at seven in the morning, to the bustling streets of Dublin, the quaint bars, restaurants and bookshops of Galway, the beautiful ancient Celtic sights, castles, towers and abbeys, to the wild beaches of Donegal, I loved every minute of it and would definitely go back. It’s hard to say what my favourite place in the singular form was, overall, or a favourite time and or event, because it really ended up being the obscure little things that were amazing. The abandoned quay at Skullomie, Scotland Highlands, the bus driver that stopped to let me take pictures, Iona, the tiny churches I went to, the bus trip when I was the only one on the bus, walking along a slippery stone wall to get a picture of a castle, running through the Dark Hedges in the rain, meeting people in the Galway hostel and standing on the edge of the Cliffs of Moher with them, the Pastor and his wife at Kilkenny Presbyterian Church, the Do Not Walk on the Grass signs, the café in Dublin where all the waiters had beards, the Cathedral in St Malo where I got an impromptu Organ performance. Always the little things, the small moments you never realise till afterward how much you treasure them. And I would go back in a heart beat.

STREAMING NOW..... compiled by evonne key FEATURED VIDEO Brooke’s new music video for ‘Magical Machine’, is the second off her latest album Brutual Romantic. It’s a slightly stronger, more pop-y version of the song than the album one, but the video is also interesting viewing with lots of pink/ purple light and space machines. https:// youtu.be/VBw8EubzbpE

in our ears

Queen at the Table Anika Moa

Sound of the Saints Audio Adrenaline

Tui award winner, Anika Moa is all set to release her fifth studio album on the 10th of April. It contains her newest single Running, which has a bit of a pop flare to it and she will be touring with Jol Mullholland later this year. The album has a synth-electronic feel backed up by Anika’s strong vocals.

Critically acclaimed Christian rock band, Audio Adrenaline, has been through two significant member-make-overs in the last eight years and their newest lead single ‘Love was Stronger’ has just been released to the public after a long anticipated wait. Now with a completely new team, and a Newsboys tour, they are all set to release their new album in early May.

Live from The Woods NEEDTOBREATHE Grammy nominee’s NEEDTOBREATHE are releasing their first ever live album in early April. Recorded in Nashville last September, it will include several of their best hit singles, all preformed on stage. NEEDTOBREATHE were nominated for a grammy earlier this year, for their single ‘Multiplied’, and their most recent single ‘Brother (Feat. Gavin DeGraw)’ had a companion video released March 6th.

Exhale Plumb her second studio album, since Need You Now in 2012, Plumb will be releasing Exhale in early May. She states in an interview with Hallels, that ‘It’s a worship album… Not because I’m changing into another kind of artist… It’s just where I am.’ The singer/ songwriter uses her music as a way to show her testimony, and each piece reflects part of her faith journey. ‘I have never been more excited in my life about a record, and it’s solely because it’s like a thank you note to Jesus christ”. .

through our eyes

Avengers: Age of Ultron Released: April 23

Pitch Perfect 2 Released: May 7

Tomorrowland Released: May 28

If we’re looking at box office winners for 2015, then look no farther, because you can be sure the eagerly anticipated Avengers: Age of Ultron, is going to blow almost every other movie this year, out of the water (except maybe Star Wars Episode VI). MCU has created an intense background of stories for most of the Avengers team and in this latest instalment, friendships and loyalties will be pushed to the limits when one of Tony’s robots, is tired of being a puppet.

Love it or hate it, its prequel made A Cappella explode worldwide, and the Barden Bellas are back to tackle the world’s finest A Capella teams. With a cameo from Grammy award winning A Cappella group Pentatonix, all the Fat Amy sass you could hope for and hopefully more sing-offs and of course team tension and rivalry, Pitch Perfect 2 looks like one roller coaster of ride.

Distributed by Disney, this science fiction flick has references to Disney’s various theme parks as well as including time travel, memory travel, explosions (because what would a sci-fi film be without explosions), sweet looking guns and cinematography, it looks to be fun for the old and young alike.

FEATURED APP How To Tie a Tie by Artfonica Can never remember how to tie a tie? Don’t know what style is appropriate? Look no farther- this app will solve all your tie problems, with step by step instructions and pictures of different ways and styles.

QUOTES... ‘Only in the darkness, can you see the stars’ - M. L. King Jr. ‘It is the nature of grace always to fill spaces that have been empty’ - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. ‘Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe’ - Voltaire.

featured social media

Cupcakes to Lightsabers is a clean Facebook page run by American based Sarah Hallam. Hallam is a Christian, writer, photographer and a Nerd, and her quality page is filled with wonderful, classy humour, quirkiness and a unique community feel, that interacts with fans and faces real problems. Check it out for a genuine laugh and a smile. https://www.facebook.com/cupcakestolightsabers?fref=ts

https://youarecalled.wordpress.com/

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... . . W O N G N I STREAM

worship on the big screen HILLSONG WILL EMERGE FROM ITS CHURCHES THIS MAY, BRINGING ITS MUSIC AND FAITH TO THE BIG SCREEN, AS gRETA yEOMAN DISCOVERS. From Australia to Amsterdam and Los Angeles to London, Hillsong’s churches stretch around the globe. South Africa. Germany. Moscow. New York. Barcelona. They all hold a Hillsong church. And now Hillsong is going even

more worldwide, transferring their churches, conferences and TV shows into a full-length movie. Let Hope Rise will be released May 29, 2015, in America, hopefully with distribution to cinemas all around the world occurring at the same time or soon after. Hillsong United, the band at the focus of the film, has sold an estimated 16 million albums. 30 million people, according to the film trailer, sing their songs. Every Sunday. The film’s future was a bit uncertain earlier in the year with the

distributors Warner Bros pulling out. Even founder Brian Houston was unclear about the film’s release at Cloud Festival, with the initial release date of April 1 changing to late May. In a press release put out in January, Hillsong said they have always been in awe that people would be interested in making a movie about their journey, and remain humbled that there is still such strong interest. “That said, this movie and everything else we do, all has one purpose only, and that is pointing people to Jesus. This is and always

will be, our priority.” Let Hope Rise has been directed by Michael John Warren, who also directed Jay-Z’s “Fade to Black” film. The film’s distribution was announced to have been picked up by Relativity Studios in March 2015. Matt Alvarez, who is overseeing the project for Relativity Studios said they are excited to share HILLSONG - LET HOPE RISE with moviegoers across the U.S. “Chronicling this Christian band’s humble beginnings to their present day worldwide ministry is truly remarkable and worthy of their story being told on the big screen.” A press release said the film chronicles the “spectacular and unlikely rise to prominence” of the Australian-based Hillsong UNITED, which emerged out of the life of Hillsong Church. The film follows the band as they labor to record their next album and explores the history of Hillsong, a 30-year journey from a tiny church in the Sydney suburbs to a vibrant international ministry. The release continues, “the movie culminates in a transformational concert experience spotlighting

“this movie and everything else we do, all has one purpose only, and that is pointing people to Jesus. This is and always will be, our priority.” the humble hearts behind this worldwide sensation”. One of the three producers on the film is Jonathon Bock, who says with songs like Mighty to Save, Oceans, Lead Me to the Cross, Hosanna and From the Inside Out, anyone who regularly attends a church knows Hillsong’s music by heart. “That’s how influential they’ve become.” “And yet despite the fame and adulation, they’re still just an unpretentious worship band trying to do what hundreds of thousands of other worship bands try to do every week -- glorify God through their music. How they balance that is a fascinating and surprising story.” I think it’s pretty cool that two of

the songs mentioned above, Hosanna and Lead Me To The Cross were written by our our Kiwi Brooke Fraser. Did you also know that Hillsong’s Brian Houston is actually a Kiwi. Houston says the crazy thing about the movie was that none of them really took it seriously in the beginning. “But, you know what? The thing about Hillsong UNITED and Hillsong Church is that God took some pretty ordinary kids and some pretty ordinary people and over 30 years has actually done something quite significant. It’s something none of us could have done on our own.”