Presence Magazine Mix CD

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MIX CD - Band Bios - August 2012

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THANKS Georgia Moselen-Sloog, Sam Wieck, Elise Brinkman, Matt Monk, Brendan Smyth, Andrew Tidball, Jonathan Bree, Luke Seeney, Will Edmonds, Grant Hislop, Simon van Praag, Tessa Stubbing, Zaid Azeem, Alex McVinnie, Christopher Angell, Lia Kent Mackillop, Hannah Sutherland, Murray Cullen, Carol Dominikovich, Volita Pearl & Moss Bioletti, Jaden Parkes, Magenta Lu, Graham Panther, Westley Holdsworth, Vince McMillan, Shane Warbrooke, Emile de la Rey and Noel Hutchinson.

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A big thank you to our sponsors

More than normal mus ic

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P RESENCE Intro presencemagazine.co.nz presencemagazine.tumblr.com facebook.com/presencemagazine twitter.com/presencemag Presence was started in 2008 by Greta Gotlieb whilst on a student exchange in England. She then brought the idea back to New Zealand where it has grown into an Auckland based niche publication. This zine/magazine publishes up and coming musicians, writers, artists and photographers living in New Zealand and is distributed nationwide.

This mix CD includes tracks from some of Presence magazine’s old favourites and some fresh meat. A huge thanks to the bands involved for contributing a track. We are your fans!

PRESENCE relies on contributors for its content. If you are looking to get involved please say hi at presencemagazine@gmail.com.

PRESENCE is looking to the future with a greater online existence and hopes to be apart of an upcoming New Zealand documentary series aptly named Welcome to Nowhere after the Mint Chicks song. To see our progress on future endeavours you can follow us on Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you for your interest, Greta Gotlieb 4

W h at ’ s a z i ne? not to mention a zinefest? aucklandzinefest.org zinefestchch.wordpress.com dunedinzinefest.org wellingtonzinefest.blogspot.co.nz The word zine (pronounced ‘zeen’) describes a type of magazine that is self-published, and usually caters for a small niche audience that may not find exactly what they’re looking for in mainstream media.

Traditionally, zines were made by manually cutting and pasting original text and images onto a master flat to be photocopied.

Nowadays, the master is often put together on a computer.

People who make zines normally aren’t in it for the money – they often give their zines away or trade them for others.

In the age of the Internet, zine-making is becoming a lot less common. However, various plans to revive the craft are being put into place, such as the Auckland Library’s extensive new zine collection and the establishment of July as International Zine Month.

Now in its fourth year, the annual Auckland Zinefest joins these initiatives in celebrating and promoting the zine-making community.

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WRITTEN BY Georgia Moselen-Sloog ART DIRECTOR & DESIGNER Greta Gotlieb sub-editor Elise Brinkman CD PRODUCTION Stebbing PRINT PMP Maxum

PRESENCE is a free publication that collaborates with up and coming artists. We claim no rights to the music, photos, artwork and articles given by contributors. Š 2012 PRESENCE magazine all rights reserved.

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TRAC K LISTING 1. Wake Up Panther and the Zoo 2. Reality And A Clue Cool Rainbows 3. Crystallise Glass Vaults 4. Night Swimmer Watercolours 5. Monsters Porcelaintoy 6. Smokers Lung Loui the ZU 7. Silhouette Paquin 8. I’m Happy Just To Lie Sherpa 9. Creepy The Eversons 10. Piano Wire Promises The Bemsha Swing 11. Diamonds The Neo Kalashnikovs 12. Feed Me To The Bees Perfect Hair Forever 7

PANTHER AND THE Z Oo Wake Up pantherandthezoo.com

The brainchild of singer-songwriter Graham Panther, Panther and the Zoo is a collaborative effort between an array of accomplished local musicians.

The main Zoo line-up consists of drummer Johnny Parker (The Brunettes), guitarist Anthonie Tonnon (Tono and the Finance Company) and Panther’s right-hand man Hayden EastmondMein (Lawrence Arabia, The Cosbys). Eastmond-Mein is Panther’s main collaborator, a multi-talented musician with a knack for guitar, sax, synth and more.

Panther and the Zoo’s debut album More Fun was released last year, following 2009’s EP Think About It Not Exploding. The album’s cover is graced with the artwork of PRESENCE favourite Henrietta Harris.

Panther is a self-confessed pop fan, with a love for music that “isn’t afraid to get in your head”. The bright melodies and engaging hooks of More Fun‘s opening track ‘Wake Up’ are a testament to Panther’s penchant for pop.

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COOL RAIN B OWS Reality And A Clue coolrainbows.bandcamp.com

The release of Cool Rainbows’ debut album signifies a step forward in breaking one of frontman Djeisan Suskov’s bad habits.

A prolific songwriter, Suskov tended to write new songs and simply do away with old ones – without ever properly finishing them. Wife and fellow musician Emily urged him not to write any new material until the album was finished, and in March 2012 Whale Rocket was released on Auckland’s Lil’ Chief Records.

Suskov is a former member of Auckland band Trees Climbing Trees, with Cool Rainbows being a solo project that he had going on at the same time. He eventually decided to take this solo work further, building on his songs without being limited to a band format. Whale Rocket wasn’t a completely solitary effort, however; Suskov was helped by around thirty friends and fellow musicians.

‘Reality And A Clue’ has been awarded NZ on Air funding for a music video, and illustrates Djeisan Suskov’s talent for creating a nostalgic and gentle pop tune.

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GLASS VAULTS Crystallise glassvaults.com

Richard Larsen and Rowan Pearce of the duo Glass Vaults are originally from rural Manawatu, a far cry from where they currently reside in the United States.

Glass Vaults are signed to Florida-based label JUKBOXR, who describe the band as their “New Zealand bliss merchants”. Up until now, the band have released two EPs on JUKBOXR, each evoking a similar eerie, sentimental atmosphere.

Experimentation with electronic gadgetry transforms Glass Vaults’ simple make-up of guitar, drums and vocals to create a haunting and dreamlike quality. The duo has garnered attention and radio airplay in the US, where they were on tour throughout June and July this year.

‘Crystallise’ is the first single from the band’s forthcoming debut album, showcasing Larsen’s Sigur Rós-esque vocals and Glass Vaults’ hypnotic vibe.

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WATERc o lou r s Night Swimmer chelseajadeiswatercolours.bandcamp.com

Auckland-based singer Chelsea Jade, AKA Watercolours, captivates audiences both in live performances and over the airwaves.

Chelsea Jade defines her music as dream pop, a genre defined by its ethereal tones and total listenability. When performing, she is joined by an ever-changing live band, members of which contribute to her tracks as they are played. bFM Breakfast host Zac Arnold says that almost every time Watercolours’ ‘Night Swimmer’ is played, a new fan seems to be created – with the studio consistently receiving texts asking who the artist is.

‘Night Swimmer’ took the top spot of the NZ unreleased chart in the opening month of NZ on Air’s new initiative theaudience. co.nz. The “Wild Card” Making Tracks grant that Watercolours has won is to be put towards a video and further recording of the track.

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Por c e la i n toy Monsters porcelaintoy.com

Wellington duo Porcelaintoy skilfully meld the electronic and the acoustic – resulting in a sound that is both mesmerising and stirring.

The husband and wife duo is comprised of Elizabeth and Emile De la Rey, who are joined by a variety of guest musicians and collaborators along the way.

Elizabeth is the main composer of Porcelaintoy’s music, contributing vocals, guitar and piano. Emile takes care of the electronic elements with synth, beats and evocative arrangements.

‘Monsters’ is the first single from their second album Contrite Elegant Rebel, which received rapturous reviews. The song is accompanied by their first official music video, an ambitious project based on Bela Lugosi’s 1932 film White Zombie.

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Loui t h e ZU Smokers Lung louithezu.com

Creative control seems to be something that Loui the ZU craves.

The Zimbabwe-born rapper signed with Dryden Street late last year, and says that the label trusts him to do his own thing – without a preconceived idea of what he should be doing.

The ambitious 18-year-old is creating a name for himself that seems to be growing only bigger, following a standout performance at the 95bFM Fancy New Band Showcase and the online release of his EP, LBSB: The Fruits Of My Labour.

Loui’s abundant online presence serves to expand his steadilydeveloping fan base and keep current fans in the loop. His updates pervade the usual social media platforms of Facebook and Twitter, and he offers free downloads of his music on his official website.

Loui the ZU’s distinct, international sound is clear in ‘Smoker’s Lung’, the first single from his EP.

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Paqui n Silhouette paquin.bandcamp.com

Paquin is an Auckland quartet that embodies the musical personality of one man – but is by no means a one-man band.

Musician and producer Tom Healey is the driving creative force behind the project, and has previously worked with the likes of Popstrangers and Die! Die! Die!.

Recording began for Paquin’s debut EP in 2010, after which a variety of musicians were brought in to play it live. This effectively transformed the music from a sort of bedroom pop into the fuller sound that the quartet have today.

Paquin describe their sound as “krautrock-inspired synthpop”, a unique combination that describes Paquin’s rhythmic focus and synth use well.

Through Paquin, Healey wants to create “intoxicating and unusual pop to dance to” – an aim that is realised in ‘Silhouette’, the latest single from their EP.

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S h e r pa I’m Happy Just To Lie sherpaband.com

If Sherpa’s ever-growing list of achievements is anything to go by, a lot can be accomplished in six years.

Following the release of two unanimously well-received EPs and an opening spot at this year’s Laneway festival, the band have released their self-produced debut album Lesser Flamingo.

Lesser Flamingo is where Sherpa’s psychedelic influences shine through, adding further elements to their unique style of power-pop – and bringing the band closer to casting aside the Mint Chicks comparisons that were hard to avoid early in their career.

Sherpa continue to receive widespread critical acclaim, with admiring reviews featured in the likes of the Groove Guide and Rip It Up, and singles making frequent appearances in the 95bFM Top 10.

Lead singer Earl Sans says that I’m ‘Happy Just To Lie’ is a song that he has believed in from the start. Its playful vocals and peppy hooks close Lesser Flamingo in the highest of spirits.

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T h e Ev e r so ns Creepy theeversons.lilchiefrecords.com

The Eversons are causing a stir with their catchy brand of satirical guitar pop.

Their music is set apart from the rest by refreshingly unapologetic New Zealand accents and wry, doo-wop-influenced backing vocals.

The band members alternate as lead and backing vocalists, with call and response harmonies enhancing their conversational lyrics.

The Wellington quartet formed at the end of 2010, and recorded a self-titled EP in early 2011.

Their debut album Summer Feeling was released on Lil’ Chief Records earlier this year, bearing the infectious banger ‘Could It Ever Get Better?’. The track typifies the common thread running through Summer Feeling – a bittersweet commentary on growing up.

Teasing backing vocals keep a check on the idealist lead singer in ‘Creepy’, telling the perils of a young romantic in true Eversons style.

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B e ms h a S wing Piano Wire Promises thebemshaswing.bandcamp.com

Rising from the remnants of their previous musical projects, Shane Warbrooke and Andy Watts formed The Bemsha Swing in 2008. Originally a three-piece, the band’s drummer was replaced shortly after their formation by a drum machine, Frankie.

This setup contributes to their distinctive sound, with the tireless drum machine providing a solid foundation for the band’s powerful noise rock musings.

The Bemsha Swing make frequent mention of their anti-bop influence, which singer/guitarist Shane describes as “an auditory lodestone dragging together every non-conformist youth adventure” - encompassing the spirit of freedom and truth apparent in the band’s influences.

2009 saw the release of their debut EP Bop! and The Bemsha Swing have this year signed with Auckland’s independent label Muzai records. Their next release is the upcoming debut album titled Against Friends And Lovers.

‘Piano Wire Promises’ shows The Bemsha Swing at their best, with a powerful guitar riff and vocal supported by Frankie’s unrelenting beat.

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The N e o K a la s hnikovs Diamonds theneokalashnikovs.tumblr.com

Self-proclaimed rock‘n’roll revolutionaries The Neo Kalashnikovs think it’s about time for younger generations take rock music’s reins.

Lead singer and songwriter Volita Pearl formed The Neo Kalashnikovs with her brother Moss in 2007, to later be joined by their younger brother Gabriel.

The three-piece think the rock scene is starting to look “a little bit wrinkly”, and are taking it upon themselves to reinvigorate it.

The Neo Kalashnikovs’ recent trip to LA (where they played the iconic Viper Room) was a great success, and plans to tour New Zealand are in the pipeline.

Volita’s powerful vocal combines with a simple yet compelling riff to create the killer track ‘Diamonds’.

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Pe r f ec t H a i r Fo r ever Feed Me To The Bees perfecthairforever.bandcamp.com

To say that Perfect Hair Forever is an enigma would be an understatement. He prefers not to be named, doesn’t like photos of himself and does not play live.

PHF is also known for not taking his interviews seriously, but Matt Monk’s article in issue 10 of PRESENCE afforded fans a rare insight into the man behind the music.

The magnitude of his fan base seems to come as a surprise to PHF, who wonders how international audiences have happened upon his music. He is in touch with UK-based distributor Art is Hard records, with whom he had plans to release an album later this year. However, his debut full length OK COOL has now been released on Crystal Magic Records.

PHF’s recordings up until now are diverse, making it suitably difficult for him to be pigeonholed as a specific genre. ‘Feed Me To The Bees’ slots into a back catalogue ranging from girl-group imitations to surf-rock influenced tunes, with its harsh vocals and powerful, grungy guitar riffs.

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