International and Industry Action

The Phoenix Foundation are extremely excited to announce their return to the UK in a few weeks time to perform on the BBC2 UK TV show 'Later With Jools Holland'! They’ll be performing live on Tuesday 25/10, with the show then broadcast again on Friday 28/10. They’ve also announced a one-off London show at The Garage (main hall) in London on Thurs 27 October. Before they head away, their New Zealand fans have a chance to catch them free this Friday at the Rugby Village Fanzone in Wellington and next Thursday 13th at The Strand, Tauranga. http://thephoenixfoundation.tumblr.com/

Since 1999, Sola Rosa’s Andrew Spraggon has been tantalising listeners with otherworldly aural experiences, honing his craft and taking Sola Rosa from a self-released one man project to a fully-fledged live powerhouse. He’s kept good company on the road and in the studio, with the Sola Rosa band counting members of Dimmer, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Goldenhorse, Pluto and Sommerset amongst the ranks over the years, not to mention tapping the talents of internationally renowned artists like Nathan Haines and Spikey Tee along the way. His albums have gone from strength to strength, with the last release, “Get it Together” chalking up the number one spot on both iTunes NZ and the Independent NZ Music Album Chart (where it stayed for four months), and reaching number 15 on the NZ Album Chart – all on the way to achieving Gold status. “Get it Together” sees an international release this month through Germany’s Melting Pot Music and to celebrate Sola Rosa are making their first trip to Europe, playing everywhere from Berlin to Koln to Istanbul to London. Unfortunately economics prohibited bringing the whole band this time, but Andrew has crafted a special soundsystem set and drafted in not just veteran MC Spikey Tee (Jah Wobble, Mr Scruff, Bomb The Bass) but also the talented Lisa Tomlins (Fat Freddy’s Drop, Trinity Roots, Ebb). Support at the UK show comes from former New Zealand resident International Observer.  http://www.spacific.net/ ; http://www.solarosa.com/



New release fanfare

Funkommunity’s Isaac Aesili and Rachel Fraser are no strangers to the NZ music scene. Having played, toured and collaborated with some of the country’s top artists, the prolific pair now join forces to create their debut album Chequered Thoughts, due for release October 24. A forward-thinking album of future soul music, Funkommunity’s smooth stylings create a sunny-side up album perfect for the ensuing summer. An accomplished vocalist and songwriter, Rachel Fraser’s voice is reminiscent of old school jazz, soul and funk styles infused with contemporary R&B. A lady of many credentials, Rachel first gained international attention with Recloose track, 'Catch a Leaf', and has since been busy performing with bands such as Sola Rosa and Recloose Live. Isaac also brings a wealth of experience to the band. Over the past decade, Isaac has been an integral part of many Kiwi acts Solaa, Opensouls, Recloose Live and Eru Dangerspiel plus has toured as a guest musician with iconic New Zealand bands Trinity Roots and Shapeshifter. He’s also co-written songs with Aaradhna, Ladi6, Hollie Smith, Mara TK and Julien Dyne, and his session work includes recording for House of Shem, Homebrew, Anika Moa, Mt Eden and Crowded House. In celebration of the release, Funkommunity will play an album release show at Auckland’s 1885 on October 29; check out other info and their future live dates here.

Spearheading a new collaborative effort, DJs P-Money and Dan Aux have teamed up to present The Disco 3, a three-track digital E.P due for release on October 14.  Combining one of New Zealand’s foremost Producers and DJs, with DJ talent of Brooklyn Fire and George FM fame, these two have teamed up to conjure a Goliath of funky, catchy sounds. Many moons ago, in the early hours of a Friday morning, P-Money and Dan Aux met at the George FM studio in Ponsonby to share their appreciation of house music, disco loops and good coffee (all in the course of delivering some groundbreaking breakfast radio alongside good buddy Nick D). Those morning mixes soon turned into afternoon studio sessions and The Disco 3 project was born. Sticking very close to the traditions laid down by 90’s house pioneers Masters At Work, Daft Punk and Armand Van Helden, the intention was to find only the greatest disco house loops and arrange them into present-day dance floor destroyers. Solid evidence of the disco gold that these two have uncovered can certainly be found in the form of their first offering “Kinda Lovin”. It’s nothing but a funky summer groove, armed with the mother of all hooks to keep you singing and bringing it back for days. The Disco 3 EP is available from all good digital retail outlets on October 14th.  http://soundcloud.com/thedisco3

Singer/songwriter Flip Grater has captured tales and recipes from her European touring adventures and penned them all in a new book titled, 'The Cookbook Tour Europe'. While singing her way around the continent, Flip asked audience members and friends to provide recipes for the book, which resulted in 34 delectable recipes all the way from Italy to Sweden. The book is also accompanied by a sampler CD of five songs from Flip Grater's last two albums. It's out in all good local bookshops from Monday, October 10, released through publisher David Bateman.
http://www.thecookbooktour.com
http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/61/pi_newsitemid/4902


On the live front

With her brand new album ‘Red Grey Blue’ recently released, singer songwriter Mel Parsons is in celebration mode, hitting the road with her band for a 20 date NZ tour spanning Coast to Coast and tip to tail. The shows kicked off on September 24th at high altitude with a Real NZ show at Mt Olympus ski field in Canterbury, and from there winds it’s way around the country via some of Parsons’ favourite venues. Parsons will be joined by her band The Rhythm Kings, comprised of double bassist Aaron Stewart, drummer/percussionist Nick George and introducing guitarist/vocalist Andrew Moore (Thomas Oliver Band), along with special guest Gerry Paul (Tim O’Brien, Grada). Tickets to the shows are available at eventfinder.co.nz

This summer Shapeshifter are playing four shows over the Christmas/New Year break, and in an inspired pairing they’re bringing with them reggae legend Horace Andy and his band Dub Asante. Possessing one of reggae’s most beautiful and distinctive voices, Jamaican Horace Andy emerged as a major force in the 1970s when his collaborations with producer Coxsone Dodd and later Bunny Lee resulted in a series of songs now considered classics, such as ‘Skylarking’, ‘Every Tongue Shall Tell’ and ‘I’ve Got To Get Away’.  In 1990 he began a long-standing collaboration with Massive Attack which resulted in him contributing to all five of their albums, most notably on the huge hits ‘Angel’ and ‘One Love’. Buy Shapeshifter Summer Tour tickets on presale (11th & 12th OCTOBER) and on October 26th receive a link for the FREE download of the brand new Shapeshifter single ‘Monarch’.
www.shapeshifter.co.nz and www.muchmoremusic.co.nz

Recent Music Awards nominated singer-songwriter Julia Deans returns to the stage with a small band to play two shows over November, playing the Masonic Tavern in Devonport, Auckland, on November 5 and The Garden Club in Wellington on November 12. Hot off the back of her recent tour with local super-group, The Adults, and her Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards nominations for Best Female Solo Artist and Best Pop Album, this should be a show not to miss. Julia Deans last played solo shows following the release of her debut, Taite Music Prize finalist album, Modern Fables, to rave reviews.

King Kapisi is in the latest Splore lineup announcement, with other locals @Peace, IM INO, Disasteradio, Scratch 22, Maya and Vanya, Alphabethead and Jason Eli joining newly annouced internationals Soul II Soul (with original members Jazzie B, Caron Wheeler and MC Chickaboo), Africa Hitech feat Mark Pritchard and Steve Spacek, Amsterdam audio visual artist The SmokeEaters and the UK’s J Star, all making the trip to Tapapakanga Regional Park in February next year (17- 19). For full details on artist profiles go to http://www.splore.net. 

Fiesta in the Park is a family Fiesta being held in Auckland's Western Park, Ponsonby, to herald in the coming summer, celebrating community well-being and World Mental Health Day. Enjoy a line-up of national and local bands and performers with Jan Hellriegel and Emma Paki as well as Andrew Fagan, Jupiter Project, Ben Lummis and DJ Reminis, Abby Lee, J O, Latin Aotearoa, SamRB and special guests. Music, food and entertainment together in the heart of Ponsonby, Auckland.
http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2011/fiesta-in-the-park/auckland/ponsonby


Around the World

Perception is reality, especially in business, and US independent label association A2IM is helping re-shape perception spotlighting that "Independent label music is the best!" One of their major initiatives in this effort has been to have music industry market share reported by label ownership rather than by distributor so that every new or emerging commerce partner can plainly see how significant independent labels and their artists truly are. 

Last week, Billboard ran their Midyear Soundscan Report and in it they included a report by label ownership noting that this breakdown reflects a “dramatically larger” percentage of the market for indies then when depicted by distribution-only (which has previously been the standard reporting method).  In fact, Indies now lead the market with 31.2% of album and TEA (Track Equivalent Albums) sales. Rich Bengloff, president of A2IM, expressed the organization’s thanks to Billboard’s editorial director Bill Werde noting that he was instrumental in helping to open up the this dialogue with Billboard and that Bill has been a great supporter of A2IM’s efforts over the years.
Read more: http://a2im.org/2011/07/26/billboard-unveils-new-market-share-statistics-indie-labels-are-number-1/

And in sad news, R.I.P Steve Jobs:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/06/steve-jobs-apple-cofounder-dies