Kiwi MusicTalk: New Zealanders Talk About Their Music

Tali is Natalia Sheppard, also known as MC Tali. Future Dwellers is the 8th studio album from New Zealand’s official ‘Queen of Drum n Bass’.

Tali’s new album is significate in that it makes her the first woman vocalist in Drum & Bass to self produce her own album.

Harper Finn has released Newcomer, his debut EP. With a track-list of a generous 8 songs, Newcomer feels more like a long player than an EP.

Marty Duda spoke with Harper about making Newcomer. Last year he won the 2021 Breakthrough Artist of the Year award at December’s Aotearoa Music Awards. Now he’s making good on that promise with this collection of original tunes. Harper, son of Split Enz founder Tim Finn, has just returned from his adopted home of New York City to promote the EP and play a few shows

Jenny Mitchell is back with her finest album to date. Tug Of War is just released and here is Jenny to talk to Marty Duda. Jennywas just about to leave Wellington for Auckland to promote the release of Tug Of War. With Tami Neilson helping out on Trouble Finds A Girl, let’s hope Jenny finds the audience she deserves.

Voodoo Bloo have released The Blessed Ghost. Its the Wellington band’s second album and here is bandleader Rory McDonald to tell us how it came together.

Pacific Heights is has just released The Waters Between. Direct from Hawke's Bay, here is former Shapeshifter Devin Abrams with the story behind the new album.

Marty Duda spoke to Devin just days before The Waters Between is due for release. This is the fourth Pacific Heights album and the first in four years. As always, Devin has surrounded himself with a cast of very talented characters including Louis Baker, Jack Page and Lepani. Watch, listen and learn how it all came together.

Dion Lunadon has released his second solo album, Beyond Everything. Here he is to tell you all about it.

Marty Duda spoke to Dion, who is camped out in New York City, about making Beyond Everything. You know Dion from The D4 and A Place To Bury Strangers…now hear the real Dion Lunadon.

Tall Dwarfs were/are Chris Knox and Alec Bathgate. They’ve been making highly influential records for over 40 years. Now Merge Records has announced Unravelled: 1981-2002. Here is Alec Bathgate to tell the story.

Marty Duda spoke to Alec about his (and Chris’) involvement in assembling and curating the 4-LP, 55-track box set and booklet. With the Tall Dwarfs’ catalogue finally available on all your favourite streaming services, its just a matter of time before you can get your hands on the LPs and CDs. The release date in August 19th. Here is Alec Bathgate now to fill in the gaps.

Wiri Donna is Wellington-based musician Bianca Bailey and today we find her home and keen to talk about her brand new EP, Being Alone. Marty Duda spoke to Bianca just as Being Alone was about to be released. With the new music and a new tour on the way there’s plenty to talk about.

The Garbage & The Flowers have just released Cinnamon Sea, a new, five-song EP. Here are Helen Johnstone and Yuri Frusin. Formerly from Wellington, we find them in Queensland ready to talk.

Marty Duda spoke to Yuri and Helen just as Cinnamon Sea was released. This seems to be a band steeped in myth and mystery. UK label Fire Records re-issued their 1997’s cult dreampop gem Eyes Rind As If Beggars and now have commissioned new music.

So, the two principal bandmembers take us through the new EP, track by track, debunking myths along the way.

Chelsea Jade has just released Soft Spot, her second solo album and first for Carpark Records. Here she is to tell how it all came together.

The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to Chelsea who is now based in Brooklyn, New York. But Chelsea stills get back to NZ whenever she can and her old bandmate Elizabeth Stokes, now of The Beths, even helps out on a few tracks.