RNZ: Music 101

The crew at RNZ Music choose their favourite local tracks songs of 2018.

Music Promoter Kurt Shanks recalls stories from The Buzzcocks New Zealand tours in both 2013 and 2016 including long lunches, details on their riders and their motto 'No Moet - No Show-ay'.

Auckland musician Paige introduces her song Alignments.

Marika Hodgson is a highly sought after bass player working with everyone from Rhian Sheehan to Teeks. Her first solo outing under the moniker Sorrento is a fun funky frolic featuring Troy Kingi.

Nigerian-New Zealand artist Unchained XL is forging an identity for other African Kiwis to look up to.

Grey Lynn rapper Diggy Dupé catches up with RNZ Music's Danielle Street to chat about his new EP Island Time.

Church and AP have built up an incredible amount of hype about their new song 'Ready or Not'. Before it was even released it was the most shazamed song in the country. It is an A rotate on two radio stations and may be set to go to number one in the charts. Not bad for two Auckland teenagers who are clearly just getting started.

Matthew J Ruys is releasing music under his own name for the first time in twenty years. Now based in Los Angeles the self described Jack-of-all-trades discusses where music has taken him over the last twenty years and why now felt right to release his new record, Things Broken, Things Awoken.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Nigerian New Zealand hip hop artist Unchained XL treats to a live session, Trevor Reekie delves into the fascinating story of Switched on Bach, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and Alex Behan introduces us to a new act called Sorrento.

Kirsten Johnstone reviews I Need To Start A Garden, the debut album from Portland-based songwriter Haley Heynderickx, who investigates self-doubt, religious doubt and existentialism, but with a good dose of wry humour, and plenty of creepy crawlies.