RNZ: Music 101

NZ Hip Hop star Savage talks to Charlotte Ryan about his new single 'Reach out', inspired by a suicide in his family.

Homegrown guitar fuzz, classic New York hip-hop beats, dancehall riddims from France, and noisy Nashville country-rock are a few of the sounds you’ll hear on Song Crush this week.

Sing it to My Face is an intergenerational choral show conceived by award winning playwright and author Jo Randerson who is tackling two national fears: singing in public and saying things to people's faces.

She's the first woman to write a full-length ballet score in Aotearoa, she's won many awards for her composition, and she's on the road with her group The Blackbird Ensemble, interpreting the songs of Björk. Multi-faceted composer Claire Cowan shares some of her stories and influences.

Canadian punk band F***ed Up are about to play two New Zealand shows. Frontman Damian Abraham talked to Tony Stamp about his love for kiwi label Flying Nun, whose roster he calls "the best music ever'.

Egyptian percussionist and composer Hossam Ramzy passed away on September 10 aged 65. Trevor Reekie spoke to a close friend of his - award winning drummer Bruce Aitken.

Auckland musician Antony Jeffares introduces his song 'Wrong/ Loss'.

Nick Cave is at peace with his ghosts, Björk is cut up by The Knife, and New York indie-rockers Vivian Girls are back in business. Kirsten Johnstone and the Song Crush team are back with new songs to love.

This week's RNZ Music mixtape selector is singer/songwriter Maisey Rika. She shares her stories and favourite tracks with Kirsten Johnstone.

Charlotte Ryan talks to Michael Timmins of The Cowboy Junkies