New Music Review - ‘Bus Stop’ by There’s a Tuesday
The cover for Bus Stop - partly filmed in the Christchurch Metro bus yard.
When There’s a Tuesday release a new single, you know that it is going to be the ultimate hype for the weeks ahead and with their latest drop, Bus Stop, it is proving to be just that, even just days after coming out.
The track dropped on Friday at midnight after the band signed to Benee’s record label, Olive Records, recently. The band have been teasing this for well over a month and the song has been taking over the airways and everyone’s playlists since it was made public. To say that the amount of people that have shared the song on Instagram has been insane… Well, that would be an understatement actually. Literally every story on Friday was this song and it is easy to see why. These four certainly know how to write catchy tunes and do it well, making them fun, but also exceptionally relatable all rolled into one.
Bus Stop opens with some really upbeat music, which is kept up throughout the entire song, making this one of the catchiest pop songs that you will hear in 2021.
Let’s put it this way: if you aren’t either a) sing-shouting this song in your car or b) crying on the way home (bad pun), then you are most definitely doing it all wrong, or you haven’t actually listened to Bus Stop yet. In that case, are you doing okay? The song is super memorable and it is an actual bop for all generations. I mean, you could recommend this song to your Grandma with a bad hip and I can guarantee that she would get up and be dancing with ease because it is genuinely that good.
Having a bad day? Put on Bus Stop. Having a good day? Put on Bus Stop. Needing a road trip song? Put on Bus Stop. Simple as that!
The video is pretty neat, too. Filmed throughout different areas of Christchurch, some of it looks as though it has been done in front of a green screen, when in fact, the lights of New Regent Street and the central city are actually far from being fake, they are real. I love the fact that they have incorporated their home town into the video - it makes it even more special and gives that personal touch from the band to the viewers.
Bus Stop could be taken many ways through different levels of emotions. It really depends on the listener onto how you interpret it. All I know is that There’s a Tuesday always try and make their songs happy, no matter if it’s a serious track or not.
Bus Stop has some really unique beats and the way that both Minnie and Nat’s voices blend in with Joel and Gus’ instruments makes it even that much more superb, it’s hard to fault them on anything they release - each body of work they put out somehow always blows my mind.
They just work so well as a band and after seeing them live a fair few times, I can see the relationship bonds they have formed, which makes them quite a distinct set of musicians whose music will be played throughout history. There’s a Tuesday aren’t going from any of our brains any time soon and I, for one, am very glad about this.
For this reason, the song gets an indefinite 10/10 for me. Available to listen to now on all platforms, this is one piece of ear candy you will need to pop up right now because everyone is talking about it and you don’t want to be the odd one out, do you? Now, go cry on the ride home over this song!
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Other TAT on the blog -
There’s a Tuesday Feature Friday | There’s a Tuesday Interview
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For NZ music features, reviews, interviews, you can contact me on Instagram or via email.
New Music Review - ‘Lonely, Only’ by Montgomery
The cover for Lonely, Only - available now on all good streaming platforms!
George Manning, AKA Montgomery, has quickly emerged into the New Zealand music scene over the past year with his beautifully vulnerable songs that are put out into the universe for others to also feel all of the feelings that he has to share.
Montgomery released his latest single Lonely, Only at midnight last night - a really soothing for the soul track that will take your mind off the events happening in the world, making you feel blissful and re-energized.
Lonely, Only is a very slowed down power ballad that captures the essence of love, hope and Montgomery’s sincere personality. With perfectly hooked sounds, the song fills you with aspiration to fulfill something that you are really wanting, such as a relationship or a change in career. Whatever it is you’re seeking, this song will make you want to go out and grab it with two hands. It will spark a fire of inspiration within you, that is just how Montgomery’s music makes you feel on the inside, which is quite special.
What I love most about the song is the fact that it hits all of the right notes with the sound, the mixing and also the lyrics. It will make you wish (if you aren’t already) that you could be in love. It is the ultimate fairytale wrapped up into just under four minutes - clean and indefinitely refreshing.
While Montgomery is still new to the music scene, he carries a presence with him that will always be truthful and exciting - it is evident when listening to Lonely, Only that he pours everything he has from his mind and heart into his musical career.
Montgomery reminds me of the band The Fray - particularly their song You Found Me and that being one of my favourite all-time songs, most definitely is a compliment.
If you’re a visual person like myself, you may in fact see this track being played at the end of a romantic movie, where the two who were wanting to be together the entire time finally make that a reality, even after some turmoil. Or, you could see this being played at your future wedding. Whichever way you choose to perceive the visuals behind it, you will find it overwhelmingly lovely.
Lonely, Only is going to stand the test of time and will be a real treat for everyone once it takes off worldwide.
You can listen to the track now on all good streaming services and don’t forget to follow Montgomery, all links below!
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If you are wanting a new song/EP/album to be reviewed on the blog, please DM me here or email me here. At this time, I am only able to review New Zealand music as I do not have the capacity to cover international. Thanks for understanding!
New Music Review - ‘Rock Bottom’ by Navvy
Don’t come for Navvy, as you can see by the cover art for Rock Bottom, she won’t be taking any of it.
Navvy is back with the ultimate break-up track and phew - it is one feisty listen. She knows what she does and does not want and lets us know assertively with this catchy tune.
Rock Bottom showcases that Navvy (AKA Phoebe Jasper) is taking no sh*t from anyone, especially the guy that she is bringing attention to through her honest words. Navvy brings in her powerhouse vocals to tell us the story of how she is feeling, assumingly post break-up, in which she has clearly experienced the depths of despair with so much emotion that is attached to the relationship that once was and is basically saying she won’t let a man treat her the way that this guy had in the past. She has expressed through the lyrics that she doesn’t have any bad intentions herself, however she would like to see him hit rock bottom with the new girl in his life and that she hopes she ends up breaking his heart. Ouch. Though she is happy for him, she doesn’t want him back in any way - absolute power right there to admit that.
The track starts off with a real badass feminine, rock-pop sound with a hint of xylophone thrown in to make it even more of an interesting listen. The song is produced by Navvy herself with a whole span of mixed sounds that will have you singing incredibly loud to. I can just imagine someone putting this on at a club and it being a major hit, especially for those who have been through nasty situations with exes.
Over the years, Navvy has had some great hits such as No Hard Feelings and 100 Thousand which of course, has shown us her musical talents, however, Rock Bottom is on a whole other level and has taken her music in a different direction and I love that for her. Having taken on production herself and seeing the fresh attitude of her growth, it is evident that she has taken the time to tap into really figuring things out since the release of her latest EP, The Final Pieces, in September 2020.
Rock Bottom has a techno-feel to it, something that is being experimented with in the music world more so at the moment and it aids Navvy’s strong vocals in the song. The funky element of a record skipping adds a brilliant flare to the track, almost implying that the guy is the broken record that keeps repeating himself and Navvy herself is playing this back to him to make him realise this.
Overrall, I am absolutely loving this song at the moment and it is definitely on full blast at my house and in the car.
Navvy, the musician we didn’t know we needed to teach us many lessons throughout our lives. Definitely a 9/10 for this banger of a break-up track!
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You can find Navvy at the below -
New Music Review - ‘One Window’ by Honeybee
Everyone skating their way over to Spotify to listen to One Window! (Cover artwork supplied by Harrison from Honeybee)
Funky Auckland-based indie rockers, Honeybee, have recently pulled out all the stops to bring us a stifling new single just in time for Spring. One Window is an audial representation of hitting the right notes and flying high through the Kiwi music scene to earn themselves dutiful titles of musical kings.
One Window drips tones of 80s indie and garage rock. It tells us a story of the angst and anxiety of young love - which we can all agree, we have experienced in one capacity or another. Reaching new levels of relatable, these four young men know how to grip you into their world and be like… hey, we’re here for you to listen to what we have to say.
The track begins with some ambient guitar riffs that will have you hooked for days, among the drums that will have you tapping your feet and fingers the entire time.
The incredible video for One Window, directed by Jayden Fleming!
One Window has been released into the universe with softly driven melodies and all of the indie soulfulness that you could ever imagine. As One Window is filled with valid points and pops, it is an essential track that you need to add to your daily playlist - it would be paired very well with a cold beverage of your choosing or even ideal for going on a run through the Spring flowers that are slowly making their way to the surface again (you might even see some honeybees, too!)
What I thoroughly enjoy about Honeybee is that their videos are always quite a fun journey to go on and that is no exception with One Window. The tricks of the multi-coloured universe presented and the edits really make the video a likable viewing for all. The video is directed by the brilliant Jayden Fleming who has done an outstanding job at his role in helping the guys with this master of a release.
Honeybee have nailed it with both the audio and visuals on this ear candy and are rightfully so gaining traction on Spotify with over 200k+ streams on their music - amazing work all around.
Honeybee take their inspiration from musicians from around the world, such as The 1975, Mild Orange, Spacey Jane and Last Dinosaurs. This pulls through into their music and you can hear different elements from these artists sprinkled throughout One Window, with their own spin on the sounds flowing, making it a unique and entertaining 3 minutes. Smashing it out of the park, this track is a solid 9.5/10 for me.
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You can check out Honeybee on all of the links below -
Spotify
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
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New Music Review - ‘Lonely’ by Jaz Paterson
The cover art for Lonely, a very moving single off Jaz’s upcoming EP in November.
First of all, this review is a bit late as I have only just discovered the talented Jaz Paterson very recently. Despite this, her latest single Lonely (released 13th August 2021) has been on repeat and I wanted to share my opinion on it for you all as you will probably become just as obsessed with the track after hearing it, too!
Hailing from Geraldine in the South Island of New Zealand originally, Jaz is now a Christchurch local who has been showcasing her talents from a young age. Her dream has always to be a musician so that she has the ability to perform in front of crowds, travel and meet other people.
With melodic hooks that will capture you from the first drop of the song, these will reel you in and keep you interested in listening to the rest of Lonely.
The emotion that is fired from Jaz’s voice shines and shares with the listener the isolation that she is feeling from being a musician, which is what the song is about. Lonely comes from the loneliness that comes along with being a musician. Jaz shares that the moving single is about driving to a gig of hers alone, performing on stage and in that room, she doesn’t know anybody because her friends are all out somewhere else and then going home and feeling even more lonely. You can hear that from the projection in her voice it tells the listener that the feeling of being locked in her emotions from the loneliness has been a bit of hard road for her. Jaz has however, explained that while she feels this way, she is exceptionally grateful for the amazing opportunities that she has earned and this is just a small bump in the road to following her dreams.
Jaz is the type of dynamic musician that endorses feeling emotions, even if they aren’t always the most pleasant.
In my opinion, the cover art for Lonely depicts what it feels like to have all of this noise around you from your swirling intensity that may be trying to take you over. It is an alluring cover that makes you wonder what her thoughts were on the day the photograph was taken.
Lonely sparkles with some engaging beats and mixes that are spread throughout and it has become abundantly clear that Jaz has poured a lot from her personal cup into this song in order to make it a track that is relatable and easy to leave on repeat while going about your usual daily activities.
It is very evident that Jaz has a bright future ahead of her - just wait until you hear her stunning latest EP, which is due for release in November - it is one that you will want to add to all your playlists and spread the word to everybody about!
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You can check out Jaz on the following platforms -
Spotify
Instagram
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SoundCloud
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New Music Review - ‘Vengeful Millennial’ the EP by Hazza Making Noise
The artwork for the new EP from Hazza Making Noise! Saving the world, one avocado at a time.
Harry Platt, AKA Hazza Making Noise, has just sprung his first ever EP on us, Vengeful Millennial which was released last Friday and if you’re into some very distinguished music, then this EP is absolutely for you!
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Hailing from Christchurch originally, Hazza now resides in Auckland and works in architecture while producing music and also songwriting, a serious powerhouse with goals beyond belief. Hazza is proud to release his latest body of work, which has really been a creative process to go through. It comes after a two-year hiatus due to writers block and DIY production issues. In saying this though, Vengeful Millennial is a tasty release and you need to get around it. Right now.
The EP showcases different aspects of music - having multiple genres spread over the five track smackdown of Vengeful Millennial. You’ve got everything from electronica to alternative rock to pop punk and even indie dance rock. How about that - falling into some interesting musical genres to perform and kick up a storm in the Kiwi music industry! Personally, I feel that Vengeful Millennial has a bit of something for everyone, you have to listen to it to determine which song (or songs!) take your fancy, if you will.
With risky lyrics filling your brain, Hazza is taking these new tunes to the end of the universe and back. Vengeful Millennial is fruity, fun and packed with a lot of punch to get your body moving and lips singing.
The avo king - Harry Platt/Hazza Making Noise!
Looking at yourself, who do you see?
Staring back in the warped lens of individuality
Trade in paranoia for blissful ignorance
And if you could, would you play the level again?
A few lines from Rewind Time Return Desire
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As you can tell, Hazza is certainly living up to his name of Hazza Making Noise! You certainly cannot tell him to quieten down, he will do the absolute opposite and get you hyped up with his kick and punch of excellently crafted new soul biting tunes.
If you’re into hardcore rock, my recommendation would be to listen to NoMoreGaps first (which works out well, as this is the opener of the EP). A really heavy rock’n’roll type vibe that takes you to a whole other level within the EP - a superb song to chuck on at a party and jump on a pool table to have a boogie to! A real headbanger that is going to become one of the biggest hits of this drop, I personally feel.
If you are after a more mellowed out vibe, glue your ears on and listen to A Ship Came Into The Harbour. While it is chill, it still has a little bit of that edgy thrill that Hazza puts out to entice you to keep listening.
To conclude, this EP is not for the faint hearted - so make sure you have yourself prepared and ready to have your entire mind absolutely shaken up by Vengeful Millennial - AVAILABLE NOW!
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You can find Hazza at all of the below platforms, make sure to listen and chuck him a follow, too -
Spotify
Website
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
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For music reviews/interviews on Welcome to the Gig, you can email me here or DM me on Instagram here.
New Music Review - ‘This Kinda Day’ by Mild Orange
Centre art by Fadjar Kurnia, design by Josh Mehrtens (Mehrt) - this really showcases what the song is about. Loving the funky artwork!
Mild Orange have gone and done it again - they are dropping another good thing on us during these difficult times in New Zealand. They are here to “brighten up your day” (if you know, you know) throughout this latest nationwide lockdown and as per usual, they certainly don’t let us down - lets be real, they could never let us down here at Welcome to the Gig!
Mehrt, Jah, Jeck and Barry have put together quite a meaningful new single, This Kinda Day (available from 12am Friday, NZT)* and it is tremendously wonderful. I promise.
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The song had its premiere on Australian radio show, Double J, this morning and I wanted to get a review out before the single dropped as I feel that this song needs to be talked about, even ahead of its official release (if you missed the song, you can pre-save from Mild Orange’s official Instagram here).
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So, what is the back story behind the track? Mehrt revealed on the Double J show that it was written over a particularly hard time when he had pneumonia and pleurisy (inflammation of the tissue that lines the lungs and chest cavity, making it hard to breathe - this is also extremely painful when trying to breathe). Mehrt ended up having panic attacks and anxiety from this, which lasted a few months and honestly, as someone who suffers really bad anxiety, cannot imagine how awful this must have been for him.
Unfortunately, this meant that some Mild Orange shows were cancelled so that he could look after his health and recover from such trauma to the system. In turn, this did cause some further issues with Mehrt’s mental health, however, with the help of his bandmates and others surrounding him, he was able to ask for the help he needed and got through it with their never ending support and love, thus creating a masterpiece aptly titled This Kinda Day.
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The song took a few months to record over three different cities throughout New Zealand, so you can absolutely tell that this is one that have been holding proudly onto in order to perfect their craft for the song.
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In terms of the song itself, it opens up in true Mild Orange fashion with funky guitar sounds, deliberately excellent drum beats which promotes the song as the magic that you are about to receive and breathe, along with the most fired up vocals, which is to be expected from these four retro men.
There has been A LOT of thought go into This Kinda Day and that truly shines through for every second of the song.
Feeling like you’re swirling through the ocean of emotion? Pop this jam on and let the weight of the world be taken off of your chest. With the tracks surf-rock, yet earthy tones layer upon layer, it will put you into a good headspace of thinking and believing that no matter what happens, things will always be fine at the end of the day.
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As mentioned above, we are currently in a nationwide lockdown here and the song shatters those blues that a lot of us are having. Mild Orange certainly makes you feel really calm and happy, no matter the situation. Each body of work they release into the universe has some different meaning and is always powered up with real life experiences and things that have come from their hearts.
This Kinda Day promotes the positivity of going through a really hard thing, but having a different spirit to you by reaching out and sharing your troubles with the people closest to you, the ones you trust the most.
Lyrics such as “let it get away. Let’s get away, cause I can tell there’s something wrong, it’s usually not like this”, “all will make sense some day” “keep your eyes on the horizon, always” really melt my heart and fill in that piece of warmth that was missing before.
Knowing that we, like Mehrt, have a support system when times get a bit rough and you are unable to bring your boat back into the harbour is a really moving feeling (or is Some Feeling - okay, someone tell me to be quiet with the Mild Orange puns, please).
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You can find more Mild Orange on the blog here - a special Feature Friday from exactly two months ago. Check out their new website here (and buy some merch - support local during these weird times) and don’t forget to listen to This Kinda Day when it drops on Friday and let me know what your thoughts are on the track here.
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Thank you, MO for making the days a little less stressful and full of fun!
*The single was released on THURSDAY at midnight, NZT, not Friday. This was incorrectly published. My apologies. Check out the song here!
New Music Review - ‘Deeper Waters’ by Sophie Gibson
Trigger warning: This review mentions death by suicide and mental health. If these topics affect you and you do not feel as though you are able to handle it at this time, please take care of yourself by clicking off the article. If you decide to read it and feel affected, please seek out help - there are trusted resources at the bottom of this piece. You are so important, take care of yourself.—-
The cover for ‘Deeper Waters’ taken by the brilliant Morgana Wilden
Sophie Gibson has been through a lot in her short lifetime, some incredible and some very hard times which she has shared with her audience in her music. Sophie explained to me that creating and sharing her music is her way of expressing the emotions that are sometimes too hard to just bring up in conversation, she finds hope and strength by doing this. Sophie also mentioned that it gives her a purpose and allows her to have a lot of connections with other people, which is a pretty beautiful reason to be putting yourself out there and sharing your passions with others.
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The song tells a really sad, personal story that Sophie and her family have been put through - Sophie’s older brother sadly passed away by suicide at 15 years old and it has been a complete journey to try and heal from the grief that has been poured onto her and her family from losing him. Deeper Waters, which will be hitting the Spotify shelf at midnight tonight, explores the emotions of grief, despair and also hope that has come from what must be one of the absolute hardest situations anybody would ever have to deal with.
Deeper Waters starts off with some beautiful acoustic-like guitar work and slowly brings in Sophie’s calming voice, singing to her older brother and reminding him that she will never let go of him and all of the good memories that they had together. She still feels his presence greatly and is wanting to let him know that in this extremely powerful song.
Sophie grew up by the wonderful ocean in the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand’s North Island where she found the surrounding nature and music quite inspiring to help her get through the grieving process, which has been very beneficial for her.
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The song essentially signifies being thrown into the deep end and having everything you know to be normal and true turned around and flipped upside down, meaning nothing is ever going to be the same again. That is a really hard thing to cope with, however in Deeper Waters you can hear that Sophie has found some solace from creating this masterpiece as she continues to cope with such a big loss. On the flip side of this, the song also shares with us how she has come away from losing her brother to gain a lot of strength from it. She is a superhero who can handle anything in my opinion and to have someone be able to come back and find strength after losing someone so close to her is such an amazing person in my book. The maturity and honesty really will blow you away when hearing the song after you’ve read the background of it, so please do check it out when it is released tonight at midnight, but have the tissues ready.
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Sophie is hopeful that by releasing Deeper Waters, it will raise that ever-so needed mental health awareness within our country and will also serve as an honour to her brothers memory. Such an important message that we all need to take into account: it is okay not to be okay and to reach out for help, no matter who you are. Never be ashamed of saying to someone “hey, I’m just not doing okay at the moment, I am needing help. Please be patient with me while I seek this and get better.” Don’t suffer in silence.
The song is remarkable and if I could give it a higher rated review than this already is, I would. Thank you, Sophie, for allowing your personal story to be shared in musical form and for allowing everyone an insight into what you have been through.
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You can touch base with Sophie below -
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You can seek help for any mental health worries below -
1737 - Free Call or Text
Lifeline
Aunty Dee
Depression.org.nz
Like Minds, Like Mine
New Music Review - ‘Stranger Days’ the album by Mako Road
The coolest album artwork ever! How good. Perfectly sums it up, really. Album art by Isabelle Beartrix!
Everyone’s favourite garage/indie band are back and are finally dropping their much anticipated hot 8-track album, Stranger Days! The album has been in the works for the past few years and I think it is absolutely worth a review. Broken down track by track, here are my personal opinions on the fresh hits! This album really shakes things up with their smoother new mixes and production styles that have changed since their last releases of EPs (prior to 2021).
3/4 of Mako Road playing at Powerstation in Auckland, November 2020. L-R Connor McErlich (guitar), Rhian Ward (guitar and vocals) and Robbie Day (drums).
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Connor Jaine (bass) playing at Auckland’s Powerstation, November 2020.
Mako Road consists of four members, all hailing from different parts of New Zealand, but coming together at the University of Canterbury, many moons ago. First up, we have Rhian Ward (Wardy) on vocals and guitar, Connor Jaine (CJ) on bass, Connor McErlich (Con) on guitar and Robbie Day (Bob) on drums. They’ve really become a household name over the past few years and having not had much (if any) radio time, they have gathered a pretty big following for just being the most genuine and talented lads, which makes me so stoked to see the successes coming their way. Enough about that, let’s get into the album review, shall we?!
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Robbie (back) and Rhian performing pre-covid at Auckland’s Spark Arena, March 2020.
Go to Bed:
This is such a fantastic track to start the album out with and most likely my favourite song off of Stranger Days. It is definitely deserving of being released as a single or better yet - winning an award of some sort in the future. It really has that garage-indie sound that you expect from them, but also with a hit of medium base ground surf-rock, if you will, as the song progresses. With lyrics such as “busy bee is building a hive, between your ears, behind your eyes” what a bloody standout line. I’m not entirely sure what it means, but who says every lyric of every song has to have some sort of story behind it?! It truly sets the tone of the album and the fact that the drums really intertwine with Rhian’s voice in this track, make it something extremely outstanding to my ears. I love it.
Surfing on Mars:
Now, you must know this song, surely! It starts off with Rhian repeating the words “we’re surfing, surfing, surfing…” and it is such a great segway into the song. The Mako Road lads have been performing this song at their gigs for years and to finally have it out in the open and have it properly recorded must be such a relief for them and very exciting, too. A very catchy song, you better believe you’ll be singing it for the rest “I’ve been stuck inside, a fractured frame of mind” - ooh, those lyrics though, someone turn down the heat of truth there, am I right? A fun track that isn’t too deep, but it also makes you want to go Surfing on Mars. Quite literally. Delicious. (Also funny note: when they sneakily released the album in November for a week, prior to the other album tour, Robbie asked what my favourite song was and I said Surfing on Mars and he said “that’s not a new song!” oops… Sorry, Bob!)
Helicopter:
Can you see the flashing lights? Does it take you back to a previous Mako Road show that you’ve been to? Helicopter literally will lift you off the ground and make you feel in a really fantastic mood, which is what we all want. This track will most definitely get you hooked on the summery strums of the guitar and fun-hitting chorus where it becomes more upbeat than the bridge. If you’re looking for listening heavily to the music rather than the lyrics, I would turn this one on as the elements of the instruments can really teach you a lot, especially if you are looking to learn some of their songs. Just make sure you tune into what is being played, rather than what is being sung if you are wanting to do that. Quite a fun wee vibe.Velvet Piñata:
The guys are truly hitting that indie-rock sound with Velvet Piñata. While it isn’t heavy rock, it’s a bloody good time and you can certainly hear the bass work in it, which is a brilliant thing to be able to hear when it can be sometimes hidden in the background (as previously mentioned in other reviews of new music). It certainly puts it all together and makes it a fun song to groove out to. This song will great to hear live and to see the elements coming together - would be a lot of fun in the moshpit when they are performing it, too.
Don’t Keep Me Waiting:
A real radio-pop hit, but that is not a negative by any means. I think that Don’t Keep Me Waiting will be a bigger hit with the younger listeners, not that they have an age limit on their music, however, I do feel that their target audience is more late teens/adults primarily with songs about drinking and such. I love that they keep it real and play around a bit with their music. Have you seen the music video for this? It is playful and quite hilarious. Taking it literally by showing that the boys are waiting while holding bananas while having a portrait painted, waiting for a date, waiting to catch a mouse… A true classic for this album!
Lost My Tongue:
Oosh. What can I say about this one! Though there aren’t a whole lot of lyrics as you will hear, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t quite explosive with the melodies played within the 4 minutes, 15 seconds. I am honestly OBSESSED with Lost My Tongue. It’s got a very funky beat to it. Do yourself a favour and just go chuck this on full blast, it’s better listened to loud, rather than quiet. Promise.
Stranger Days:
Okay, if you’ve seen the video and/or heard Stranger Days, you will know how extremely trippy this track makes you feel. From the absolute psychedelic mood to what you could only describe as colours dripping down a wall or being thrown onto a canvas, it is definitely a unique song which is not for the faint hearted, that is for sure! The song is best known for showing off the mixing and production, rather than the instruments or vocals, I feel. The song is kind of similar to Lost My Tongue, but at the same time has its unique differences, too. Loving the softness of the crash cymbals throughout the entirety of it - so cool.
Anywhere You’d Like to Go:
Guitar. Guitar and just more guitar. This song is made by the riffs and the true rock n roll vibe right from the beginning. Rhian’s voice certainly suits this type of vocal work. It starts with a semi-fast paced introduction and throughout the song, it gradually gets faster and faster, literally like you are trying to go for the fastest run of your life. Think Olympic running. If you’ve been to a show where the guys have performed this song, Connor introduces the song with “have you got your running shoes on?!” because you need them while blasting this one. I feel like this is going to be a fan favourite, especially for those who love the fast paced, rather than the slower songs that Mako Road have previously released. A great way to close out the hottest album of 2021! A huge rivalry between Anywhere You’d Like to Go and Go to Bed in regards to contending for my top spot off this album.
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So, Don’t Keep Me Waiting and go listen to Stranger Days on all good platforms NOW! You can also catch them on tour throughout New Zealand starting in August. For more information, check out my Instagram Mako Road Updates and their official website (listed below).
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Find Mako Road below -
New Music Review - ‘Incomplete’ by Simon Hirst
The cover art for Incomplete! Releasing next week. This was shot in Raglan during the middle of winter, what a trooper!
Photography by Arie Stokes.
Hamilton based father and musician, Simon Hirst is always looking for his next song to write and is due to release a newbie track on the 31st July called Incomplete. Simon has been pumping the gas with his constant creation of new tunes and is even looking to release his debut album later this year, which I am personally really looking forward to hearing!
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I got a sneaky listen of the new single - a fantastic song with a really moving meaning behind it. Incomplete tugs at the heartstrings and gives you a glimpse inside of Simon’s fantastic mind. So, what is the song about, you’re probably wondering. Don’t worry - I’ve got you covered with that! Si has written a little blurb on what the story tells -
“It’s sort of about someone struggling with self-worth and regrets. The character in the song is a girl, but it’s really meant for anyone who has not felt good enough for any number of reasons. It’s about a beauty that I believe goes deeper than the skin and is more important. Acknowledging that we are all broken in some way but finding the beauty in things that are often deeper than our fragile and cracked exteriors.”
Absolutely beautiful and relatable words there, Si. Thank you for sharing such a deep and personal meaning with the world.
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So, what do I personally think of the track? Well, first of all, it reels in brilliance and truth with the way it all comes together - it seems that the lyrics and the music are meant to connect in the right way and Si has certainly achieved that form of excellent combination right from the get go. The beat of the music make it a highly likeable solid pop song that you will appreciate if you’re into pop music (however, I do recommend to everyone, no matter your favourite genre!). The vocals echoing make it a cool experience near the start of the song, it gives it that nice balance.
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A beautifully melodic experience, Incomplete takes you through the motions of being on that journey to find what you love about yourself, even if you have that feeling of not thinking that you can be any more than a beaten down person in life - we are all more than what we think about ourselves and Incomplete shouts that out to the world. I think that everyone has patches through their lives where they feel this way, but there are a lot of things that we can do to make ourselves less incomplete, pardon the pun there.
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Incomplete definitely deserves airtime when it comes out next week - it is so relaxed and even the artwork is a standout attraction to this single. As you can see, Si is floating in the sea, it could hold many meanings, but to me, it’s like hitting a refresh button when you are feeling as described above. Give it a whirl and make sure to click the follow button on all of Si’s socials and Spotify for more up-to-date information on when the album is going to drop.
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You can find Simon on the below platforms and don’t forget to keep your eyes open for this track on release day next week -
Music Review - ‘Dance the Part’ by Judah Kelley
Loving the chalk vibes on the artwork for the single of Dance the Part! Unsure who curated the artwork for this, however they did a fantastic job.
Well, I’m definitely a little late to the table with this review, however, I recently heard this song that was released in April and knew that it had to be reviewed on Welcome to the Gig!
While Judah hasn’t yet racked up a whole lot of monthly listeners on Spotify, she is already serving up dishes of beautifully smooth tracks that show off her vocals in all aspects.
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Having performed both with national and international artists, this lady is about to set the fire and show us what the music world for females is going to look like in years to come.
Dance the Part gives me the vibe of the movie, Anastasia, which I watched on repeat as a kid and looked up to the main character as much as a child can look up to a cartoon. Judah’s voice makes you feel that you’re in that setting - wandering the streets of Paris, dancing and singing, letting your voice steal the show. A magical feeling.
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What I love about the track is that it opens with a few seconds of luxurious piano and for some reason or another, adding a piano into the song makes it all the more amazing than it already is. As soon as Judah starts to sing, you know that the song is going to be a special one.
Dance the Part tugs at the heartstrings with soulful lyrics such as the opening line, sung with true passion and grace -
“broken hearts still love, mending what was lost, breathe into the lungs of a hopeful frightened one”
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Judah has the potential to be New Zealand’s answer to Lea Michele musically - both powerhouse females who are setting out to do what they do best and prove it to the world with their incredible releases.
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An absolutely stunning song that you need to add to your playlist for those days where you just need to sit and think. I highly recommend and love this song.
Keep up the amazing work, Judah! Can’t wait to see your next move.
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Find Judah below -
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If you would like to be featured, or know of any Kiwi musicians that you would love to see featured on the blog in a review/interview, make sure to get in touch with me on Instagram here!
New Music Review - ‘Outerworlds' EP, Lunar Intruder
The beautiful illustration of art was created by the amazing Riley Hewett once again!
Welcome to phase two of the Lunar Intruder world and what a phase it is to be pulled into!
Outerworlds is the latest EP release from my good friends, Lunar Intruder, which was released today and it is an absolute cracker. Cam, Matt, Tom and Matt - what have you done because my mind has taken a complete detour all day to listen to your outstanding new music! It honestly feels like these four cannot do anything wrong. It is definitely different to their first release of Solar Hangover, nearly a year ago and I LOVE it.
In Outerworlds, you can hear that the band have found their ultimate Lunar Intruder sound, which is what their aim was - they are continuously evolving through the universe to find what feels like them, experimenting with different sounds and playing around with mixes they may not have thought of previously.
This perfectly crafted release is going to take you to the next level and make you froth. So, sit back and get ready for a review of the EP, broken down track by track (all opinions are my own and not what the songs necessarily are about, so you will need to form your own opinions about them!)
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Far From Shore: The opening track to Outerworlds and rightly so - this song truly sets the scene of what is to come musically on this fresh off the press release. It is a very subtle song, with good elements of the instruments being played and it has catchy lyrics that you for sure will be singing for quite some time. Far From Shore opens with a sweet guitar solo and we don’t have to wait too long for Cam to start telling us a story with the track. Now, I'm not the type of person to really visualize a setting with songs, but with this one, each time while listening to it, I can see two people literally far from shore who have lost their way together, maybe indicating that their relationship/friendship has gone awry. One of them is trying to row both back to safety, but the other just doesn’t seem interested in repairing the brokenness of the “ship", if you will. You'll understand my explanation once you hear the song itself!
Angel: A classic Lunar track. This time around, the drums are what makes the song slide into what it is and I thoroughly enjoy that about Lunar's music, the introduction to each song is nowhere near the same as the last. Angel gets everybody going at Lunar gigs - one I know that the boys are still obsessed with because it is just a stand out song and deserves a lot more attention than it gets. It's a little more upbeat than Far From Shore and has a lot more to offer in terms of the different elements that you can hear. The strong vocals really drive this song upwards, with an extraordinary meaning that we have, or will all, feel about someone in our lives at some point. A really beautiful song.
Outerworlds: Definitely my favourite track off the EP. For today, anyway. The song has a very smooth vibe to it, however can we talk about the guitar riff?! It is probably the most standout part for me - oosh. Yes. Outerworlds is a fun, definitive indie-rock song that will genuinely take you to a whole other place, full of cosmos. It gives me a very Surfing on Mars by Mako Road feeling, but in a Lunar type way (and yes, that is a compliment!). Nailed it with this one, guys. This would be a fantastic song to blast with mates on a nice sunny weekend afternoon and have a beer or two while listening to it in the backyard. (Sorry, neighbours!)
Lotus: Oh, damn am I excited about finally hearing the recorded version of this one! Lotus has been played a couple of times live and it is very funky. This would make a great song to be performed at a festival, I can just see them playing somewhere like Bay Dreams and this one being an absolute smash hit. Are you obsessed yet? No? Well, take another listen, because what a banger.
Lucid Dream: Mild Orange. That is who I automatically think of when the song starts - the intro genuinely reminds me of them and though it doesn’t carry on with the MO sound and brings in their own unique vibe, it's a real smooth run the whole way and genuinely a great song through and through. Very easy to listen to.
Ready to Know: I actually have already done a review on this song when it dropped a month or so ago as a single, you can check that out here.
Dizzy: The boys have been hyping this song up for quite some time and it doesn’t disappoint - yet another chilled out, catchy track that you could just pop on your car radio and drive for hours with this on repeat. Alternatively, do yourself a favour, start driving to your favourite place and once you're there or close to, hit the play button. You're not going to regret it. Dizzy is a very calming song for the closing of the EP and it's special. When I tell you that these four know how to put songs in order on a release, they just KNOW. Nearly six beautiful minutes of leaning back and feeling like you've got no responsibilities in life. Love that. A fresh, sweet sound for your ears. Best served with a stunning sunset.
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Outerworlds is an EP like no other and I challenge you to find your favourite song off it, bet you it will change tomorrow. I am so unbelieveably blown away with this release that I cannot literally think of any more adjectives to finish off this review apart from “amazing” and a real step up for the lads.
The EP is out on all good music streaming platforms now. Make sure to give it a whirl!
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For more Lunar Intruder, check out our fun interview here and keep an eye out on their socials as these boys are onto big things and have a lot more in the works for us to devour!
New Music Review - ‘Who’s to Say’ by Retro Valley
The sickest artwork!
Retro Valley are exactly what their band name claims they are - retro. Hailing from Hamilton, these five have a lot to say and some great messaging behind their newest single, Who’s to Say, which was released on the 1st July.
Retro Valley describe themselves as “five sad bois”, but I personally feel that their music tells stories beyond just being sad and opens up a whole world of different ideas and thoughts.
I had the chance to speak to Ben, the lead singer of Retro Valley, to get the low down on the new song, followed by a review of the track and my take on it!
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“Who’s to Say basically is about average life things that get us down,” Ben explains. “While they may be insignificant, they for some reason make us feel like it’s the end of the world.”
“It also has a theme about clothes. Clothes in the song is just a metaphor for our coping mechanisms that we wear on our sleeves [like the old saying goes “you wear your heart on your sleeve”]. At the end of the day, who’s to say it’s the end of the line. When the sun comes up, we’re still dressed up anyway. We are ready for what’s to come.”
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The song is particularly relatable and will appeal to people of all ages with the lyrics being a good way to look at life - it won’t always be perfect, however, as Retro Valley promote through their music and stellar attitudes, they try and handle each challenge like the champs they are. We can’t let people dictate our lives, making us feel insignificant when the likelihood is that we most likely will not feel the same way we once did later on down the line, so in reality, we can’t let it affect us too much in the present time.
Who's to Say really embodies that through and through, which is quite special.
The track opens with some punk/rock/pop vibes that takes me back to the 2000s and if you weren’t around then, you missed out on some really great bands from that era (you should go chuck some on - Simple Plan, 30 Seconds to Mars, etc. though each band has their own unique sound, it transports me back) and while I can’t 100% put my finger on which musicians that Retro Valley remind me of, the song itself certainly offers up feelings of being in my early to mid teens once again and everyone loves a throwback in their music tastes, right?
“I tried 17 times to text and call you” ouch. It sounds like a bit of heartbreak may have occurred during this time - unfortunately, this is something that we all have to deal with in life, however, it goes on to bring about more positive vibes as you keep listening and truly proves there is always a silver lining in every situation, even if you can’t find it at the time.
My favourite lyrics from the song are “sticks and stones may rip my clothes, but who’s to say, it’s the end of the line” - certainly putting a great spin on things there, boys.
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Give Who’s to Say a listen now and add it to your playlist - turn it up and dance!
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Find Retro Valley on Spotify and social media below:
New Music Review - ‘Ready to Know’ by Lunar Intruder
The beautiful artwork was created by Riley Hewett.
Ready to Know is out now on all streaming platforms, released 11th June 2021.
Lunar Intruder are an up and coming band formed in Christchurch, New Zealand on a whim via a Facebook post that was whipped up, seeking members for a new band. The band describes their sound as having a “summer haze” sound, which is a new term they have penned and it describes them perfectly.
Band members -
Cam Buyers - Vocals, guitar
Matt Genet - Bass
Matt Earle - Guitar
Tom Spillane - Drums
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The Lunar Intruder lads are here to bring us to our knees once again with a smashing new single, Ready to Know, which is bound to get stuck in your head for days, if not for the next month, however, it does come with a heavier meaning than you may be able to imagine from the first listen.
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Following hot off the heels of their previous release, Angel, this new single is sure to absolutely blow your socks off with the melodic vibes and the soulful lyrics.
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Ready to Know is one of the most powerful singles that Lunar Intruder have released to date - it comes with a different vibe to their first EP, Solar Hangover (July 2020), and will get you thinking on another level that will transport you to a different time within the 4 minutes and 29 seconds.
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Lunar Intruder are made up of four friendly spacemen, as they like to call themselves, in their early 20s, yet with the maturity they put out there with their music, you would think that they have had much more life experience beyond their 20 something years.
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According to the band, this can be a hard song to talk about - however, put simply, Ready to Know is about the obsession of the future that lies ahead of you - which is something we are constantly all thinking about, whether you’re in your early 20s, or even in your 80s. Our brains never stop thinking about what the future holds for us and as the guys describe, everyone in their lives faces a point where they have an image of the person they may become in the future and sometimes that image isn’t an image that we would be proud of. The lyrics “I’m ready to know” may speak to a lot of individuals in different ways, so it would be up to you to determine how this relates to you personally.
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The song starts with musical egg shakers played by Matt G, bringing a different sound to the introduction, you can hear these being mixed in throughout the entire track, which adds a beautiful feel to it.
When Cam starts singing, it is extremely emotional, with the first line of lyrics being “do you believe that your fate is sealed? ‘Cause I'm starting to accept my fears”
Wow. Just wow. Words really fail me on those lyrics.
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Every element of each instrument being played in Ready to Know shines through at some point in the song, the guitar work that Matt E and Cam do are perfectly on point and while Tom doesn’t need to go hard on the drums in this song, it still adds in that touch of magic to make it what it is.
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The artwork is also another point to bring up, it is stunning. It shows someone on the beach, with what I interpret as a moment of what they would hope to be a bit of peace from society and their brain. The swirling colours of visualization on Spotify that Lunar Intruder have uploaded represents the future and the world going on around them, while these fears are seemingly coming true. It also seems to represent that no matter what, you can change the colours of your future, no matter how you feel about it/what you see yourself becoming. This is my personal take on the visual artwork anyway.
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Ready to Know will simultaneously take a piece of your heart and replace it with a part that is stronger than before and that is what makes this song so special. Don’t be afraid of changing who you are and taking a different direction to evolve for the better if you are able to take control over that.
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After listening to the song 14 times since it was released at midnight, it really got into my feels and there has been a lot of thinking for hours beyond the first time hearing the recorded version. To say I am obsessed would be an understatement. I would advise that you give this song a spin as you may very well fall in love with it, too!
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You can find Lunar Intruder on the web -