New Music Review - ‘Lights Burn Low’ by Gabriel Bond
The Lights Burn Low shot is just one of the most incredible things I’ve seen in terms of art work. Love this one so much! Photo credit: Josh White.
Owl City - oops, I mean Gabriel Bond - is dishing up the ultimate love song that will certainly fill your heart with the most warmth you’ve probably felt in quite some time. This stunning track is about to have you on the floor, with puddles of tears beneath you and it is very easy to see why I’d say this when you hear his fresh drop.
Lights Burn Low is one of the most golden, iconic and treasurable romantic songs of 2021. There, I said it. It is much more than a beautiful masterpiece and there are many words to describe Gabriel’s skills and talent, but I am personally at a loss for inserting the correct words into this review, which makes a change!
Gabriel’s voice puts him at top level of one of my new favourite up-and-coming Kiwi artists who should be at the height of musicians that you wrap your head around and turn the volume up to.
Lights Burn Low will make you feel like a giddy little kid on Christmas morning, but 10x more intensified - how groovy is that? If you don’t believe that, you might just need to click on the link above and test this theory out for yourself. This one is for the lovers and the lovers of love, anyone with a romantic head and heart, essentially.
Imagine the perfect first date, accompanied with your dream partner with many happy twists and turns, that’s what Gabriel’s songs feel like. The over-the-moon, in the stars moment that is so majestic that you could never picture it ending.
In Lights Burn Low, Gabriel talks about not caring about what the girl looks like, what she is wearing as she always looks fine to him. He is daring to send out into the world that he values the time spent with her, even if it makes him look silly when he tries to dance, or the fact that he intends to spend all evening with her through to when she has to go to work early the next day. It can sometimes take a lot for males to express their feelings like this, however, I feel that Gabriel put a special twang on it and is honest about what he feels, which us females like to hear from time to time.
Lights Burn Low will literally melt you, just like an ice block on those blistering hot days. Trust me, this is one song that you will be glad to have been melted by, no questions asked. Just listening to the lyrics, you can hear the passion and care that Gabriel has about his art and he continues to amaze with bringing out tracks that are classy and tell you more about what kind of person he is.
Turn out the lights and listen to this one until the sun rises tomorrow morning - you might even find a new piece of mind from the glow of Lights Burn Low.
You can find Gabriel at the below -
New Music Review - ‘Off to Nowhere’ by Lunar Intruder
The album cover art for Off to Nowhere makes me want to go on a roadie this Summer. How about you?! Art by Hayley Jean.
Get ready to go Off to Nowhere with the latest single release from an outstanding upcoming third EP. Yes, you did read that correctly! The Lunar Intruder boys are back at full speed, dropping us yet another tune to get us into the groove of the new year ahead.
Off to Nowhere is pretty special from the get go. It tells the story of finishing a chapter in your life and feeling like you’re not entirely sure what you can do next, which every single person on this planet can relate to in one way or another. What really pulls me into the Lunar Intruder trap is not only how much these four take the time to put in all of the effort that they do, but also the fact that they appeal to a wide range of age groups (my Mum is in her early 50s and finds Lunar Intruder incredible and wants to see them live eventually!) They don’t seem to have that set target audience and they care about every fan that thrash’s their music in their cars and homes.
Off to Nowhere allows each member to showcase their talent, proving that with every new project that they blow us fans away with, they’ve worked 10 times harder on it than the previous release, if that is even possible because they are consistent and always put in 100% effort.
Lunar Intruder’s indie-soft rock sounds are in place, with moments of light which will take you sailing through the waves of the track to get to the other side where there is a whole other Lunar world waiting to be discovered.
Off to Nowhere has proven that the band have taken on a whole other level of growth since the release of their second EP in July of this year (review for Outerworlds here). It takes a lot to be able to push through any tough boundaries and hardships you have in order to create something great that is going to impress people, however, Lunar Intruder have succeeded and preserved their natural form of being completely themselves throughout the entire time of their careers. Something I admire a lot when listening to musicians projects and getting to know them.
In the track, Cam sings about wasting time and wasting moments, a great insight to how musicians are also quite normal people and they feel the same things as us. It’s hard to know which direction is best when sometimes you feel completely glued in place, which is just a temporary thing, thankfully. Lunar Intruder express this in a way that is thought provoking and I noticed after the 10th listen, Off to Nowhere left that feeling in my stomach that they understood me and I said, “everything that is being sung is the epitome of my life right now. Wow.”
Go and chuck your ears on and have a listen to Off to Nowhere as soon as you possibly can, it is another track that is very worthy of taking the time to breathe in and get the words, beats and everything in between inside your head.
For more Lunar Intruder on Welcome to the Gig, click the following links -
Matt G on the Podcast
Outerworlds EP Review
Lunar Intruder Interview
Ready to Know Review
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More Lunar Intruder you say? Check them out below -
New Music Review - ‘Salamanders’ by Ayla Wesley
The very Summer-esque cover for Salamanders, created by Eden Harris. Vibrant and classically Ayla!
Talented Tauranga musician, Ayla Wesley, is here to present the best version of herself, after spending the past few years finding her sound, she has put out a burst of pure magic into the world with her new single, Salamanders.
This track will give you all the warm fuzzies on the inside, coming from the heat of the heart, Ayla puts it out there with her folk-indie music that will lift you off the ground and take you to cloud nine with this high-beat track that was the catalyst to finding her genre of music.
The inspiration behind Salamanders was the summer that has just been, according to Ayla. It’s about when you have a friend that you are really close to and they end up getting into a relationship, however, due to this, you don’t get to see them as much as you’re used to, yet you still want to be there for them as much as possible. Ayla sings about being invited out for a cup of coffee to catch up with her friend, regardless of the fact that she does not drink it. She wants to know what has been happening in this particular friends life and let them know how much she misses them.
Salamanders fulfils that folk sound that no artist should shy away from and Ayla certainly stands out from the crowd. How it has been produced brings the song to life and really adds this difference in energy to your end-of-week listening. It is evident that the thought of every aspect of this song has been carefully created to be the perfect summer blend of fun and honesty.
Ayla draws inspiration from artists such as There’s a Tuesday, Stella Donnelly, Broods and other brilliant acts, which you can certainly hear throughout every element of Salamanders.
While listening to Salamanders, I found myself bopping my head along to the catchy and cruisy vibe of the tune. The lyrics are really easy to catch on to and you will be singing them after a few times of hearing this epic track. You will literally forget about the rest of the day once you’ve had your morning dose of Ayla!
While the music video is not set for release until tomorrow (11th December), I can tell you that it is also as fun as the song is and it’s guaranteed to make you feel transported to a warm, sunny island of your choice. Featuring Ayla playing electric guitar by the beach, tree swings and awesome pops of colour, the video will not disappoint. The music video was directed, shot and edited by Finn Lloyd who did an outstanding job at making it what it is. Make sure to check this out when it is released tomorrow.
Keep your ears checked in for more from Ayla - she has a unique and quirky sound that sets her apart from the rest.
You can find Ayla below -
New Album Review - ‘Bridges’ by Mike Haggith
Mike Haggith released his latest album, Bridges, as a surprise release on the 6th November 2021 after four years of writing for the 10-track masterpiece. The album cover is giving nothing away - making you want to listen to find out more!
Pilot by day, musician by night, Canadian singer-songwriter, Mike Haggith, is here with a surprise release to his fans around the world with his latest album, Bridges!
The album is a fantastically welcoming work of art in which it has an umbrella of a few different genres to it, which is not something that you hear a lot of the time on one album and I admire the fact that Mike has tried and tested multiple sounds on Bridges, making it quite unique and a great listen.
Mike has poured a lot of his metaphorical cup into creating this album over the past four years, having moved to a different area in Canada has proven to be quite difficult for him, leaving friends and family behind. The inspiration for Bridges comes from a lot of his mental health battles from dealing with that move and feeling rather isolated at times.
Come on Home is one of my personal favourites from the album as the lyrics are quite heartfelt and I resonate with them a lot. This song seems to settle with my not so well-known like for a bit of indie-country music and it’s just a lovely, well curated track if you’re feeling nervous or anxious as it will bring you back down to earth and calm any unsettling feelings that you may have. Sometimes, looking back at the past can be a bit of a headache, however, in Come on Home, it seems as though Mike is craving to go back to where he came from with his loved ones. You can hear that this is true from the way the song is sung and how it was produced/mixed.
Over Indecision starts off with a sweet piano vibe, then it slowly turns into some medium-rock, 2000s band sounds, which is so much fun and a total throwback. The electric guitar in this track makes a standout performance with the groovy riffs and the blending of Mike’s excellent vocal ability. The track talks about leaving town and catching a flight, a vision that many of us have, especially these days. Definitely a suitable vibe for anyone who is more into meaningful-rock songs. A totally full circle track of goodness.
The Nature of the Times sounds like it may take inspiration from Incubus’ song Drive for the opener of the track and honestly, I love it. As soon as Mike starts singing, it becomes even more his own which is clearly very important to him. The Nature of the Times really stands on a solid base and I can only imagine that this is a fan favourite when performed live. Mike proves that he can bring his laid back vibe into his music and it makes you feel at ease while listening to this track. It reels you in and keeps you engaged for the full 4 minutes, 46 seconds. Excellent.
Dangerous Town is a lot of fun to have on rotation, but don’t let that track name fool you, the song itself is far from being dangerous. It plays it safe with the structure and is an essential track for Bridges as it speaks a lot of truths and again, is very relatable. I like how it takes you through different journeys that Mike has been on and helps you to think from a perspective that maybe you haven’t before.
Check out the full album over on Spotify, Band Camp or on YouTube - all listed below! Highly recommend giving this one a spin and making your own judgement on it - there are several more tracks to listen to, don’t sleep on this one. The album for me opens up a lot of different emotion and is brilliant to listen to on a walk in the sunshine. Worth the four year wait for fans!
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Find Mike at all of his social media platforms below -
New Music Review - ‘Can You Hear Me Now’ by Little Sunday
How lovely is the cover for Little Sunday’s new EP - Sun Down, coming very shortly! Following on from their previous release, Sun Up.
Talented North Island-based band, Little Sunday, are about to release their second EP of 2021, Sun Down, which comes shortly after they let us in with the first half of this project, which came out a couple months ago and has been on rotation on many playlists since then!
Today, they released their next single off Sun Down which is dutifully called Can You Hear Me Now which aligns with Little Sunday’s values and what they are trying to convey in terms of climate change which has been frustrating for the band to see nothing being properly done about it and leaders letting it just wash over them like a light shower of rain.
Arthur told me that this song was written during the summer of 2019/2020 where the Australian bushfires were taking over every news outlet and also washing over the skies here in New Zealand, as well. Can You Hear Me Now has the voices of Donald Trump, Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough to capture your attention to the issue at hand.
Can You Hear Me Now is a powerful song that has been written with a heavy heart, fielding a lot of emotion that has been bought from the bottom up to evaluate how the world can change the climate issues. How do we get through to these leaders that are not listening or putting their feet forward to get something done?
Little Sunday bring in their alternative-rock sound and make sure that the track stands out on its own with everything they have put into it. They have drawn inspiration from Australian rockers, Ocean Alley, who bring their basslines to the forefront of their songs and make it highly noticeable - the more noise you make, the more likely it will for you to be heard. That is the intention with this song I believe and it feels as though Little Sunday are going to make a great impact with sharing this to the universe of listeners that they have.
Can You Hear Me Now cuts deep and it is well deserving to be played not only on the radio, but other places where people can hear this. Politician offices, conferences, meetings, in schools, etc.
Little Sunday are heading in the right direction to become leaders of these bigger issues and I hope that you all will check out the song, share it around and get some attention behind it as Can You Hear Me Now is wildly important and as everyone says, there is no planet B.
Get behind this amazing group of humans and do your part!
You can check out more Little Sunday at the links below - be sure to let them know how great their work is and what they are doing in truly inspiring.
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Keep an eye on the blog as this isn’t the last time you will be reading about Little Sunday! Be back in a few weeks for more on these five legends.
New Music Review - ‘King of the Reef’ by Flaxxies
Depicting what Flaxxies are all about - a fun single, ready for your summer vibes playlist. Dropping on all music platforms at midnight!
King of the Reef is about to be the hottest drop of your December because Flaxxies are back with their punchy-surf music, rearing to get up again with this upbeat, fun and ready-to-go song, which is going to be dropping at midnight tonight, so get on your surfboard and hit those waves with a good tune!
Flaxxies never fail to impress with their chilled tunes and somehow always seem to turn it up 5 million notches when they chuck us a new single, how good! If you’ve been to one of their gigs before, you may recognise this energised single as it always tends to pop off with the audience when it is performed and is finally here for you to listen to whenever you please.
King of the Reef brings a feeling of being able to pop down to the beach (for some reason, I feel this would be appropriate on a road trip to Raglan or to their favourite place, the Coromandel) with the windows down, the music up and a few iced drinks in the chilly bin that is sitting on your mates lap while bumping this absolute tune. At the beginning, they bring it in with a bit of synth-indie-rock, which is the best to way describe it, adding a little more pizazz and excitement to the tune you’re about to be taken in by.
For me, the highlight of the song is just how light it is and easy to listen to. The bass really drives through to make some epic movement in this jam.
King of the Reef seems the most Flaxxies-like song, however in saying that, I know that all of their music is their own, it’s just that one is a standout track that truly announces their names from the rooftop, like “hey, we’re Flaxxies and we are here to let you know that we are all kings of the reef! Just listen to our music and you will find this out!” It’s full of each member of the bands personalities. (It’s also a fun wee thing that they chucked the band name within the tune, also.)
Flaxxies have big ambitions and it’s easy for listeners to hear what they pour into their music for these to come true. From getting to know them this year, it’s easy to see that their hearts are in this for the long haul, especially with this release that is catered specifically to themselves and who they are going to become, they’re looking to be heard and they achieve this greatly in King of the Reef.
Here at Welcome to the Gig, I am (clearly) a big fan of Flaxxies and am always super eager to hear what they have coming up next because I know that it will always be musically pleasing and a fun vibe to sing/dance along to. These five legends are proof that even though they may be young, that doesn’t stop them from producing and creating high end, good quality music, which is thoroughly appreciated and always enjoyed.
If you want to know more about Flaxxies, check out the Feature Friday we did a while back here and hit them up on their social media platforms below!
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Music Review - ‘I Was / I Am’ the album by Noah Kahan
Welcome all who have come from different corners of the world to have a read of my first ever international write-up on Welcome to the Gig! I am pleased to announce that every so often, there will be reviews and such from musicians outside of New Zealand, which is super exciting and something that has been encouraged by friends/family and also in my thoughts for a while.
Today, we are kicking it off with someone I have wanted to write about for quite a while on the blog, American musician, Noah Kahan who loves White Claws and dogs!
Noah comes from New Hampshire in America where he has faced many challenges, but has still tried to keep himself true to whatever he chooses to do within life and his career.
Noah’s latest album drop, I Was / I Am, released back in September, has been really life-changing for many listeners around the world, telling some hard stories from the past, with hope for the present and the future. I Was / I Am takes you on a journey to whichever destination is next on the roadmap that is life.
What I thoroughly enjoy about I Was / I Am and Noah’s music is that it is always raw, no matter how much it hurts to hear it or for him to sing it, he still puts it out there and has let fans know that they are not alone with their struggles and that he also faces them daily. A truly authentic and genuine way to release an album and to share your experiences with those who may need some comfort right now.
In the track Howling, Noah references the big black dog of depression that he often has to cope with, a topic many people tend to shy away from talking about as it is frowned upon in many situations, when in reality, we should be able to be vulnerable and honest like Noah is without any judgement.
Caves is a cracker of a song - it is a little more upbeat, however it still holds value with the importance of the lyrics, which I believe may have been derived from a relationship that potentially wasn’t working out, but both parties wanted to try and keep it going, even if there wasn’t a light at the end of the tunnel, as they had originally hoped. Eventually, someone has to cave and say “okay, this is not working out” but it feels to me that finding the courage to do so strikes as very difficult to do and it was never going to be an easy conversation to begin with.
Someone Like You is another track that draws your attention in - featuring the wonderful Joy Oladokun, this song pulls all the stops out with beautiful vocals from both Noah and Joy, a treat for the ears. I really like the inviting sound to it and feel that it is a fresh kind of pop-love ballad that would do well in the top 40 chart and become quite a hit with those of all ages.
The lyrics and movement of I Was / I Am is driven by the honest admission of some of the changes being best and some for the worst for Noah and I think we can all applaud that and recognise that change has a lot of good impacts in so many ways (even if it’s tough) and whether you’re a musician, or wherever you are on your path, to find new things and endure growth is such a huge thing to go through and it will take you on to many new opportunities that you probably would never have given thought to previously.
The bottom line of this review is that Noah’s words really resonate with me and millions of listeners throughout the world, making him an extremely likeable person whose music comes in all shapes and sizes, meaning you are guaranteed to find a song of his that you will relate to and really enjoy. The 10-track album is a perfect embodiment of who Noah has been and who he is now.
I Was / I Am is most definitely worth taking the time out of your day to have a listen to. Make sure that you go and check it out right now and have a follow along with Noah at the below links -
Spotify
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Website
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Thank you so much for sticking around and reading my first international write-up on Welcome to the Gig! I hope that you enjoyed this album review and find some hope from Noah’s words as much as I personally do. He is a fantastic person with a heart of gold and hopefully one day, we will all get to see him on our side of the world.
I will be posting more international write-ups, however, they won’t be as frequent as New Zealand music ones. That being said, if you would like to touch base, please flick me a DM, PM or email at any of the below -
Much love and appreciation to you all!
New Music Review: ‘6:18 (Remember Your Name)’ by Simon Hirst
A strong soldier, Simon is back with his latest and one of the greatest songs he has released so far. 6:18 (Remember Your Name) is available to stream on all musical platforms!
Hot off the press - get amongst this epic tune that was just released in the weekend from Hamilton-based legend, Simon Hirst, who has come back full throttle with his honest and functional single, 6:18 (Remember Your Name) which is an absolute bop to bring in the warmer weather with. 6:18 has a brilliant, upbeat vibe to it and it can be likened to a John Mayer song in a way - which of course, is a compliment.
6:18 is a guaranteed earworm that will help you understand Simon's writing style a little bit more - this humble and kind musician is someone who sings and writes from the heart, each lyric and each strum of guitar that he releases, it’s inevitable that he has taken all of his energy and placed it gently into the passion projects he works on. 6:18 is fantastic not only because of Simon’s vocals that just bring it home really well, but the use of instruments and way it has been mixed down. The beats make it feel a little more light-hearted than the lyrics that may have you thinking “wow, this man is a lyrical genius even though that is some gut wrenching stuff!”
During the course of 6:18, Simon tells stories from multiple people who come from all walks of life, allowing us to put our respect out for these people who have maybe gone through tough times, but even though the lyrics tell some harsh truths sometimes, Simon puts them together constructively and in a respectful way to those he is telling the stories of. What I truly enjoy about Simon’s music is the fact that he takes care to ensure that he puts out music that makes sense but doesn’t hide behind safe lyrics - he is always willing to tell us something more than you can imagine a musician doing and from others’ perspective. When we as humans write, particularly songs, we tend to write about our own experiences, however, Simon tends to go in the opposite direction and that is quite refreshing.
For me, listening to 6:18 feels like the sun coming out after a huge rain storm, making something unpleasant more pleasant.
While this track might not be a country song, the more I’ve listened to it over time, the more it becomes apparent that it would be also mind blowing if it had a bit of a country twang to it, which would be an incredible twist.
If you’re interested in listening to the song, please click on the link either in the title of the cover art, or in the first line of the review - this will take you over to Spotify to have a wee jam with this beauty.
You can find Simon at all of the links below (and please make sure you do go follow him and comment on his stuff - he is a brilliant human with incredible skill!)
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Find Simon at -
Spotify
Instagram
Facebook
Website
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A couple of disclaimers, etc.
International write-ups coming in DECEMBER!
Also, my sincerest apologies for first of all, this post not going live on the day of release - the track was released on Saturday and I promised Simon it would be out the same day, or the day before! Had bad writers block, so that unfortunately did not help on reaching this deadline (which for me, is extremely unusual to not meet a personal goal like getting something up on time). Apologies for anyone who came to the blog and saw half a written post for this review over the past couple of days - completely forgot to reschedule this post!
Anyway!! Thank you, Si, for allowing Welcome to the Gig be a part of your journey through your musical life. Much respect for what you do, pal!
New Music Review - ‘Love Won’t Run Away’ by Wulfie and Loveta
A stunning capture of two very talented musicians - Wulfie and Loveta, photo captured at the Pink Lady Rooftop bar in Christchurch. Perfect for the cover of the newest single, Love Won’t Run Away, out NOW!
Love Won’t Run Away is the newest ballad from the powerhouse duo that is Wulfie (Tim Heeringa) and Loveta (Lauren Marshall), encapsulating you with everything these two have to offer and by the time this wonderful track ends, it will reignite your belief in not being alone forever if, like me, your dating life is a bit of a disaster or non-existent.
This absolutely melting ballad will have you realise that it is very different to other relationship songs that we have become accustom to hearing - this one does not have a sad ending, a wonderful twist to hear. In fact, from the beginning and even through the middle, it will have you floating on cloud 9.
Love Won’t Run Away is a really magical love song mixed with many emotions that will have you wishing for more Wulfie x Loveta - it is a beautiful song that hits all the right notes and I genuinely hope that these two continue to put out projects together.
Just like these two very lovely musicians, Love Won’t Run Away is classy and that spark is at the highest rank while you tune into this one.
It has elements of unique flare in the mixing of the music - making it an even more shiny experience. It is an electronic, pop infused love ballad that is about the one that managed to not get away, like a fairy tale that many of us can only dream of.
Love Won’t Run Away is also about a love for someone that you could never picture letting go of as you know there is something quite special to be shared between the two and you want it to be continuous and never-ending. This type of true romance is rare in the world nowadays and to me, the song feels as though it goes back to when humans felt more depth in their soul than they do now. It is a heart pumper, one that will have you thriving and wanting to share your care and love for that certain someone (you’re thinking of someone, aren’t you - it’s okay, we’re all friends here!)
Check out those synth beats and leading vocals - everything rolls into one wonderous song and the music video is pretty incredible, too! (However, at time of publication of this review, it is not available on YouTube).
An excellently constructed new vibe to listen to on your Friday evening. I would highly recommend this song to anyone who likes listening to softer tunes and love ballads that have a bit of electro-pop thrown in there. I adore this song and if you do too, be sure to check out Wulfie and Loveta at all the links below -
Wulfie:
Spotify
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Website
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Loveta:
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International write-ups coming to the blog soon! Please feel free to contact me - all social media and an email address are above and I will check out any recommendations sent. Thanks! Ash.
New Music Review - ‘Hannah’ by Parabola West
A breathtakingly, mystical art piece for the cover of Hannah, available at midnight!
Calling all souls - old and new!
Magical, mystical and authentically herself, Parabola West (real name Amy Tucker West) is here to treat us with a new tune that will take you away to the lands of fairy tales and beyond.
Hannah is due to be released on Friday at midnight and the Raglan local is not a stranger to adding dashes of fantasy into her music which makes it a very different vibe to what I’m personally used to, however, Parabola opens up her wings and shows us a different world with this track which incorporates a lot of mellowed out sequences of events and lyrics.
In Hannah, the main character (obviously named Hannah!) is stuck between the physical and spiritual worlds in which she has essentially dabbled too much and has gotten herself lost. The mystery remains, will she end up luring in others to share in her fate, or will there be a plot twist?
Hannah mixes science with maths, two subjects that Parabola thoroughly enjoys, which you can tell is incorporated right into the track. Hannah is also infused with electronic tones and a drop of folk in there, too, making Parabola’s newest release a very unique one in the music world.
A fun fact about Hannah is that it was recorded at healing volume. Yes, you read that right - recorded at a slightly lower volume than normal songs, this one is meant to send you to higher places, while helping you to feel soothed and relaxed, a technique in which I’ve not heard of other artists doing (or at most, it would be very rare to hear of that!), which is a fantastical taste of what is to come from Parabola’s debut upcoming album.
Parabola will take you to the depths of what warms you up with a bit of Glastonbury-vibes popped in with her expressions of differences, all presented through her musical career and also her website. It is like an enchanted fairy land and Hannah promises to be no different to the attractive fantasy-reality she has shared with fans in the past. Spin this track when it drops at midnight tonight and check out Parabola’s previous drops.
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To find out more about Parabola and follow along with her, check out the links below -
New Music Review - ‘What Should I Do?’ by The Gateways
Serving those 80s vibes for the cover of What Should I Do? Available now!
Christchurch garage-rock band, The Gateways are here with a brand new single which was released on Thursday, 11th November, What Should I Do? They are certainly dishing up the super grunge, in-your-face splash for us with the first song they ever wrote coming to life, now available for you to hear.
Following on from their debut single, Noise Control, The Gateways are on the way to creating some other new tunes that will blow the roof off venues this summer and beyond.
When you listen to The Gateways, you may find that some of their songs start out softly, like in What Should I Do?, but within seconds, you will realise how loud and proud these boys truly are with their infectious rock n roll attitudes which is the style of a great band that has come out of the wonderous walls of TuneSoc at the University of Canterbury.
You will thoroughly enjoy their fresh release if you’re quite into noisy grunge-punk, The Gateways exude this and you’re most likely going to want to do some decent head banging while you hear What Should I Do? It is a tasteful track and while it may not be to everyone’s liking, it certainly has the high beats for those of us who enjoy heavier musical tastes - this will be such a great song to add to your party playlist, for sure! It will get guests up and pumping, potentially keeping them up all night grooving.
While The Gateways lads have work, study and a band to be in, their efforts of fulfilling their musical passions are never in vain with a few supportive friends, family and new fans who quite often attend their gigs around Christchurch, where their talents are always invited in by people of the audience because of the work they put in to being appreciated and heard. They go hardcore on stage and really show up, which pulls through into What Should I Do?
Make sure to have a listen and go check out what The Gateways are all about by following them on their links below -
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More of The Gateways on Welcome to the Gig -
New Music Review - ‘LA’ by Jaz Paterson
How sweet is the photo for LA! Available for you to listen to right now - make sure to click through and please your ears with this stunning track. Made with the help of NZ On Air, among many other very talented people!
Jaz is back, back again… Tell everyone you know because LA is the third single off Jaz’s upcoming EP, Ache, which is due out in a couple short weeks and it will have thought bubbles hovering over your head for days with the way that she has depicted this track in a form of being able to express what most of us wish we could do - run away (sometimes).
LA tells the tale of how Jaz understands that even though she may want to jet set off to another place where she isn’t known and no matter how glittery and absolutely wonderful new people and places are, she knows that she will still be the same person that she is now. Essentially, if she uprooted everything and moved to LA, for example, she has come to the realisation that she would not become a different person just because everything else has changed. That tends to get you right in the heart and I can feel that anyone who wants to make a big change will be really influenced by this track to give their future changes a lot of consideration.
LA is a brilliant single release off the EP, Ache - you can hear Jaz’s passion and emotion in this song, with lyrics that will have the fire flowing through you and really stick to you like a magnetic force. The path of lyrics will resonate with many listeners and will even teach you a few things about life as Jaz proves that she is wise beyond her 26 years.
With this song, it seems as though I’ve known it for years - a warm welcome to my playlist and it should also be added to yours immediately to avoid disappointment when everyone knows about it. LA showcases Jaz’s voice in terms of pop, rather than the beat of almost drum and bass from her previous single, Ache. I love how she changes it up, but at the same time, she still stays as true to herself and what she knows. A true inspiration of a musician.
Jaz is a rather magical storyteller, always singing truthful hopes, dreams and fears through her perfectly pieced together music. As soon as LA starts, Jaz’s calming voice follows within seconds to tell us about wanting to be on a plane and how she’d love to see pink sunrises from her window seat, a beautiful description.
Jaz is one of the very talented individuals that has come out of Sole Music Academy and I know that this is just the beginning of her long-term career. She brings joy to the music world, even if that means telling raw and depth to the universe. That is always admirable and makes a song even more explosive! Well done, Jaz. LA is fantastic.
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New Music Review - ‘Hero Skies’ by Dolphin Friendly
How gorgeous is the art for the cover of Hero Skies! A glowing owl. Who would’ve thought - so epic. Hero Skies, available NOW!
Preash. The Dolphin Friendly lads are here to take us on a new, trippy rollercoaster with their first single in nearly a year, Hero Skies, released on 5th November 2021. Dolphin Friendly have adopted a new, fresher sound with this mix and their upcoming EP, levelling up from their previous releases and this one will make you absolutely fizz and allow you to put that extra dash of spice back into your life. This song is not for the faint-hearted, so make sure to get yourself prepared, this is going to keep you on your toes with excitement. The track is essentially setting out the framework for what the guys are going to be handing us over the next while, get ready to take a ride with this one, so strap yourself in.
With infectious, hardcore rock sounds that will have you head banging so hard that you may need to glue your glasses to your face (me while listening to it), you’re going to absolutely dig this new vibe that Dolphin Friendly are going for and appreciate the elements that have been used in this track. The band worked with Connor Jaine (CJ) of Mako Road on this track and it certainly comes through how well they collaborate on songs, which has been continuous over the newest EP they have been working on, coming together as a clear dream team.
Hero Skies pays respect and thankfulness to the bands musical inspirations who have passed on, hence the name of the song. To pay homage to the heroes that are now in the skies above is something that I personally would never thought of for a musical idea and that is what makes the song a really spectacular listen because it is so different, yet it speaks many volumes. They are reaching out to these musicians that have helped them pave their way in the music industry - while Dolphin Friendly set themselves out individually from the crowd, they have taken some tricks from former musicians who walked this earth and inserted the power ques from them into their songs.
The psychedelic video for the song is one of the most impressive that I’ve seen this year. Produced and edited by Wade McClelland of Made by Wade and Bradon McCaughey, it will awaken every part of you.
Hero Skies is one of the least serious tracks off the upcoming EP, however, as a band, Dolphin Friendly have never limited themselves to anything and they are always willing to try to put their thumbs in many different pies which makes them so fantastic to continue to listen to. They make such an impression that it will sound like fireworks going off on each new track that you hear from them. Once you hear Dolphin Friendly, you are never going to get them out of your head and that is an absolute promise.
The creative lyrics jump out at you and add fuel to the incredibly fiery song that is Hero Skies, so make sure to go and have a listen to the track which is available worldwide now for your listening pleasure!
Brilliant song, bloody wonderful men, they are absolutely worth following their journey and seeing what their next steps are.
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Welcome to the Gig will be soon doing international musician write-ups! Please contact me via the links at the top of the website if you wish to touch base for consideration of write-ups.
New Music Review: ‘Railroad for Two’ by Mini Simmons
Lovely artwork for Railroad for Two - it certainly has that train station, Harry Potter-type vibe. A calming and beautiful piece of art.
Mini Simmons are an Auckland based rock and roll band that are proving that no matter what challenges anyone faces (such as not being able to do proper band practises currently), you can get through anything. As a band that may not be all in one bubble, however they are certainly still ensuring that they are putting out work and keeping themselves on the ball such as with this track, as they have been since their formation in 2017 in Mexico. Mini Simmons are a delight to see live and listen to. Buckle in for this review and enjoy!
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With their newest single, Railroad for Two, having splashed out into the world from midnight last night, this special track takes you back a step in time with its old timely feel, enhanced by the strong presence of calm, it comes with the feeling of a romantic movie with a happy ending. I can almost liken it to being on an actual train and being zoned out from everything, just listening to this track and feeling the most peaceful you ever have been - a lovely few minutes of time coming to a halt for your Wednesday evening!
Railroad for Two will take you on the journey of falling and being in love with the magical sweetness of the words and the music that ties it together. A little more mellow than their previous releases, Mini Simmons have found a way to pull at your heartstrings with this moving, classic song.
Mini Simmons remind me of a smooth 70s band that have been transported to the here and now with Railroad for Two. It may not be a song for everybody, but I do highly recommend having a listen a few times to this one as it is just a really wholesome track.
Emily described the song as “a sink-back-in-your-seat-with-a-cup-of-Earl-Grey love song that winds its way through the English countryside and it’s a journey home.” I love how the artwork intertwines with that description of the lyrics sung - the classic glass stained window and the Harry Potter-esque, English train. Perfect and visually pleasing to look at.
A thirst for love and an addiction in carrying this through musically, Mini Simmons showcase their talents in all areas of their newest drop. Make sure that you have a listen and see what the song feels like for you - I would agree with Emily on the statement that it feels like you need a cup of Earl Grey tea while tuning in! Check out Railway for Two, out now on all streaming services.
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New Music Review - ‘TRIVIAL’ by The Butlers
Simple, but a fun cover for TRIVIAL, out now!
Crisp. Blended. Flat out great. Just a couple of words in the English language that describe the new song, TRIVIAL, from The Butlers which rained down on us from midnight last night and it is a beauty.
TRIVIAL pulls you in from the very beginning - it is mellow enough to have your ears tuned in the entire time, yet still has that flavour of The Butlers sound that we all know and love, with a twinge of fresh mystery. A true soft indie-rock vibe, TRIVIAL is certainly far from being what the title is. In fact, it takes you on a ride to get away from anything trivial, a fun adventure for the new evolution of sound that these talented men have taken on.
My favourite lyrics are “I manifest these thoughts until I think I’m over this” - that has got to be one of the utmost outstanding lines of the year. Incredibly brilliant and perfectly intertwined into TRIVIAL.
The video is an absolute blast - filmed in front of a green screen that makes everyone pretty much disappear, apart from some their features (and Walt’s face is the only one visible), giving the illusion that we can just be taken away to outer space at any moment, which is what The Butlers clearly strive to achieve by putting out their tunes. Plus, the video also has this epic, groovy galaxy theme to it, which I am definitely digging.
You can always count on The Butlers to put out solid projects and TRIVIAL is another foundation for the growth of their musical careers and setting out the path to their upcoming album release.
The song is not an in-your-face track by any means, but it gives off that oomph of energy that you’d expect and I can imagine that it will go off really well when they can perform it live, along with their other previous new releases which have been jammed non-stop for the past little while.
TRIVIAL has a fun, easy-listening and consistent beat to it, never dropping below the baseline.
Make sure to check out the tasty tune right now and give The Butlers a good ole round of applause for the hard mahi that they are smashing out.
Want more of The Butlers? Check out the review for their previous track, WHEN I’M BACK, here.
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Hey! If you’d like me to check out some new music you’ve got coming out for a review, want to potentially do an interview or simply just a feature on the blog or podcast, feel free to pop me a message on Instagram or Facebook, or, email me. At this stage, I only have capacity to do coverage for New Zealand musicians as I am just one human who works tirelessly to run this blog and keep it good, that means I am a little limited sometimes. Please do keep an eye on my socials if you would like to be considered in the future if international artist capacity becomes available. Thanks for checking out Welcome to the Gig!
New Music Review - ‘The Time of Our Lives’ by Mild Orange
This brilliantly shot photo was taken in Tokyo, Japan by Mehrt and features snippets of the bands other ventures such as Barry’s Bread, Rosham Beau, the last names of the guys and some song names. Can you spot them all?
Hello, good evening and welcome back to another Mild Orange review. Hey, it wasn’t entirely my decision to write this one - I asked and everyone on Instagram voted that they wanted this review, so I gladly will oblige to the readers of Welcome to the Gig! (Plus, we know how much I love Mild Orange and all they stand for, so realistically, I would have probably written this whichever way the votes went… So, I am absolutely stoked to bring you this, hope you enjoy the read.)
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Warning: slight gushing and feelings ahead in this review.
Following hot on the tail of their previous release, This Kinda Day, Mild Orange have hit the airwaves once again with their newest internationally renowned single, The Time of Our Lives which, for a track that was released less than 24 hours ago, it is already gaining traction from more than their home country of Aotearoa - watching the comments in the live chat from all different countries prior to the video premiere was pretty special and I know that the feedback that was coming through would have meant a lot to them, too. It’s wonderful to see how much Mild Orange are appreciated and welcomed all over with the energy that they bring to the music they put out, which always sends out such positive and enticing vibes.
The Time of Our Lives opens the gateway to different stories of what the band have enjoyed and learned whilst having been previously in Japan, which obviously holds a very epic part of Mild Orange’s hearts.
The beginning of the song comes in with a little intentional glitch-like, drum sound and that few seconds really makes you curious to hear more of The Time of Our Lives - setting the tone of a colourful story in which the accompanying video pairs perfectly with it, just like when you have a cup of Mild Orange tea with a Mild Orange song - absolute pure happiness at the end of the day.
While the song may require you to listen to it more than once to love it (upon writing this section of the review, I’m up to about listen number nine of The Time of Our Lives and I kid you not, you will fall head over heels with it each time you hear it), this track is not just one to glaze over and move on from. No. You need to take every moment of it in, thoroughly enjoy it, like the breeze on a hot summers day. Same with the video, too (check that out below!)
Mild Orange are not ones who put out standard, subpar songs or anything that sounds exactly like what everyone else is pushing out because they are certain of what they want and where they are taking their projects, which sometimes can lack from different musicians (my personal opinion).
They make sure to put a brilliant spin on everything and take you on unexpected paths, making it feel like you are traveling through another space in time. For me, The Time of Our Lives makes me feel warm, comforted, thankful and pleased to have discovered their insane talents. These emotions are the intentions that Mehrt, Barry, Jah and Jeck incorporate into everything they throw their passions at and as per normal, this flows through like rapid fire, especially in this new drop where fantastic is an understatement.
Now, lets move on to the video, shall we? It’s very Mild Orange-esque from the start. It begins in a dark room where we get a glimpse of photos that have been taken around Tokyo and slowly but surely, we see Kento Yoshioka skating through freeze frames of people, who if they were moving, would be going about their daily lives. Kento wows with his incredible skateboarding tricks which look incredibly fun - he is clearly a professional at his art of choice and makes a groovy addition to this excitement-filled mini movie, if you will. The video filters between blood orange tones (kind of giving it a vibe like the Freak In Me video), normal colouration and then black and white. The video was a collective effort between a lot of wonderful people including Tomoyuki Kujirai, Mehrt, Nion and Keita Motegi, just to name a few. (All of the credits are listed in the official YouTube video description).
All in all, the execution of everything for The Time of Our Lives gels well together and if you don’t overly enjoy the track the first time, listen to this in a quiet room, turn off every other distraction and hone into the storybook of wonder that they are telling you. If it helps, pretend you’re in Tokyo yourself and cruising through the streets, this will guarantee that you’ll find that bliss state you are searching for.
For this new wave of epic skate, busy-city life drop, I would happily give this one a 9.8/10. Keep crushing your projects, Mehrt, Jah, Jeck and Barry - we appreciate you and thank you for all the goods you are providing us fans!
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Mild Orange have just released their latest Europe, USA and Canada tour dates for the Looking for Space tour, which you can check out at their official website here. Want more Mild Orange to read on Welcome to the Gig? Check out the interview I did with Mehrt during lockdown here.
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I currently have capacity to write reviews, do interviews and features for NZ musicians on the blog at the moment, please feel free to get in touch via Instagram, Facebook or via email. You will find these links at the top of the blog.
New Music Review - ‘They Don't Know a Thing About Me 2.0’ the EP by Chris Bates
Artwork for Chris’ latest EP. It will, most definitely, make your heart melt. Have a listen now!
Following on from his first EP, They Don't Know a Thing About Me released at the end of October 2020, Chris Bates is back with his emotionally driven, heartfelt second EP, They Don't Know a Thing About Me 2.0 which might have you on the floor, appreciating the maturity of this man and the lyrics that will absolutely make your heart melt.
Filled with outstanding melodies, stunning guitar riffs and incredibly beautiful piano touches, Chris makes himself unapologetically known. Keep on watching for his next moves in this big world.
If you're looking for the ultimate teary-eyed soundtrack for your week, They Don't Know a Thing About Me 2.0 certainly hits that spot. Chris exerts that kind of Dean Lewis vibe in a way, making words pull at each and every heart string. You will be fully captivated by the vibe that he sends out.
Each song from this 5-track wonderland is driven with passion and experience clearly from Chris’ past. For me, I think it's wonderful to be able to relate to a song and go “okay, wow. I have felt that at some point and can absolutely see where this artist is coming from” and Chris certainly shares his music in such a vulnerable and special way to relate to the audience, while being authentic to himself.
Highly recommend driving alone and shouting out the lyrics on an empty road you're going down and letting yourself feel all of the feelings with this EP. What a journey of spectacular bliss!
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I currently have a fair bit of time to do interviews, reviews, features and more for New Zealand musicians only. If you would like to chat about this, please DM me on Instagram, Facebook or send an email. At this time, I don’t have capacity to write about international artists, however, keep an eye on the socials as this may change at any point!
New Music Review - ‘Slack’ the album by Molly Payton
Slack is out now for your listening pleasure! Can you guys almost feel the texture of the album art? It’s got that fun 90s look to it. Created by Riley Coughlin.
Good golly, Miss Molly has only gone and knocked me out of my chair once again with her latest mini album drop.
Slack is full of eight charismatic and fun songs, promising to keep you hyped while waiting for the sunshine to return. While London may have claimed her, she is still very much Kiwi with a heart that has a lot to share with her fans throughout the world. Not everyone may agree with this next statement, however for music to be special to me, I have to be able to feel things from what has been created and Slack certainly delivers on various levels of feelings.
Slack is a creative process that spanned over eight months and has been bought to us between the UK and New Zealand studios, giving it that special touch of both Molly’s homelands. While it was a tricky process, she is proud of the album she has created.
The mini album offers up soulful, indie sounds that have been carefully thought out and made into a lovely, easy listen that has hit the right notes with audiences since it was released on Friday, 1st October.
If you’re looking for a new soundtrack to keep you warm, check out January Summers. In this tune, Molly reflects back on exactly what the song title is - January Summers. In true Kiwi fashion, she brings us what a classic summer is like in New Zealand - going to the beach, sleeping in the boot of a car (although I like to imagine it’s not a squashed up boot and that instead it is an open boot of a van with fairy lights and all the good things tucked away in there with a guitar on the side and such). In this song, it seems as though Molly is wishing that she could spend every January in NZ as we all know how cold the UK is at that time of year. This would be paired well with a nice, ice cold beverage, you can’t fault this one.
Another standout track on the album for me is When Skies Were Always Blue, this was the third single released in early September and this was when I first heard Molly’s music and absolutely loved her attitude and the way she brings her spark to the table. When Skies Were Always Blue is more on the sombre side - sadly, it is about learning to live with disappointment, but on the same level, it shows you how to also live with joy through that pain. Molly has explained she wrote this song as a reminder to herself that things will get better. I love how she is using her platform of music to not only reassure herself, but also her listeners.
The album almost feels like it should feature Nat Hutton from There’s a Tuesday as Molly and Nat both have beautiful voices that would work quite well together, it will be an outstanding day if they ever do a collab.
Molly certainly has that rock chick, indie, 90s persona that flows through in her work, especially with this album. Molly knows what will captivate our attention and being a young female artist in the music industry, she is pushing all boundaries down that are placed up by others who may not want to see the female industry rise. Power to you, Molly.
Overall, this mini album gets an 8.5 out of 10 stars!
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You can check out Molly at the below links -
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If you would like to get in contact for a music review/interview/feature etc, please DM me on Instagram or send me an email. Please note, at this stage, I can only do New Zealand music write-ups due to time constraints. If this changes, this will be posted on my social media.
New Music Review - ‘Juno’ the EP by Bayleaf
The very serene cover art for Bayleaf’s debut EP which is out October 1st! Fun fact about the art: this came about when Baily blended photos of Mars and Jupiter together. The name Juno came from the Nasa space probe which was sent to take photos of Jupiter in 2015! Creative AND fun.
Sit down and buckle in for this newest release, popping off on Friday, 1st October. This is the debut EP entitled Juno, by Baily Lelieveld and friends which is described as an audio collaborative project with features from Cheena Rae (sax), Kevin Fernando (electric guitar), Liam Wahrlich (bass) and George Davenport (vocals, guitar) - a whole stack of wildly talented, wonderful people.
You may recognise Baily’s voice as being one of the highly gifted singers from The Raddlers in which you would be correct. This time, Baily has branched out and decided to release this EP under stage name Bayleaf and there is nothing more outstanding than this appealing new 5-track memorable launch. Juno is an EP that would be great to listen to live in a smaller setting as it feels personal and intimate to the listener, which I believe, may be the aim. Produced entirely by Baily himself, the entirety is filled with special moments, creative new sounds and many purposefully picked instruments.
Bayleaf sets the tone with the opener, Loops - Baily’s vocals don’t come in until about 48 seconds which tends to compliment this first song and sets the suspense even greater on our dials so you are completely unaware of what is to come next and I like that type of feeling personally. This EP has a surprise around every corner, making it fresh and unpredictable. Baily (and friends) always manage to keep you listening with the way everything just flows like you’re on a gondola in the rivers of Italy - a relaxing experience, indeed.
Lose My Mind is one of The Raddlers classics, first being released in December 2018 and is a hit with the crowd when it is performed live and I can tell you, this cover is tenfold. Lose My Mind is an enchanting, wonderful piece of work that captures your soul in one single track. This version of the song is more raw cut than the original, it feels very stripped back and it’s almost a slightly different dynamic, but at the same time it still has a mildly true feel of The Raddlers version with it, making it a lovely, easy listening tribute.
As with any of Baily’s projects, nothing is ever the same as you’d think and this is true when listening to Roadside, because on this soothing 3rd song, you may recognise that it is not Baily that is singing primarily. It is, in fact, his good friend and flatmate, George Davenport who is also full of beautiful singing abilities, just like his mate. It’s a great move to have a different singer on some tracks, it mixes things up a little and ensures that Juno is completely unique. A great move for other musicians to follow sometimes to change it up and make it even more fun. The song is a little more mellow than the others, however, the theme is about someone that may be in your line of sight who has captured you under their spell, if you will. At the same time, it’s a big secret and it’s hard to tell whether you’re too busy to figure things out because you’re busy thinking of yourself, so you almost will never know the outcome due to this, unless you take the leap of faith and admit your feelings to this person. “Nobody knows the way I feel about you now, ain’t that special?” It is. It certainly is.
If you listen to The LAB Music Show on a Tuesday afternoon where Baily and his good friend/bandmate, Liam Wahrlich host their own podcast/radio show, you will recognise some of Waves, which is the fourth track on Juno, as it is actually the intro song for the show. Waves has an epically fun vibe with the music that goes with the lyrics which touches on a bit of a more serious topic. Waves starts with what could be a synth beat bringing the song up from the ground and gradually getting louder over time. Baily sings about mental health in this track and has poured some valid points into the tune such as looking out for your mates and recognising that it helps sometimes when you sit in a car and talk about things with them. Waves is one that we all could take some good advice from and by bringing light to the mental health movement, this sparks those harder to have conversations with mates. We need more honesty regarding this and I applaud Bayleaf for opening this door.
The Scientist is the closer of the EP and I think that it is for the best if you listen to every track in the order it was intended to be listened to. No, The Scientist is not bad in any way, it is the total opposite. Stack up on the tissues because you may have the rain falling out of your eyes when this one hits your ears, so lock yourself away and soak up all of the incredibleness this one has to offer. This has to be one the greatest and most unique covers of Coldplay’s that I have ever heard, Baily does each second of the track such justice that upon first hearing it, I could’ve fallen off the chair, it’s honestly that powerful. Hopefully one day, Coldplay will hear it and think it is as wonderful as I do. Give it a listen for yourself on Friday and determine what your thoughts are on it.
Honestly, for this entire EP, I would need to give it a 200/10 because it has genuinely blown me away from the first time I gave it a listen. Bayleaf (or Baily and friends) have done an absolutely miraculous job of creating and producing Juno and with more tracks on the way soon, there are no breaks for these friends and their love of creating and vibing.
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You can follow Bayleaf below and remember to chuck them a follow on Spotify once the EP is released on Friday -
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You can contact me via Instagram for New Zealand musician interviews, reviews, features or via email. At this stage, I do not have capacity to do any international artist write-ups, unfortunately. If my capacity reduces at any point, this will be posted on the social media channels for Welcome to the Gig.
New Music Review - ‘WHEN I’M BACK’ by The Butlers
WHEN I’M BACK - available now on all platforms! Photo from The Butlers Instagram.
Boom. No, sorry - that is not me yelling at you in the title of this review. WHEN I’M BACK is the hottest release of The Butlers, fresh off the heels of WHY ARE WE ALWAYS WAITING which came out just over a month ago - they are throwing all of their talents into the atmosphere and causing quite the stir with all of these fiery, consistently bloody brilliant songs.
WHEN I’M BACK packs an entire punch and a half, these men aren’t messing around and are definitely taking NZ rock music to the next level, making them one of the biggest threats to other bands trying to compete to take that top spot. They literally Walt(z) in, (sorry for the pun - if you know, you know), throw us a new song and as soon as we are just slowing down from listening to the song at least 500 times a day, they decide to run out with that song and hand us another one without us having a chance to register what is going on.
How they do it so easily and quickly never ceases to amaze me. The style of this track is exceptionally catchy and will have you wishing that you’d known about this song well before it came out.
The Butlers style is a mix of surf-rock, but also combines little aspects of other genres sprinkled through their discography. WHEN I’M BACK almost takes you to the past and sounds like an edgier version of a rock song from the early 2000s. If you’ve not given these guys a chance, it would be a bright idea to do it and give them a fair listen - they up their game each and every release, which means that there is something for everyone to pop on their record player.
The beginning of the song gives me a sort of Dolphin Friendly vibe with the absolute slapping opener and now I’d really like to see The Butlers x Dolphin Friendly collaboration - that would be an epic moment and I could see that being so well received by the audience of both talented bands.
It is very easy to see how The Butlers have pulled together such a big following and have over 60k listeners per month on Spotify. An incredible effort for a band from the depths of Sumner, here in little ole Christchurch, New Zealand.
To conclude, WHEN I’M BACK is going to be the sound of the Summer festivals - a catchy vibe that you can see will get the crowds up and dancing, for definite. 8.5/10 surf emojis.
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For music reviews, interviews or features, please contact me through Instagram or via email. At this stage, I only have capacity to do New Zealand artists due to time constraints in my personal life.