New Music Review - ‘Truth’ by Big Sima, ft. Timmy Porter
You’ve always got trust when you’ve got Truth. The artwork for this single has been created by the fantastic Camkilla.
Christchurch MC, Big Sima, AKA Lucas Fahey is here is drop some Truth bombs on us all with the release of his latest offering that is the last song before he releases his fresh LP, Stereotypes Of A Polynesian Misunderstood.
Truth is one exceptionally special release, upon hearing about this latest drop from Big Sima, I immediately thought that it was going to be quite a heavy track, however it offers more of a pass to freedom with the lyrics and the way it all flows together to become what it has.
What I thoroughly enjoy about Truth is that you have two artists with different vocal abilities that have joined forces and made the track a really unique piece of art that everyone would benefit from listening to. If you listen to Timmy’s vocals in Truth, it almost comes across as the echo of words from within both artists’ minds which is something else.
The creativity and the Truth that comes from the track is personal to Big Sima and being able to speak that out in this release is obviously a very important bunch of memories, thoughts and feelings he has been able to put out with realness, absolutely nothing fake to be found here.
With lyrics like “If gave you the mic, would you lend me your hand? All I got are these memories…” the song offers up a lot of perspective, which is what we all need a little bit more of. I find that listening to and reading what Big Sima talks and writes about is very humbling and always has me thinking deeply about subjects that aren’t talked about enough. You can be a listener and like the songs you hear, or you can be an active listener and take on board what artists are saying and I feel that Big Sima has that special knack to ensure that he is getting his valid points across to those willing to hear more than just the music.
The hustle that has gone into this song is incredible - big shout to Tiki Taane who mixed the track down, Benny Tones on the mastering and beat by Encore Beats, Truth is an experience on its own terms and if you’ve not had a moment to listen, I would suggest getting onto that and listening with no distractions.
You can follow both Big Sima and Timmy at the below links -
Big Sima:
Spotify
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Missed my interview with Big Sima last year? Check it out here!
New Music Review - ‘Love Sux’ the album by Avril Lavigne
Love Sux, but Avril Lavigne certainly doesn’t.
Love Sux, or so that’s what Avril Lavigne tells us during the course of her new flavourful 7th studio album.
Love Sux features a mix of Avril-type songs, everything from the funk-punk that us tweens from 2002 always backed, to the newer version of Avril: filled with so much rawness and realness that it showcases what Avril has going on inside of her head.
The album features some special collabs, such as one of the first songs that I would love to bring to your attention:
Bois Lie is a sick track that will almost take you back to Avril’s The Best Damn Thing era. Featuring Machine Gun Kelly, the track is the appeasement of the entire album, bringing in all of those epic rock vibes and those truth bombs indicating that both Avril and MGK have been through some rocky stuff in relationships. Both sides acknowledge that everyone lies from time-to-time and are accessibly telling the listeners that it’s not okay. With lyrics like “revenge is my sweet tooth” it is the ultimate party, burn-your-exes-stuff type vibe and I’m here for it.
Love It When You Hate Me features 132nd listened to artist in the world, Blackbear, who adds his gem-like vocals into the mix to this epic break-up song (Avril is the go-to for relationship ending words). More of a pop track, Love It When You Hate Me is one to keep on the playlist for when you need to do some shouting after someone has ticked you off one day. It also incorporates some fun into it, too, making it a little bit more on the sunnier side.
Avalanche sits quite heavy with me in terms of the lyrics. Unfortunately, it tells an exceptionally raw and emotional game of how having depression, anxiety and/or any other mental health issues can make us feel quite messy on the daily and as someone who personally suffers with issues regarding this topic, it hits home. Avril sings with brilliance and makes it known that she feels as though a huge eruption is coming down the mountain to capture her and snow her under. She’s pretending that she’s okay, when in reality, she feels the complete opposite. It’s a sad track that needs to be taken into account when choosing to listen to the album.
If you are looking for something more positive, have a listen to All I Wanted, which features Mark Hoppus. An upbeat, bright light and mostly optimistic runaway song that can take you on a journey away from the city, as the two artists do in the song. Listen out for the drop at 2 minutes in - delicious. It’s a fast-paced tune and it makes the intention well known. Pop-punk is still cool and All I Wanted proves that. Bring it on!
Avril may not be the Complicated singer that she was 20 years ago, however, Love Sux proves her growth during that time period and boy, has she been through a lot since she first hit the scene. The way that she has absorbed so much and sent this out to her fans through music is incredibly powerful and I have a lot of respect for Avril for being able to go that far and succeed in her venture.
Avril has and always will be, unapologetically herself, forever and always.
Go and have a listen to Love Sux and find your favourite song - there is still more to be discovered - my review doesn’t cover it all. You will love the album, give it a spin!
Find Avril here -
New Music Review - ‘History’ by Mitch James
Mitch James is back, tell all your friends!
It’s all History from here with one of Welcome to the Gig’s favourite musicians making a huge re-emergence into the scene with this fast hitting track. Let’s take the time to refresh and listen to Mitch James as he has come back with significance after one of the normalcies that we’ve been waiting for - the eager return of one of New Zealand’s biggest and truly honest, talented humans.
History comes in strikingly hot - with words that will literally make you weak in the knees. This song is Mitch, but with a newer, more mature sound to him after years of devising different soundscapes, something that comes with time and finding what that feels authentically him.
History is just like Mitch himself - bubbly, smiley and genuinely quite upbeat.
The mood of the song is completely impeccable and unmatched as History is turned up full force with an increasingly gifted bass pounding through, making this release more of a dance-rock song, rather than the pop music that we are used to hearing from him, appeasing audiences of all ages.
Mitch brings his humble tones and personality during the length of History - he invites us to be a part of “his story” and that hits different. When you’re able to listen in and take a leaf out of Mitch’s book by hearing the painful subject turned into something easily relatable and realising that whatever situation you find yourself in, you can turn it into a excellent piece of art, that’s magic.
When Mitch sings, it is like a pure indulgence has been released and it makes you really feel what he pours out into his tunes, History is proof of this.
They say History never repeats, but in terms of this song, I think you should repeat it.
Stream/follow along with Mitch below -
Keep an eye out on the blog for more Mitch - hopefully an interview coming soon!
New Music Review - ‘It’s Only a Day’ by The Butlers
It’s Only a Day is out now on all platforms for your listening pleasure! Photo from The Butlers Instagram.
It’s Only a Day, say The Butlers who have hyped their new single up over the last couple of weeks and to be fair, so they should as it is undeniably one of their best songs thus far.
It’s Only a Day serves up dashes of optimism, among lyrics that will just get more fine with age. A true form of art that is rare to be received.
The musical atmosphere is a true form of excellence in terms of being a perfect soundscape for what it is, something that almost sounds as though it has come straight from a movie, creating that visual and pleasing impact combined with wonder. Something that I’ve come to realise that The Butlers pull off rather well, a gift that they have been able to spark.
It’s Only a Day ramps things up to one hundred percent for these good lads who are not too far away from releasing their album, which is going to be a whole lot of excitement all rolled into one.
With teasers of what is to come, The Butlers have been on fire recently with their latest releases that have been set to take over the airwaves and certainly the “ear” waves of listeners.
What I enjoy about The Butlers music is that it has revolutionised and become more them, with even more authentic melodies and music than before, It’s Only a Day has a great groove and hook to it, making it a winning contender for a top spot on the charts.
The line “white picket fence and Coca-Cola, things you get accustomed to” in It’s Only a Day is such a fun edition to the track, The Butlers have this way of coming up with lyrics that come together in such a distinctive way and it makes them a real standout from the crowd.
The song will make you thrive, being captured by the inviting vibe that they tend to always give off and I appreciate the hard work and motivation that they have with their music.
It’s Only a Day had me singing the lines in the car after just one listen, making the breeze flowing through with the windows down that much more lovely, just as The Butlers are. It entails a lot of different feelings and you know it’s something special when a song makes you stop and wonder about things and gives you some positive feelings towards it, it’s almost as though a whole other universe was opened up after hearing it for the first time.
If you’re not familiar with The Butlers, I would advise that you take a listen to their work and get a peek into what they’re all about. Fresh. Talented. Rewarding.
Make sure to click the links to have a listen to all of their music below -
Spotify
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Will I be able to get The Butlers on the podcast shortly? Stay tuned!
New Music Review - ‘See You in the Morning’ by Bayleaf
A simple palm tree says a lot. It sets the scene for See You in the Morning, a masterpiece of perfection.
It’s been a few months since we’ve had a treat from the pals that make up Bayleaf, however, they have come through and delivered us a new track in the form of See You in the Morning which has just become available to plug into our ears to zone out the sad news, the bad news and the hecticness of daily life.
The song is simple and drives home a clear message of relaxation enthralled with the hope of seeing someone that you enjoy being in the company of in the morning. This is my perspective of the tune from a listeners point of view and I think it’s a fun way to be able to relay the message of what you’re looking to express.
See You in the Morning is a slow song, one for the lovers and non-lovers alike, it will capture your attention and fascination in a multitude of different ways. The vocals from the men at Bayleaf are soothing and make you feel at ease, calm, at one with the world and though the song is not a fast-paced piece of art, it is still art nonetheless and makes for a beautiful few minutes of meditation, if you will.
The acoustic guitar is a standout for me in See You in the Morning - it pulls you in and wraps you up in what I can only describe as a warm blanket with a sunset lighting overhead that makes you feel mindful, something that is rare within song-writing.
Bayleaf have a knack for their craft, a lot of originality and although they are not too well-known in the music industry yet, it’s evident that they will take off when others discover their talented and unique set of musical abilities.
I may be biased seeing as the guys in Bayleaf are some friends of mine, but I truly see a bunch of potential in them going further than they are at currently because of what they are capable of doing.
Their projects, such as their first EP, Juno, are always full of the utmost passion and is evolutionary to them as human beings.
The video for See You in the Morning is also another high point of this release, as you can see above. It takes everyday life and allows the special moments that we take for granted to be in our direct line of vision.
The video was created by Finn Lloyd and Duncan Scott, featuring Laura Saunders, George Davenport and Baily Lelieveld, a team that have come together to create this piece of epic work - a huge effort and a fun one to film, by the look of things. The song was written by George, Baily and Liam Wahrlich and I’m obsessed with how it has come together, obviously.
If you haven’t gotten the hint already: See You in the Morning is beyond special. It will fill you with emotion and if you’re on the market for listening to some new tunes, I would suggest giving this one a spin.
You can find more Bayleaf at the below links -
New Music Review - ‘Comfort Show’ by Josette
Comfort Show artwork created by Gabrielle Designs. Loving how much this showcases Josette as a person!
She’s put the comfort back into Comfort Show with her second official release, following hot on the heels of her last single, One Shot, Josette brings us an extraordinary bang with this new single, released yesterday, which is taking off into the sunset already with it’s funk-pop sound.
Bringing in the fuzzy sounds of a television set in the beginning then coming in clutch with David Attenborough talking, the song encompasses a multitude of different vibes withheld in its walls and Josette certainly knows how to bring a punch to the party each and undoubtfully every time.
Comfort Show was created with the help of Tim Heeringa (Wulfie), who Josette has worked with on her previous release which set the bar high for what was to come and damn, this one doesn’t disappoint.
Josette is a much known and loved Christchurch musician who has been impressing music lovers with her bubbly, sweet personality while at the same time, delivering a relatively delightful storm into the unknown.
Comfort Show is a track that will take you by surprise, especially if you have not seen Josette live before or heard of her and you’ll most likely walk away with the sound of her music coursing through your veins and a new found passion for supporting your local artists.
There are spoken words within Comfort Show and going from word to word, spoken to sung, is a truly silky smooth transition for Josette, meaning we get an even better glimpse into who she is as a musician and who she is as a person. I personally think those moments in songs are exceptionally special.
The video for Comfort Show absolutely sounds off. Filmed within Josette’s own comfort space, it has tendencies of 70s style, just as the song itself has, making it unique and quaint.
The video was a collaborative effort between Josette, Loren Kett and Steph Damm - the way it has come together really drives the force of Comfort Show, I would say it has to be this weeks funkiest release from a New Zealand artist, hats off to all who worked on this one to make it a heartfully precious release.
Comfort Show is about having a movie or a TV show that helps you escape the daily reality of the mundanity of things and allows you to destress.
So, come through - go play this track to your cat, your best friend and people at your local supey. Spread the word on Comfort Show - what a tune.
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You can find Josette at the below links -
Spotify
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Josette will be on the show in a couple of weeks, make sure to check out the Welcome to the Gig socials to find out more!
New Music Review - ‘Our Love’ by Great Gable
The art for Our Love, created by the ever-so talented Marty Baptist.
Our Australian neighbours in the form of Great Gable have gone and blasted stuff out of the water again with their latest piece of exceptional work, Our Love, debuting to headphones across the world from last night.
First of all this has to be said, Our Love is a song that I never knew I needed, but it’s been a spectacular surprise and welcome edition to my previously very boring Friday afternoon.
There has always been this competition between us New Zealanders and Australians, however, you cannot fault how bright and delightful their musicians are, bringing together a whole different type of excitement to get your head around and Great Gable prove this with Our Love.
The track thrives in such excellent ways and while it is simply mellow as, it has the greatest tone to it, making it quite a contender for being one of the greatest summer hits of 2022.
Maybe it’s because I’m quite a visual person and the cover art immediately pops out when you see this single come up on whichever platform you’re listening on, but it does make me feel all warm and summery inside. Like I am literally in a field of flowers, dancing like there is nobody else around. This is the perfect edition to festivals across the ditch and once GG come and play New Zealand in June, this song will really bounce off the walls with audiences alike.
Great Gable have this way of making their music not sound commercial and that is something that is very unique about a lot of the musicians that I tend to write about on Welcome to the Gig - they do what they are doing as it fulfils a purpose for them and they thoroughly get to feel the enjoyment of what they are putting out. Respect.
Our Love is guaranteed to take you on a road of epic endorphins, making you happier than you would be with your favourite chocolate in hand.
My recommendation for listening to this one would be to have a sit down in the sun and lean back after a long week of work and just let this blast through your speakers for the weekend, you won’t be able to get away with listening to Our Love just once. It has to be at least several hundred times.
Your chance of mood improvement with Great Gable tunes? Looking like 100%.
Take my money and send this tune straight to number one of every chart in the world, it is well deserving of it. Now, go forth, readers, and give your brain a relaxing tune that will take you all the way to Australia and back.
Check out more Great Gable below -
New Music Review - ‘Inside Your Head’ by SKRAM
The summery cover was created by Isabelle Beartrix. The perfect art for the coolest song!
SKRAM are an up-and-coming, interestingly fun and ready to thrive pop band hailing from Wellington who have recently released some new music that sets them out in a crowd full of other musicians with their upbeat tracks and videos that will put a smile on your dial.
SKRAM are bringing their infectious vibes to the table with their song Inside Your Head, which the world was able to discover from the 7th January this year and while the tune has been out for a month now, it is evident that this is a fan favourite, especially from the comments that I’ve seen about it and rightfully so.
Inside Your Head lets you know how it is with its smooth bass on top of crisp vocals and a rhythm that will suck you in and have you thriving. Inside Your Head will be stuck in a cloud quite literally inside your head with how much happiness is written and played into it. SKRAM surely know how to change one of those “meh” days into an excellent one with the way they make sure that this song loops together with intention and they’ve made it shine with brilliance.
Inside Your Head is just a huge ball of energy that bounces off the walls, makes you want to dive into the universe and feel alive. This is another song that you are going to want to know about before it gets even bigger.
With Inside Your Head, Henry, Felix and Lee have nailed it completely. They’ve just blown this release out of the water in my opinion and I love that. From the moment I first heard this song, it was an adventure for sure and watching the video that goes with it (above), it really showcases the personalities of each of the members of SKRAM and for a band that has recently come about, you would think that their naturisms and mature lyrics would have come from years of experience of being in a group together already.
Delicious sounds, funny men, what more could anybody ask for? Have a listen to their other tunes, guaranteed to end your long weekend on a high note.
Find SKRAM below -
New Music Review - ‘Mirror’ by ASHY and Vallé
Pretty in pink and handsome in white - Vallé and ASHY released their collab, Mirror yesterday and it will have you tapping your feet and bopping along. Photo credit to Petra Mingneau.
Fresh off the press, Mirror is the hottest release of the week, with super duo ASHY and Vallé - dynamic, interesting and accelerating off into the sky with the purposeful lyrics and the message that these two highly talented artists are doing their best to convey.
It has some deep-seated bass roots for the beginner of the track, which is enticing from the get go with Mirror, pushing you into the unknown and building up the anticipation to take you on a rollercoaster of a lot of highs.
Mirror tells the perspective of both ASHY and Vallé from different stories of their lives, which gets those swirling thoughts going. From ASHY’s side of the tune, Mirror is about seeing someone like her on TV as a young child, which led her to the realisation that she’d never seen someone like herself in the media prior to this moment, a sad thought to look back on as everyone deserves to be celebrated, loved and certainly should be allowed their time to shine.
Mirror is a spectacular two-way on how you see yourself within the world, especially if you are deemed as different. It can take on many levels of meaning and each person who listens to the tune will take it on board in distinct fashion, each opinion different to the next. ASHY has done a great job with Mirror, ensuring that it is a forceful spice entwined with lyrics that will move you time and time again.
On the same coin, Vallé’s side of the song holds a lot inside of it, too. Vallé has dealt with the conflict of his roots and materialism - these two things can be contradictory to each other and tough to deal with at the same time as they of course, don’t always go hand in hand.
The melodies within the walls of Mirror bounce off the sides and make echoes in your mind with the way that the song releases the emotions and many powerful moments. ASHY and Vallé work brilliantly together - in my opinion, it was almost as though they were meant to have the opportunity to work with each other and create this modern song, which is ready for take off.
Mirror is my favourite track that has been released this week, for definite. I hold it at a high value and feel that the fact that ASHY and Vallé can embrace their feelings of their past and present, putting it into the future for others to hear really brings about a great type of hope.
Music can change your mentality and I feel that Mirror is going to be one of those songs for a lot of people, especially with the messages that both artists have been able to share with their audiences. It takes a lot to share your vulnerable thoughts to others and to speak about topics that will reach new heights, this amazes me and I hope that you enjoy Mirror as much as I have. Well done, ASHY and Vallé, you’ve made a tune that will go down well historically and will be the shining factor for many people worldwide.
You can find more ASHY and Vallé below -
ASHY:
Spotify
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Vallé:
New Music Review - ‘The World to Breathe’ by Fathom
Featuring news articles and handwritten notes, the above is the cover for both The World to Breathe single and the album with the same name, coming out this Friday!
Musical legend and instrument constructor extraordinaire, Nancy Howie, AKA Fathom is back with another uniquely crafted release, The World to Breathe.
Creator of fine instruments in her spare time and a piano tuner by trade, Fathom pours her soul into making sure her music is top notch and this certainly comes across with her latest track, The World to Breathe. Her folk-alternative sound swings from ceiling to ceiling, accelerating the passion for her projects, sending out incredibly different, yet wonderful sounds into the universe.
The World to Breathe has been inspired by how Fathom felt about the pandemic - her thoughts and feelings that have come about throughout the past two years and she tells us her view on what the world was like prior to the lockdowns and how difficult it has been to have everyone shrink their lives to fit inside their own homes to protect themselves and their loved ones. The past couple of years have been very trying times with things evolving at massively different rates each and every day, which requires us to just try and breathe through it, an important message that Fathom is conveying with this new 7-minute tune.
The soundscape for The World to Breathe will quite literally take your breath away with one sweep of listening - the way Fathom challenges her words and plays her unique instruments is like nothing that has been turned into music before and it makes me that much more curious to hear what else Fathom is hiding up her sleeve in terms of talent.
My favourite line from The World to Breathe is “it’s okay not to be okay” and while that term is heard quite often, it doesn’t always get taken on board, which it should and I am grateful that Fathom has decided to use this line to remind us all that it is perfectly fine to not feel 100% all the time.
Check out the video and song below to get a further insight into Fathom and what is important to her. I think the video is very well done and has an array of different topics to it.
Get ready for Fathom’s album being released this Friday with the same name - it’s going to be one to sink your teeth into. Fathom is one talented lady, so don’t pass up the opportunity to get to know her before she takes off in the folk-alternate music world! Hands down pure brilliance.
Make sure you check out Fathom on all of her social links below for more -
New Music Review - ‘Chasing Sunsets’ by SOJØURN
SOJØURN always have the best art for their covers - a smashing piece by Gwil.
Welcome to your new musical obsession of 2022!
Chasing Sunsets is the fresh off-the-radar tune by my pals from Mangawhai, SOJØURN, released yesterday and has become the highlight of my entire week and is the best song that has come out of 2022 thus far.
Chasing Sunsets offers up those tasty, sun shining vibes that they are all about, infused with their psyche-reggae pops of inspiration that have been carefully put together with the help of Connor Jaine from Mako Road who helped with production.
Quickly becoming one of my favourite bands, I find it hard to dislike any music that SOJØURN put out, every time they send out a release, it is next level top notch and Chasing Sunsets really proves that with how easy it is to be able to catch onto it. The SOJØURN guys tend to give you those inevitable positive feels through their juicy, light tunes that will have you up and dancing in the warmth of nature.
Chasing Sunsets literally makes me want to do what the song talks about - jump in my car with a bunch of blankets, some friends and take off on an epic road trip of Aotearoa, seeing all the sunsets that the country has to offer, with SOJØURN blasting through the speakers the entire trip (which will, of course, make me their top listener of 2022, surely).
There are no hurdles or boundaries while listening to Chasing Sunsets, it just flows so seamlessly, like the most beautiful waterfall you’ve seen, allowing you to forget everything for a few minutes and breathe in the freshness of the air and their music. Marvellous.
SOJØURN have this epic, magic aura about them that they send out and slightly off topic, I found this during the interview with them late last year (which you can read here!). It shines through in all of the tunes they take the time to work on and release. It’s hard not to enjoy this song - I’ve found myself just singing it non-stop since the release and it’s on constant repeat in my mind and on Spotify, which is no surprise.
If you want to have a good weekend, I would advise you to jump in your car and make sure that this is the first song that is on your playlist. Heck. Even the only song on your playlist because honestly, this track deserves to be heard by everyone in the world, including all the grandparents out there, your animals, etc. Just let every person you know that they need to hear this glorious tune that will have them absolutely thriving for the entire year. Fun!
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You can find more SOJØURN below -
New Music Review - ‘Toni Hawke’ by Hot Sauce Club
Well, you can tell the guys are definitely Dunedin-ites with the art for Toni Hawke! Photo by Jude Stevens and design by Zara Cook.
They’re saucy, just as their name suggests and so is local Dunedin student band, Hot Sauce Club’s latest release, Toni Hawke. (Not to be confused with Tony Hawk, the skateboarding legend.)
This electric-rock infused track will have you flying off the handle quite literally. It will take you for a ride to funky town and all the way back with it’s energetic, 80’s rock ‘n’ roll vibes. It’s cheeky, fun and showcases the southern student life the way it has been mixed down and recorded.
Hot Sauce Club have been recently popping up on gig posters and with good reason - they have mad power skills with their talented ways and let me confirm to you that Toni Hawke just proves how excellent student bands can be, they have ambition beyond belief and will stop at nothing to prove their worthiness to be in the music industry.
Toni Hawke is one of the songs off Hot Sauce Club’s forthcoming debut album, Shower Beers, which is going to be unleashed in February, so make sure you’re on the lookout for that one because it is going to be exceptionally steamy.
It’s easy to follow Toni Hawke with it’s thorough likeability and the tune has many hooks that will make you want to jump on couches at a flat party on Castle Street, but keep the burning couches out of it (if you get this reference, you’re definitely Kiwi.)
Grungy vocals drive Toni Hawke, which makes it an absolute jam, alongside the heavy duty drum and electric guitar work. It’s charged full of oomph and you’re going to find it hard to wait for the album to be released once you hear this banger.
The song from what I can gather is about a girl called Toni Hawke who appears to also be a skateboard lover, just like the living legend and the Hot Sauce Club guys are trying to figure her out, but not in the way you’d think. Toni sounds like she might be a bit of a reckless party princess who has no care or worry in the world about her actions. I guess that is open to interpretation and is my opinion on what the storyline may be going along the lines of.
Get on your board right now and grab some beers - see you at the party tonight with Hot Sauce Club as the main act!
Find more Hot Sauce Club below -
New Music Review - ‘Follow Me’ by The Raddlers
The delightfully wonderful artwork for Follow Me! Art by Megan Grautstuck. This really depicts what the band are all about.
It’s so good to see you again, how you been, my friend?
The Raddlers are here to exclaim that they aren’t playing around with their single, Follow Me, released on Friday last week and wow, what a release to start this year feeling fresher than ever.
Follow Me is dashing, fun and certainly a step in a slightly different direction for The Raddlers, who are always looking to expand and improve on what they have previously created.
I personally wonder each time how this five-piece can consistently keep making delightful music when they’ve already released such top quality EPs in the past, however, they certainly have hit the nail in the board harder with Follow Me, a release so powerful that makes you want to dance around at 3am. (Can confirm this is 100% accurate and based on true thoughts).
Follow Me is down-to-earth and sends out all of those signals telling you that The Raddlers are back and ready for a big 2022. Get your best shoes on and let’s get dancing!
Living in different cities doesn’t stop these five talented lads coming together to create such tunes that will have you gripped from the moment you hear them, a very special thing that they are able to balance and do. The Raddlers may sometimes be far apart, but they piece the puzzle back together each and every time to bring us a sizzler. Careful, this track is far warmer than you think. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.
The Raddlers are not shy on showing emotion or even putting everything on the line musically to bring us only the best of what they have to offer, which really pulls through on their first single release since 2020.
Follow Me has some great grooves and some hooks that are highly energetic and will have you wishing you could be on stage with the band when you hear it at their upcoming tour. (Tickets available now!)
I like how thoughtful it is, yet it is not a hard song to tune into. You can feel the depth, but you can also feel the lightness at the same time, something that The Raddlers are more than capable of doing time and time again, without it getting stale.
You’ve got some fun aspects of the track - from moments of claps to either a tambourine or some egg shakers thrown in which take it to another level of pizazz. Bloody lovely.
Honestly, everything that is encompassed within Follow Me feels like you’re sitting down with an old friend and absolutely smashing life which is something I personally love to hear.
This is a song that you need to listen to, then recommend it to your pals and then they recommend it to their pals, so on and so forth. Just whatever you do, don’t think “I’ll listen to it later” and come back a year on and have not listened to it. You need Follow Me in your life right now. Don’t waste time, get on your bike and head over to Spotify to have an epic jam fest.
Fun fact: The Raddlers were my first ever write-up and interview for the blog, if you wish to check it out, you can read the interview here.
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Follow Me (no, sorry, The Raddlers) below!
Hey there, thanks for reading this review, you’re too awesome and I like that. If you’d like to get in touch with me regarding any reviews/interviews or features, please see the top of the site (Instagram is best) to chat.
New Music Review - ‘The Tapes’ Album by Wells*
Another present received in 2021 - Wells* released this incredible album on the 23rd December, with heartfelt emotion and many different paths of stories. Image credit: Wells* Instagram.
Wells* has recently given us a gift in the form of a 16-track album of songs, old and new, on his newest art in the form of The Tapes Etc.
The Tapes Etc opens up a world of entirely new possibilities with all of the tracks that Wells* has put out there for us to have a listen to. The album feels very thoughtful and like a whole lifetime of stories that he has been wanting to tell us and is finally able to do so with these magical paragraphs that have been put into words that can not be described as anything less than shining stars. Sit back, take your pick of a song and settle down with a coffee to have a listen and read this review at the same time.
The Tapes Etc is a treat of an album and Wells* shares his depth with us and really drives us to another city with every unique mix that is tied together. You’ve got everything from acoustic to mid-bass to pop elements and it doesn’t go unappreciated how each song is relatively unlike the last.
Therapy Summer is one of my personal favourites off the album, it’s a rather chilled out song and it holds a lot of emotion in it, exuding quite a power play within the range of vocalism and sunshine it lets out. This is possibly the most danceable song off the entire album and incredibly well sung, too.
Jealous is a highly enjoyable tune - it expresses just how Wells* feels about someone he cares about and he tends to get in the zone with this upbeat song that will have you feeling Jealous on behalf of the girl that he is singing about. It is a light-hearted song that doesn’t intend to make anyone feel hurt, it’s just thoughts inside his head explained. Very easy to feel parallel with.
Depressed is pretty self explanatory - however, though this is also quite light-hearted, I do just want to advise that while it may be relatable, it is about depression and if you’re feeling this way, make sure to talk to a professional. Depressed is especially catchy and you’ll be singing it in the shower, for definite. Wells* certainly likes to name his songs after emotions, which is quite a fun concept and helps him remain true to what his particular music style is. Very Wells* like. Love it.
Any Time Soon comes across as a near break-up song in a way. Wells* sings about thinking his partner is going to be cutting him loose soon and how he is hurt by the actions previously carried out by this particular person. They’ve tried to piece him back together, however, he mentions he never felt glued together. Any Time Soon will give take you on a metaphorical rollercoaster and take you to new heights. A stunning track.
As The Tapes Etc is quite a romantic-based album for 99% of the tunes, it may not be for everybody, however the way it has been curated and clearly thought out makes it a really wonderous listen. I would recommend at least checking out a few of the tracks before you make up your mind on what you think about it. Overall, the concept of the album and what Wells* puts out is pure gold.
Wells* is a lyrical genius, can we all just agree on that one?! I really cannot wait for more music from him and with his collaborators in the future.
Find more Wells* below -
Hi! If you’re reading this and you’re looking to be featured on the blog in 2022, please touch base. I am looking at writing a lot more this year and am a bit stuck for reviews/interviews at the present time. Recently, I have been writing reviews of international artists, as well as New Zealand artists, so please touch base. Email, Instagram and Facebook are at the top of the website.
New Music Review - ‘Goof’ by Retro Valley
Goof is out now!
Honestly, the shadow had me feeling like I was looking at an optical illusion at first. Total 90s vibe with the static TV background and the voodoo doll. Great job, Retro Valley!
It has been a hot minute since Hamilton-based Retro Valley have released a song for our waiting eardrums and they have now bought out their latest song, Goof.
Retro Valley are great at creating their own thoughtful, sunny sound and Goof goes to show that they have been thinking long and hard about what to write for their follow-up from Who’s to Say, released earlier this year. Bringing the matured nature of their music to the scene for the ending of 2021, Retro Valley have really surprised me with Goof - even more than I thought!
Where some of their other songs have been more soft-pop, Goof can definitely be perceived as that indie-rock vibe that the guys are certainly expressing. It has a great blend of growth and spice, two things that make a fresh new song quite enticing to listeners, so they have nailed it with this new journey that they are going on.
Goof is a really great party song and I feel that this one will be quite the dance-starter at Retro Valley’s future gigs. It has that feeling about it that you just know so many people will be all over this one. (Try to, you know, not jump on the stage with excitement when the band end up chucking this one at you!)
The song brings it in with a ~retro (aha, get it!) electric guitar and it pops off with class which makes you go, “oh! This is going to be excellent” and you’re not mistaken if you think that. Nice work.
Goof takes you out and wants to promise you a damn fiery, good time. Imagine fireworks night, this song playing along to the display - perfect for that type of situation and Goof also showcases Retro Valley’s musicality which I know is very important for the guys to be able to show to the world.
This is one of their favourite songs they’ve created as a band and to have it out there for people to listen to is such an epic achievement for these lads.
Get around it and stream Goof now. There is no time like the present!
More Retro Valley on Welcome to the Gig -
Who’s to Say Review
Follow along with Retro Valley at the below -
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.