13th Floor MusicTalk

Auckland singer/songwriter Macey has just released his second album titled Once . The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to Macey about how his time in London inspired the songs that became Once.

We celebrate US Independence Day (#250 if you’re counting) with this conversation with Low Cut Connie about his new album, Livin In The USA . The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to Connie (aka Adam Weiner ) just as release day and Independence Day was upon him. For Connie, Livin In The USA has changed him from being the frontman of a “fun, weird, goofy rock & roll band” into a spokesman for dive...

Keren Mara is a Christchurch-based singer/songwriter who has just released her debut mini-album, Falling . The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Keren about the 7 songs that make up Falling , a project that was three years in the making!

With over 5 million followers, Rick Beato is one of the hottest music commentators on YouTube, and for the first time, he’s bringing his live show to New Zealand. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda had a quick word with the very busy Mr. Beato, but covered a lot of ground, including his views on technology vs creativity, breaking down a song without losing its magic, old people making new music and the r...

Delaney Davidson has just released his new solo album, Baby Heavyweight, and is about to tour New Zealand in support of this mesmerizing collection of songs. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Delaney on the eve of release day and found out that Baby Heavyweight is something of a concept album and that concept involves the fall of Lucifer. Watch and listen as Delaney explains.

Christchurch-based, South African-born singer/songwriter Lee Martin is about to release her 4th album, titled Marlene . The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Lee about making Marlene ....who Marlene is...and what to expect at her upcoming album release show.

The Veils are on the verge of releasing their 8th album, Fragile World , recorded live to tape at Roundhead Studios in Auckland. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Finn Andrews , just days after he became a dad for the second time, about the advantages of recording "live to tape", his relationship with his own father and labouring under the weight of this Fragile World.

The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to Damned drummer Rat Scabies who was breakfasting at home. Rat sheds some light on how and why they decided to shake things up 50 years ago…what it was like working with producers Nick Lowe and Shel Talmy …and the significance of their recent headlining show at the OVO Arena at Wembley.

Joan As Police Woman is about to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her debut album with Real Life Evolution ...new versions of old songs, re-imagined and re-recorded. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Joan, who was home in New York City, about how and why she decided to re-make Real Life , including recording one track in New Zealand with Iggy Pop . Joan talks about joining Iggy's band, her upc...

The founding member and front man for Silversun Pickups is anticipating his first show in New Zealand as the Tenterhooks Tour travels Down Under in July. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Brian Aubert about the band's 25 year career arc...about working with ace producer Butch Vig ...and performing at Ringo Starr's birthday party.

Red Rockers came to us from New Orleans by way of San Fransisco becoming part of the West Coast punk scene that included The Dead Kennedys, Wire Train, Romeo Void and Translator. Marty Duda spoke to bass player and songwriter Darren Hill about their 2023 reunion that resulted in this new album and concert video titled It's In Our Blood . Darren reveals how he felt about being called the "American...

Peter Case has released a new live album, My Life To Live: Peter Case at McCabe's . And what a life he's lived! Marty Duda tracked Peter down to his home in San Francisco just as the 72 year-old "song performer" came off the road...but only briefly. Listen and watch as Peter talks about the fine art of talking to an audience, his days with The Nerves and The Plimsouls and how he has become a "full...

Austin psych-meisters The Black Angels are heading down under! The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to head Angel Alex Mass about celebrating 20 years of their debut album, Passover, and how they have become both afraid and powerful at the same time.

Matt Berninger , the voice of The National , is coming down under, playing solo shows at the Sydney Opera House and Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Matt, who was home in Connecticut, about what National fans can expect, why earplugs will not be necessary and what new songs we might be privy to.

ELskan FLY is Shelley Wya tt, a Canadian-born singer-songwriter now based in Kirwee, on New Zealand's South Island. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Shelley about making her new album, Lion Den and what brought her from the "prairie seas" of Manitoba to the Canterbury plains.

Teddy Thompson has just released Never Be The Same , his first collection of new, original songs in six years. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda found Teddy at home in Brooklyn just as the new album was about to "drop". Watch and listen as Teddy talks about Crowded House, David Mansfield and...cake.

The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Suzanne about returning to Auckland, where she and her now-ex husband Mitchell Froom spent some quality time with Neil Finn years ago. Mitchell is now a member of Crowded House and Suzanne is preparing to make her way back to New Zealand. Marty touches on a number of topics with Suzanne including the time she was interviewed by Lou Reed on MTV (they talked abou...

London-based sonic outfit Public Service Broadcasting will enter New Zealand’s orbit, performing music from their latest album The Last Flight at Auckland's Powerstation. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to founding member J. Willgoose, Esq . about the band's exploits since they were last here in 2018 and what they have up their collective sleeves this time around. In this special tour, Public Se...

Direct from Nashville, by way of Sandy Hook, Kentucky (pop. 641)…here is Leah Blevins to talk about her new, Dan Auerbach -produced album, All Dressed Up . The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to Leah….who is now based in Nashville…just as All Dressed Up hit the streets. Watch and listen as she tells up about growing up in Sandy Hook, working with The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and opening for The Blac...

Gary Klebe is a founding member of power-pop pioneers, Shoes . Forty-nine years after their debut album was released, Gary has finally made his solo debut with a long-player called Out Loud . The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda found Gary at home in Zion, Illinois to find out why he went solo after all these years and what is the status of Shoes.

After just entering his 40s, Ali Whitton has released his debut solo album today, titled Between The Forest And The Stars …10 original songs co-produced by Dave Khan and Reb Fountain . The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to Ali from his home in Wellington, just before the big day, and found out that the Kiwi/Brit was thinking about throwing in the towel and concentrating on gardening. Fortuately for...

Sparks is coming to New Zealand for the first time in their 55+ year career...how and why have the Mael Brothers covered so much musical territory and managed to remain vital? Ron Mael tells all. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda has been a fan of Sparks since he saw them in concert in 1975. So he had a lot of questions for older Mael brother Ron. At age 80, and with no sign of slowing down, Ron fields...

With The Waterboys slated to start touring in May with dates throughout New Zealand and Australia, we figured it was time to catch up with head Waterboy Mike Scott. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda found Scott in Dublin where he had plenty to say….about Dennis Hopper, Steve Earle, Fisherman’s Blues and trolling through 80 reels of tape. Be sure to catch the band on tour…they are on fire!

Are you ready for Mogan David and The Winos ? The band was formed in LA over 50 years ago by a group of University students who would become movers and shakers and the music biz. Now, their own music is available on Liberation Hall and its called, Savage Young Winos . The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to Harold Bronson who, in addition to being a founding member of the Winos, co-founded Rhino Reco...

Coromandel-based electronic artist Matt Sephton has just released a new album titled, Vā , 11 tracks made from field recordings, found sounds, hydrophone experiments, collaborations with the land and people and bass heavy electronic production. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda found Matt at home on the eve of release day and talked to him about how he has become a “sound weaver”.