Kiwi MusicTalk: New Zealanders Talk About Their Music

Valkyrie  is a hard rocking outfit from Auckland who have just released their new album,  Joyride . Here’s vocalist  Omer Gilroy  to tell all. Marty Duda  spoke to Omer who was in South Auckland, taking a wee break after celebrating the release of  Joyride , opening for  Six60  and roaming the Nevada desert.

Marty Duda  spoke to  Estére  just as  Makara Peak  was about to “drop”. Tune in as we go track-by-track through the EP and find out why the French language is integral to her sound.

Bird Machine  is Jenna and Luke Grbin, the husband and wife duo based in Hamilton who have just released their debut EP. Marty Duda  spoke to Jenna and Luke about how they got together and how they made this music while raising a family and working and studying full time. 

Marty Duda  spoke to Greg Johnson who was home in Los Angeles where he just released his new single,  Nothing Grows On Mars . Greg will be in NZ during the new years to play a few festivals…Selwyn Sounds, Hutt Sounds and Hokitika Wildfoods.

Goodnight My Darling  is the latest music moniker from Wellington artist  Maxine Macaulay . Maxine recently moved back to NZ from Berlin and her new album is a thing of beauty. Marty Duda  spoke to Maxine about making the new album and what inspired the new identity and the change in style of music.

Alisa Xayalith,  one half of Kiwi duo  The Naked And Famous , releases her debut solo EP,  Super Powers , tomorrow. Here she is today to tell is about it. Marty Duda  found Alisa in Los Angeles where she is “spinning plates”, kick-starting her solo career as a self-managed artist. Yes, she’s busy and maybe a bit stressed, but also quite excited.

Adam Hattaway and The Haunters  have just released their fifth album,  Bug Eyes . Here’s Adam, direct from Christchurch to tell us all about it. Marty Duda  spoke to Adam days after the release of  Bug Eyes . Adam has been a busy boy…he and the Haunters just played an album release show at The Wine Cellar and Adam has performed with a band of Kiwi All-stars for the Come Togethe...

Womb  have released their second album for Flying Nun Records. It is titled  Dreaming Of The Future Again  and here are Cello and Georgette to tell us all about it. Marty Duda  spoke to two of the three members of Womb (brother Haz Forrester was otherwise occupied) and we go inside the making of the new record and eventually discuss…mushrooms.

Find out by listening to  John Billows  as he talks to us from Christchurch. Marty Duda  spoke to John on the day  Sequela  was released. In addition to John Billows (Renderers/Dark Matter), the band is made up of  David Mulcahy  (JPSE/Superette) and  Mark Whyte  (Into The Void). Together they make a sound that is best described as bleak. Enjoy!

Paul Gurney  has just released his second solo album,  Blue Horizon . You may know Paul as the frontman for Auckland band  The DeSotos . Here he tells us why this needed to be a solo effort.  Marty Duda  spoke to Paul who was home in Auckland. Much of  Blue Horizon  was recorded at Roundhead Studios with the help of Paul’s longtime friend and producer  Bob S...

SJD  (aka  Sean James Donnelly ) has just released his new album titled  Sweetheart . Now based in Dunedin, here is Sean to tell us how  Sweetheart  came together.  Marty Duda  spoke to SJD about making the new record and recruiting friends such as  Tami Neilson, Don McGlashan, Julia Deans, Lawrence Arabia  and  Anika Moa  to help out.

Miller Yule  has released his new album,  Let It Burn , celebrating with a stunning show at Galatos. Here he is to tell us how it all came to pass. Marty Duda  attended the show and listened to the album before chatting with Miller who was at his dad’s studio in Ponsonby. Miller’s dad is renown recording engineer  Phil Yule  so music was always in Miller’s future…or was it...

The D4  released their debut album 21 years ago and today they give it the reissue treatment with a new vinyl pressing and cool new liner notes and photos (and some live shows). Marty Duda  spoke to guitarist  Dion Lunadon  who was home in New York getting ready to celebrate the band’s 21st and preparing to head back to New Zealand for a series of live shows in March.

Deva Mahal  is in Wellington ready to tell us about her new EP,  Future Classic: Vol 1  and her tour kicking off on November 4th. Marty Duda  spoke to Deva about making her music after suffering through lockdown and how she connected with those “bedroom vibes”.

Troy Kingi  has just released  Year Of The Ratbags and Their Musty Theme Songs   and he and his band with perform one show only at Auckland’s Powerstation. Here he is to explain. Marty Duda  spoke to Troy earlier today to get the inside scoop one his show at The Powerstation this Friday. According to Troy, the sound of his 8-piece band is HUGE. With the music inspired by the so...

Racing  have released their second album,  Must Be The Moon , after a long, COVID-induced delay. Here’s front man  Ed Knowles  to tell us what it feels like to have it finally out there. Marty Duda  spoke to Ed who was home in Auckland. As it turns out,  Must Be The Moon   was years in the making, although that never was the plan. Now prepare for “A massive relea...

Tom Cunliffe  has released his third album,  Secret Exhibition . Here is the Auckland-based singer-songwriter to tell us how it all came together. Marty Duda  spoke to Tom shortly after  Secret Exhibition   was released on a peaceful Sunday morning…the perfect time to discuss  John Cale, Leonard Cohen  and  Harry Nilsson …all of whom influence the music that...

The Beths  are back with their third album,  Expert In A Dying Field . Here are Elizabeth and Jonathan to tell us all about it. Marty Duda  spoke to  Elizabeth Stokes  and  Jonathan Pearce  about making  Expert In A Dying Field  and what we can expect when the band tours New Zealand later this month.

Mel Parsons  has just released her 5th studio album,  Slow Burn , and here is Mel herself to give us the inside story about the album.  Marty Duda  spoke to  Mel Parsons , who was home in Christchurch, about making  Slow Burn.   Mel will be touring New Zealand in support of the album. Be sure to catch the live show!

Rory Noble  is an internationally acclaimed producer who is making his own music here in NZ. His new EP is titled,  Where Do We Go When The World Ends . Marty Duda  spoke to Rory who we found at his  Five AM Limited  recording studio in Auckland. Rory takes us through all five tracks of the new EP and explains how the Fielding Country Music Club influenced his own mus...

Recitals  are the latest hot, new band on Flying Nun. Their debut album is  Orbit I. Here are Tharushi and Olivia to tell us how this unique 7-piece comes together.  Marty Duda  spoke to trumpet player  Tharushi Bowatte  and cello player  Olivia Wilding  just before the new album was about to be unleashed. Here is their story.

Bret McKenzie  releases his new solo album,  Songs Without Jokes  this Friday. Here is the former  Black Seeds/Flight Of The Conchords  member to tell us all about it. Marty Duda  spoke to Bret who was home in Wellington riding out another winter storm. With a new album out (on Sub Pop) Friday and a NZ tour to follow, Bret’s got plenty to talk about.

Tami Neilson  is on top of the world. Her new album,  Kingmaker   is a game changer and her show with the APO was among the year’s best. Marty Duda  spoke to Tami and unashamedly gushed about how wonderful she is. But then we get down to the nitty gritty… The “F” Word and why women have been locked out of Country radio…thoughts on  Brandi Carlile  and J oni Mitchell &...

Ben Woods  has been hanging out with  Ben Edwards  in Lyttelton making his latest album  Dispeller . Now he’s ready to take his show on the road. Marty Duda  spoke to Ben about making  Dispeller  with Ben Edwards at  The Sitting Room  and contributions from friends like  Alastair Galbraith, Charlotte Forrester  and  Marlon Williams. 

Arahi is an up and coming Kiwi artist who is about to take his show on the road with his There's Nothing Like It Piano Tour . Marty Duda found Arahi at his mother's house in Hawke's Bay ready to talk. So, let's find out who this Arahi is!