On The Record with Play It Strange

It can be hard finding your identity as an artist and knowing how to best represent yourself. Zaidoon Nasit, aka alternative hip hop artist WHOSHOTSCOTT, sits down with Chaii to speak about building your artist brand. 

From performing at New Zealand's biggest music festivals, supporting Kehlani on her NZ/Australia arena tour, to performing her song "Power" on stage with Coldplay last year, Jess B knows a thing or two about live performances. Our host Chaii sits down with Jess B to talk about the journey so far. 

Being in the creative industry can be hard on the mind and heart. Chaii sits down with Carmel Bennett from MusicHelps to speak about resources accessible to artists & workers in the creative industry on how to support their wellbeing. 

Chaii learns about the world of Waiata reo with Hana Mereraiha. From working alongside Dame Hinewehi Mohi to rewrite chart-topping songs in Te reo Māori to translating Disney Pixar's te reo versions of Moana 2, The Lion King, Coco, and Encanto, Hana is a Taonga in the Waiata Reo space. 

In this episode, Chaii sits down with Alayna, a singer-songwriter and Play It Strange alumni whose music has amassed over 70 million streams worldwide. Having collaborated with some of the industry's leading songwriters, Alayna shares her advice on honing your craft and taking your songwriting to the next level. 

Chaii sits down with Pennie Black, Director of Concord NZ, to unpack everything you need to know about music publishing. What is music publishing? Why is it important to protect your rights? How can you get your music synced? All your questions answered.

In this episode, our guest, Mazbou Q, is both an educator and practitioner of "rap science." He has guest lectured at Harvard University, Berklee College of Music, Louisiana State University, and other leading institutions. Chaii sits down with The Rap Scientist himself to talk flow, polyrhythms, lyricism, and how to elevate your music within the rap and hip-hop genre. 

Wondering how to get your music onto streaming platforms? DRM is New Zealand's leading digital rights management and music distribution specialist. Director of DRM Jody Garrett chats with Chaii about everything distribution and how to elevate your music releases!

After 3 years of stadium summer tours, Six60 know a thing or two about life on the road. In this episode, Chaii sits down with Chris Mac of Six60 to talk about the realities of touring. 

As an artist wanting to emerge into the music industry, the biggest question is, "Where do I start?" After becoming a Play It Strange winner, landing 4 singles in the TOP 20 hot singles chart, and touring across Aotearoa at just 18 years old, we ask Emerson, "How to get started"

Diversifying your income as an artist – and why it matters Making your creative career sustainable in Aotearoa Juggling multiple roles without burning out Avoiding pigeonholing yourself into one genre or part of the industry

How APRA and Recorded Music NZ can help you The difference between songwriter, master and synchronisation rights How to negotiate a split  Who to contact if you’re recording a cover And what to do if you’re sampling

Being mentally prepared for the music business How to protect your mental health when things start to go wrong What to look out for in contracts And the importance of self-care

What you can do to promote your song, and when Why your EPK is like a corner dairy  How to communicate personal boundaries  Be friendly, be authentic, and don’t be a d*ck

The different types of funding available for musicians When to apply for what, depending on your career stage How New Music Single funding works What NZ On Air looks for in applications — and common mistakes

How Billie Eilish helped Paige grow from 800 online followers to over 140,000 Only making content that’s true and enjoyable to you — and why it works How to stand out amongst all the noise And tips for artists starting out on social media

Who to contact to get your song played on air What your email should (and shouldn’t) include How to pitch for radio interviews And why community radio is key to supporting emerging artists

How to prepare for your day in a recording studio Who you should (and shouldn’t) bring with you What a day in the studio actually looks like  …and what not to wear.

What gear you actually need to record at home (spoiler: not much) DAWs, demos, mics, and mixing – breaking down the basics The difference between a producer and an engineer – and when you’re both Why you should start with your friends, trust your ears, and follow the excitement

In 40+ years of songwriting, why does Don still start with a notebook? Balancing personal expression with the listener’s experience. Staying curious and always learning. And finding the right metaphors, words, and imagery that will hold meaning in the test of time.