Sax and pedal steel duo deliver 'mind-melting' improvisation to NZ audiences

When Shepherds Reign, a five piece band from South Auckland, were nominated for the prestigious Taite Music Prize this week their Pacific metal music was broadcast on Breakfast television and radio stations across the nation. Often side-lined in the mainstream, the New Zealand metal scene is thriving, and about to converge at Spark Arena for Disturbed, where Shepherds Reign will play support. Oliver Leupolu (guitar/production) and Filiva'a James (vocals and keytar) join Charlotte Ryan in the RNZ studio. If you're not heading to DISTURBED, you can catch Shepherds Reign at Wellington's CubaDupa festival Saturday, March 23rd.

American soul singer Teddy Swims may have blown up on the charts, but it was New Zealand that fell hard for him first. His breakout song 'Lose Control' was the number 1 radio song here for 11 weeks running and reached the top 10 across Europe, the US and UK, taking with it his debut album I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1). It's a bittersweet success of an album written while his relationship was breaking down, Swims tells Charlotte Ryan.

From his cult radio show as The Wizard in the 1980s to forming the techno collective Underground Resistance, then Axis Records, many call Jeff Mills a dance music legend. He's performing at the Auckland Town Hall with his improv group Tomorrow Comes The Harvest, creating brand new sounds on the night with veteran keyboardist Jean-Phi Dary and tabla virtuoso Prabhu Edouard. Jeff Mills speaks to Charlotte Ryan from his home in Paris about how his new show works, and the state of today's dance music scene.

After finding the traditional classical world "an intense, competitive place" post-classical composer Rose Riebl found comfort in her rule-breaking minimalist music. Rose is signed to the independent label Inni in Iceland, a place she describes as an "artistic mecca". She talks to Maggie Tweedie about why creatives are so drawn to the island.

Pitchfork named Real Estate's 'Daniel' one of the most anticipated albums of 2024, yet it's since been announced the platform will be folded into GQ. Singer Martin Courtney talks to Maggie Tweedie about how music journalism cemented the future of his band, and why the ecosystem surrounding music is needed to make a living as a musician.

Ben and Louis Helliker-Hales are Chaos in The CBD. The Kiwi brothers have been living in London for over a decade, becoming an essential part of the global dance community and playing at the top house clubs. Maggie Tweedie catches up on their touring life abroad, and a special music collaboration with another Aotearoa treasure, Nathan Haines. NZ shows: Fri Mar 8th, 2024, The Powerstation, Auckland Fri Mar 15th, 2024, San Fran, Wellington Twominds Festival in Otautahi Christchurch.

Taite Music Prize winning artist Jazmine Mary brings their electric guitar into the RNZ studio to share a song ahead of their show at the Hamilton Gardens next Sunday. After releasing the album 'Dog' last year, Jazmine Mary has been travelling, opening for international acts Kurt Vile, Billy Bragg, Gang Of Youths, as well as touring the country in support of Reb Fountain. They are back in Aotearoa and about to play a very special show as part of the Hamilton Arts Festival. The Hamilton Arts Festival runs from 23 Feb - 3 March.

Pixie Williams is a National treasure. She was New Zealand's first ever pop star - releasing 'Blue Smoke in 1948. In 2021 a tribute album to Pixie Williams was recorded called 'The New Blue' featuring Whirimako Black, Anna Coddington, Rachel Fraser, Kirsten Te Rito and Lisa Tomlins, all singing songs of Pixie Williams. Some of those singers are performing in Wellington for the Fringe Festival in a show called The New Blue - a Portrait of Pixie Williams Lisa Tomlins joins Charlotte Ryan from Poneke, Wellington.

For the first time in four years St Jerome's Laneway Festival has returned to Auckland. Charlotte Ryan was on the field at Western Springs catching up with some of her favourite acts.

Auckland hip-hop artist Tom Scott says the release of a new album from his hip-hop group Home Brew last year came as a surprise even to him. He shares some beloved tracks that inspired Run It Back and chats to Charlotte Ryan about personal evolution, sobriety and why he walked out of a Kim Hill interview in 2016.