Music 101

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.

J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. chats to Charlotte about his decades of music making.

From big hitters like Laneway happening this week to Lyttleton's Port Noise, there are lots of excuses to be out and about in the festival spirit. Charlotte picks top tracks from artists in festival line-ups, and Christchurch musician Adam Hattaway phones in from Little River Festival.

Charlotte Ryan caught up with Calexico vocalist, guitarist and co-founder Joey Burns

DJ and producer Christopher Tubbs joins Maggie in the Wellington studio to discuss how he approaches long DJ sets and the influence that Balearic music has had on his own musical journey.

Sonya Waters is a musician and producer who has fronted three New Zealand bands - Fang, The Instigators and White Swan Black Swan. Having played in punk and shoegaze bands, she turned to ambient music as something she said was entirely her own. During the Covid lockdown, Sonya recorded her album The Sheltering Ranges as an ode to Wellingtons' ever-changing weather and striking landscapes. RNZ's name sake Sonya Ishimnikova visited Sonya's studio to reflect on her musical journey

Music 101's Charlotte Ryan meets the frontman of American Band Spoon. Shapeshifter's P Diggs reconnects with his Cook Island heritage through music. T.G Shand shares her glittering new EP Cinnamon. Maggie Tweedie reveals new songs from Eljé, Hummicide and Courtney Barnett.

NZ Music legend Don McGlashan is set to embark on a 18-date tour of Aotearoa across August, September & October. The Take It To The Bridge Tour will showcase McGlashan's extensive songbook in hand-picked intimate venues throughout the country. We speak to the Mutton Birds front man and much loved solo artist about the tour and his love for Bridges, both musical and physical.

RSD Vinyl Countdown New Plymouth

Port Noise is a brand new festival happening in Lyttelton next Saturday 11th March featuring a wide array of genres, from improv noise legends The Dead C, to hip hop from Phodiso, Voom, Womb and a whole lot more.

Te Matatini - Our national kapa haka competition has been held at Eden Park this week attracting teams from throughout Aotearoa. The finals are being held this afternoon - Shannon Haunui - Thompson our Tumu Maori ki RNZ - Joined us from the finals.