Kiwi musicians making waves overseas
Written by
It wasn't that long ago when a NZ band going offshore to further their musical career was quite a big deal, a newsworthy item in itself. These days a local act heading abroad isn't uncommon and long may this continue to be so.
It wasn't that long ago when a NZ band going offshore to further their musical career was quite a big deal, a newsworthy item in itself. These days a local act heading abroad isn't uncommon and long may this continue to be so.
For the world is now filled with incredible Kiwi musicians making incredible music. Lorde, The Naked & Famous, Willy Moon, Kimbra, Tiny Ruins, Ladi6, Liam Finn – from the US to Japan to Europe, you probably can’t swing a cat without hitting someone who knows one of those names.
Hot on their heels is the current wave of musicians carving out their niche on foreign soil. Whether its barbershop, death metal or experimental noise, the world is their oyster and they're not afraid to sing it out loud and proud.
They don't come much more ambitious than Janine Foster. The Brooklyn-based r&b singer, producer and beatmaker has been composing and creating her own songs for many years now, most of them multi-instrumental and entirely played and recorded by her.
Now working with Dawn Raid in New Zealand, she released her Dark Mind EP at the end of last year which is currently burning up the US itunes album and R&B Charts. The video for her second single Hold Me debuted on the US Billboard website, marking her as one to watch. She is currently recording her debut album in New York.
Siblings Georgia and Caleb Nott have had quite a year, with their first single Bridges, released in October 2013, jettisoning them to international recognition almost over night. By December 2013 the duo had signed with Capitol Records worldwide and Polydor in Europe and the UK.
Broods are currently on a tour of the US, where their atmospheric downbeat synth-pop is selling out venues all over the place. You can follow Georgia Nott’s tour diary over at the NZ Herald website.
Sister duo Clementine and Valentine Nixon aka Purple Pilgrims hail from Christchurch, via some time spent growing up in Hong Kong. Raised in an environment of “free learning,” and coming from a long line of traveller folk musicians, the pair began making dreamy, oceanic soundscapes together in 2011. The sisters create ‘zines and visual art as well.
Using their ever-growing network of artist and musician friends, the group have pushed their music out to the world as organically as possible, preferring to let it speak for itself. As a result they connected with NYC experimentalist Gary War (who they claim they found in the desert in Southern California), later releasing a split LP with him on UK label Upset The Rhythm in 2013. Their side of the record was featured on Pitchfork in November of last year, and they have since played an endless stream of shows throughout the US, the UK and Europe alongside War, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti and Ensemble Ecconomique.
Death metal band Ulcerate have been around since 2000 and have spent the last decade-and-a-bit slowly honing their craft and raising their profile here and overseas.
Now reaping the rewards of all that hard work, the group have signed to Relapse Records in the US – home of Baroness and Pig Destroyer – and the group are currently on an extensive tour of Canada and North America throughout May, with ecstatic reviews following in their wake.
For something completely different, award-winning acapella group Musical Island Boys may not be appearing on an MTV site anytime soon, but within their chosen genre they’re world class.
The Barbershop College Quartet champions and recent recipients of the Pacific Music Award for Most Promising Pacific Artist released their second album Dream in 2013 and spent the year singing in Japan, the US, and Canada.
Up next, they’ll be representing New Zealand at the International Barbershop Convention in Las Vegas in June.
After their track Odyssey was used to front a US McDonald’s campaign during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, Auckland indie hip-hop trio The Wyld didn’t waste any time getting themselves to the US so they could hit the ground running.
Releasing their Abstract EP on Canadian label Fontana North in late 2013, this March the band played their first show outside of New Zealand – at Bardot-Hollywood, California. Since then the three-piece have had more dates in LA, as well as Chicago and New York.
All was put on hold to spend time in Phoenix, Arizona writing and taking stock, and now The Wyld are about to enter the studio in New York to record their second album, following on from their 2012 debut, Preface.
The avant-garde pop exhibitionist, who started out in Auckland as the frontman for blues-pop group Connan & The Mockasins, has done nothing but shine since leaving these shores in 2007.
After assuming the solo name Connan Mockasin, in 2008 he collaborated with Fatboy Slim for a Brighton Port Authority album, and toured with Pete & The Pirates and Late Of The Pier. Tours and collaborations throughout Europe with countrymen Liam Finn, The Veils and Lawrence Arabia soon followed, as well as a jaunt through New Zealand and Australia with Radiohead and two more albums of psychedelic dream pop. Then in 2012 Connan and band toured with acclaimed French singer and actress Charlotte Gainsbourg as her live band.
He is currently touring the US with Kirin J. Callanan, where shows are reportedly reaching epic levels of shirtless, stage-invading showmanship, with guest appearances from Liam Finn and Blood Orange’s Devonte Hynes.
One of two bands born from the ashes of heavy rockers Blindspott, the beginning of 2014 saw I Am Giant on tour in the UK and Germany, and most of 2013 was spent touring in Europe too.
With their forthcoming album Science & Survival due on July 4th, the London-based group will be doing a full NZ tour, followed by a spot on Poland’s Orange Warsaw festival, followed by an Australian tour… and that’s just the next couple of months. You certainly can’t accuse these guys of being lazy.
Following in the footsteps of dubstep duo Mt Eden, who played Coachella in 2013, Truth (Andre Fernandez and Tristan Roake) have cut a clear pathway through the international dubstep scene too. Thanks to heavyweight support from the likes of Benga, Mala and Skream, Truth's signature beats have been making punters dance at clubs like Club Love in New York, Sonar in Spain and DMZ in London and have featured on the BBC's Radio One and Rinse FM.
On the nightclub and festival circuits, the fruits of their labor have included three European tours, two American tours, Australian and Asian spot dates and a loyal following that transcends borders. The pair are in-demand remixers and have now made the move to San Francisco.
What you need to know - resources for those going offshore
What you need to know about International trade Fairs
A trade show or trade conference is a gathering of music industry professionals and artists for the purpose of creating networks, developing new and existing business relationships and discovering new talent.
A beginners guide to touring Australia
This is a guide primarily aimed at young up-and-coming acts that are looking to make their first or second foray into Australia, playing between 100 - and 400 - capacity room sizes.
Media Release: New Zealand Music Commission