On the mixtape today is Tom Scott, known for his musical projects Home Brew, At Peace, and Avantdale Bowling Club. Last year after a decade-long hiatus, Home Brew released their second album Run It Back to much acclaim, alongside a two-part documentary on the process. Tom shares tracks that inspired Home Brew's new album, lyrically and thematically.

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.

Tony Stamp reflects on ten of his favourite reissues and compilations from the past year, including Japanese lounge music, British post-punk, and Canadian synthscapes.

Sonya Waters is a long-term singer, composer and rock chick previously fronting 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.

Judith Hill is on her way to New Zealand to perform at the Auckland Arts Festival and her show sounds like something you don't want to miss.

Turnstile are an American hardcore punk band from Baltimore, and have been playing together as a band since 2010. They have released 5 EPs and 3 studio albums- their latest earning them 3 Grammy Nominations. They are here in NZ - playing Laneway Festival on Monday - but also a Laneway Pre party 100 GECS and YARD ACT at the Powerstation Sunday night - all ages too.

Lead singer and songwriter for System Of A Down, Serj Tankian has released five studio albums, winning a GRAMMY Award in 2006 for “B.Y.O.B.” and selling over 40 million albums worldwide. Serj is also a prolific visual artist, a singer, a poet, a songwriter and composer.

The best of RNZ Music Saturday afternoon's Music 101.

A selection of highlights from Saturday's Music 101.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Charlotte Ryan highlights the best new music of the week and features Jerome Kavanagh and his new song written for Matariki & Diggy Dupe talks to Tony Stamp about his upcoming show celebrating the music of the Polynesian Panthers show.

Sibling duo Ersha Island introduce their new song 'Gut Feeling'.

Low artist payments from music streaming is already a hot topic and now 'streaming farms', the newest form of music pay-for-play are also having an impact on music charts and musician's income. Charlotte Ryan finds out more...

With Aotearoa being moved into the red light traffic system, due to Covid, our music and entertainment industry has come to a halt with all events with more than 100 people cancelled or postponed. This not only hugely affects musicians and artists - but many behind the scenes. Sarin Moddle is one of them. She works in live music production which translates as Tour Management, Production & Site Coordination, Artist Liaison, and Promoter Representation. She's had a very huge week speaking to the media about the crisis point the NZ Music & Entertainment industry faces without targeted public sector support.

Charlotte Ryan talks to Malo Ioane Luafutu, AKA Scribe, about his new documentary on TVNZ, directed by Chris Graham.

For the sixth year running, Recorded Music NZ and Massey University will celebrate the unsung heroes of Aotearoa’s music industry at the AMA Artisan Awards.

Brett Eccles of Eccles Entertainment NZ promoter is has just announced Billie Elish to be coming next year - and also tours local artists such as Lorde, Troy Kingi and Fat Freddys Drop. He joined Charlotte Ryan on the phone to talk about the new #Vax4Life campaign.

It’s time for another RNZ Music Live Session! This time we’re joined by Wellington singer and songwriter, Mara TK (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Tainui), who you may know from his time as frontman of Electric Wire Hustle.

In this week's Pocket Edition, it’s a special Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry tribute to the Jamaican's greatest sonic wizard. Yadana Saw speaks with Aotearoa musicians about the man known as the Godfather of Dub has influenced and impacted them

Lorde on her new album Solar Power, fame, and growing up.

Welcome to another live session RNZ Music live session! This time it’s bilingual rapper, musician and producer Rei Music performing at Unitec’s beautiful Te Noho Kotahitanga marae in Auckland.

RNZ Music is stoked to present the first performance from our latest set of live sessions – it’s Auckland hip hop luminary Kings with tracks from his recently-released album Raplist, plus an old fave!

Tayi Tibble (Te Whānau ā Apanui/Ngāti PorouTe Whānau ā Apanui/Ngāti Porou) is an award winning poet based in Pōneke. She joined Charlotte to discuss fashion, poetry, and Porirua- as well as select her favourite songs on this episode of The Mixtape.

RNZ Music is proud to present a brand new series of live sessions with some of Aotearoa's finest. First off the rank is Auckland-based indie-pop musician Merk, who's just released his second album Infinite Youth.

Originally created to celebrate Nick Cave’s 60th birthday in 2017, Reb Fountain is again paying tribute to her favourite Nick Cave songs, as well as her own material as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. Reb chats to Charlotte about her preparation for the show, her love of Nick Cave, and plays us a beautiful cover song.

The Aotearoa Music Awards are happening tomorrow. Along with a brand new name, the massive event takes a different shape this year. Due to Covid-19, there's no red carpet and no table seating. We are down at Spark Arena with event manager Sara Owen, who's giving us a behind-the-scenes look at this years setup. 

Auckland producer Sola Rosa, real name Andrew Spraggon has just released his seventh studio album Chasing the Sun. He dropped into RNZ to chat to music 101’s Charlotte Ryan, and to perform live with his all-star band.

The three finalists for this year’s APRA Maioha Award, which recognises the art of contemporary Māori songwriting, have been announced. The award will be presented at the 2020 APRA Silver Scroll Awards in October.

The finalists for the 2020 SOUNZ Contemporary Award, APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film and Best Original Music in a Series have been announced.

Songs by Reb Fountain, Nadia Reid, Benee, L.A.B., and Troy Kingi have been chosen as the top five contenders for the 2020 Silver Scroll songwriting award.

Celebrity chef, restaurateur and author Al Brown joins Charlotte Ryan to select songs and share stories on the RNZ Music Mixtape.

Tony Stamp talks to Vera, lead singer of LA sub pop group Girl Friday, who's stuck in her hometown, Wellington.

This week host Tony Stamp is joined by Jana Te Nahu Owen and Rob Kelly to review new tunes from locals Wax Chattels and Team Dynamite, as well as Christine and The Queens and more.

Charlotte talks to the promoter about the risks and rewards involved in such a huge production during COVID19.

Vocalist and guitarist who plays with drummer Nick Gaffaney in hard rock duo Cairo Knife Fight, and is currently on the Nation of the State tour throughout New Zealand with his funk band Ahoribuzz.

Best Country Music Artist went to Delaney Davidson & Barry Saunders, and Best Country Song went to Tami Neilson for ‘Hey Bus Driver!’.

Neil Finn has just released a brand new track - with the help of his Fleetwood Mac bandmates - to support the Auckland City Mission. He spoke to Charlotte Ryan.

The story behind Troy Kingi's upcoming album is stranger than fiction.

Charlotte spoke with the hugely admired NZ music figure after he picked up the award during the week. 

Tāmaki Makaurau reggae/ hip hop musician Rubi Du (FKA Silva MC) introduces her new song 'One Spirit (Parks Remix)'.

Estère is a Wellington based artist who has recorded her latest album with Massive Attack producer Stew Jackson. Ahead of the album release, Arts Festival audiences in Wellington and Auckland have the chance to see and hear some of the songs in a theatre setting.

Australian psych act Tame Impala – aka Kevin Parker – has just released his fourth album, The Slow Rush, and plays Auckland’s Spark Arena on April 16. Music 101’s Charlotte Ryan fired him eight quick questions.

Singer songwriter Belladonna introduces her debut single 'Hands'

Wellington electro dream-pop duo Paper Plates introduce their lead single 'Wait'.

Philippa McIntyre was a succeful DJ in NZ for fifteen years, before upping stakes and moving to Berlin. She's since started her own record label 'At Peace', with a view to sharing kiwi dance music talent with Europe.

Julia Jacklin has been on tour for the last nine months in support of her raved-about album Crushing. The Aussie singer-songwriter spoke to Tony Stamp ahead of her appearance at Laneway 2020.

Michael Upton has been making exploratory electronic music under the name Jet Jaguar for 22 years now. To mark the release of his sixth album Everything Happens, For Some Reason, he spoke to RNZ's Tony Stamp.

This week's RNZ Mixtape selector is newsreader Katrina Batten. She talks to Yadana Saw about her lifelong love of pop music.

Niuean musician and music educator Mal Lakatani shares his new song with Music 101.

This week’s selector is Robyn Malcolm who has graced local stage and screen for the past three decades, she speaks to Yadana Saw about the songs that have stuck with her through the years 

Berlin based Noah Slee is back on home soil. He brings his stripped back neo soul sounds to the RNZ studio

On this week's Mixtape one of New Zealand's finest singer-songwriters Shona Laing shares five of her favourite songs, and reminisces about her life and career.

South Auckland based Samoan artist Disciple Pati talks with Charlotte Ryan about her new single and powerful music video.

Wellington solo artist Samuel Morgan introduces his song 'Forever Together' from his debut album Nicotine Dreams.

Sisters Valentine & Clementine Nixon had an unusual upbringing, splitting their time between Christchurch and Hong Kong, before relocating to a valley in Coromandel. Their second album as Purple Pilgrims, Perfumed Earth, came out on Flying Nun Records this year. Tony Stamp talked to Valentine after she had left the valley and found somewhere with better phone reception.

Charlotte Ryan talks with Bruce Ward, the man who made the Christmas song 'Snoopy's Christmas' very popular in NZ.

At the turn of the millennium 15,000 people gathered at the top of a mountain to dance. And then, it rained. A lot. Produced by Kirsten Johnstone

The Killing Joke frontman and classical composer picks five of his favourite songs and spins plenty of yarns about his life and career.

Fanfickk introduces us to her song 'Pure'.

Charlotte Ryan speaks with Joel Shadbolt, the singer for hugely popular kiwi band L.A.B.

Charlotte Ryan chats with Stella Donnelly, a young Australian singer-songwriter making an impact with her brazen lyrics, ahead of her appearance next month at Laneway Festival.

Ballads for the end of the world, torch songs for broken hearts, political missives for everyone, and a glimmer of hope in them all. It’s Song Crush’s 2019 wrap of the (international) songs they’ve loved the most.

On this week's Pocket Edition we pay tribute to the late Rick Bryant, talk to Nadia Reid about her new single, and Angel Olsen about her new album.

This week's RNZ Mixtape selector is jewellry designer Boh Runga, best known as the flamehaired frontwoman of Stellar*. She shares her tunes with Yadana Saw.

Nick Bollinger remembers blue eyed soul man, raconteur Rick Bryant and poet, songwriter, screenwriter and stand up Arthur Baysting, both of whom died earlier this week. Nick and Yadana Saw reflect long cultural legacy that these two men have left on Aotearoa's creative landscape.

Auckland musician Ashley Alexander introduces his song 'Nicotine'.

Kirsten Johnstone talks to the singer-songwiter about her acclaimed new album, moving to North Carolina, and maintaining mental health on the road.

Nadia Reid spoke to Charlotte Ryan about the recording process of her new album 'Out Of my Provence' and introduces us to her single 'Best Thing'.

It was another strong year for music in Aotearoa, from the internationally acclaimed Aldous Harding and Tiny Ruins, to the grass roots DIY acts just bubbling up. The Song Crush team play some of their favourites.

A new book called "Wired For Sound - The Stebbing History of New Zealand Music" by Grant Gillanders & Robyn Welsh tells the story of an enduring Kiwi success story. Trevor Reekie talked to the 2 authors.

Auckland band Na Noise introduce their song 'Bad Dreams'.

Eddie Johnson tells us about spending two years in Los Angeles recording his second album All I Have with some heavyweight producers.

Founding member and bass player for Bad Religion, Jay Bentley talks to Elliott Childs about keeping the L.A punk band going for 40 years.

Art-pop from Moses Sumney and FKA Twigs, a techno soundtrack from Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, an afrobeat banger, some sad-boy-soul, and some Scottish minimalist dream-pop feature on Song Crush this week. 

Auckland teen hip hop duo Church & AP talk to Tony Stamp about starting their career in community centres, and changing up their sound for their debut album Teeth.

Ziggy Marley talks to Charlotte Ryan ahead of his performance at WOMAD 2020. He shares his thoughts on world politics, his father Bob Marley's legacy and the legalisation of cannabis.

All year the Song Crush team have introduced you to new songs they're loving, but this week host Kirsten Johnstone threw the call out to you the listeners, for your favourite tune of 2019. Here's a handful of the answers we got. 

Legendary jazz guitarist Pat Metheny is set to make just his second NZ appearance, at the 2020 Auckland Arts Festival.

Wellington band Dawn Diver is the songwriting project of Ben Lemi. It's a new experience for the Trinity Roots drummer as he tells Yadana Saw in this live session.

Internationally renowned Wellington group Fat Freddy’s Drop have announced ten shows across New Zealand this summer, with support from acts including L.A.B, Avantdale Bowling Club, JessB, Bailey Wiley, and Philadelphia-native DJ Jazzy Jeff.

New York-based Kiwi songwriter Miriam Clancy joins Music101's Charlotte Ryan to a talk about her latest album Astronomy and her upcoming NZ tour.

We speak to German composer and record producer Nils Frahm ahead of his first ever New Zealand show

Hip hop musician Tom Scott and his collaborative project Avantdale Bowling Club have won the coveted Album of the Year at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, which took place at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Thursday.

French For Rabbits find a new banging synth sound, British-Ghanaian rapper Kojey Radical shows his smooth side, and Wye Oak just keep on evolving - these songs and more on Song Crush this week. 

In this week's Pocket Edition, American guitarist and songwriter Steve Gunn swings by for a live session and we meet the behind the scenes talent who were recognised at the NZ Music Artisan Awards ceremony.

Harper Finn talks to Charlotte Ryan about growing up in the musical Finn family and his new single

Auckland band Makeshift Parachutes introduce their song 'Be Kind Rewind'.

Charlotte Ryan talks to Six60 about being the biggest band in NZ and their plan for world domination.

Pluto are back together after a 10 year break. They talk to Charlotte Ryan about their new album and playing live again.

Doom folk, te reo Maori electronica, sample based soul and Jeff Goldblum's lounge album are some of the things discussed in Song Crush this week, but beware of tangents everywhere.

American guitarist and songwriter Steve Gunn is currently touring NZ for the third time in as many years. He dropped into the RNZ studios to chat with Elliott Childs and play a couple of songs from his latest album The Unseen In Between.

This week's RNZ Mixtape selector is broadcaster, comedienne and writer Michele A'Court. She shares her songs and stories with Yadana Saw.

Kiwi singer Thomston talks to Charlotte Ryan about his two new EPs.

Trevor Reekie talks to Dr. Robert Burns, author of the book 'Experiencing Progressive Rock: A Listener's Companion', and retired Associate Professor of Music at Otago about the legacy of King Crimson's 'In The Court of The Crimson King'.

David Kilgour talks to Charlotte Ryan about his new album with The Heavy Eights - Bobbie's A Girl.

Iva Davies, singer-songwriter for iconic Aussie band Icehouse talks to Charlotte Ryan about his long career.

Kanye goes gospel - but is he just cashing in on the Christian dollar? Plus a woozy missive from Frank Ocean, a powerful message from Onehunga's SWIDT, and more. 

Palmerston North duo Sports Dreams introduce themselves and their song 'Drive'

Kiwi music icon Mike Chunn talks to Trevor Reekie about his long career, and shares some of his favourite songs.

Wellington musician Cam MacLean introduces his song 'New Horizon'.

Christchurch musician Delaney Davidson performs live at RNZ, and explains how a typhoon cut his recent Japanese tour short.

Te Omeka and Isaiah Perkins pay tribute to their late father and bandmate Carl, and share some new music.

Some dreamy new local releases, thirsty soul, desert blues and Tibetan meditation music feature on Song Crush this week.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Music 101 host Charlotte Ryan speaks with Savage about his new song. Sampa the Great performs a live session and we pay tribute to waiata Maori composer Tommy Taurima.

Auckland musician Jordan Gavet introduces her song 'Hesitation'.

Worlds of Music host Trevor Reekie talks Charlotte through the WOMAD 2020 lineup.

Rwandan-Kiwi hip hop artist Raiza Biza discusses his new album Bygones, global politics, and the African diaspora with Tony Stamp.

Seth Haapu talks to Charlotte Ryan about his new single 'Cool Down', and the inspiration behind its lyrics.

Zambian rapper Sampa the Great came to prominence through the Australian music scene and her star is on the rise. She's just been on Jools Holland, played Glastonbury and now squeezes in a live session on her sold out NZ tour.

The Kenyan-American artist talks to Trevor Reekie about his debut album Tales of America.

NZ Hip Hop star Savage talks to Charlotte Ryan about his new single 'Reach out', inspired by a suicide in his family.

Homegrown guitar fuzz, classic New York hip-hop beats, dancehall riddims from France, and noisy Nashville country-rock are a few of the sounds you’ll hear on Song Crush this week. 

Sing it to My Face is an intergenerational choral show conceived by award winning playwright and author Jo Randerson who is tackling two national fears: singing in public and saying things to people's faces.

She's the first woman to write a full-length ballet score in Aotearoa, she's won many awards for her composition, and she's on the road with her group The Blackbird Ensemble, interpreting the songs of Björk. Multi-faceted composer Claire Cowan shares some of her stories and influences. 

Egyptian percussionist and composer Hossam Ramzy passed away on September 10 aged 65. Trevor Reekie spoke to a close friend of his - award winning drummer Bruce Aitken.

Canadian punk band F***ed Up are about to play two New Zealand shows. Frontman Damian Abraham talked to Tony Stamp about his love for kiwi label Flying Nun, whose roster he calls "the best music ever'.

Auckland musician Antony Jeffares introduces his song 'Wrong/ Loss'.

Nick Cave is at peace with his ghosts, Björk is cut up by The Knife, and New York indie-rockers Vivian Girls are back in business. Kirsten Johnstone and the Song Crush team are back with new songs to love.  

This week's RNZ Music mixtape selector is singer/songwriter Maisey Rika. She shares her stories and favourite tracks with Kirsten Johnstone.

James Reid talks to Charlotte Ryan on Music 101.

Charlotte Ryan talks to Michael Timmins of The Cowboy Junkies

Schools out and the kids take over! Teenage music fans Oscar Horner and Benny Lindsay Williams explain the listening habits of the young and share their new favourite songs. Honorary adolescent Mark Cubey introduces us to the modern phenomenon that is Post Malone.

On this week's Pocket Edition we celebrate Th' Dudes' induction into the NZ Music Hall of Fame with Peter Urlich and Dave Dobbyn, and SideKickNick explains the eleven year gap between his debut album and new double release.

Aldous Harding has won the 2019 APRA Silver Scroll Award for her song ‘The Barrel’, with the award presented tonight at a ceremony at Auckland’s Spark Arena.

Charlotte Ryan talks to Dave Dobbyn and Peter Urlich about their old band Th' Dudes.

Christchurch's Zane 2000 introduces his song 'I COPY'.

SideKickNick released his first album Miscellaneous Adventures in 2008, then spent the next decade playing in Voom, doing sound design for films, and painstakingly assembling album number two: a double release called The Blue/ Red Planet Plan. He joined Tony Stamp to talk musical collage, manopause, and reminisce about the smoking room at their old uni.

Somali-New Zealand rapper Mo Muse brings friends Summer Thieves and Abdul Kay in to the studio to play songs from his debut LP, The First Generation, and speaks to Kirsten Johnstone. 

There's music for driving, running, dancing, and dreaming this week in Song Crush: A 96 year old Ethiopian nun, some techno legends, a Tongan finding his groove in Berlin, and a lo-fi bedroom producer are all in there. 

Charlotte Ryan interviews Nathan Haines for The Mixtape.

Peter Ruddell from Sulfate introduces their song 'Bush'.

Ayisha Jaffer phones in from an Alaskan nature reserve to tell us about her new EP as Skux.

Charlotte Ryan interviews frontman of English pop-rock group The 1975, Matty Healy.

The song crush team have sonic whiplash this week, veering from orchestral bombast to old-school hip-hop to scandi-avant-techno to Chinese opera meets Jamaican rocksteady.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Dianne Swann shares some of her favourite songs, and talks about her extensive career, with bands including When The Cats Away, Everything That Flies, The Julie Dolphin, and alt-country duo The Bads. 

Bic Runga talks to Charlotte Ryan about the new album Waiata/ Anthems.

Septuagenarian Iggy Pop has a new set of jazz inflected songs - some silly, some profound; Octogenarian bluesman Bobby Rush gets frisky with 'Sweet Lizzy', SiR fills some sweet 'boudoir RnB' with the voice of Jill Scott and Kentucky folk singer Joan Shelley creates an oasis of calm. 

As a kid growing up in Flaxmere, Tipene assumed his destiny was being a Mongrel Mob member, but music steered him on a different course. Kirsten Johnstone finds out about the long and winding path to his debut album Tautoko.

Auckland duo Crap Date introduce their song 'Ephemera'.

Up and coming pop/ punk band Miss June visit RNZ and speak to Charlotte Ryan.

Up and coming musician JessB performs live at RNZ and talks about her new EP.

Lana Del Rey releases her strongest songs ever five albums in, Lizzo hits the top of the charts with a song released two years ago, King Princess is riding a big gay wave of queer pop - here's the latest crop of song crushes from the RNZ Music team. 

The comedian and Snapchat dude joins Charlotte to talk about some of his most beloved songs.

Tony Stamp talks to five of the international speakers at this year's Going Global Music Summit.

Angus Stone joins Charlotte to discuss his side project Dope Lemon.

Nashville to K-Pop to K-Rd to DC Hardcore - Song Crush spans the global gamut this week. Hold on tight, it’s a bumpy ride. 

This week on Music 101 Pocket Edition, Jana Whitta talks to Corin Tucker of Sleater Kinney about the band's new album and Elliott Childs talks comedy and music with Portlandia star and comedian Fred Armisen.

Portland based Indie rock legends Sleater Kinney have just released their 9th studio album The Center Won't Hold. Jana Whitta spoke to Corin Tucker from the band about making the album and how world events influenced them.

Christchurch native and music industry veteran Charlotte Ryan is the new host of RNZ’s flagship music programme Music 101. She joined us on the RNZ Music Mixtape to select some of her favourite songs, and to share stories from her long and varied career in music. 

Aussie provocateur Kirin J Callinan joined RNZ Music's Tony Stamp to perform some covers, and discuss indecent exposure.

Songs of love lost, frustration, and oxygen particles feature in Song Crush this week. 

On this week's Pocket Edition we host a live session with Sons of Zion, celebrate 50 years since Woodstock, and chat with outlaw country artist Justin Townes Earle.

This week's RNZ Mixtape selector is Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance and unofficial Minster of Flying Nun. He shares an exclusively Dunedin collection of tracks ahead of The Others Way Festival.

Some veterans of music are back in fine form, and The Song Crush team are here for it. 

The Woodstock Festival took place between August 15 and 17 1969 attracting a crowd of over 400,000 people and wrote itself into the history of music. For Bobbi & Nick Ercoline Woodstock became a defining moment in their lives - They featured in an iconic photo taken by photographer Burk Uzzle which was included on the cover of the triple Woodstock album. Trevor Reekie talked to the couple 50 years after that iconic photo was taken.

Americana/roots musician Justin Townes Earle died on 23 August 2020, aged 38. A year ago he was in New Zealand to perform and spoke about guns, police and the POTUS with RNZ Music's Kirsten Johnstone.

Comedian, musician and former Saturday Night Live star Fred Armisen brings his new show Comedy For Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome, to Auckland in September. He spoke to Elliott Childs about the similarities and differences between comedy and music.

Samoan-Aotearoa hip hop artists Anonymouz and Tha Movement tell RNZ Music how chance email saw their song MASTA included on the Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw soundtrack

Wellington four-piece DOONS share their song 'Won't You Come Through.

Australian indie-rock surrealist Kirin J Callinan is touring NZ this month. He joined us to explain how Hollywood actress Andie MacDowell ended up staring in his latest music video 'You Weren’t In Love With Me'.

Woodstock '99 is remembered as a violent, fiery disaster. The media blamed the bands for the mess, but did they really cause the riot? In his new podcast Break Stuff, author and music journalist Steven Hyden tries to find out. He tells RNZ Music how the chaos unfolded.

Why is Chance The Rapper’s album getting such terrible reviews? We find out, and hear some new goth-pop from Angel Olsen, a banger from newcomer Georgia, something special from Race Banyon and more. 

Grey Lynn hip-hop duo Eno x Dirty perform new songs and talk about some of the inspirations behind their high energy party raps

SIX60 have just released a new song 'The Greatest'. One of Aotearoa's most loved bands also want to prove that selling out Western Springs wasn't a fluke, so they've annouced a another open air concert for February 2020.

Song Crush this week has songs about self-empowerment and drowning in sorrow, in equal measure.

Mark Vanilau is this week's mixtape selector. A keyboardist and singer in his own right, Mark has work with Dave Dobbyn, Warren Maxwell, Hollie Smith and Ladi6. He shares his songs and stories with Yadana Saw.

The Song Crush team play remedies for your mid-winter maladies, including songs from Thelma Plum, Bob Dylan and David Kilgour.  

Tim Finn's 21-year-old son Harper is the latest to join the family songwriting business. He's just released two piano-pop songs that might have him swatting away comparisons to his dad, but also show his own emerging style. He speaks with RNZ Music's Kirsten Johnstone.

A new documentary Mystify: Michael Hutchence, currently showing at the NZ International Film Festival, seeks to reveal the truth about the late INXS singer. Director Richard Lowenstein speaks to RNZ Music about Hutchence and what it's like to make a film about a lost friend.

A new documentary playing at the NZ Film Festival called The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash is a sensitive and compelling portrait of the man and the artist. As film-maker Thom Zimny tells Kirsten Johnstone, it was a completely different documentary until a remarkable discovery in the archives.

He Waka Kōtuia are a Ōtepoti/Dunedin kapa haka roopu who have just released an album with Mara TK and Troy Kingi. The rangatahi join Yadana Saw to talk about the process of songwriting.

Elliott Childs talks to New York based guitar builders Rick Kelly and Cindy Hulej, the subjects of Carmine Street Guitars, a documentary which is playing at the New Zealand International Film Festival.

In his only New Zealand interview, Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist James Blake tells RNZ Music why concertgoers need to "shut up" and "just listen to the person play".

The Song Crush team this week play some tracks you should listen to instead of the new Ed Sheeran record

Jamie and Violet, from Christchurch band Kool Aid introduce their song 'Family Portrait Revisited'

Concord Dawn are a drum n bass duo made up of Matt Harvey and Evan Short, who started making music in 1999, going on to great success in NZ and abroad. To celebrate their twentieth anniversary they reunited for a Nationwide tour, released a new EP, and joined Tony Stamp to play some of their favourite tunes on The Mixtape.

On this week's Pocket Edition, Yadana Saw chats to Villainy about people mispronouncing their name and Elliott Childs talks to US band Warpaint backstage in Wellington. [image:83455:full]

The 1969 film Easy Rider was a landmark counterculture film starring Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. Not only was the film hugely popular, its soundtrack was groundbreaking, featuring pop and rock music instead of a traditional classical score, and thereby changing the film soundtrack forever.

Auckland five-piece Young Lyre introduce their new single 'Nobody Else'.

US band Warpaint were in New Zealand for two shows last week. Drummer Stella Mozgawa and Bass player Jenny Lee Lindberg spoke to Elliott Childs backstage at San Fran in Wellington.

Neill and Thom from Auckland rock band Villainy talk to Yadana Saw about people getting their name wrong, their current tour of NZ and which fictional criminal mastermind they relate to most.

Nadia shows us the places that mean the most to her, and takes a trip down memory lane, returning to the high school where she discovered her love of folk music and formed a bond with other musicians.

On this week's Song Crush we dabble in disco, flirt with funk, and indulge in some capital 'P' pop.

Paddy Free is one half of pioneering NZ electronic act Pitch Black. He's collaborated with top musicians including Moana Manipoto, Neil Finn and the NZ Symphony Orchestra, and produced some of this country's classic albums including Salmonella Dub's Inside The Dub Plates. Paddy joins RNZ Music to pick songs and share yarns for the Mixtape.

On this week's Pocket Edition Stan Walker tells us about his new single, Milan Borich talks us through the reformation of Pluto, and we meet kiwi teen pop muso Benee.

Dunedin's Millie Lovelock plays in noisy rock duo Astro Children, but has just released a quiet, introspective album as Repulsive Woman. She talks to Kirsten Johnstone about how studying boy-band One Direction and the work of proto-feminist writer Djuna Barnes led to these songs.

RNZ News presenter and the voice of Midday Report, Nicola Wright joins Elliott Childs for the RNZ Mixtape.

Maimoa Music crew member Pere Wihongi has released his first solo song 'High on Ingoingo' to encourage and inspire rangatahi. Pere speaks to Yadana Saw about being the brightest thing out of Herekino.

Benee is a nineteen-year-old singer from Grey Lynn in Auckland, who recently signed a deal with Republic Records, home to some of the world's biggest pop stars.

Some songs can articulate an experience so well that it feels as if the writers have actually read your mind. The Song Crush team this week have a couple of those songs, from rapper NF, Radiohead's Thom Yorke, Yola and more.

On this week's Pocket Edition Beastwars' Matt Hyde tells us how a cancer scare brought his band back together, and sixteen year-old Grace Kelly performs her viral hit song 'San Jose'.

English musician Nick Drake achieved little commercial success before his death in 1974 at the age of 26, but these days he’s considered an essential artist who’s influenced some of the biggest names in music. We spoke to friend and producer Joe Boyd on the 50th anniversary of Drake's debut album Five Leaves Left.

As Ardijah celebrates 40 years of making music, lead singer Betty-Anne Monga reflects on her life of waiata and whānau for the RNZ Mixtape.

Make a cuppa, pull up the blankies, Kirsten Johnstone and the Song Crush team serve up toasty new tunes to warm you up. This week's show includes The Comet is Coming, Iron & Wine and Calexico and Jordan Rakei amongst others.

On this week's Pocket Edition Tony Stamp talks to a jetlagged Louis Baker, and Trevor Reekie encounters cult Auckland act Hallelujah Picassos.

Wellington’s Beastwars is perhaps New Zealand’s best-loved metal band, so when they broke up in 2016, fans were gutted. Worse news was to follow – a year later, the band’s frontman Matt Hyde was diagnosed with cancer. He tells RNZ Music’s Kirsten Johnstone how his fight back from illness got the band back together.

Founding member of the Mutton Birds David Long Joins Yadana Saw to discuss his work as a composer for film and TV as well as his time in one of New Zealand's best loved bands of the 1990s.

Auckland's Tei introduces us to her song 'Britney'.

[image:199228:full] The Hallelujah Picassos were a bunch of happy musical misfits, resident in the Auckland CBD from 1988 til 1996. The Picassos mixed up genres with unabashed glee, slamming them together, often within the same song. Fast forward to 2019 and the release of their new album Voices of Exuberant Hellhounds finds the band in excellent form despite coming to terms with the passing of their much loved drummer and vocalist Bobbylon who contributed so much to the Picasso's unique sound. For Music 101 Peter McLennan, Darren Harkness (who engineered the album) and vocalist and principal songwriter Roland Rorschach came into the RNZ studio to take us on a quick tiki tour of their new album Voices of Exuberant Hellhounds. Absent was long-time collaborator Johnny Pain who played keyboards, bv's and designing the mighty fine vinyl cover art.

The same day he flew back from the UK Louis Baker joined Tony Stamp in the RNZ studio to talk about his new album: Open.

The Song Crush team this week has new music ranging from scandipop to jazz. Host Kirsten Johnstone is joined by RNZ Afternoons producer Emile Donovan, Inside Out host Nick Tipping, and RNZ Music’s Tony Stamp.

On this week's Pocket Edition we meet American outsider artist Lonnie Holley, and learn about Girls Rock Camp Wellington.

Taken from his family as a toddler, Lonnie Holley had a traumatic childhood - neglect, abuse, being hit by a car, put in a prison camp, and living through the Civil Rights movement of mid-60s Alabama. Now 69, he's a celebrated visual artist and musician who turns his experiences into things of beauty and hope. 

The first Girls Rock Camp in Wellington is happening this July. Yadana Saw talks to the organiser Brooke Singer and student Holly Curtis about what people can expect from the week long programme.

Elliott Childs talks to Variety's Senior Music Editor Jem Aswad and NZ music expert Simon Grigg about the devastating archive fire that hit Universal Music in 2008 and what it means for New Zealand musicians who may have been signed to the label.

On this week's Pocket Edition we talk to sixteen year old pop savant Ruel, and Seth Haapu talks us through his new song 'All For You'.

Suzy Cato, anointed as Aotearoa's favourite babysitter, shares her mixtape of tunes and tales while dispensing her charming life advice to Yadana Saw.

16 year old singer/songwriter Ruel talks to Yadana Saw about his burgeoning career and the ups and downs of collaborative songwriting.

Nick Bollinger joins Yadana Saw in the RNZ studio to bid farewell to New Orleans music legend Dr John, who died this week at the age of 77.

Ōtautahi's Marley Sola introduces his new song 'Heaven'. 

The Song Crush team this week listens to Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker's evolution, new songs from Sleater-Kinney, Purple Pilgrims, Lower Dens and more. Host Kirsten Johnstone is joined by Tony Stamp and Jana Whitta. 

It’s been 16 years since Scott Mannion released music with his duo The Tokey Tones. Now he's back with his first ever solo album, Loving Echoes. RNZ Music is stoked to the first to share his video for single ‘You Are the Substance That I Can't Live Without...’. We spoke to him about why it's taken so long. 

Once: The Musical has hit Auckland's Waterfront Theatre. Lead cast members Lisa Crawley and Adam Ogle swing by the RNZ Studio to perform the Academy Award winning song 'Falling Slowly'.

Milly Olykan is a New Zealander who's job is to take Nashville - more specifically country music - to the world. For the RNZ Music Mixtape Milly shares some of the songs that have accompanied her career so far.

Napster, the pioneering file-sharing service that almost destroyed the record industry, turns 20 this month. Music journalist and author Steve Knopper joins RNZ Music to discuss the lasting effect it's had on the music industry.

Mike Nesmith and Micky Dolenz of '60s pop group the Monkees are performing in NZ this month. RNZ Music's Elliott Childs spoke to Nesmith as he was enjoying a somewhat hazy afternoon in the Los Angeles sunshine.

Te Kōtare is a waiata resource for young New Zealanders. The crowdfunded project was dreamed up by the late Jenny Shearer, an early childhood teacher who did not live to see her ambitions fulfilled. Earlier this month, Te Kōtare co-writer Matiu Te Huki and performers Alistair Fraser and Jessie Moss performed waiata with the tamariki of Wellington's Berhampore School. Yadana Saw was there to see Te Kōtare take flight.

The Song Crush team have comebacks from alt-rock greats Sebadoh and Bill Callahan, an educational jam from Jamila Woods, and more fresh musical treats.  

Avi introduces us to his song 'Too Damn Much (feat. $ian)'

In this week's Pocket Edition, Yadana Saw talks to two of New Zealand's top live music photographers and we take a look back at some of the best NZ albums of 1994.

For the RNZ Music mixtapte illustrator and cartoonist Toby Morris shares his favourite songs and tips for drawing good. He speaks with Yadana Saw.

Is Tyler the Creator the Brian Wilson of this generation? The Song Crush Team consider his new album Igor, and rave about new music from Kelsey Lu, SJD, and more.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Kirsten Johnstone talks to Grammy winning country pop star Kacey Musgraves and Trevor Reekie explores an album of psychedelic music from Wellington that hasn't been heard in almost 50 years.

Taranaki born soul singer Bailey Wiley is becoming stronger and more resolutely herself with each release. Kirsten Johnstone finds out more about her evolution.

The Song Crush team listen to the feminine flecked new songs from indie-rock veterans The National, and a minimalist cover of Cher’s 1998 hit ‘Believe’ amongst other great new releases.

Small Island Big Song is an album that unites indigenous musicians from seafaring cultures across the Pacific & Indian Oceans. All the songs were recorded in nature, using traditional instruments and languages, creating a contemporary and relevant epic musical statement in the face of climate change. Trevor Reekie speaks to Small Island Big Song producers Tim Cole and BaoBao Chen.

Sophie Scott-Maunder and Jonathan Shirley of Wellington band Beatcomber talk to Elliott Childs about their new EP Creature Comforts and the difficulties of having half the band living in the UK.

ZÖ introduces us to her song 'To Be Loved' from her debut EP WAR.

'Cosmic Cowgirl' Kacey Musgraves played the Auckland Town Hall on Friday, charming a diverse crowd of devoted fans. Kirsten Johnstone sat down with her to find out more about her psychedelic, Grammy Award-winning album Golden Hour.

Does the music played in shops and on the radio in the lead-up to Christmas make you think 'I could do better than that!" Well, here's your chance. Jesse Mulligan announces RNZ's new orignal songwriting contest on Music 101.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Tony Stamp speaks with Rodney Fisher and Gareth Thomas of Goodshirt, we meet singer/songwriter Claudia Jardine and rock and roll duo Skinny Hobos blow the doors off the RNZ studio.

New Zealand has a passionate community of live music photographers, many of whom are showing their work as part of an exhibition called 'From The Pit'. We asked them to share their favourite... or not so favourite moments from the photographers' pit.

When he's not making documentaries about competitive tickling or danger tourism, David Farrier enjoys listening to music. In this week's Mixtape he shares five of his favourite songs.

Singer and songwriter Flip Grater opens up about balancing being a mother and a musician and her new EP, Lullabies for Anaïs.

Elleana Dumper of student lead music industry organisation Something Something talks to Yadana Saw about their latest projects.

Award-winning songwriter Jan Hellriegel has just released her fourth solo album Sportsman of the Year. It’s more than just an album – there’s a book and a podcast too, in which Jan shares stories from her life in music. She joined us to discuss her new project and to perform the album's opening track 'Hound Dog' live.

The Song Crush team this week play a song created by AI, an old ghost song, a fiery love poem, and some trade-aid jazz. 

On this week's Pocket Edition we talk to UK soul merchants Jungle, Nashville blues-rockers Larkin Poe, and host a live session with Wellington's A.U.R.A.

SJD, aka Sean James Donnelly, is about to release a collection of miniature synth-pop songs. He joins Kirsten Johnstone to preview some of these alongside some of the synth greats.

Simon from Auckland hardcore band Long Distance Runner introduces their song 'Eulogy'.

Tenacious Nashville-based blues-rock duo Larkin Poe recently played 2 sold out NZ shows recently at Auckland's Tuning Fork and Christchurch's Blue Smoke. Sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell of Larkin Poe now have a flourishing career of their own -but for a handful of years, the Atlanta duo regularly toured bars and clubs and later collaborated and were mentored by Elvis Costello before graduating to playing stadiums with Bob Seger and Keith Urban. Trevor Reekie caught up with the duo in their dressing room at The Tuning Fork before their Auckland show.

Mississippi musician Cedric Burnside talks to Elliott Childs about his relationship to the Blues and being the grandson of Hill Country Blues legend R.L Burnside.

British neo soul collective Jungle played out a sold-out show in Auckland last week. Before the concert Waveney Russ sat down with the core duo behind the music.

The Song Crush team this week have songs to make you bounce in your chair, others to make you weep. Host Kirsten Johnstone is joined by Tony Stamp and Brad ‘Sticky’ Warrington for new tunes by Jess B, Soaked Oats, Scott Mannion and more.

On this week's Pocket Edition we talk to Aldous Harding about her beguiling new album Designer, and Troy Kingi tells us about his first te reo Māori song.

This week's RNZ Music Mixtape selector is Henry Oliver. Currently the editor at Metro Magazine, he's also been the bassist in Die Die Die, a proprietor of popular K'Rd bar DOC, and a budding tennis champ. Henry shares his tunes and tales with Yadana Saw.

Sydney-born Meg Mac is selling out shows across the world and being compared to the likes of Adele. Ahead of her second New Zealand show at Auckland's Tuning Fork she spoke to Bridie Chetwin-Kelly.

Tiki Taane talks to RNZ Music about one of his many gigs - live sound engineer for Shapeshifter.

Auckland singer-songwriter Lilly Carron introduces her song 'Evaporate The Rain'.

On this week's Song Crush we delve into UK hip hop, doom rock, alt-country and plenty in between, with help from Wallace Chapman and Leilani Momoisea

New Zealand songwriter Aldous Harding teases with cryptic lyrics and a feather-weight feeling on her third album Designer. Kirsten Johnstone speaks to the woman behind the songs. 

American teen doom-pop sensation Billie Eilish played to a sold-out Spark Arena in Auckland recently. Well-jaded concert goer Yadana Saw chaperones two 12-year-old fans for their first ever concert and review.

Originally from Benin, Angelique Kidjo has had a stellar career that saw her begin singing from the age of 6 and after escaping political turmoil in Africa to France. Where she rose from poverty to become a Grammy Award-winning artist. Trevor Reekie caught up with Angelique Kidjo before her WOMAD Taranaki performance.

Troy Kingi, Mara TK and Mark Vanilau are Love and Hope. To coincide with Te Matatini, the national kapa haka championships, the trio played Wellington's Old St. Pauls for a special night with friends and whānau.

To mark the end of the Red Bull Music Academy- a yearly worldwide programme of lectures and workshops- we invited four Kiwi graduates to share their experiences.

The Song Crush squad gets swept away by Weyes Blood, celebrates staying home with Hybrid Rose and Fanfickk, and samples Meer's aural cuisine.

In this week's Pocket Edition we speak to Australian chart-topper Matt Corby, and Damon Krukowski from Galaxie 500 explains his podcast Ways of Hearing, which tackles the ways digital audio is changing us.

Ill Baz is one of the acts performing at the upcoming You Are Us/Aroha Nui benefit shows, raising money for those affected by the Christchurch terror attack. He talks to Tony Stamp about growing up Muslim in Aotearoa, and how our country has responded to the attack.

Auckland rapper Tom Scott's collaborative project Avantdale Bowling Club has taken out the 2019 Taite Music Prize, which recognises outstanding creativity in an album. He joined Kirsten Johnstone to choose songs and share yarns for the RNZ Music Mixtape.

Bob Marley played his first and only NZ concert on Monday, 16 April 1979, at Auckland's Western Springs. Gareth Shute looks back on that visit and the seismic effect it had on this country's relationship with reggae music.

Grant Smithies is a music critic, writer, reviewer and record store owner. He shares his favourite songs and tales of alternative careers in his mixtape with Yadana Saw.

Auckland hip hop artist Samson Pax introduces us to his track 'Coast'

Singer/songwriter Marlon Williams talks to Yadana Saw ahead of tonight's You Are Us (Aroha Nui) concert in Auckland.

A new book and podcast explores how digital audio has affected our lives. Author and former Galaxie 500 drummer Damon Krukowski talks to Elliott Childs about Ways of Hearing.

Australian singer-songwriter Matt Corby has won multiple Aria Awards, and spent a good deal of time at the top of the Aussie music charts. He spoke to RNZ's Tony Stamp about being an introverted fella in the public eye, and how having a huge vocal range can be a bit of a burden.

Lily West from Mermaiden's joins Yadana Saw to discuss the bands new single 'You Maintain the Stain' and the process of putting your music on vinyl in 2019.

We warm up for the release of Cuz I Love You, the third album from booty-shaking self-loving flute-tooting star Lizzo, get tantric with Rosie Lowe, swept away by the charms of Argentinian trio Fémina, and bewitched by folk-rockers Big Thief. 

On this week's Pocket Edition we talk to DJ IllBaz ahead of his performance at the Aroha Nui Christchurch benefit shows, and country music critic Grady Smith tells us about the recent collision between country and hip hop.

Controversy erupted this week when 'Old Town Road' by Atlanta Rapper Lil Nas X was removed from the Billboard Country charts for not being Country enough. Yadana Saw talks to country music critic and former music journalist Grady Smith about the controversy surrounding the decision and what makes a song 'country'.

Karyn Rachtman is one of the most influential music supervisors in the world, due to her work on film soundtracks including Pulp Fiction, Boogie Nights and Moulin Rouge. Joining us for the RNZ Music Mixtape, she shares five of her favourite songs.

Saffron Guinness talks to Yadana Saw about the history of the Leigh Sawmill Cafe. After 22 years of being owned and operated by the Guinness family, the Sawmill Cafe is changing management. To celebrate the end of an era and the start of a new one, Saffron is producing a documentary about the history of the storied NZ music venue.

Singer/Songwriter Louis Baker plays his new song 'The People' live in the Music 101 studio and talks to Yadana Saw about filming the video for the song in Newtown.

Viral pop songstress Theia is about to release her new EP Not Your Princess, she speaks to Yadana Saw about growing into her music career.

The Song Crush team this week listen to new releases ranging from homegrown, colloquial hip-hop to grown-up love songs, Japanese indie pop to British Brexit music. 

In this week's Pocket Edition we catch up with Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, Pop songwriter Jenna Andrews, and local dub merchant Christoph El' Truento.

Christoph El' Truento is perhaps best known as the beat-making brains behind hip hop outfit @Peace, as well as lending his skills to the likes of Homebrew and Avantdale Bowling Club - to name a few.

Booka Shade are one of the most acclaimed electronic acts in the world. In Auckland recently to play a show, the German duo sat down with RNZ's Tony Stamp.

Jim Pinckney remembers the music and career of The Beat frontman and 80s two-tone and ska pioneer Ranking Roger (born Roger Charlery) who passed away this week age 56.

Jenna Andrews works in the Los Angeles pop industry, co-writing with heavyweights like Drake, Jennifer Lopez and Max Martin. In Auckland recently for SongHubs - an event that saw her working with local musicians- she spoke with Tony Stamp.

At only 17 years old, gloomy pop merchant Billie Eilish has just released her long-awaited debut album When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?  Last year, Billie played the Laneway Festival and Yadana Saw got to delve beneath her staunch and surly exterior in a conversation about horseriding, clothing as armour, fanhood and skin maladies.

Jeremy Taylor of Slow Boat Records joins Yadana Saw on Music 101 to discuss the life and career of avant-garde pop musician Scott Walker who passed away last week at the age of 76.

Adam Hattaway from Adam Hattaway and The Haunters introduces their song 'Turn Around'.

Ahead of his New Zealand concert, Irish singer-songwriter Hozier talks to Yadana Saw about writing the follow-up to his smash hit of 2013, 'Take Me To Church'.

Pop prodigy Billie Eilish's long awaited debut LP is out, and who better to give it a first listen than a group of 11-13 year old young women? Plus we have new music from Flume, Lafawndah, SOAK and Mdou Moctar.

In this week's Pocket Edition we talk to Persian-Kiwi rapper Chaii, and UK DJ Vadim.

This week's RNZ Mixtape selectors Broods share their favourite songs. Brother and sister Caleb and Georgia Nott talk about their musical family and unreal Los Angeles life with Yadana Saw.

Cha Wa is a Grammy-nominated Mardi Gras Indian funk band based out of New Orleans, Louisiana. Front man, J'Wan Boudreaux, carries his cultural origins by dressing in traditional Mardi Gras Indian suits including an intricately designed 20-inch headdress. 

Kiwi expat and music industry professional Milly Olykan on her role in bringing country music to the world, and why women in country are often writing more interesting songs than their male counterparts.

CHAII came to New Zealand as an 8-year-old Iranian immigrant who learned to speak English by rapping to Eminem. Her debut single 'Digebasse (Enough)', with lyrics in both English and Farsi, has taken on a new meaning since the Christchurch attack.

In an impromptu kōrero with RNZ's Tony Stamp, Tiki Taane shared his thoughts on last week's terrorist attack in his hometown of Christchurch.

Songs with a contemplative feel dominate the Song Crush selections this week, with songs from The Cinematic Orchestra, Neneh Cherry, Scott Mulvahill and Koffee.

It's a jumbo edition of Song Crush this week as seven of RNZ Music's regular song-crushers choose their best track of the summer.

NZ Music was lucky enough to record an intimate live session with Estonian experimental electronic duo Maarja Nuut & Ruum. They performed their darkly evocative track ‘The Lost Geese’.

Backstage on the day of their Auckland show, Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard talked to Tony Stamp about how gentrification inspired lead single 'Gold Rush'.

The Veils' Finn Andrews has just released his debut solo album, One Piece At A Time. Ahead of an extensive nationwide tour, he sat down with Tony Stamp to discuss the album track by track.

On this week's Pocket Edition: a performance from local up-and-comer Emily Muli, plus chats with Aussie teen star Kian and Canada's Rhye.

The Song Crush team this week listen to Solange’s misty eyed tribute to her hometown of Houston, and new music from Four Tet, Helado Negro, Stella Donnelly and more.  

Trevor Reekie has been a pivotal figure in the NZ music scene throughout his career, from helping discover Bic Runga and Shihad to showcasing trans-global artists on RNZ. Here Trevor shares five songs that have impacted him during his life.

Global music technology company InMusic have new premises on Auckland's Karangahape Rd. CEO Jack O'Donnell and local Managing Director Morgan Donaghue discuss their plans for the industry.

KIAN's debut song 'Waiting' has had 25 million streams. It won a nationwide song contest, and he's just been signed to the same label as Lorde, Drake, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj. Yadana Saw speaks to the young Australian singer about his rapid rise.

Drs Sharon George and Deidre McKay discuss their BBC.com article 'How Streaming Music Could Be Harming The Planet'.

The music of Rhye is seductive soul, an exploration of long-term love that feels almost voyeuristic to listen to. Ahead of their Auckland Festival show, Kirsten Johnstone speaks to the man behind it, Canadian multi-instrumentalist and producer Mike Milosh.

In this week's Pocket Edition we talk to Jason Williamson from acerbic Brit duo Sleaford Mods, Tiny Ruins' Hollie Fullbrook, and Neko Case.

Originally from Auckland, Isaiah B Brunt, a former Darling Harbour studio owner had a successful career in the studio business working with a number of key Australian artists.

Tonight Eminem is playing Wellington's Westpac Stadium in front of what is believed to be a record crowd of 45,000. Supporting him on his Rapture tour are Australian hip hop crew Hilltop Hoods who kindly popped in before they had soundcheck.

A Greyhound bus full of released prisoners; the trouble with sparklers; and a scooter crash in Zanzibar. Just some of the things that inspired lyrics on Tiny Ruins' new album Olympic Girls. Hollie Fullbrook tells the stories behind the songs.

Luke Walker from Flamingo Pier introduces their song 'Find Your Way'.

On this week's Pocket Edition we talk to Mark Day from UK legends Happy Mondays, and host a live session from Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin.

Garth Cartwright, a New Zealand-born, London-based music and arts writer chooses tunes and talks to Trevor Reekie about hitting the road, exploring new places, absorbing the music and encouraging the musicians to tell their stories for the RNZ Mixtape.

Two Auckland Festival shows in March put waiata Māori front and centre - a free sing-along event in Aotea Square called Tira, and another called Tōku Reo Waiata. The brains behind the shows, Tama Waipara, and performer Annie Crummer tell Kirsten Johnstone about the kaupapa.

In the late 80s and early 90s, Manchester’s The Happy Mondays had a reputation as a hedonistic, drug fuelled hot mess of a band. Amazingly, they're still alive and touring. Johnny Vahry caught up with guitarist Mark Day ahead of their one off show in New Zealand.

The Song Crush team enthuse over new music by Aldous Harding, Chaka Khan, Weyes Blood, The Better Oblivion Community Centre and much more. 

Sleaford Mods have been called 'the angriest band in Britain' by The Guardian, and 'the world's greatest rock n' roll band' by Iggy Pop. RNZ's Tony Stamp talked to vocalist Jason Williamson about their just-released album Eton Alive.

On this week's Pocket Edition we chat with Aussie teen punks The Chats, go deep with Christchurch stalwarts Al Park and Adam McGrath, and host a live performance from ex-pat Lydia Cole.

Al Park has been a stalwart of the Christchurch music scene for a considerable number of years. Trevor Reekie sits down with Al and Adam McGrath to talk about the new tribute album Better Already - The Songs of Al Park.

Welsh musician Cate Le Bon live in session with Kiran Dass in RNZ's Auckland studios just after she arrived in the country.

The Song Crush team this week debrief on the Grammy Awards, country/pop artist Jamie McDell explains why Kacey Musgraves won album of the year, and there's new music from Jessica Pratt, Nakhane and local beatmaker Whyfisucks.

In this week's Pocket Edition we talk to Dr Kirsten Zemke about recent abuse allegations in the music industry, and catch up with Horace Panter from The Specials.

Teresa Paterson has been involved in the NZ music industry for more than two decades working in band management, PR and at record labels, including a stint as the head of Virgin Records NZ. She shares her all-female mixtape ahead of the inaugural Milk & Honey festival, which celebrates International Women's Day.

In 1993 Phil Bell AKA Sir Vere co-founded 95bFM's True School Hip Hop Show. Since then he's dabbled in TV and publishing, and is now Program and Content Director at Mai FM. Ahead of the True School reunion happening as part of bFM's 50th anniversary, Phil talked to us about five of his favourite songs, and what they mean to him.

Horace Panter talks to Trevor Reekie about his career in the band which he documented in his book 'Ska'd for Life: A Personal Journey with The Specials' published in 2008.

British singer Jorja Smith won the Critics Choice Prize at the 2018 Brit Awards, and scored a Grammy Nomination for Best New Artist on the strength of her debut album Lost & Found. Prior to her set at Auckland's Laneway Festival, she had a chat with Tony Stamp.

Electronic musician Jon Hopkins was in town last week to perform the closing slot at Auckland's Laneway festival. Tony Stamp caught up with him to chat about transcendental meditation and his surprise Grammy nomination.

Kirsten Johnstone, Tony Stamp, and Yadana Saw present their favourite songs of the week, with a special ring-in from John Campbell. Songs by Tiny Ruins, Rosalía, Methyl Ethel, Fatima, Josin, and Milk.   

After two new shocking documentary series about R Kelly and Michael Jackson's alleged sexual misconduct, can we still listen to their music with a clear conscience? Yadana Saw speaks with ethnomusicologist Kirsten Zemke.

In this week's Pocket Edition we chat to Masego about muscles, Zach from Beirut talks ghost peppers, and Pickle Darling tells us how he made his debut album in various moldy bedrooms.

Christchurch band The Butlers introduce their song 'Leopard of Sweet Dreams'.

Karl Steven of Supergroove, The Drab Doo Riffs and Heart Attack Alley is the RNZ Mixtape selector. He shares his songs and stories of being in bands to studying for his PhD at Cambridge.

American singer & multi-instrumentalist Masego's live track 'Tadow' is currently sitting on over 100 million views on YouTube. In town for Auckland's Laneway festival, he sat down for a chat with Tony Stamp.

Pickle Darling's debut album Bigness was recorded in various bedrooms around Christchurch, and went on to feature as Bandcamp's Album of the Day. Tony Stamp spoke to the man behind it, Lukas Mayo.

Kirsten Johnstone talks about hot new music with Radio Active's Breakfast host Maggie Tweedie, RNZ music producer Tony Stamp and Jana Whitta from Girls Rock! Aotearoa, among other things.

Yadana Saw caught up with Broods about their new album Don't Feed The Pop Monster.

The Beirut mastermind on his love of ghost peppers, his hatred of HD TV, and his new album Gallipoli.

On this week's Pocket Edition Yadana chats to Gin Wigmore ahead of her return to NZ, and up & coming hip hop duo AP & Church.

Rap duo Church and AP take their show to the regions. Church tells Yadana Saw what the youth want.

Wellington duo Bored Housewives Club introduce their song Personfriend.

Lontalius is one of the local names on the lineup at Laneway 2019. He spoke to Tony Stamp about songwriting in LA, writing in different genres, and the choice to include pronouns in his lyrics.

Opal Ocean are an acoustic guitar duo who met in Melbourne, but who both have roots in New Zealand. Kirsten Johnstone got them in the studio to play a couple of songs and tell their story of going from busking to the Montreaux jazz festival.

Host Kirsten Johnstone is joined by RNZ music producers Tony Stamp, and Yadana Saw, The Sampler’s Nick Bollinger (who is off writing a book for the next six months) and Sharon Van Etten super-fan John Campbell.

John Psathas one of NZ’s most famous composers, having written music for the 2004 Olympic games, for world renowned performers, for films, and collaborated with artists such as Warren Maxwell and Serj Tankian. He speaks to Kirsten Johnstone and plays some of the songs that have meant the most to him.

Andrew Scheps is a mix engineer who has worked on some notable albums, and won Grammy awards for three of them. Currently in Auckland hosting workshops as part of the NZ Music Producer Series, he spoke to RNZ's Tony Stamp.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Alex Behan and Nick Bollinger share their plans for 2019, Julia Dean gives us a surprise performance and lots of favourite 2018 tracks and music news.

Lorraine Barry is the manager behind Dave Dobbyn, Tom Scott, Mark Vanilau and Nomad. In her RNZ Music mixtape she shares songs and tales from her international career working with Massive Attack, Chemical Brothers, Ice T, Soul II Soul and most famously the Spice Girls. Lorraine Barry speaks with Yadana Saw.

Nick Bollinger is taking time off from The Sampler to write a book about 70s counterculture in NZ. He talks with Music 101's Alex Behan.

Blu Fish introduce their song, 'Fresher'.

Nick Bollinger revisits some his favourite local sounds of 2018.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Alex Behan speaks with Phil Hartnoll one half of sibling duo Orbital, we meet with Wellington's Corduroy and Drax Project takes Yadana Saw on a tour of their rehearsal space at Avalon Studios

The RNZ Music crew (Kirsten Johnstone, Tony Stamp, Nick Bollinger, Alex Behan, and Yadana Saw) make their music picks from 2018's crop of international releases and give their opinions on the definitive trends from this year.

Electronic duo Orbital came out of the UK acid house scene of the 1980s and are regarded as pioneers of live electronic performance. Before visiting NZ for the first time, they speak to RNZ Music about taking electronic music mainstream.

Corduroy. introduce their song, 'Waiting Game'. 

Bene has created a helluva buzz with only two released songs. We meet the Auckland teenager and find out how all this has happened and check out her excellent song Soaked.

Baltimore dream pop duo Beach House have built a loyal following since their debut in 2006. Seven excellent albums in they are coming to New Zealand for the Auckland Arts Festival 2019.

The crew at RNZ Music choose their favourite local tracks songs of 2018. 

Music Promoter Kurt Shanks recalls stories from The Buzzcocks New Zealand tours in both 2013 and 2016 including long lunches, details on their riders and their motto 'No Moet - No Show-ay'.

Auckland musician Paige introduces her song Alignments.

Marika Hodgson is a highly sought after bass player working with everyone from Rhian Sheehan to Teeks. Her first solo outing under the moniker Sorrento is a fun funky frolic featuring Troy Kingi.

Grey Lynn rapper Diggy Dupé catches up with RNZ Music's Danielle Street to chat about his new EP Island Time.

Church and AP have built up an incredible amount of hype about their new song 'Ready or Not'. Before it was even released it was the most shazamed song in the country. It is an A rotate on two radio stations and may be set to go to number one in the charts. Not bad for two Auckland teenagers who are clearly just getting started.

Matthew J Ruys is releasing music under his own name for the first time in twenty years. Now based in Los Angeles the self described Jack-of-all-trades discusses where music has taken him over the last twenty years and why now felt right to release his new record, Things Broken, Things Awoken.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Nigerian New Zealand hip hop artist Unchained XL treats to a live session, Trevor Reekie delves into the fascinating story of Switched on Bach, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and Alex Behan introduces us to a new act called Sorrento.

Kirsten Johnstone reviews I Need To Start A Garden, the debut album from Portland-based songwriter Haley Heynderickx, who investigates self-doubt, religious doubt and existentialism, but with a good dose of wry humour, and plenty of creepy crawlies.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Australian artist Mojo Juju shares her Native Tongue, Mel Parsons and Alex Behan discuss Glass Heart - Mel's latest album and Phodiso Dintwe speaks with Raiza Biza and Remi about their joint EP called Black Hole Sun.

Opera singer Jonathan Fa'afetai Lemalu joins Kirsten Johnstone for an hour of chat and some of his favourite songs.

Hamilton-based Rwandan rapper Raiza-Biza and Melbourne-based rapper Remi speak to Phodiso Dintwe about their new EP Black Hole Sun.

Berlin-based Tongan-New Zealand artist Noah Slee has followed up his debut album Otherland with a short film based on the music and its themes.  He speaks to Yadana Saw about how he plucked up the courage to try his hand at filmmaking.

Singer-songwriter and West Coast native Mel Parsons discusses her new album Glass Heart with RNZ Music's Alex Behan.

For her third album, Native Tongue, Australian Wiradjuri Filipino artist Mojo Juju looked into her family’s ancestry to explain her present.  She speaks with Yadana Saw about putting a mirror to Australia’s complicated past.

Arab-Kiwi rapper Meer has released a string of acclaimed singles over the last few years, including collaborations with Jess B and Siobhan Leilani, as well as being one half of duo Cool Tan. She recently left NZ to live in Australia with her partner, but before that Tony Stamp had a chat to her on Auckland’s K Rd.

Lisa Crawley joins us on the phone from Melbourne to tell us what she's been up to and share her new song 'Baby it's Fine'.

Los Angeles-based singer and composer Julia Holter has just released her fifth album Aviary and is performing in New Zealand in January. She spoke to RNZ's Kiran Dass.

After reuniting for three shows this year Tiki Taane and Salmonella Dub have released a new song 'Ignite'.

In this week's Pocket Edition we host Avondale rapper Melodownz for a live session, and speak with American avant-garde pop musician Julia Holter.

The Beatles 'White Album' is 50 years old and there's a new 6-disc edition to mark the occasion. Nick Bollinger takes a deep dive.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Jana Whitta gets in the Fanau Spa with Big Fat Raro and Brown Boy Magic; Kirsten Johnstone speaks with producers Sylvia Massy, Gil Norton and Clint Murphy about their work on some of our most beloved albums of the last two decades; and Yadana Saw pays a visit to Wellington's newest supergroup, Congress of Animals.

Wellington hip-hop pioneers Upper Hutt Posse have just been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Members Darryl Thomson aka, DLT and Bennett Pomana, aka MC B-Ware, joined us to reminisce and select songs for the RNZ Music Mixtape.

Fanau Spa is a 9-piece collective of musicians, rappers, artists and performers based in Tāmaki Makaurau, with members hailing from all around the globe. Members Toki and Nikolai spoke to RNZ's Jana Whitta.

When The Phoenix Foundation's Luke Buda decided to write a protest song to bring attention to the “horrific” situation of children detained in Nauru, he was initially intimidated by the subject matter.So Buda reached out to Don McGlashan for heavy hitting songwriting help and together they wrote 'Children Don’t Belong in Jail'.

Sylvia Massy has worked with Prince, Tool, and Johnny Cash; Gil Norton has produced for The Pixies, Foo Fighters and Manic Street Preachers; and Clint Murphy has had his fingers on the faders for dozens of NZ albums since the beginning of the century. Kirsten Johnstone gets them around a table to talk about their craft.

RNZ Music's Alex Behan was backstage at last night's Vodafone NZ Music Awards, capturing the winner's reactions. He chatted to Troy Kingi, Alien Weaponry, Six60, SWIDT, Brooke Fraser, Sons of Zion and Che Fu, who spoke about Upper Hutt Posse's induction into the NZ Music Hall of Fame.

Henry and Pierre Beasley of Balu Brigada have made New York rather than Auckland's North Shore their home for the last few months busily writing new songs and they swing by RNZ to share one 'Old Love'.

Shannen from Palmerston North band Fruit Juice Parade introduces their song Legislation.

Marlon Williams' self-directed vampire music video wins at this years' NZ Music Artisan Awards. Virtuoso Strings' founder and music teacher, Elizabeth Sneyd is the inaugural winner of Music Teacher of Year Tui . The evening was hosted by Wellington Paranormal's Officers O'Leary and Minogue.

Shine Your Light is the literal translation of Kia Kaaterama Pou’s name. It’s also the title of her debut EP, which is out today to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Rātana movement.

On this week's Pocket Edition we visit the NZVMA Artisan Awards, and host proto-jazz outfit Yoko Zuna for a live session.

"The Loneliest Girl continues Princess Chelsea’s examination of storybook love and, ever so sweetly, defaces each page" said Nick Bollinger of Chelsea Nikkel's latest album. She talks through some of her greatest influences with Kirsten Johnstone for The Mixtape. 

Julien Dyne knows how to make the people dance, as Nick Bollinger discovers.

In this week's Pocket Edition, we celebrate thirty years of OMAC - the Otara Music and Arts Centre that has been South Auckland's incubator of creative talent. Tony Stamp speaks with Dunedin trip pop, alt weirdos Jagger and Lines and Yadana Saw takes a tour of Orchestra of Sphere's headquarters.

Hello Sailor's Harry Lyon joins Trevor Reekie for an hour of chat and some of his favourite tunes.

With their colourful costumes and trance inducing sounds, Orchestra Of Spheres have built a loyal audience both here and overseas. They show us around their Wellington base The Pyramid Club.

Dunedin alt-pop duo Jaggers x Lines have released their debut album Burn Cycle, which mixes trip hop sounds with serious lyrical topics. Tony Stamp had a coffee with beatmaker Morgan and singer Eliana last time they visited Auckland.

OMC, Ardijah, King Kapisi and Annie Crummer are just a few of the names that have come through OMAC - the Ōtara Music Arts Centre, which is celebrating 30 years of fostering musical talent in South Auckland. We take a look back at the centre’s history.

Slow jams and politics coexist on Neneh Cherry's new album. Nick Bollinger listens.

Tali makes a welcome return to the world of drum and bass with her new album Love and Migration.

Pop singer-songwriter Kira Puru is taking off in Australia. Kira – who's of Māori heritage – has recently released her first, self-titled EP on which she celebrates dancefloors and diversity.

Romance and disappointment go hand in hand in the bittersweet pop of Princess Chelsea, as Nick Bollinger discovers.

In this week's Pocket Edition, we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of 2B Spacific the debut album of Che Fu, Tony Stamp speaks with Thai New Zealander Phum Viphurit and we hear the latest tune from Tiny Ruins.

The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, we're heading to warmer times with the RNZ Music crew and their musical selections for springtime

Thomston has been suspiciously quiet for the last two years and now we discover why. He's been writing a lot of songs. He stops by the RNZ studio's to share just one of what might be up to eighty new creations.

HIGH HØØPS is the solo project of Leisure's Jordan Arts. He's just released his debut album Seasons on Planet Earth. Jordan put a band together and dropped into RNZ to perform two stand-out track from the album - 'Madly' and 'Blue Eyes'.

This Thai musician spent his formative years in New Zealand, and has now found global success via Youtube.

RNZ's Trevor Reekie shares some of his highlights from the Womad 2019 line up announced this week.

Lily Allen has dealt with fame since she was 21. In an interview promoting her upcoming New Zealand show she addresses both the up and downsides to fame, the rawness of her new album, toxic internet culture and her new, happier place.

Twenty years on from the release of his debut album 2b S.Pacific, we speak to Che Fu about how getting kicked out of Supergroove lit a fire that helped him create his landmark album and become the artist he is today.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Reb Fountain shares a new song in her live session, Kirsten Johnstone speaks with Connan Mockasin about the many new things in his life and The Members' JC Carroll shares tales of touring life with Trevor Reekie.

Six60 are the first New Zealand band in history to sell out Western Springs, filling the whopping 50,000-capacity venue four months before their February 2019 show. Lead singer Matiu Walters joins us to tell stories and select tracks for the RNZ Music Mixtape.

Philadelphia fret-flayer Kurt Vile has a new album out and is heading to New Zealand in April. He tells RNZ Music’s Francis Cook about his love of the South Island and his awe for Cass McCombs. 

English Music Journalist Neil Spencer once wrote that The Members were always the thinking punks band of choice: angry but intelligent, a suss reggae sensibility, and songs that resonated in the suburbs as well as the city. J C Carroll, the singer, songwiter and guitarist for The Members talks to Trevor Reekie about his time in one of the UK's most versatile punk bands.

Introducing Christchurch singer Ashy.

The premise of Connan Mockasin's new album and video series is disturbing. It's about a music teacher falling for his student, who he's mistaken for a girl. The cult-favourite musician speaks to RNZ Music about Jassbusters, and where on earth it came from.

After more the four decades of Kiwi rock'n'roll, Hello Sailor guitarist Harry Lyon makes a solo album. Nick Bollinger listens.

Nick Bollinger appreciates the verbal virtuosity of Chicago rapper Noname.

Divide and Dissolve are a Melbourne duo whose politically-charged music focuses on issues like de-colonisation and fighting white supremacy. With instrumental doom metal as their foundation, they've built a steady following of like-minded people all around the world - including our very own Ruban Nielson, who invited them to play support for Unknown Mortal Orchestra at their recent shows in Aotearoa. RNZ's Jana Whitta had a korero on the couch with the pair after soundcheck.

Wellington composer Rhian Sheehan talks about his evocative, cinematic new work A Quiet Divide, which he's currently performing as a multimedia spectacular around the land. He speaks to Kirsten Johnstone.

The Upbeats have been influential in the local Drum and Bass scene for going on fifteen years. The last five have seen their international reputation blossom and they sit down with RNZ's Alex Behan to discuss their new EP, documentary and the current state of Drum and Bass at home and worldwide.

RNZ Music is proud to share the first look at ‘Give It To Me’ by Motte, the solo incarnation of Christchurch singer/violinist Anita Clark who was silenced by a virus that could have stopped her singing forever.

Marlon Williams has won the 2018 APRA Silver Scroll Award for his poignant ballad ‘Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore’. The award was presented at a ceremony at Auckland's Spark Arena.

Nick Bollinger eavesdrops on Prince's private piano party.

Godfrey De Grut lectures in popular music at University of Auckland. The composer, saxophonist won the 2002 Silver Scroll for co-writing Che Fu's 'Misty Frequencies', and has played keys for Kanye West. Godfrey shares his eclectic RNZ Music mixtape with Yadana Saw.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s Silver Scroll nominated ‘Hunnybee’ had its beginnings as a lullaby for Ruban Nielson’s daughter. Here he lays out the struggle of writing an earnest love song for our Anatomy of a Scroll series. 

Trevor Reekie talks to Dudley Benson about his eight-years-in-the-making album Zealandia.

Chelsea Jade describes her Silver Scroll nominated single Laugh it Off as being close to the epitome of what she wants to be as an artist.

Wolf Alice just won the 2018 Mercury Prize for their album Visions of a Life and are all set to play the final show of their world tour at Auckland's Powerstation.

Makaira Berry and Hamiora Tuari speak about their new project Te Kākano which fuses soul, pop, R&B and most importantly te reo into an exciting new album.

Nick Bollinger assesses the array of skills unleashed on the debut album of multi-instrumental millennial Tash Sultana.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Tony Stamp celebrates the life of Darcy Clay, 20 years after the death of the 'Jesus I Was Evil'singer. Yadana Saw and Kirsten Johnstone speak with Troy Kingi and The Beths' Elizabeth Stokes to dissect Silver Scroll nominated songs. And Estere introduces us to the demon in her new collaboration.

This week's RNZ Music mixtape selector is The Eastern's Adam McGrath. He picks tunes and shares tales of his rugged Southern upbringing with Kirsten Johnstone.

The Beths’ Elizabeth Stokes talks about the risky decision that led to her writing the Silver Scrolls nominated song ‘Future Me Hates Me’.

Paul McLaney is the musical director of this year's World Of Wearable Arts shows. He talks about some of the composers involved including SJD, Claire Cowan and Eden Mulholland, and the joys and challenges of taking the job on.

Relentless touring is a punishing experience and can take a physical and mental toll on a band, but veteran Australian pub rockers, The Johnnys, thrived on it. Trevor Reekie catches up with founding member Graham Hood ahead of their NZ tour.

Estere and Raiza Biza's new collaboration introduces us to the mythical African demon the 'Tokoloshe'

It's been 20 years since the death of cult Kiwi musician Darcy Clay. RNZ Music's Tony Stamp talked to three of the people behind the scenes of his brief but bright career.

Rex Orange County is the music making name of 20-year old Alex O'Connor. Yadana Saw speaks to the British artist who's duetted with Randy Newman, worked with Tyler, the Creator and is heading to Laneway Festival 2019.

Northland musician and actor Troy Kingi breaks down the bones of his Silver Scroll nominated song Aztechknowledgey, from his high concept, space funk album Shake That Skinny Ass All The Way To Zygertron.

Despite struggles with health and technology, Martin Phillipps has consolidated the return of his iconic band The Chills with a timely and topical new album. Nick Bollinger talks to the big Chill.

Glen Common and Pete Rainey founded the Smokefree Rockquest in Christchurch in 1989. Now in its 30th year, the competition is still going strong with over 800 bands entering in 2018. In this RNZ Music Mixtape, they share some of their favourite artists from the competition, and discuss why Rockquest is still thriving.

Its been a big 2018 for Mitch James. After opening for Ed Sheeran earlier this year he has now released his debut album but he speaks to Alex Behan about how it hasn't all been rosy.

Dunedin band Marlin's Dreaming introduce their song 'I'll Stick By You'.

The Beths scored a Silver Scroll nomination for their song ‘Future Me Hates Me’, the title track of an album which has earned them rave reviews at home and abroad. We visited the band at their Auckland studio.

We visit Manurewa High School to meet the talented young musicians from Mit Eldnar - an 11-piece band headed for the national finals of both Smokefree Rockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats.

Rob Ruha won four awards, Ria Hall was named Best Female Artist, Alien Weaponry took out Best Music Video, Troy Kingi won Best Pop Album, and Seth Haapu won Best Songwriter at the 11th Annual Waiata Māori Music Awards in Hastings.

You might not have heard of Rotorua-born musician Alayna Powley, but the rest of the world has. At just 25, she’s worked with some of the world’s biggest pop producers and clocked up over nine million streams on Spotify.

Fables introduce their song 'Where You Are, I Am'.

British-born, New York-based Devonte Hynes explores his sense of dislocation in an uneasy new album. Nick Bollinger has a listen.

Legendary New Zealand musician Don McGlashan – the man behind beloved hits including 'Dominion Road' and 'Anchor Me' – joins Kirsten Johnstone to select songs for the RNZ Music Mixtape.

Yadana Saw speaks with Justin Firefly about his new band Congress Of Animals, which also features Age Pryor and Bret McKenzie.

American rapper Mac Miller died September 7 at the age of just 26. Alex Behan talks to Stuff reporter Kate Robertson about his musical career and the obvious and high profile challenges he was facing.

James Lavelle launched the careers of some hugely influential musicians on his record label Mo' Wax, and found further success with his own band Unkle. He's now the subject of a new documentary, which he discussed with Tony Stamp.

Rob Ruha and Ria Hall are bringing their highly acclaimed live show Behind The Lines to New Zealand, after a sold-out performance at the Darwin Arts Festival. The pair dropped in to give RNZ Music's Alex Behan the lowdown.

To celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, RNZ Music spoke to some of our favourite musicians who sing in te reo. We asked them to share their top Māori phrase and tell us about why music is important to fostering the reo into the future.

Nick Bollinger discusses the first equal-billing album from father-and-son duo Neil and Liam Finn.

Nick Bollinger discusses a lost country classic - from West African duo Jess Sah Bi and Peter One.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Yadana Saw speaks with Ruban Neilson whose band UMO have kicked off their New Zealand tour, we are introduced to Dunedin's Abby Wolfe, and Alex Behan speaks with Blair Jollands, an ex-pat who makes music when he's not working as a film sound designer.

Fiona McDonald shares seven songs that have influenced her, as well as stories of motherhood, joining her favourite band ever, and fronting TV shows that no one watched (or needed).

Introducing Dunedin singer Abby Wolfe and her new single Win You Over.

Blair Jollands is an ex-pat Kiwi living and working in London as a sound designer for film and TV. His songwriting has attracted praise from David Bowie and his new album 7 Blood draws its title from a herb he used to help him battle Lyme disease.

Nick Bollinger uncovers the story of American collector Ron Kane, his deep connection with New Zealand music and the all-star tribute album made in his memory.

Drummer-producer-painter Julien Dyne gives us a masterclass in his most influential jazz, krautrock and rare groove tracks on the RNZ Music Mixtape.

Grammy-nominated UK prog rocker Steven Wilson is known for his spectacular live show, which includes cinematic visuals and quadrophonic sound. Alex Behan spoke to him ahead of his Auckland show in November.

Paul Banks from Interpol discusses how and why he fell in love with music, his 'cocky' younger years, and keeping it old school recording their new album 'Marauder' straight to two inch tape.

On this week's Pocket Edition we talk to Pacific Heights' Devin Abrams about his new dream-inspired album, and English prog maestro Steven Wilson speaks on the objective nature of truth.

Devin Abrams, who goes by the name Pacific Heights, tells Kirsten Johnstone about the vivid, visceral dream that inspired his new concept album A Lost Light, and shares the short film that accompanies it.

Roy Montgomery is a NZ guitarist more well known in international cult music circles than in his hometown of Christchurch. While his output is sporadic, his contribution to our musical landscape is vast and influential. Kiran Dass speaks to her underground hero about his latest work. 

Nick Bollinger assesses the post-hip-hop soul of L.A. collective The Internet.

Nick Bollinger finds a preoccupation with science in the guitar-pop songs of Dunedin's Ha The Unclear.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Tony Stamp is on location at St Mary's College where Chelsea Jade is filming and recording with an all-female choir. We meet Christchurch rapper Valle and Alex Behan hosts a live session with Emily Fairlight. 

Hamilton rockers Devilskin sell out shows all over the globe and are one of New Zealand's biggest independent bands. In the build-up to their latest nationwide tour, bassist Paul Martin and vocalist Jenny Skulander join us for the RNZ Mixtape.

No Pictures Please are a duo from Wellington who just released their debut single. Alex wants to play it on Music 101, but is suspicious about how he came to first hear the song so he calls band member Finn Holland to find out what's up.

INTRODUCING: Christchurch rapper Valle drops his first single 'Love Me'.

Tom Scott talks us through his new jazz-infused project Avantdale Bowling Club.

Nick Bollinger discusses the rustic reveries and parting odes of Otago singer-songwriter Holly Arrowsmith.

Eight years in the making, Dudley Benson's Zealandia is a New Zealand album like no other. Nick Bollinger unpacks its music and its messages.

Nick Bollinger lends an ear to the reflective raps of Tom Scott in his new jazz-based project.

Christchurch duo Terrible Sons have just released their debut EP, the songs the product of getting married, having kids, and living a very different life to the one they lived in their 20s. Kirsten Johnstone catches up with the couple.

The RNZ Music Team bring dancefloor bangers and warm fluffies to their mid-Winter play and tell. 

In this week's Pocket Edition, Tony Stamp meets with Susan Rogers the audio engineer who worked with Prince on his albums Sign of The Times and Purple Rain, and Alex Behan hosts a live session with waiata Māori songstress Huia Hamon.

Susan Rogers was Prince's sound engineer on albums including Purple Rain and Sign o' the Times. It was four years of her life that left a huge impression, she tells Tony Stamp.

Nick Bollinger discusses the hook-filled songs of romantic defeat on the debut album of Auckland power-popsters The Beths.

Nick Bollinger reviews the synth-soaked debut of Los Angeles-based Kiwi expat Chelsea Jade.

All Seeing Hand discuss life, art, making music and all of the above for their new album, with RNZ's Jana Whitta.

Geoff Ong is an Auckland based artist who is making summery soul-pop complete with music videos that he has filmed, edited and directed. He played some songs live in the RNZ studios with hisfive-piecee band.

Metallica used one of his photographs on a live album cover; a shot he took of Robert Jr Lockwood is on the cover of  Jimi Hendrix Blues; and his photos have appeared in books including Live: Gigs that Rocked New Zealand. We catch up with Garry Brandon – Spark Arena's in-house photographer – about his 40 years in the biz.

On this week's Pocket Edition we talk to Michael Cathro from Dunedin band Ha The Unclear, and Ben and Jonny from Wellington's All Seeing Hand.

Nick Bollinger discusses a personal foray into world music for Shihad frontman and Adults founder Jon Toogood.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Kirsten Johnstone speaks with Australian multi-instrumentalist Tash Sultana. Flying Nun act This Sporting Life return from a thirty five year hiatus, and Sianne Dougherty, a young RnB soul singer from Lower Hutt is in for a live session.

Karen O'Leary is a preschool educator by day and a cop in the TV series Wellington Paranormal by night. She chooses some favourite tunes, shares some of her own compositions and chats to Yadana Saw.

Auckland based Sollem Den introduces their new single 'Subtine Frequencies'

The astonishingly talented Australian musician Tash Sultana is in New Zealand for four shows. RNZ Music's Kirsten Johnstone caught up with her to dicuss feminism, mental health and the crazy-big setup she tours with.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Alex Behan finds out how Jon Toogood got his groove back,Tony Stamp hosts Vince HL for a live session and we meet Wellington's Josie Moon.

Opetaia Foa'i is the leader of Te Vaka, the group that created the sounds and songs of the Disney hit Moana. He joins us to share six of his favourite songs and reflect on 20 years of bringing Pacific music and stories to the world. Opetaia has a talanoa with Dominic Godfrey for the RNZ Music Mixtape.

Wellington songwriter and producer Josie Moon introduces her new single 'After Hours'

A love story that transcends culture and faith lies behind a new collaborative album from Shihad’s Jon Toogood.

Benin-born singer Angelique Kidjo pays tribute to an African-inspired classic by Talking Heads.

Gurrumul's producer, collaborator and friend Michael Hohnen talks about the Aboriginal and blind-from-birth musician who was described by Rolling Stone Magazine as "Australia's most important voice".

The frontman of The Mockers and intrepid sailor Andrew Fagan joins Trevor Reekie for an hour of chat & six of his favourite songs.

Bully are a Nashville based indie-rock band led by Alicia Bognanno. They've released two kick-ass albums in 2013 and last year, and they're in the country to play a couple of shows. Kirsten Johnstone got Alicia in the studio for a chat.

Wellington's Club 121 have opened the doors for their biggest rave. Yadana Saw investigates "the rebirth of dance music culture".

On this week's Pocket Edition the RNZ Music team discuss last week's Silver Scroll nominations, and we talk to Alicia Bognanno, fontwoman for the Sub Pop band Bully.

This year's APRA Silver Scrolls Top 20 songs have been announced. They were chosen by a panel of top NZ songwriters from over 200 entries. It’s another strong and diverse showcase of local songs, spanning hip-hop, folk, reggae and pop.

Nick Bollinger delights in the lush folds of a fairytale concept album by Clean founder Hamish Kilgour, but fails to follow the storyline.

Lance Ferguson,head honcho of Aussie funk outfit The Bamboos on why big bands don't make big bucks.

Paul Kennedy from Recorded Music New Zealand explains the rationale behind the new addition to the music sales charts, the Hot 40 and NZ Hot 20 and explains how it aims to freshen up the chart ecosystem.

Eddie Johnston, under his Lontalius moniker, has just released his first new music in two years. The two songs ‘I Wanted Him’ and ‘That Includes You’ are personal inquiries into lust and love, things which Eddie admits are “feelings I don’t really understand”.

Nick Bollinger celebrates the 50th anniversary of Music From Big Pink - the debut album of The Band - by taking a deep look at its influences and its effects.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Tony Stamp hosts Dictaphone Blues for a live session. We meet Auckland band Skilaa and a special Matariki treat from Ponguru.

Ponguru is a unique New Zealand recorded work conceived, composed and performed by nga taonga puoro artist Alistair Fraser and double-bassist Phil Boniface, that brings together the low voice of the double-bass and the many voices of ancient indigenous wind instruments.

Auckland band Skilaa introduce their song Bluffin'.

US journalist David Dennis Jr says the rollout for the recent G.O.O.D Music albums from Pusha T, Kanye West and Nas have been negative for black women.

Nick Bollinger has a listen to the moist and vibrant music of Josiah Wise, otherwise known as Serpentwithfeet.

This week's Mixtape selector is singer-songwriter Charlotte Yates, one of the most versatile and enduring personalities in the local music landscape. She speaks with Kirsten Johnstone about her many musical ventures.

It’s 50 years since well-loved Australian folk-pop group The Seekers broke up, but they’re far from forgotten.

Formed in Berlin but traveling the world together and living as nomads since 2010, musical duo Hackedepicciotto (Alexander Hacke and Danielle de Picciotto) create immersive soundscapes using arcane instruments. While in NZ to play some shows, they spoke to Kiran Dass.

Alistair Deverick estimates he's played drums for around 100 bands, including time behind the skins for Lawrence Arabia, Anika Moa, and Neil Finn. He's just released his debut full-length album as Boycrush, so Tony Stamp visited him at his Auckland studio.

Nick Bollinger reviews an unrepentant new album from Lily Allen.

Nick Bollinger surveys the southern excursion of Oakland soul belter Shannon Shaw.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Jon Toogood speaks about the inspiration behind his new album Haja, we learn about Finland's quest to be the global capital of metal and The Chills' Martin Phillips speaks with Simon Morris about the new Chills exhibition that has just opened in Dunedin.

Bill Direen is a polymath: a musician, writer and performer who has been creating work across a variety of media since the late 1970s. He speaks to Nick Bollinger about his music and influences and played a few of his personal favourites.

Welsh classically trained harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese Kora player Seckou Keita have just released their second collaboration called Soar. Here they are in conversation with Trevor Reekie.

Auckland duo Lexxa introduce their song 'I Got Better Friends Now'.

Finland is the most metal country in the world. But which of their towns is the most metal of all? Tony Stamp investigates. 

Jon Toogood speaks about the incredible genesis of the new Adults record Haja. It features a who's-who of up and coming New Zealand talent. And it's no accident they're mostly female.

Nick Bollinger listens to the comforting melodies and disquieting meditations of Joshua Tillman, a.k.a. Father John Misty.

Dunedin band Death And The Maiden can count Shayne Carter among their growing number of fans. He invited them to perform at the Silver Scrolls last year, and since then they've released their second album of dark, electro-tinged pop, Wisteria.

Sydney based post-punk outfit Mere Women make loud music that takes you on a journey through big open spaces.

Pitchfork called her a leader in the next generation of indie rock and the "wisest teenage indie rocker we know", now Snail Mail, aka Lindsey Jordan has finally released her debut album. She speaks to RNZ Music's Alex Behan. 

On this week's Pocket Edition we talk to American indie wunderkind Snail Mail and Sydney post-punkers Mere Women.

In his new book Sound System: The Political Power of Music, English musician Dave Randall explores musical movements that have inspired social change - and urges people to "get stuck into that struggle”.

Nick Bollinger considers the hard-road song-tales of Bernie Griffen.

Nick Bollinger listens to the international debut of formerly Wellington-based soul singer Deva Mahal.

This week's RNZ Music Mixtape selector is drummer Myele Manzanza. The accomplished musician who's played across jazz, RnB, and hip-hop shares some tracks that have inspired his sound.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Alex Behan learns some Samoan with the help of Anoymouz and Tha Movement; Jana Whitta hosts Corduroy Cape - The Persnicketty Mixtape with Soaked Oats, Being, Ha the Unclear and we meet Rejjie Snow the Irish rapper who is on a sold out tour of New Zealand.

A meeting of minds between electronic producer Fis and taonga pūoro player Rob Thorne resulted in Clear Stones, an experimental album that saw the duo invited to play shows around Europe. Ahead of their first NZ performance, the pair spoke to Tony Stamp.

South Auckland rapper Tha Movement (David Saotupe) and beat-maker Anonymouz (Matthew Faiumu Salapu) tell Alex Behan how Samoan language and culture enriches their lives and their work.

New Zealand Music Month has been running for 17 years. Alex Behan asks the people who were there from the start to tell its story: how it began, what it's achieved and where it's going next.

Three years on from a spectacular debut album, how does Courtney Barnett really feel? Nick Bollinger listens to her latest and offers his conclusions.

Local hip-hop heavyweight King Kapisi was the first hip-hop artist ever to win the Silver Scroll - NZ's most coveted songwriting award - back in 1999. These days he's a father, grandfather, basketball coach, community worker and personal trainer... and he still finds time to make music.

Australian R&B producer/singer Oscar Key Sung on how his visa woes set him on his own Berlin-inspired musical adventure.

We discuss with Matthew Young the long road towards his excellent new E.P.

We check out the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards

In this week's Pocket Edition we talk to te reo rapper Rei, and Melbourne pop musician Oscar Key Sung.

The creator of legendary Wellington club nights Atomic and 24 Hour Party People, Bill E has been getting crowds dancing to New Wave and synth pop for over 20 years. For NZ Music month he's playing a banging all-local set at Wellington's San Fran. He dropped in to pick some choice local cuts, especially for RNZ Music.

Nick Bollinger reviews a brassy, gaudy - and at times surprisingly restrained - set from Tami Neilson.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Kirsten Johnstone speaks with Courtney Barnett about her new album Tell Me How You Really Feel. Alex Behan speaks with Sola Rosa about his latest release and Auckland's Wax Chattels speak with Tony Stamp about their debut album.

Rick Bryant has been the vocalist and bandleader in bands like Original Sin, Mammal, Blerta, Rick Bryant and the Jive Bombers, The Jubilation Gospel Choir and the Windy City Strugglers. Here he talks us through six of his favourite songs.

Nick Bollinger discusses the space-lounge excursion of Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys.

Auckland 'no wave' band Wax Chattels on their jazz school background, and getting signed to both Flying Nun and American label Captured Tracks.

Sola Rosa's new EP 'In Spaces' features collaborations from Noah Slee and Kevin Mark Trail. Andrew Spraggon joins us to discuss the new record, his next record, his indie rock beginnings and burning CD's one at a time in the early days to kick off his career.

The upcoming New Zealand Music Month Summit will highlight issues facing our local music industry including mental health, regional isolation, and making the scene more diverse. Alex Behan talks to some of the panelists. 

On her new album Tell Me How You Really Feel Australian musician Courtney Barnett lays her cards on the table with songs of frustration and anger, introspection and self-help, and some of the sweetest and most earnest sentiments she’s expressed. Kirsten Johnstone speaks to Courtney. 

Nick Bollinger discusses guitar hooks and notions of romantic quarantine in the songs of Wellington trio Hans Pucket.

Nick Bollinger considers a Texas-tinged set from Wellington singer-songwriter Emily Fairlight.

Beloved NZ musician, singer-songwriter and rock n roll goddess Julia Deans takes us through her excellent new album – her first in six years – We Light Fire.

Alex Behan hosts a roundtable discussion with three of the Best Producer nominees at this year's Pacific Music Awards.

In this week's Pocket Edition we host a panel discussion with three of the Best Producer nominees at this year's Pacific Music Awards, and feature live tracks from Louis Baker and Being.

The slogan for NZ Music month this year is 'Discover New'. The RNZ Music crew bring this kaupapa to their mixtape, with some brand new exciting finds, and some old favourites too. 

Janelle Monae holds the Declaration of Independence to account in a funky and forthright new album. Nick Bollinger discusses.

Sandy Mill is the voice heard on the albums of SJD, Neil Finn, and Placebo. After nearly three decades of the music business, she's finally released her own EP. She shares her mixtape of favourite songs that have influenced her.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Yadana Saw walks around Burning Up Years a new music exhibition that has opened at Wellington Museum. Alex Behan speaks with Parquet Court's Andrew Savage about their new work with pop producer Dangermouse and Auckland's Carb on Carb are in for a live session.

Andrew Savage of New York indie-rockers Parquet Courts speaks about recording their album with pop producer Danger Mouse, and his connections to New Zealand band Opposite Sex.

Yadana Saw heads down to Wellington Museum for a sneak peak ahead of the opening of Burning Up Years - an exhibition showcasing New Zealand music made in 1960-78.

Nominees at this years Music Managers Award Paula Yeoman and James Southgate discuss the changing roles in managing artists and collaboration and support in the industry through the Music managers Forum (MMF).

A trio of up-and-coming NZ bands have a hoon in the RNZ studio, in celebration of their colaboration Corduroy Cape: A Persnickety Mixtape.

Nick Bollinger discusses the ascent - and intent - of chart-topping rapper Cardi B.

Kimbra strives for self-improvement on her third album. Nick Bollinger assesses the results.

Estère Dalton is a Wellington based producer who writes songs with an anthropologist's eye. Her new album My Design, On Other's Lives tackles subjects like digital overload, migration, guns, and the housing crisis, and then turns inward for some very personal songs about her own family and identity. 

Melbourne trio Camp Cope perform two songs from their second album How to Socialise & Make Friends, and have a yarn with Tony Stamp.

RnB singer Kehlani discusses staying true to herself, dealing with mental health publicly and being a little sweet, a little sexy and a little savage.

The Topp Twins: musicians, comedians, and courageous campaigners for the rights of women, gay and lesbian people, unions, and a nuclear-free New Zealand  Jools and Lynda tell some Topp tales as they turn 60.  

Nick Bollinger discusses a contemporary recording that recalls the golden age of Cuban dance music.

Tony Stamp assesses the latest sounds from Afro-Scottish trio Young Fathers.

Nick Bollinger reports on the latest recordings of itinerant songster Delaney Davidson.

To celebrate the 11th International Record Store Day, Slow Boat Records' Jeremy Taylor shares his stories and songs from life behind the record shop counter.

Garth Cartwright is a New Zealand-born, London-based music and arts writer. He has a new book - Going For A Song: A Chronicle of the UK Record Shop, in which he traces the history of the record store through more than a century of unprecedented social, cultural and technological change.

Sam Mccarthy has already been in two high profile NZ bands - Goodnight Nurse, and dance pop outfit Kids Of 88. Sam has now relocated to Los Angeles where he makes music as Boyboy, as well as writing and producing for other projects. Sam and his band joined us in the RNZ studio for a catch up, and to play a few songs.

Despite dying more than 10 years ago, Michael Jackson still has far-reaching influence. Everyone from Beyoncé to Justin Bieber has taken a page from the entertainer’s songbook. Perhaps more surprisingly though, Auckland garage-pop musician Roy Irwin has found artistic inspiration in the gloved one.

The three members of Camp Cope have been fighting sexism in the music industry since they formed in 2015, while all the while creating unique and well-crafted music. Drummer Sarah Thompson talks to Jana Whitta ahead of their Auckland show.

UK band Public Service Broadcasting's last two albums have been concept records based around archival footage of human progress and space exploration. For their third, Every Valley, bandleader J Willgoose Esquire was drawn to the story of the coal mining industry in South Wales and its subsequent collapse. 

Kimbra's third album Primal Heart has just been released. She spoke to Music 101's Alex Behan about collaborating with Big Boi, Janelle Monae, Thundercat, and Pino Palladino.

Headless Chickens’ principal songwriter Chris Matthews joins Tony Stamp for the RNZ Music Mixtape, and reminisces about his life in music.

Tom Cunliffe performs two songs from his new album Template For Love.

The RNZ Music team look back on a bumper year for music festivals.

On the fourth album from Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ruban Neilson combines dystopian visions with a complex musical imagination. Nick Bollinger listens.

It's been a couple of years since we heard from Princess Chelsea, but her third studio album The Loneliest Girl is nearly upon us. Chelsea speaks with Melody Thomas about new singles 'I Love My Boyfriend' and 'Wasting Time', and tells about that time she got confused for a financial dominatrix. 

To mark the release of new album Invisible Lines, Michael Cathro of Dunedin band Ha The Unclear talks psychology, religion, fatherhood... and music!

In this week's Pocket Edition, Alex Behan guides us through the financial dealings of music streaming giant Spotify. Melody Thomas and Ruban Nielson talk 'Sex and Food'the new Unknown Mortal Orchestra album. And Aussie surf rock duo Hockey Dad are in session with Tony Stamp.

Alex Behan gives us a sample of the music nominated for the prestigious Taite Music Prize, including tunes from Aldous Harding, Nadia Reid, Teeks, Fazerdaze and more.

New South Wales surf-rockers Hockey Dad join Tony in the RNZ Studios to perform and have a chat.

In this instalment of RNZ Music's Headquarters, where we meet bands in their creative spaces, Yadana Saw catches up with electro-emo-synth trio Groeni, who are keeping things super local.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra's new album Sex & Food is prompting Melody Thomas to think about the apocalypse. She asks the band's founder and frontman, Ruban Nielson if that's what he intended.

Alex Behan looks at the latest moves from streaming giant Spotify.

For Boarding House Reach, Jack White goes heavy on the funk and synthesisers, but has he over-reached himself? Nick Bollinger takes a critical listen.

Nick Bollinger tunes into two-man band, and ex-Supergroove horn section, Hopetoun Brown, aka Nick Atkinson and Tim Stewart.

Los Angeles based songwriter Chelsea Jade charts her music career from busking in Botany town mall to writing a chart-topping hit for EDM pop duo Chainsmokers. This year she'll release her own solo album Personal Best. She joins Kirsten Johnstone to play songs for The Mixtape. 

Whangarei-born Melbourne musician Tom Lee-Richards brought his looping pedal into the RNZ studio to perform two songs.

Playing with the Auckland Philharmonia is a big deal, and the traditionally laid-back R&B five-piece Leisure, aren't treating it lightly.

Gin Wigmore has a beautiful six-month-old boy, a brand new album – Ivory, and she's just started a 'girl gang'.

Founder of English dub label On-U Sound and champion of global bass culture Adrian Sherwood shares his theories on the universal appeal of reggae music.

Wellington band Eb and Sparrow peer into some dark corners but also find places of comfort and hope on their third album. Nick Bollinger has a listen.

Nick Bollinger delves into the life-and-death matters of Zola Jesus's Okovi.

Nick Bollinger discusses the bloody, gutsy songs of 20-year-old Sophie Allison, otherwise known as Soccer Mommy.

Local pop sensation Nakita is reinventing herself at the ripe old age of nineteen.

Australian EDM artist What So Not talks about Piha being the genesis of his album and how playing Toto's 'Africa' in his sets made the song chart after thirty years.

Today's hip-hop 'battles' have interesting similarities with the art of traditional Samoan oratory (lauga), says music producer Anonymouz. He brings the two art forms into conversation in the upcoming show 4 Tha Lumana'i.

British pop star Dua Lipa was named the UK's most streamed woman of 2017 by Spotify, and when Bruno Mars brought his mammoth 24K Magic tour to New Zealand last month, he handpicked her as his supporting act.

Lucy Dacus' astonishingly confident second album Historian has cemented the 22 year old from Virginia as one of the standout artists of 2018.