Author: ISLA

Blue – Carawei

synth

Carawei is a mysterious emerging artist based in New Zealand. The internet is almost devoid of information about her, and yet her instagram boasts 1300 followers; a feat independent kiwi artists will recognise as impressive in a country with such small population. Her enigmatic persona is intriguing.

There’s something really eerie about Carawei’s new single Blue. The breathy falsetto combined with the foreboding bass is hair raising, as she asks us whatcha gonna do? The song begins with a winding synth organ that reminds me of an aeroplane taking off.

Carawei takes her time with the ASMR delivery of the goading lyrics. She seems to have all the power in the narrative, and is daring somebody to meet her there. I really enjoyed the creative production on the track – the ringing synths and smooth bass build an immersive soundscape.

I don’t know about you, but I’m intrigued to see what happens next with the mystic Carawei.

Braces – Goodspace

Acoustic, Ambient

Goodspace are a low-fi indi rock band with “hints of hiphop and songwriter sensibilities”. They write music to “make you feel present”; an achievement not to be understated in the fast paced modern world.

Braces is an atmospheric piece of writing. It’s a plug your headphones in and think about life kind of a track. Goodspace have done an excellent job of creating something soothing for the anxious moments that riddle us all sometimes. The mellow guitar lines and soft-spoken vocals are perfect for bringing a spiraling mind back to the planet.

The lyrics are simple, but sweet. The opening line “when everyone turns and looks at you, when you don’t even wanna be here at all…” captures the restless feeling of anxiety. They capture these intrusive thoughts with pensive expertise. Goodspace move on to say “I know I’m the same, just in a different way”- it’s comforting to remember that we all feel that way sometimes. Braces is like having someone finally “get it”.

Goodspace are up to all sorts of exciting things in 2020. Keep up with them on Facebook and Instagram.

Clown – Aidan Ripley

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17 year old Aidan Ripley grew up wrapped in alternative music. He’s always been intrigued by the juxtaposition of an “intense emotional reaction” to the “apathy of the modern world”. Drawing inspiration from epics Gorillaz, Radiohead and Tame Impala, Ripley “amalgamates hyper emotion with complete detachment”. The resulting sound is intriguing and impressive. Ripley made his Spotify debut this year with three singles, each complex and fascinating.

Clown is a sinister and experimental piece of writing. The opening bars reminded me of the brilliant Eels, but the track quickly walks in several different directions. The weird synths and dripping water percussion lock into a groove, and Ripley croons about how “tomorrow cries for yesterday”. The chaotic energy in the track feels perfect for the unhinged nature of 2020. The piece plays around with reverb and repeating synth lines, building an immersive and consuming soundscape. I particularly loved the bassline, which does an awesome job of making Clown feel winding.

All of Clown was improvised as it was recorded, which explains the unpredictable nature of the track. Ripley uses surprise falsetto to unnerve the listener – the melody goes where it shouldn’t. In combination with eerie flute and a trumpet outro, Clown is somewhere between a bad trip and ingenious. I live for the chaos though; I can honestly say the track is wildly different from anything I’ve heard in a while.

Aidan Ripley feels like an act to watch. I’m interested in following the direction of his music – it’s amazing the complexity and maturity he’s found in his sound already. You can follow him too, on Instagram.

Rug of Numbers – Laura-mae

indie pop

Laura-mae from Golden Bay spent her lock-down writing music and live-streaming concerts from her backyard. Boasting a nation-wide tour, a performance on Maori television, taking the stage at Wellington’s garden festival, and the NZ X-factor bootcamp experience, the rising artist is no stranger to mahi. Rug of Numbers is the second of three singles Laura-mae has scheduled for a 2020 release.

One of modern society’s downfalls is its tendency to measure worth in statistics. We’re obsessed with followers, likes and quantity over quality when it comes to connections. Rug of Numbers is an introspective indie pop track about how it feels to be “just another number” to somebody. The track begins with a swelling indie-pop soundscape, setting the scene for its pensive nature.

The instrumental after the first chorus is bright and fun, before moving into the more poetic second verse. Laura-mae muses on feeling like a ghost hiding in a rabbit hole before moving into another chorus with the classic hook line. The bridge takes things down a notch, allowing space to build back up for the final chorus. The song’s energy ebbs and flows with expertise, ultimately creating a charming mid tempo road trip song.

Laura-mae shows no signs of slowing down with another New Zealand wide tour planned for the end of 2020, and a beautiful music video on the way. Keep up to date with her adventurous plans on Facebook and Instagram.

Headlights – Jack Panther

electro pop, Pop, Uncategorized

Wellington indie-pop artist Jack Panther released his sophomore single Headlights earlier this year. The “electro-pop anthem” is a response to an “epiphany” about his ex. Jack Panther uses the song to explore the dark feelings of anger and hurt surrounding a particularly challenging breakup. Headlights is accompanied by a moody “video short” that captures the atmosphere of the track.

Headlights is an interesting piece of writing. It goes in guns blazing; late in the narrative, with a driving bass drum and eerie synths. Panther’s voice feels defeated as he talks about “gunning for the headlights”, and how he “should have seen the signs”. The song suddenly drops away for a sparse moment, and begins the slow build back to the chorus line.

There’s an element of tension in each moment of Headlights. You can feel the angst in the writing – Panther has been knocked around by this relationship, and just as there is no resolution for him, there is no real resolution for his listeners. It’s a clever piece of writing; Panther pulls his audience into his head space for a minute. Keep up with Jack Panther on Instagram and Facebook.

Ribbons- Seralynne

Pop, Uncategorized

Wellington artist Seralynne created her first “pop star alter ego” when she was 10, and hasn’t looked back since. Her journey through genres and songwriting led her to complete a Bachelor of Contempory Music at SIT, graduating in 2014.

The most important thing for Seralynne is that her albums “represent (her) as an artist, regardless of whether that is the mainstream media norm”. She wears her heart on her sleeve with the What Love Is album, weaving between electronic pop and piano ballads with finesse. The album its self is as diverse in subject matter as it is genre – she explores ieas of giving up dreams, lost love, suicide, and taking ownership over the reality that you were the toxicity in a relationship. It’s a heavy line up of themes, but Seralynne tackles the subject matter with maturity.

There are a few quiet gems buried in the pop gold mine of the What Love Is album. “Ribbons” is a pensive moment where Seralynne reflects on love and her “irrational” behaviour in a relationship. You can hear the waver in her voice as she describes her partner as loving her even when she can’t give them everything. It’s a vulnerable, but brave piece of writing – Seralynne apologises for her mistakes, and thanks this person for staying with her through these challenges.

I enjoyed the creative comination of ethereal piano lines and echoing percussion. “Ribbons” feels like a swaying ballad for the final moments of a big night; it maintains the pop soundscape while providing a moment to reflect. You can listen to “Ribbons” along with the rest of the album on Spotify, and you can keep up with Seralynne on Facebook and Instragram.


Paint Me A Picture – EJ Barrett

Uncategorized

EJ Barrett is a musical phenomenon releasing music that straddles soul, blues and jazz all while using nothing but her voice, body percussion and a Boss RC-505 loop station. The unique New Zealand based artist writes about her adventures in polyamory as a queer, neuro-divergent, millennial parent. The resounding success of her music and steadily growing followers suggest that she fits a niche in media that an underrepresented community needs filled.

EJ’s latest track Paint Me A Picture is unique not only in sound, but lyrical content too. It opens with Kimbra-esque backing vocals, and a breathy “shaker”. The sultry soundscape moves into the lyrics “paint me a picture of how you hold your wife at night, and how I might fit there too”. EJ wants to send the message that monogamy is a social construct, and by no means compulsory. 

Paint Me A Picture is accompanied by a mesmerising music video showcasing EJ’s circus arts training. The video was created in collaboration with Tairawhiti TV. EJ fire dances on a dimly lit stage, delivering the song with confidence. The video ultimately ends with her swallowing the fire, making the video a spectacle to view. I would love to see EJ Barrett live; you can almost sense the energy of a live show through the screen.

Keep up with EJ Barrett and her music making, fire eating, world changing shenanigans on Instagram and Facebook.

Photo Credit : Katie Fromings

See Straight – Mikaela Cougar

Uncategorized

Following the success of her earlier single Lucky Stars, the effortlessly cool Mikaela Cougar is back with See Straight. Mikaela Cougar is a free spirit from West Auckland’s black sand beaches whose music reflects the eerie beauty of her environment. 

Cougar wrote See Straight at a time when she felt “alone and helpless in this big world”. She surrounded her lyrics with “sounds that reflected her yearning for support and belonging”. The track begins with an eerie repetition of the title “can’t see straight”. She uses her natural affinity for words to describe herself as “honey dipped… but I don’t feel like it”. She uses the metaphor of “getting dusty on (a) shelf” to capture a sense of feeling left behind. This poetic lyricism makes the song otherworldly, and despite the vulnerable nature of the subject matter the See Straight somehow feels empowering.

The production of See Straight is creative – the use of a combination of synths, backing vocals and strings give the track a building, foreboding feel. See Straight is heading towards the swelling bridge, which almost becomes overwhelming. This moment is meant to provide a “glimmer of hope” as it dissipates into a final chorus. Just as the intensity of the song has passed, so too will the space Cougar was in when she wrote it.

See Straight is accompanied by a self directed and edited music video showcasing beautiful New Zealand beaches and retro indoor scenes. The music video is artfully paced to compliment and emphasise emotional points in the music. 

For those of you (me) who’ve fallen in love with this up and coming artist, I have good news. Cougar is releasing not only a third single, but a full EP later this year. Keep up with her on Instagram and Facebook.

Salty Dog – Belladonna

Uncategorized

From the ‘As Told By Ginger’ artwork to the small town NZ lyrics, Belladonna’s debut EP Salty Dog will punch you in the gut with nostalgia. Belladonna may be new to releasing music, but her songwriting is far from amateur. There is a maturity and sincerity in her writing that promises to impress. Salty Dog is a collection of songs about “adjusting into late adolescence through a pretty New Zealand perspective”.

The title track begins with an engaging synth before rolling into a classic indie soundscape. It’s an endearingly apathetic piece of writing; the little details like calling her Mum, who’s “got more on than (her) most days” ground the track in whimsical reality. Belladonna’s dreamy vocals bring a sense of fantasy to the every day. In the second track Hands she thinks of sweet every day moments like wearing someone else’s sweater. This track is accompanied by a lyric video compiled of footage from the early naughties show ‘As Told By Ginger’; it’s a genuine coming of age love song. I love the simplicity of the sentiment “you didn’t have to be the last to leave, but you were, and I think I like it.” Hands is a track sewn together with first time butterflies.

Calling Out Your Name brings a change in vibe with a brighter tone, and the use of a quirky synth lead in the chorus. The chorus is catchy and well written— I’m expecting to hear this track on my next trip to Countdown. I love the embrace of the New Zealand accent and the dynamic groove. This track in particular I could see being very fun to watch live.

The song that hit home most for me was Perfectly Good. It held hands with some of my high school memories. It made me want to travel back in time to make hot chocolates for friends processing the emotions that Perfectly Good embodies. The song resonated bitter sweetly with memories that are both vivid and fading.

Salty Dog is a collection of songs that I’d love to see live. The production is polished and fun, and Belladonna is to be congratulated on an excellent first release. Head over to Newtown Library in Wellington to celebrate on the 28th of August.

Age of Reason – Georgia Maria

Ambient, Folk, Indie Rock

Georgia Maria is back with more sharp edged ethereal magic. Age of Reason builds like a storm from bar one. It starts with a gripping fingerpicking line which dissolves into a rhythmic moment matched with the percussion. She then introduces an epic distorted guitar, and that’s just the first five seconds. As always, I was struck by the complexity of Maria’s instrumentation and writing; no decision is a filler as she modulates and shuffles metres with engaging precision.

Maria’s lyrics are once again poetic, and almost prophetic, too. Featuring killer guitar lines, rumbling percussion and eerie vocals her sound could be described as “apocalyptic jam”. The chorus and verses are rich with chaotic drum fills and guitar lines that move with the vocals.

She brings diversity with a brief palm muted section and breathy vocals warning the listener to “beware of where (they) tread”. It feels like a key cinematic scene riddled with foreshadowing. Maria doesn’t pause here for long though; it’s straight back to a driving rhythm section and full noise from the guitar.

Georgia Maria is a name to watch out for— we certainly are doing just that. Keep up with her edgy brilliance on Facebook or Instagram, and listen to Age of Reason here.