Posts Tagged NZ Music
Archive
September 1, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Don’t Fight It – It’s Bigger Than The ID
We don’t know how lucky we are. The music that means the most to me from New Zealand artists is barely ever the product of a funding body, doesn’t have corporate sponsors, isn’t major label-endorsed. It’s the battlers. It’s about brave hearts and (sometimes) troubled souls. It’s about an energy. An anger. A feeling. It’s […]Archive
October 25, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
On Song: Five Years Old/Five Years On
Five years ago I released a book. On Song looked at 30 of the best New Zealand songs, 30 of my favourites. We started with a long list of at least 100 songs and whittled and whittled. I say ‘we’ – I am referring to the publisher, Penguin. And me. I was commissioned to write […]Archive
June 29, 2016 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast: Episode 25 – Roger Shepherd
Welcome to episode 25 of Sweetman Podcast brought to you by our brand new sponsor, Phantom Billstickers. This episode features a chat with Roger Shepherd, the guy that started Flying Nun Records, the guy who has written the fantastic memoir, In Love With These Times – My Life With Flying Nun Records.Archive
May 23, 2016 by Simon Sweetman
Recovery Sessions at the Southern Cross: Anything Could Happen – A Selection of Kiwi Music for the end of New Zealand Music Month 29/05/16 DJ Set
This Sunday, May 29, I’m back playing some records at The Southern Cross, for their weekly Recovery Sessions, 3-6pm. And it’s a selection of Kiwi music – all sorts – which times in nicely with the end of New Zealand Music Month. So you can expect plenty of Flying Nun and Dobbyn and Th’ Dudes, […]Archive
February 28, 2016 by Simon Sweetman
Alexander Hallag: Shh…The Music Is Talking
Shh…The Music Is Talking Alexander Hallag ah23photography There have been a few photo books showcasing scenes and styles within Kiwi music – and there will be more, but Alexander Hallag’s book, Shh…The Music Is Talking collects some wonderful images and allows you to simply take them in, to draw your own conclusion. Here is a […]Archive
December 21, 2015 by Simon Sweetman
Slices of Heaven – Kiwi Music: DJ Set
Every summer – in that great spot between Christmas and New Year’s (the anxiety is low, so, frankly are the expectations, everyone’s finally relaxed, or relaxing…) I play a wee set of Kiwi music, my favourite songs and pieces by New Zealand artists. Here’s a playlist from a previous year’s attempt. It’s good fun. The […]Archive
February 2, 2015 by Simon Sweetman
Kiwi Music at the San Fran, Thursday 05/02/15: DJ Set
I’m back at the San Fran this Thursday – a special edition of their weekly Shakedown, arriving a day early. From 5pm this Thursday I’ll be playing Kiwi tunes on the turntables. All vinyl, all night – providing the soundtrack for Waitangi Eve. There’ll be Lawrence Arabia and Phoenix Foundation, there’ll be Finns and Kilgours, […]Archive
September 20, 2014 by Simon Sweetman
DJ Setlist: Nurture’s Best – Great NZ music on the eve of the election
It was election eve Neil Finn was playing a show in town, Jeremy Elwood had a comedy event on at the San Fran. After those two celebrations of New Zealand music and thought I played a few of my favourites on the decks up at the San Fran. It was a case of nurturing the […]Archive
September 14, 2014 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Peter Gutteridge
I was just informed that Peter Gutteridge has died this morning. I’m torn here, I do not wish to be any sort of ambulance-chaser with news like this. At the same time Gutteridge was something of an underground hero, so important to people in love with so much around what New Zealand music means and […]Archive
September 4, 2014 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Johnny Cooper
Sad news, one of New Zealand’s rock’n’roll pioneers – Johnny Cooper (“The Maori Cowboy”) has died, aged 86. Cooper retired in the 1990s and lived a reclusive life. Despite the early stages of Alzheimer’s he remained independent until the end, living along in a flat in Lower Hutt. Cooper was born and raised in Hawke’s […]Archive
February 5, 2013 by Simon Sweetman