Synthony returning for 2018!
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Due to popular demand, Synthony is returning to the Auckland Town Hall. For one night only, on Saturday, September 15, the iconic central city venue will transform into a dance party like no other!
Synthony features some of New Zealand’s best-known artists, alongside the 90-piece Auckland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Peter Thomas, performing dance music’s biggest tracks of the past 30 years, mixed and hosted by George FM, DJ General Lee.
The night includes live performances from one of the most recognisable forces in the game, P Digsss - the lead singer of the mighty Shapeshifter. Three of the of the best voices in the country, Ria Hall, Helen Corry and Omega Levine will also perform. The orchestra and vocalists will be supported by New Zealand legends Greg Churchill and Dick Johnson.
Synthony 2018 makes its return after its inaugural event sold out in just a matter of weeks last year, wowing crowds and critics alike.
Last year, promoters advised leaving your nan at home. And the warning applies again - this is not an orchestra as you know it! Expect an energised journey down dance music’s memory lane, accompanied by lights, lasers and a state of the art sound system. It is simply, an event not to be missed.
SYNTHONY
First release tickets are on sale from June 26.
Pre-register your interest now at www.synthony.co.nz to ensure you're one of the lucky ones. GA tickets will give you access to the dance floor action, while there is allocated seating options for ultimate viewing in the circle and balcony.
The VIP experience gives you a chance to meet members of the orchestra members and pre show canapés and drinks.
SYNTHONY 2018 – MEET THE CAST:
P Digsss
The musical journey of Paora Apera, aka P Digsss, has been a long and winding road to the summit as one of New Zealand’s most well-known and respected vocalists.
From his early days with heavy Wellington collective Police Lucipher, to the crisp and chill beats of Queenstown’s
Sunshine Sound System, to his joining of Shapeshifter and their ascent to new heights, his willingness to take risks and leap into the unknown has marked a career like no other in Aotearoa.
He has also been highly sought-after as a featured vocalist, with guest appearances with Fat Freddy’s Drop, State of Mind, Tiki Taane, The Nextmen and Yoko-Zuna again showcasing his diversity on the mic.
As well as fronting Shapeshifter at huge shows around the globe, he continues to find time to perform both with The Peacekeepers and as a solo artist and bless us with those sweet soulful vocals.
Ria Hall
With the release of her debut self-titled EP, Ria Hall became a blazing female force on the NZ music scene. Winning multiple awards and critical acclaim, her sound fuses furious
hip-hop beats and richly layered vocals in English and
Te Reo Māori, creating an epic soundscape that embraces and challenges multiple genres.
October 2017 saw the release of her highly-anticipated concept album entitled, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. In its first week of release, it debuted on The Official New Zealand Music Charts at #1. Featuring appearances and production from Tiki Taane, Kings, Laughton Kora, Mara TK and Electric Wire Hustle, the album showcase Ria’s incredible talent as a vocalist and lyricist.
Ria is a powerful live performer, who's sought-after live set has seen her play to audiences of thousands at a number of festivals across Australasia. The live set is best described as an experience that showcases her enormous vocal range and ability to effortlessly transition between styles. Always in demand, she has collaborated extensively with a diverse range of artists and producers across a wide range of genres and backgrounds including Fly My Pretties.
Ria Hall is a fearless female artist with resolute ideas for the future of New Zealand music: “There is so much richness that New Zealand music can take to the world. We haven’t realised our own potential - and that’s exciting”.
Omega Levine
Omega Levine has embarked on a solo journey that blends his childhood influences from pop, rock and alternative music with his unique storytelling talent lyrics.
As the frontman and songwriter of the multi-award winning Parachute Band, Omega spent almost a decade touring the globe, playing festival stages around the world and entertaining crowds of up to 80,000.
In 2017, Omega joined forces with NZ electronic producer duo, Chores, on the hit single ‘Away’ and followed this up in late 2017 with his solo release, ‘Clouds’, which featured two weeks running on Spotify's New Music Fridays (Aus/NZ) and Apple Music's Best of the Week. Omega and bass heavy duo, Lee Mvtthews, released their co-lab track, ‘Stay’, in Feb 2018
Helen Corry
Helen Corry has been a constant presence in the NZ music scene over the last four years. These days you can’t turn on the radio without hearing one of her chart topping tunes, be it Jetski Safari’s ‘Like a Lie’, Jupiter Project’s ‘With You’ (GOLD), Stack and Piece’s‘Burning Out’ or her recent collaboration on ‘She Said’ with Ryan Enzed.
A darling of the NZ festival scene, Helen has showcased her dynamic live performance at Rhythm and Vines, New Zealand Beer Fest, Our House, Deep Hard ‘N’ Funky, SpringBreak Fiji and Homegrown among others.
With her own EP due out in 2018, she’s at the very top of her game right now. Helen’s ability to put her own special touch on classic covers has made her an in demand entertainer for unique events across New Zealand and Australia.
Auckland Symphony Orchestra
The Auckland Symphony Orchestra is New Zealand’s largest community orchestra. The orchestra’s main philosophy is that music should be fun and enjoyed by players and audiences alike. Today, the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, with over eighty musicians, has developed an excellent following and reputation for its high quality performances of popular classics, film and show music, often playing to capacity and turn-away audiences.
Music Director and Synthonyconductor Peter Thomas is very passionate about the Synthonyproject and the chance to create a unique event.
Greg Churchill
Greg Churchill is our most profound DJ and producer. He has never forgotten the basic dance-function of his music, but he has explored it with intelligence and wide-ranging musical reference. He is the true deep history of New Zealand House both in his club-work and his own recordings and mixes.
His residencies and gigs are key elements in any history of clubbing in Auckland. His tours have unified a national scene and his production has taken him around the globe.
Dick Johnson
As a teenager Dick Johnson landed a residency at Manchester’s legendary Hacienda Club where he honed his house sound until it’s closure in 1997. Before long he was producing tracks for Cream’s Olympic label, New Order’s Pleasure Recordings and Manchester’s Paper Recordings collective, and had set up his own record label Shaboom records which went on to do over 100 releases from the likes of Joeski, Fred Everything, Doc Martin and DJ Sneak.
Prolific in the studio, he went on to do albums for Darren Emerson’s Underwater Label and Bristol house imprint NRK, as well as releases for Jesse Rose’s Made To Play/Play It Down, Southern Fried, Nic Fanciulli’s Saved Records, Lazy Days, Soundway, MOS & Vicious.
As well as his own solo productions, Dick has remixed the likes of Crookers, Claude Von Stroke, DJ Sneak, Ian Pooley, Worthy, Crazy P, Bassnectar, Fred Everything and is part of a few live acts. The first is the eight-piece band Weird Together with its own twist on world music. They have released two EP’s so far, the first through UK label Soundway and the second on Jillionaire's (Major Lazer) Feel Up Records. The second project is MEDZ, a slower, more futuristic electronic project, and the third is Clicks.
Now based in Auckland, and with a weekly show on local radio station George Fm, Dick continues a busy DJ schedule and it’s a rare weekend indeed that he is not behind the decks electrifying a crowd of dedicated followers and testing his tunes on dance floors from Russia to Argentina and most points in between. He has just mixed the latest George FM Chillsville album.
Ryan Youens
As a freelance writing-musician, Ryan has 15 years’ experience working for clients worldwide as a music preparer, arranger, orchestrator and composer. While his own original music has enjoyed success in concert halls and film festivals (Cannes, Austin), Ryan has hundreds of professional credits to his name including producing music for ensembles such as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, London Metropolitan Orchestra, Budapest Scoring Orchestra and the Dutch Radio Chamber Orchestra; and artists such as Neil Finn and Dave Dobbyn.
General Lee
General Lee is one of New Zealand’s most respected and renowned DJs. He mixed New Zealand’s first Ministry of Sound CD in 2011 and again in 2013, both of which were a resounding success. Lee has done 350 radio shows for Ministry of Sound in New Zealand, and is currently the host of George FM’s daytime show.