Timberwolf
By Poppy Tohill
"I've had a pretty cruisy day," a cheerful Chris Panousakis (better known by his stage moniker - Timberwolf) happily chimed on the other end of the phone as we launched into a full blown conversation about our mutual love for Netflix, lazy days in bed, noodles and of course - chocolate.
Gay Paris
By Poppy Tohill
Birthed in 2009 from the corpse of something that kicked and screamed until it died, the monster rock and rollers that are Gay Parisentered this world running with wolves and howling in the hills. Spending their time loping around the dimmest haunts of the Australian music scene, Gay Paris have shaken of the dust of sleep, flexed their muscles and are now gearing up to release their third studio album, ‘Dark Arts.'
Lindemann
By Clare McCabe
Hands up who likes Rammstein? Well you are in for a treat because Till Lindemann, the lead singer, is about to release a new album and this time he sings in English. Yes that's right chums. In English. Till's new band, Lindemann, is a collaboration between Till and Peter Taegtgren(of Hypocrisy and Pain fame). Their debut album, Skills In Pills, will be released next month. And it is good. Also turns out Till is a huge fan of New Zealand and he was hanging out here earlier in the year.
Adam Westcott
By Jennifer Quinlin
South-West England isn't the first place that springs to mind when somebody mentions Flamenco. Adam Westcott, 32, is aiming to change that. Westcott hails from Teignmouth, a lovely seaside town in beautiful Devon.
Yngwie Malmsteen
By Keith Wright
In modern exclamations, this article for me has the OMFG. WTF?! I had the rarest privilege to speak to a living legend, Yngwie Malmsteen.
Cairo Knife Fight
‘The Colossus' is the debut album from Cairo Knife Fight and it's about to be unleashed onto the world which will delight the forever expanding fan base both here in our own kiwi land, our neighbours across the ditch and around the world in places like Los Angeles, which is now home to Cairo Knife Fight.
Interview: Hermitude
By Wal Reid
Sydney-siders Luke Dubber (aka Luke Dubs) and Angus Stuart (aka El Gusto) have over a twelve year career as Hermitude have established themselves as one of Australia's premier live acts with a mix and match of vocals, beats and a full live AV show.
Interview: Kathryn Dean - May 2015
By Poppy Tohill
As a teenager working in the music industry myself, it's always exciting getting to talk to a fellow teen doing so well in the industry, and with proof from the likes ofKathryn Dean, it seems teenagers really are ruling a big part of the music scene right now both nationally and internationally.
Interview - Beth Hart - April 2015
By Poppy Tohill
Ahead of her incredible show at Auckland's Powerstation late last month, I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with the undeniably inspirational, talented and one and only, Beth Hart.
Pip
By Poppy Tohill
"It's a nice, sunny afternoon here," Pip tells me over the phone fromLos Angeles, on a bleak and windy Auckland morning. The 22 year old funk-pop artist and born performer has had a busy few years since he entered season 2 of the popular American talent show, The Voice, in 2012. Participating as a part of ‘Team Adam Levine' getting as far as the quarter-finals, Pip tells me "it's really what you do after the show that sets you up as an artist or musician," and it's exactly his journey thus far, following the show, that we talk about.
George Clinton
By Ben Doy
"It's cold as hell!" George Clinton tells me over the phone from New Jersey. The Godfather of funk is certainly looking forward to relative warmth of Australia and New Zealand this April where he's set to play with his band the Parliament Funkadelic.
Interview: Charles Bradley
By Adrian Russell
The story of Charles Bradley is truly inspirational. He lived on the streets for two years, almost died in hospital after being given penicillin and battled depression following the death of his brother.
Interview: I Am Giant
By Wal Reid
New kid on the block I Am Giant's vocalist Ryan Redman is still coming to grips with his new found role in the Kiwi rock group after it was announced in December 2014 that vocalist Ed Martin was leaving the band to embark on a solo project, which is to be produced by band member Paul Matthews. Of course this would mean Redman would have to adapt from his native English roots and adopt the Kiwi vernacular, something he's getting quite used to doing these days.
Spandau Ballet
By Ben Doy
Spandau Ballet are returning to New Zealand where they're set to play one show at the Vector Arena in Auckland on Sunday May 10th. Consisting of Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, Steve Norman, John Keebleand Martin Kemp, the band reunited in 2009 following a 19-year break, embarked on a world tour and released the album ‘Once More' that same year.
Olly Martin
By Clare McCabe
Hands up who went to Westfest last year? The event was held for the very first time in Auckland at Vector Arena over two nights last year.
Dragonforce
By Wal Reid
Dragonforce is one of Europe's most well-known power metal bands, the group was founded by two guitarists Herman Li & WellingtonianSam Totman in 1999. To date the group is now a force to be reckoned with seven albums under their belt, mega-fast guitar solos and fantasy-based lyrics, the group is currently playing New Zealand as part of their Maximum Overload World Tourstop over.
Interview: Sharon Van Etten
By Rathan Paul Harshavardan
Ahead of her first live tour in March in NZ, Libel caught up with the singer/songwriter Sharon Van Etten, the genius behind one of 2014's critically acclaimed musical releases, 'Are We There Yet'. Supporting the fantastically crafted personal album, Sharon will be performing a live set in March bringing her unique concoction of folk rock/music backed by electronics, guitars and harmonies all the way from Brooklyn, NY. In this interview, Sharon talks about her life in the music industry and what is in store for the future.
Nathan Haines
By Wal Reid
Nathan Haines is something of an enigma, he's always seen playing everywhere but seldom recognised. With eight solo albums, four of those released internationally, and guest spots on hundreds of releases. Nathan has carved a musical career as long as the Waikato River, where he's been at the forefront of modern soul, jazz and electronic music for over 20 years. However most people may be a tad surprised to learn he's more than just a sax player.