Mavis Rivers was the first NZer (and first Polynesian) to be nominated for a Grammy; she was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2nd Grammys in 1959. Bobby Darin won the award (and Single of the Year) for 'Mack the Knife', but it was a stunning achievement. www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/mavi...

Whether you had a day off or were on the tools today, the AudioCulture Quiz is here for you. How did you fare?

Whether you had a day off or were onb the tools today, the AudioCulture Quiz is here for you. How did you fare?

If you're having a day off work, we hope you are enjoying it. The AudioCulture Quiz is here for workers and holidaymakers alike :) This week's questions are by Steven Shaw. How did you get on? www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud...

The Mint Chicks will receive the prestigious IMNZ Classic Record Award for 'Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!' this Wednesday April 29th at the 2026 Taite Music Prize ceremony. Have a read of Duncan Grieve's highly entertaining profile of the band – and for the first... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/the-...

The Mint Chicks will receive the prestigious IMNZ Classic Record Awards for 'Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!' this Wednesday April 29th at the 2026 Taite Music Prize ceremony. Have a read of Duncan Grieve's highly entertaining profile of the band – and for the first... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/the-...

Sunday/ANZAC weekend listening: we have a playlist to accompany ethnomusicologist Allan Thomas's wonderful essay, which covers the connections between the songs ‘Now is the Hour’, ‘Haere Rā’, and ‘Pō Atarau’. Do a deep dive, or skip to tracks that interest you: www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/goo...

Something very special for ANZAC Day: The inclusion of seminal Aotearoa song ‘Pō Atarau’ in the film Project Hail Mary took NZ audiences by surprise. The 1976 recording, by the Turakina Māori Girls’ Choir, brought many people to tears, and also stimulated...1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/goo...

Something very special for ANZAC Day: The inclusion of seminal Aotearoa song ‘Pō Atarau’ in the film Project Hail Mary took NZ audiences by surprise. The 1976 recording, by the Turakina Māori Girls’ Choir, brought many people to tears, and also stimulated...1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/goo...

Roy Phillips of The Peddlers passed away on this day one year ago, on April 24 2025. He came from Dorset, England, and found his way to New Zealand as the singer and Hammond organ player in The Peddlers, who were hugely loved in Aotearoa. In May 1970... 1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/roy-...

Taite Music Prize finalist Jazmine Mary is taking their band to Naarm to perform at Day Tripper festival (the bill is great!) They're playing a fundraising show at Whammy on June 3rd. And have a read of our Jazmine Mary profile by @garethshute.bsky.social... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/jazm...

‘364.1’ from Uneven Ground by Dunedin trio Death and the Maiden is another song featured in George Henderson's Songwriter's Choice selection. It "catches you reading extracts from someone else’s bad luck story..." And here's a fun fact: George says, "It was... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/son...

One of George Henderson's Songwriter's Choice selections is ‘Friday’, from Home Brew’s 7-track 2008 mixtape Last Week. "The heart of the rap is Scott’s musical treasure hunt, and the acts on in town that Friday night, who include Julien Dyne, and... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/son...

One of George Henderson's Songwriter's Choice selections is ‘Friday’, from Home Brew’s 7-track 2008 mixtape Last Week. "The heart of the rap is Scott’s musical treasure hunt, and the acts on in town that Friday night, who include Julien Dyne, and... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/son...

It's still Earth Day somewhere :) There are lots of cool folk in this video (and it's a great song of course).

Here's a memory for #EarthDay: This all star cover of Mutton Birds classic ‘Anchor Me’ was made to mark the 20th anniversary of the sinking of Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior. ⁠Hinewehi Mohi gives a haunting introduction, and singers include Anika Moa... 1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/the-... ⁠

New – and so cool! George Henderson (The Puddle, The New Existentialists) picks 10 favourite Aotearoa songs. He says, "I was overjoyed to be asked by Audioculture to write about my top ten kiwi songs, especially as the obvious ones had mostly been taken... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/son...

New – and so cool! George Henderson (The Puddle, The New Existentialists) picks 10 favourite Aotearoa songs. He says, "I was overjoyed to be asked by Audioculture to write about my top ten kiwi songs, especially as the obvious ones had mostly been taken... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/son...

Radio goodness at 6pm: Julien Dyne will be talking about his father, the highly talented bass player Paul Dyne, on 95bFM Drive this evening, with new hosts Smashton and BigJ. Julien has not one but two stories to cover! www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/paul... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/pau...

@actualylt.bsky.social have you seen this? You get a mention :) www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/her...

Something for bass fans: Paul Dyne on the bass, in conversation with Rosa Shiels. "The Ampeg electric has an almost a cello-shaped fibreglass body. Those basses were very popular with Latin bands, like the Buena Vista Social Club, and they transport well..." www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/pau...

Something for bass fans: Paul Dyne on the bass, in conversation with Rosa Shiels. "The Ampeg electric has an almost a cello-shaped fibreglass body. Those basses were very popular with Latin bands, like the Buena Vista Social Club, and they transport well..." www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/pau...

Need an evening distraction? Have a go at the AudioCulture Quiz :) We've had a wide range of scores today - where did you land?

I did the AudioCulture quiz today. Starter: Alan Jansson produced OMC’s ‘How Bizarre’ and Sisters Underground’s ‘In The Neighbourhood’ at his Uptown Studio. What was the electro band that gave him his first hit single? www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud... @audioculturenz.bsky.social

Rāhina Monday afternoon has rolled around again, which means it must be time for the AudioCulture Quiz. Our quizmaster this week is Simon Grigg – how did you get on? #AudioCultureQuiz www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud...

In our latest newsletter: you could win The Clean book. Plus new stories: Paul Dyne, Jazmine Mary, and poetry meets music. NZ On Screen pay tribute to Bill Sevesi - and who won the Odyssey test pressing? mailchi.mp/nzonscreen.c...

In our latest newsletter: you could win The Clean book. Plus new stories: Paul Dyne, Jazmine Mary, and poetry meets music. NZ On Screen pay tribute to Bill Sevesi - and who won the Odyssey test pressing? mailchi.mp/nzonscreen.c...

Brand new: Some of Aotearoa's best-known songs began as poems; e.g. ‘God Defend New Zealand’ & ‘There Is No Depression In NZ’. But poems aren’t simply song lyrics in search of a tune. As poet Bill Manhire said, “Most poems are set to music already, and... 1/2 www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/poe...

Lucky peeps in Ōtautahi Christchurch!

For #recordstoreday, here's a lovely reminiscence by Nick Bollinger. "In the early 1970s, my after-school journey from Onslow College would conclude with a walk from the Wellington Railway Station, through the heartland of the civil service, to Lambton Quay.... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/wel...

For #recordstoreday, here's a lovely reminiscence by Nick Bollinger. "In the early 1970s, my after-school journey from Onslow College would conclude with a walk from the Wellington Railway Station, through the heartland of the civil service, to Lambton Quay.... www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/wel...

Tomorrow is Record Store Day! Pictured here: Tony Murdoch (2nd from left) and friends at Soul Mine, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington.⁠ We have many stories about Aotearoa record stores past and present; here's one for starters: #RecordStoreDay www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/wel...

Brand new: double bass specialist Paul Dyne is one of Aotearoa's most influential bass stylists. As associate professor of jazz at Te Kōkī New School of Music (NZSM), he led the team who developed NZ's first accredited Bachelor of Jazz degree... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/paul...

Fancy some Friday winnings? The competition closes at midday :)

Would you like to win a very special test pressing? It's the complete recordings of NZ's premier 1970s glam rock band Odyssey. Answer the question in our newsletter by midday tomorrow Friday April 17th to go in the draw. Our profile of them is by "Dr Glam", Ian Chapman. mailchi.mp/nzonscreen.c...

The Aotearoa Music Award 2026 finalists have been announced - and it's a mighty list. Here are the records in line for NZ On Air Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year: Geneva AM – Pikipiki... 1/3 So many profies we could share! We'll start with Reb: www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/reb-...

The Aotearoa Music Award 2026 finalists have been announced - and it's a mighty list. Here are the records in line for NZ On Air Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year: Geneva AM – Pikipiki... 1/3 So many profies we could share! We'll start with Reb: www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/reb-...

Brand new: double bass specialist Paul Dyne is one of Aotearoa's most influential bass stylists. As associate professor of jazz at Te Kōkī New School of Music (NZSM), he led the team who developed NZ's first accredited Bachelor of Jazz degree... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/paul...

The Clean book launch is happening at 6pm this evening in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland , and 6pm tomorrow in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, at the Flying Nun stores... Check out the cool quotes on the photos below :)

The Clean: In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul book tour lands at the Flying Nun stores in Auckland tomorrow, and Wellington on Thursday. In 1989 the band played the US and UK for the first time – and found word had already spread... @rubbasoul.bsky.social www.audioculture.co.nz/.../here-com...

Celebrating 25 years of making music as Sola Rosa, Andrew Spraggon returns with his eighth studio album, In the Mids. There are some cool collab guests too, including Iva Lamkum and Muroki. Going way back: Spraggon played synthesiser in his high school band... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/sola...

Kia ora to our evening crowd :) Grant McDougall has given us some goodn questions for this week's AudioCulture Quiz - how did you fare? #AudioCultureQuiz

Kia ora to our evening crowd :) Grant McDougall has given us some goodn questions for this week's AudioCulture Quiz - how did you fare? #AudioCultureQuiz

Have a go at this week's AudioCulture Quiz :) And thank you @grantkmcdougall.bsky.social for the excellent questions.

OK quizzers - it's that time again :) This week's AudioCulture Quiz is set by @grantkmcdougall.bsky.social, and we think you might like it. How did you get on? www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/aud...

Celebrating 25 years of making music as Sola Rosa, Andrew Spraggon returns with his eighth studio album, In the Mids. There are some cool collab guests too, including Iva Lamkum and Muroki. Going way back: Spraggon played synthesiser in his high school band... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/sola...

Remembering Jim Laing, of the JPS Experience and Lanky, who passed away 10 years ago today. ⁠Laing joined JPSE on guitar in 1985, and then formed Lanky with drummer Robert Key, releasuing the gorgeous album Wait (2000). ⁠Story by @publicaddress.bsky.social www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/jps-... ⁠

#Onthisday – yesterday :)

#OnThisDay in 1919, a refurendum almost outlawed the sale of alcohol in NZ - but the votes of overseas-stationed soldiers overturned it.⁠ This is a fascinating story by @garethshute.bsky.social about the relationship between music and alcohol over the years. www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/mus... ⁠

Few voices defined the 80s and 90s in Aotearoa more than Betty-Anne Monga (now Betty-Anne Hall). To mark the release yesterday of Betty-Anne's debut solo album, Slow Burn, we thought we'd take a look back at Ardijah. They burst out of South Auckland clubland... www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/ardi...