Beats + Pieces Vol. 71

Lila Tirando a Violeta, The Hongi Slicker, etc

Selected Works is a weekly (usually) newsletter by the Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa (Wellington, New Zealand) based freelance music journalist, broadcaster, copywriter and sometimes DJ Martyn Pepperell, aka Yours Truly. Most weeks, Selected Works consists of a recap of what I’ve been doing lately and some of what I’ve been listening to and reading, paired with film photographs I’ve taken + some bonuses. All of that said, sometimes it takes completely different forms.

WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING:

Over the last half-decade, Uruguayan music producer and vocalist Lila Tirando a Violeta has distinguished herself internationally through a series of releases for Hyperdub and N.A.A.F.I and audiovisual sets for Mutek, Primavera Sound, Boiler Room TV, and Unsound Festival. Along the way, she has positioned herself on the vanguard of an aesthetic that reframes South American melodies and percussion inside avant-garde soundscapes and hard-edged machine beats equal parts IDM, industrial, techno and gabber.

At the end of April, she’s releasing her new album Dreams of Snakes through the Unguarded label. I was very pleased to write the sales notes for this one.

‘It’s Not Enough’: Four Albums Into Her Career, Nadia Reid Is Far From Done: The folk singer-songwriter tells Rolling Stone AU/NZ about her transformative new album, being influenced by Janet Frame, and more. Thanks to Conor Lochrie from Brag Media for commissioning me to write this one. You can check out Nadia’s new album below.

Mānuka Recordings is pleased to present our first offering in the Mānuka Special series; ‘Falling Off’ / ‘Do It Better (For Us),’ a collaboration with The Hongi Slicker aka Troy Kingi (Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), an award-winning, multi-genre Māori musician and actor from Rotorua and Te Kaha. Best known for his ongoing “ten albums, ten genres, ten years” recording project and his memorable acting roles in the local films Hunt For The Wilderpeople and Mt Zion, Kingi possesses a unique cultural currency that allows him to move freely between the mainstream and underground of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Thanks to Matt and Dylan from Mānuka Recordings for asking me to write the sales notes for this one.

Thanks to Patrick Hinton for commissioning me to interview Chicago DJ/producer Traxman for Mixmag recently. When you’re a freelancer, it’s always really amazing when someone asks you to write a story rather than having to pitch it yourself. In an industry where we often get 5-10 NOs for one YES, a commission is a small blessing. Read here.

PSA:

If you enjoy what I do, consider supporting me on Ko-fi! Every little bit means the world! https://ko-fi.com/martynpepperell

TONIGHT IN WELLINGTON:

Get ready to groove, because Durand Jones & The Indications are set to make their much-anticipated debut Down Under! This soul powerhouse is currently bringing their infectious rhythms and silky-smooth energy to Australia and New Zealand, stopping off at Meow Nui in Wellington tonight.

From humble beginnings in an Indiana basement to the international stage, Durand Jones & The Indications have become beloved for their dual-lead vocals, anchored by Durand Jones' raw, rasp-tinged croon and Aaron Frazer's soaring falsetto. Their third album, Private Space, takes the band’s crate-digging soul roots and launches them into a fresh sound, blending modern disco beats with classic funk and timeless strings. It’s a perfect mix of the old and new—a slick, sweaty, and undeniably soulful celebration.

Presale tickets are available here.

A TIME COW UPDATE:

Kullijhan Records’ upcoming release Scaring 1100 Chickens To Death, an album by Jordan Chung aka Time Cow, will be available for preorder on Monday, March 17th. It’s his first major release since his Live Prog Dancehall From Home on Boomkat’s Documenting Sound series. You can pre-save it on streaming services here.

WHAT I’VE BEEN READING/LISTENING TO:

Exploring the drone in Irish music: A story of sustained tones, sacred rituals, and the search for connection with the world around us, told with the help of Ian Lynch, Paddy Shine and Baptist Goth. For Anois, Os Ard, Eoin Murray.

Māori futures: On the frontlines with Aotearoa's young activists: The struggle for Māori rights has evolved, and young people are now its fiercest advocates, resisting the Treaty Principles Bill and demanding a nation that honours its promises to Indigenous people. For Dazed, Tayi Tibble.

Futureproofing #12: The end of Longform Editions: An interview with the Australian record label that became a beloved exercise in releasing music outside industry norms. For Futureproofing, Andrew Ryce.

Do you want your two-year-old daughter to be hot?: A story about you, your two-year-old daughter, and hot girls everywhere. Madeleine Holden for the Madeleine Holden substack.

On The Day When Mike Hosking Was Suddenly A National Hero By Not Exactly Championing National: Politics, init? So Commentary. Like Wow. For Sounds Good, Simon Sweetman.

A small appreciation: Claire Mabey on cicadas. For her Domestic Animals substack.

Ideas and insights for the week ending 1 March: Great opening lines, the anatomy of a dated joke and how to boost your brain chemicals. Jesse Mulligan for the Substack, which started as a food newsletter, has morphed into this.

Ōtautahi just showed Tāmaki Makaurau what it's missing out on: That big festival feeling is back – just not where you might have expected it. Chris Schulz for Boiler Room with Chris Schulz.

Book review: Three of the best from 2024: For RNZ, Kiran Dass reviews three of her favourite books from last year: The Position of Spoons by Deborah Levy, published by Penguin Books, The Vast Extent by Lavinia Greenlaw, published by Faber and Faber, and You Are Here by David Nicholls, published by Hodder and Stoughton.

LISTENING:

“The Timbaland production in my dreams ✨” - Linus Booth

RIP ANGIE STONE:

1979.

1991.

1993.

1999.

2002.

FIN.