Beats + Pieces Vol. 89

Frau Knotz, Amamelia, Clear Path Ensemble, Parking Day, 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.

Greetings all. I’m back from Bali, followed by a trip to Tāmaki Makaurau for the final edition of the Splore Festival. After taking a bit of recovery time, I’m right back into the writing work, but as it often goes, there’s a big lag time between filing copy and seeing it published. Regardless, I’ll have plenty of cool work in the field for you to all enjoy soon. Today, I’ve got some new material from the homies Frau Knotz, Amamelia, Oddisee and Kobie Dee, plus details of a couple of gigs this weekend in Te Whanganui-a-tara. Please enjoy.

CLEAR PATH ENSEMBLE at MEOW, SAT 28 FEB 2026

Cory Champion’s Clear Path Ensemble returns to Te Whanganui a-Tara for the first time since the release of their acclaimed third album, Black Sand. Following on from an enchanting performance at the Begonia House for last year’s Loemis festival, Clear Path Ensemble was awarded the APRA Best Jazz Composition for their piece ‘Cascade d’Ars’ and closed out the sold-out The Other’s Way festival in Tāmaki Makaurau.

For their much-anticipated return to Meow, the group will be debuting new improvised material alongside their book of celestial jazz fusion heaters. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Clear Path Ensemble back on home turf in an early show. Tickets are available here.

MIXMAG ANZ PREMIERE: FRAU KNOTZ - VICTORY DANCE ON ZR3 (AMAMELIA REMIX)

Here’s a quick song premiere I arranged via Mixmag ANZ for Amamelia’s remix of ‘Victory Dance On ZR3’ by Frau Knotz. If you’re an electronic music producer based in Aotearoa/Te Waipounamu or Australia, I might be able to help you out with one of these if needed. As always, no guarantees.

In August of last year, the New Plymouth, New Zealand-based producer and vocalist Frau Knotz released her sophomore EP, Digital Plastic Surgery. Informed by the rich histories of late-20th- to early-21st-century electronica, the EP showcased Frau Knotz’s skills as a dance music stylist, effortlessly blending the conventions of techno, IDM, synthwave, video game music, and hyperpop into five idiosyncratic instrumentals.

Six months later, one of the highlights of Digital Plastic Surgery, ‘Victory Dance on ZR3’ gets a rework from one of New Zealand’s finest modern electronica producers, Amamelia.

Opening with a chopped-up drumfunk intro, the Amamelia remix reimagines Frau Knotz’s neon-lit sensibilities in a mode equal parts happy hardcore and jungle/drum & bass. By wrapping rolling breakbeats and chipmunked vocal stabs around the song’s euphoric synthesiser lines, she sends us on a trip back to an early ‘90s warehouse rave.

“I first heard of Amamelia after she won Best Electronic Artist in 2024 at the AMA’s. Her music instantly transported me to my childhood and the ‘90s. To me, the whole aesthetic of Bananamelia! was drenched in colour, toys, and glass marbles, and I knew I had to collaborate with her one day. What she’s done with ‘Victory Dance on ZR3’ is marvellous and fun - further riffing on my alien theme by giving it a voice and a lyric!” - Frau Knotz

‘Victory Dance on ZR3 (Amamelia Remix)’ is the first of two remixes Frau Knotz has planned for the next few months. It will be available on Bandcamp, YouTube, DJ platforms, and streaming services, except for Spotify, on Friday 27 February 2026.

PARKING DAY:

On Saturday morning, I’ll be DJing with the Radio Active 88.6 FM crew at Te Whanganui-a-tara’s annual free Parking Day event in the Cuba quarter. We will be set up from 10 am to 5 pm, blasting various types of music through our in-house system. You should come down for a boogie. This is a free event, so just bring your dancing shoes and some water.

LOW KEY SOURCE: ODDISEE X KOBI DEE - NO DISRESPECT

Here’s some sales text I wrote last week for Low Key Source, Oddisee and Kobie Dee’s new single, ‘No Disrespect’. Kobi is heating things up proper over in So Called Australia. We see you bro!

‘No Disrespect’ featuring Kobie Dee is the latest in a series of collaborations Oddisee has recorded for Low Key Source with some of the best contemporary artists in Australia and New Zealand. The first release was ‘Midas’, in November 2025, with Aotearoa’s David Dallas, which is now available on all streaming services and digital download platforms.

Gliding effortlessly over Oddisee’s funk-fuelled drum breaks, basslines and cinematic melodies and textures, Kobie Dee spends the first verse of ‘No Disrespect’ reflecting on life’s lessons. After counting his lessons, comparing the bridges he’s built to the ones he should have burned, and savouring the Sydney Opera House view, he lands on a simple realisation. In his words, “I’m just trying to show my sons and daughter what I see, and that’s a world that’s for the taking, full of opportunity.”

On the chorus, Oddisee jumps out from behind the boards to spit some quick game about keeping his team straight, chasing dreams, and the feeling of getting better and better with age. From there, Kobie Dee taps straight back in, telling the sort of stories you can only earn when you start looking around, make your way into the world through your art and bring the blessings home. Ever vigilant, Kobie sees all the pieces of the puzzle and how they fit into the bigger picture. Art like this is for life.

WHAT I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO:

Ngl, Lace Mine really might have it. She’s that girl.

Before he was with Massive Attack, Neil Davidge was with the 1980s Bristol pop band, Big Outdoor Type. Blue Eyed Boy ‘80-’84 collects their early works. It’s a whole different world.

Legendary New Zealand post-punk recordings that simply do not date at all.

Proper ‘90s sludge from the swamp.

FIN.