Eo, Tell Me / What You Need (Mānuka Recordings)

My release notes for the latest record from Mānuka Recordings

Selected Works is a regular newsletter by the Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa (Wellington, New Zealand) based freelance music journalist, broadcaster, copywriter, and sometimes DJ Martyn Pepperell. Yes, that’s me. 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.

Last year, I was very pleased to be able to help the Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa-based boutique record label Mānuka Recordings out with the sales notes for their debut release Key To All Your Love / Judas by Summer Vee. Nine months later, they’re in the process of launching their second release, Tell Me / What You Need by Eo. Once again, I wrote up some sales notes for them, which you can read below.

In September 2022, Mānuka Recordings released our debut record, a now sold-out 10” double single recorded with the Tāmaki Makaurau singer-songwriter and guitarist Summer Vaha'akolo aka Summer Vee, Key To All Your Love / Judas. After winning DJ and radio support from Scratcha DVA, Shy One, Bill Brewster, and coverage from Radio New Zealand and Dr Rob’s Ban Ban Ton Ton blog, we’re pleased to present our second record, Tell Me.

Releasing in full on June 30th on limited edition 7”, Tell Me is a collaboration with Eo, a visual artist and vocalist from the extended music community surrounding Mānuka Recordings in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa (Auckland, New Zealand). Previously best known for his work in the mid-2010s hip-hop group Badcrop, Eo is a charismatic talent who approached Tell Me like an art commission.

In contrast to the classic soul, funk and boogie of Key To All My Love / Judas, Tell Me sees Mānuka Recordings founders Dylan Biscuit and Kenny Sterling search for the Balearic beat through an Antipodean lens. Starting with an improvised drum machine and synthesiser jam inspired by Dylan’s experiences partying across Europe in 2019, they brought in the in-demand woodwind player JY Lee and Eo, who helped them shape their ideas into a dreamy flute house track draped in a series of emotionally conflicted half-sung, half-rapped refrains.

On the flip of Tell Me, Kenny Sterling takes the song in a different direction through a laidback remix featuring vibraphone from Cory Champion (Clear Path Ensemble/Borrowed CS). Nudging Tell Me into a lush jazzy lounge zone, it evokes a similar sensibility to recent works from the cult UK and Californian musicians Greg Foat and John Carroll Kirby.

Tell Me is available for digital purchase or in a limited edition of fifty 7” singles, with printed cover art created by Eo. At present, you can only pre-order the digital version on Bandcamp, but they’ll have a bunch of 7” records up for sale from June 30th.

If you’re interested, you can also watch a short documentary on Eo’s visual arts practice below via Youtube.

FIN.