Who is Pixels?
Pixels is Eamon Wells, Cindy Tan, Mason Fairey, Alex Guthrie, Lukas Hanson and Liam Pram.
How did the band form?
The band formed to play live in 2016 and kind of grew, when I started writing with Cindy, into what it is now. We're just tryna write cute songs and be a computerbubblegumpop band.
What are three words you'd use to describe your music?
Three words to describe Pixels could be "robots in love"..? or "bubblegum android duets".
What's next for the Pixels?
We are going to play summer gigs and Cindy is working on a new video for "So Lucky" off Lemoncrush. I've got two new singles in the works which will be here soon.
Where is a good place to write a song in Auckland?
I think a good place to write a song is in your bed or your room but Auckland's got good West Coast beaches, which are always amazing.
As Kane said in his press release for this video, arriving in New York for his first overseas tour was the most surreal experience of his life. He made the video for his song, 'Silence Overgrown' with footage from the band's U.S. and European tours. There's something about it that captures that giddy feeling. It's sweet, charismatic and it's also quite funny.
Here's a murmuring from Dunedin - it's mournful and romantic and captures how it felt to leave this town again on Monday afternoon. Thank you Brad McDonald for these two.
Tom Lee-Richards is a Melbourne-based musician with a debut E.P coming out sometime this year. After recent touring, Tom left his day job for music. And why not? His highly-textured, magnetic sound begs pursuing.
1. What fell into place for you to quit your day job and pursue music full-time?
Good question. I was touring NZ and Australia late last year and was enjoying playing in different places so much that I thought why don't I just do this. The volatile state of the world we are heading into has only really highlighted that nothing's as important as the things that make you happy - cos none of it lasts forever anyway. Plus, people find a way. If they don't well then they have to change something. I'll see how I go.
2. Where and how did you record your new E.P.?
This is my debut solo E.P actually and is probably more of a mini-album just because there are a fair few tracks that had to go together. I recorded it mostly with Pip Norman aka Countbounce (Jarryd James, Troye Sivan) at his studio in Northcote, Melbourne. One track was recorded with Matt Neighbour (Matt Corby, Courtney Barnett) at Sing Sing Studios. There are a couple of tracks that some regular band mates played on but a lot of it was shaped from the ground up from a demo guitar take or mouth percussion improv.
3. Can you tell me about the collaborations that happened when making this E.P.?
Working with Pip Norman was great. I sent Pip a few recordings and he was drawn to 'The Wearing Kind'. He said, "I really like 'The Wearing Kind' - I think it's got a charm and magnetism that I feel I could bring something special to". We agreed we should explore the song's calypso influences in a fresh way that suits us, whilst staying true to my vocal delivery and the nostalgic feeling in the song. It wasn't long before Pip was swinging his arm at a solo floor Tom, hammering out what would be the backbone of the track. I grew to love Pip's signature sample-driven approach and the wisdom he brought to the process. I laid down the vocals, guitar and (usually) bass and then we worked on adding some synth and keys magic.
Matt Neighbour, who co-produced 'Madness' with me, is a young production star and a super nice guy - loves 'Parks and Recreation' amongst other good shows. I had previously worked with Matt on my band Catch Release's album and was always impressed with his technical nous and consistently patient listening mode. 'Madness' was really about capturing what I do live and adding the bare minimum in a tasteful way. I knew I would enjoy that process with Matt.
Rob Wardrop (keys), Thomas Young (bass) and Danny Finkelstein (drums) also played on one of the tracks giving it killer feel. The E.P/mini-album thingy is a definite journey.
4. What are three words you would use to describe your new music?
Rhythmic, nuanced, textured.
5. Where is the best place in Melbourne to write music and/or to get unexpectedly inspired?
Haha well I may not be fully aware of where I'm going to be unexpectedly inspired next and that's awesome. I often find myself on a park bench looking sideways at a flying bird. The bird often doesn't make it into the song but is aware I'm there. I do also like grabbing a coffee somewhere and letting the wash of social noise create enough distance to write.
A few days ago Kane released the first single, 'Oh So You're Off I See' for his upcoming album. He also announced the big news...Kane has signed with U.S. label Dead Oceans. The response and coverage to his single and his signing has been staggering. I couldn't be more happy for Kane. You can even find posts about his new single on NME, Clash and Stereogum. Listen to his new song above and, trust me, if you like this - the full album will take you to a whole new level.
Alanna Eileen has a quiet, pressing presence when she performs. She may describe herself as shy - her music is anything but. Alanna is on the cusp of releasing her first full-length album, which was produced by Ben Edwards (he also produced Aldous Harding's and Marlon Williams' albums). She'll be touring New Zealand in February before the release of her first single. Keep an eye out.
1. How does your self-described shyness and your desire to perform interact?
If you’re quiet and introverted, it can be quite daunting getting up on stage. Being a naturally introspective and private person makes me nervous about performing, but it’s a great feeling when you overcome it and manage to connect with people.
2. What was it like to do shows with your dad?
It was a valuable opportunity to get comfortable performing in public without the pressure of being entirely solo. I learned a lot about people and the multifaceted nature of adult life because I was singing alongside my father in bars and other venues while still only a teen. It was also the first time I realised my voice seemed to have an impact on people and that, while surprising to me, was a great feeling. It felt like I suddenly had a place in the world. Additionally, I got better at singing harmonies and that remains one of my favourite things to do.
3. What are 3 words you would associate with your new album?
Hushed, atmospheric, real.
4. Where and how did you record your new album?
I recorded the album at The Sitting Room in Lyttelton with producer Ben Edwards. I had been playing shows and traveling around New Zealand for about a month before we were due to record. I also spent some time alone in a shack in a remote mountainous area and wrote some of the songs that ended up on the album while there.
The recording process itself took three weeks and we tracked a lot of it live. I felt like a different person by the time we finished. Ben Edwards is so gifted at what he does. He’s funny and genuine and fosters a non-judgmental environment that mitigates the anxiety typically associated with recording. He seems to understand the importance of space or atmosphere and the album is what it is because of that. He also works extremely dedicatedly and the studio feels like a magical place to make music.
5. Where are you looking forward to playing in New Zealand?
I’m looking forward to playing at Wunderbar in Lyttelton; it’s quite an intimate venue and I really like the shadowy, red-curtained vibe.
I spent Xmas with Kane and his family in Queenstown. Along the drive from Queenstown to Dunedin we took a whole bunch of press pics on a friend's borrowed SLR. Kane was the location scout and I was the point-and-shooter. I'm so stoked with how these turned out! More to come soon...
Adrian Ng is back! This is a song from a new wonderful project he has recently finished. Although he somewhat ironically sings "nothing to rearrange here," Adrian has recently rearranged his entire life and is now in Melbourne about to begin life as an art student. I am so happy for him and, as always with Adrian, I can't wait for what's to come.
Just wanna S/O to my gorgeous bf Kane and his band Peter, Rass and Ben who found their way onto NZ on Air Critics' Choice Award Shortlist for the NZ Music Awards. They have worked so much this year and they have even more planned for next year. Although I feel icky about award ceremonies, let's just take a moment to be blown away by these guys!
How cool are these two songs on this split 7"? I've been out of touch for several weeks now, but this has totally welcomed me back to a reality I'd like to occupy.
Like a lot of people who have remained quiet in the past, I haven’t said how I truly feel about the music scene that I have been a part of since high school because I did not want to become isolated from it. Lately I have realised that the scene in its current form is something that I want to become more and more removed from each day.
Now is not a golden era for Dunedin music. Was the music scene I have experienced for the last four or so years a golden era? No. The 80s and early 90s was not a golden era. There has never been a golden era because there has never been a safe label, a safe venue or a safe radio station in this town, at any point in time. For me, the “Dunedin Sound” that I will remember is the sound of hopeless cries falling on deaf ears.
This is a scene where abusers are given the power to employ other abusers. A scene that has supported and continues to support bad people who don’t know when to apologise/quit. When these people aren’t being supported, you can often find them being celebrated, glamourised.
I’d like to make it clear that there certainly is beautiful music being made here by inspiring people.. that is almost the problem. It’s so unique and world renowned that people are all-too-easily distracted from what is actually going on around it.
I worked in hospitality for years and was recently thinking about how intense the hygiene programme is that the DCC has in place. You better believe that I know how hot re-heated rice needs to be, I had to write it into a book every shift. Yet would anyone know what to do if a sexual assault were to occur on the premises? Hell no. How can we have a complex rating system for food safety but no plan whatsoever if someone is being made to feel unsafe by an abuser inside our venues? Surely this is a good place to start.
It has been announced! Thanks to Ba Da Bing records in New York and Flying Nun, Kane Strang's Blue Cheese is available on LP and CD. With two additional songs to lengthen his initially self released album, listeners now have more time to experience this jangly pop joy ride.
Quick shout out to Kane (and his band) for scoring slots at two sweet as shows in Auckland next weekend. Along with some other fantastic New Zealand bands, Kane will be playing at The Others Way Festival on 4th September and Going Global the next day.
Although Finlay Wall studies Law and Politics during the week in his spare time he is often mulling over and carefully listening through music - especially electronic music. About three or four years ago Fin began to collect vinyls and DJ for friends and venues around Dunedin (I once remember being that terrible person to consistently tell him to play Kanye West all evening - he very politely ignored me). Fin and his sister Hannah also have paired up with the bar and venue, Re:Fuel, to run Back on Track, which aims to make "off kilter house" and "punishing techno" music a part of the Dunedin music scene.
Fin's room is filled with crates of his collected vinyl, which I often admire simply for their beautiful sleeve artworks. But after a few conversations about his records, I realised how much I valued his appreciation for collecting and the research and passion he puts into his choices. We sat down to talk about vinyl and listen to two songs (below) that Fin has given a lot of deck time.
--
What made you become interested in DJing?
I often watched videos on YouTube of live DJs but I didn't have a clue what they were doing, so I bought a mini DJ controller in my first year of uni - you can plug an iPod into it and play two songs at once. It was really crappy but I was only learning to DJ. I bought these two turntables half a year later. Once I had those, I started collecting records.
Are there a lot of misconceptions that DJs just play songs one after the other?
Well, that's what it is.
Then why do you need all the gear?
There are more convenient ways of DJing, I have just used my laptop. But even though it is a bit more convenient to just use a laptop, you lose the stuff that makes it interesting. DJing is just playing songs but it is the collecting of music, which makes it special when you actually play. The more time you have spent collecting music and listening to it, the more unique an experience you can make it for people when you play.
Say you have a show coming up next week and you have all this music that you've carefully collected and know really well - you're probably going to make a much better experience for the people listening compared to someone who has spent half an hour looking up songs beforehand. It is all about the collecting - and the whole point of collecting vinyl is that it changes how you think about the music. It takes up a lot more time and space but you remember what you have bought compared to just downloading masses of music. When I started out I used to download gigabytes of music from blogs and other websites - it was possible to get a hundred thousand songs in one sitting - but you're just never going to properly listen through that.
But you must have to work pretty hard to get your records - aren't they expensive?
There is a full range. The limitation makes it better as well. If you only have about $50 to spend and are only able to purchase three records, then you will be spending a lot more time choosing to make sure that when you finally pick something, it will be special.
Do you want to continue DJing in the future?
It's definitely a hobby and I'll definitely keep collecting records regardless of what ends up happening.
Can you describe the two records that you are sharing with me today?
I am playing you "Yala" by Rezzett now, which is a record I bought from Japan. This is probably one of my favourite songs of late. It's sort of a dance record - there's a beat behind it - but its atmosphere and textures aren't like typical electronic music. It sounds like there is an electric guitar playing the whole way through, which is different to a lot of house and techno that sounds really electronic and like it's really only made by digital instruments. Rezzett have a fresh approach in both sounds and song structures, which sets them apart from other house artists.
My Vito Ricci record is a full album. The music on the album was recorded in the early 80s, during a time when electronic music had hardly been explored. He's a composer from New York, this is an album of music he hadn't previously released.
Why is this album literally heavier than the Rezzett one?
There are different weights for vinyls and the thicker they are, the deeper the grooves can be, which means the record can reach louder volumes. So the Rezzett vinyl has one song on one side, which gives that song more room and means it can be louder. But the Ricci vinyl has five songs (you can count the rings) on one side, so it will be a bit quieter.
I like how they have listed all the instruments used in the Ricci record.
Yeah, it's pretty honest. It reminds of Aphex Twin's Syro record, which has a printed list that breaks down every pound earned from selling the album - like a journalist's travel expenses from France to London, or venue hire for LA listening party, or postage costs for UK radio promotion mail out
--
Fin and I plan to continue discussing his record collection over a series of conversations during the second half of the year. Stay tuned.
Astro Children (Isaac Hickey and Millie Lovelock) have released the single "Play it as it Lays," which has ignited a fervent excitement for their album to come! You can support the single here and keep a look out for the album's release.
Every time I have talked to Kane Strang since I arrived back from China, at some point during his day - and for a good chunk of it - he was either recording or mixing songs for Blue Cheese. Late this afternoon Kane himself released this album on Bandcamp and it's already gaining traction.
The nine track album features a succession of darker (feelin' blue) pop songs, which follow a range of characters who are hung up on feelings of isolation, unrequited love and obsession. Although each song could be pulled from the album as a single (they're undeniably addictive), the way they work together to build a narrative means that, unlike the food, Blue Cheese should be consumed all at once. But I guess I am biased - it's my favourite cheese after all - decide for yourself by checking Kane's Bandcamp here (it'll make your day/week).
