Oliver Jams

By Amy Nicholson

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My new podcast; Tune into RNZ National (www.radionz.co.nz/listen/amfm)

@ 3:30-4pm NZST Saturday 3 June!!! 📻 

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Paramore: Hard Times [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Paramore's music video for 'Hard Times' from the upcoming album, After Laughter - available May 12th on Fueled By Ramen. Pre-order it at http://smarturl.it/a...

What about the new Paramore song? A skittle-pop of fruit punch and mystic colours. Tropic wanderers ensue :-P

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Excited about going to these songwriting seminars!!! 

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Auckland Museum presents an ever-changing feast of local and international exhibitions. Here you will find what's currently showing in the galleries and upcoming exhibitions.

Submitted a short podcast pitch for the Auckland Museum & Radio NZ, ‘Welcome To Swampton’ about the Palmerston North music scene.

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Stephen Jonathan (SJ) Smith is a solo artist and former band member of Old Pines. ‘Caravan’ released in January is a laid-back tune ideal for a holiday weekend. A tinkering guitar repeating in the background with keys shining through the riffs make for an island vibe.   Lyrics worth repeating; “Maybe someday I’ll be free. Buy a caravan I’ll park it by the sea. I’ll get a job make some money. Wouldn’t it be nice just for a little while” reinforce the idea for a short-term break.  

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The Naenae Express Extended Player, by The Naenae Express

5 track album

The Naenae Express from Auckland, released ‘The Naenae Express Extended Player’ in December 2015. The opening of a can starts the pick of the bunch ‘Sea Anemone’ where you’ll reminisce about that Finding Nemo film; “Aquariums suck for you, not where you belong” and mentions at being friends with a clownfish.   ‘Dream State’ may make you daydream. You’ll find yourself instinctively drumming to the beat an above-average novice could master. Pumping guitar strings layered with synths and keys drone over the melody. If you like hybrid anthems of garage slang and the rowboat poetry of ‘Rain Delay/Save The Bees’ give SideKickNick’s ‘Hello My Friend’ a listen.

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Los Angeles band Kid Cadaver released another indie pop record, their second Ep ‘Roam’ last August. ‘Ropes;’ such a catchy and upbeat tune on the first listen, it’s definitely an anthem to shuffle to. The mash-up of synth beats and chatter play like a temperamental suitcase, it doesn’t want to be packed away. Up-tempo ‘Keep Well’ has reminders of Computers Want Me Dead ‘Letters And Numbers.’ Add it to your tracks to listen to.

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Live Tummy demo, by Dentist Apprentice

5 track album

Revisit; One of Jake ‘Jakeland’ Braid’s other projects has more guitar-led melodies with comical lyrics and musings of food on ‘Live Tummy Demo’ released in May 2014. Pizza features on ‘Capital City,’ “I’d like to meet ya, let’s get a pizza.” Pick of the lot is ‘Adult Baby Spitter’ using clashing guitar and drums to fulfil the bulk of the piece. The punk riff is mint with chanting vocals.   An entrée of giggles is caught on ‘Tham Hock (Singaporean business man)’ filled with bass scales and whirling strings close the menu.    

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Joe Says No are a five-piece, energetic-garage band from the ‘Slums of Mt Eden.’ First release ‘Burnt Toast’ in June 2015 progresses with a thrashing mix of toms and jagged bass vibes with tingling guitar riffs before reverberating together. Denzel’s stranded vocals are reinforced by shouting defiance with catchy and carte blanche lyrics; “And I owe it all to you. Burnt toast on my mind (get out get out), Burnt toast all the time (get out get out).” Check out their other jamming tune ‘Japan Sk8 Kid.’

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Good Boy are a trio from Brisbane releasing their first 7inch ‘Transparency’ in October 2015. There’s a clever use of crescendo volume throughout ‘Waste Days or Ease Your Temper.’ Humming base and cymbals with that springing riff collide to create this mix of up-tempo grunge surf pop. Shows you that a poppy hook in place of lyrics can make for a striking beat. ‘Transparency’ is just great listening too. I can’t wait to hear more from these talents.

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London-based, Dunedin band Two Cartoons produced a muddy soaring genre-mixing debut album ‘Happiness Is Trouble’ released in January. Hit pick is ringing single ‘Males.’ It amps up the tempo with clashing drum cymbals and a continuous running of guitar loops and screaming vocals. ‘Still Sane’ rings in with a heavy beatin’ bass. Storytelling lyrics play like rhyming stanzas, “My teeth ache, I’m pretty sure this milk is out of date.” Thick riffs overlayed with telling lyrics like “Chin up be tough, there’s lessons to be learnt,” on ‘Autumn Destroyer.’ There are so many impressive tracks on this debut, reminiscent of Pistol Youth’s ‘Beautiful’ and Beach Pigs’ bass anthem ‘Night Surfing.’ It’ll be hard to top this classic release this year.

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Revisit; ‘Puppet Master’ is a chill and swaying tune by Brisbane band Tundra, released in August 2012. The voiced thoughts tied to water and the ocean can be heard with lyrics like, “Hey you, stop dreaming of swimming pools,” and “You can say goodbye to songs written about the reef.” Impressive vocals choral together in the build up to the final chorus with a poppy rattle of merging guitar riffs. Check out Tundra’s other indie surf pop tracks, particularly their first single ‘Commotion.’

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Winterbourne at Taronga Zoo, Sydney - 29 January 2016.

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‘Go!’ Ep is a stunning release from Dunedin band Males at the eve of the New Year. ‘Go!’ is fast zooming and energetic. Soaring, upbeat guitar and drum led melodies wind the song up. The guitar riffs on for the last 3rd of the track forming more layers, with drum kicking and pedalling loops as it continues. The perfect title for the track ‘Heavy Going’ begins with hefty bass threads playing over soft poppy vocals. The guitar mellows on while lyrics like ‘You don’t faze me at all’ whirr in. It's over in a wink so you’d better leave it on repeat for a while.

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The Cairos Love Don't Feel Right Tour, their last ever show in Sydney - 22 January 2016.

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Crazy Rack by Palms on iTunes

Preview, buy, and download songs from the album Crazy Rack, including ”Bad Apple ,” ”Rainbows ,” ”Thoughts of You ,” and many more. Buy the album for $7.99. Songs start at $1.29.

Sydney’s Palms released their 2nd album ‘Crazy Rack’ in October last year. Some of these songs I’d heard live before it’s release, the catchy phrases ringing in on the first listen. Hit picks include familiar guitar laden chiming on ‘Sleep Too Much’ and thumpin’ garage anthem tune ‘In My Mind,’ the feedback giving way at the finish. Downbeat ‘Fake Stare’ has reminders of In the Attic’s ‘Another Day.’ Grungy punk mixed with pop riffs and unforgettable lyrics, it’s a spinningly electric record.