The May Magazine

26/06/2024

Blonde Redhead performed a mesmerising show with Lucola in support at Tāmaki Makaurau's Hollywood Avondale on Saturday night, and our review is now live: take a read and relive the set list below!

Photography by Sean Harvey.

Blonde Redhead performed at Tāmaki Makaurau’s Hollywood Avondale venue over the weekend with locally based act Lucola in support: read our review and relive the set list.

18/04/2024

Ōtautahi R&B artist Valere, aka Shana Graham, recently released especially moving single/video 'Lily's March', which is essentially an ode to motherhood inspired by Shana's daughter Lily. We had a quick chat with her about the process of writing the single - read the interview and watch the delightful music video for 'Lily's March' via link below!

Ōtautahi R&B artist Valere discusses her new single ‘Lily’s March’.

04/12/2023

Last month, Tāmaki Makaurau artist Erny Belle released her stunning sophomore album 'Not Your Cupid', and it's utterly enchanting. We had the honour of catching up with Erny Belle's Aimee Renata for an interview - read the full feature along with our album review below.

If you're based in Tāmaki Makaurau, make sure you make your way to Friday evening's show at the Wintergarden at The Civic (ticket link in feature) - it's not to be missed.

Tāmaki Makaurau artist Erny Belle recently released her brilliant sophomore album ‘Not Your Cupid,’ and we were delighted to catch up with her for an interview. Read it within, along with our album review.

16/11/2023

This morning we're delighted to premiere the sumptuous new music video for nostalgic alt-country/Aotearoa Americana track 'Texasman', a single released by Te-Whanganui-a-Tara based act Sig Wilder at the end of October.

Watch the video and read our interview with Sig Wilder below!

Te-Whanganui-a-Tara act Sig Wilder & Friends release music video for new single ‘Texasman’. Watch the video and read our interview with Sig Wilder within!

07/11/2023

Haunting and vast, yet intimate and poignant, three-track EP 'Migrations' by Tāmaki Makaurau modern orchestral/ambient artist Levi Patel and vocalist/songwriter Jeremy Redmore is one that gets under the skin. Released last month, it's a beautiful example of the powers of collaboration, and well-deserving of a thorough listen. Read our review and take a listen to the EP below.

Vocalist/songwriter Jeremy Redmore and modern orchestral/ambient artist Levi Patel release beautiful collaborative EP ‘Migrations’.

14/10/2023

I have been sitting on the idea of writing this piece for A. Long. Time.
I made the playlist for it.
I printed the t-shirt for it (which you can also find - and BUY! - in the feature).
Tried to write it.
Thrice.

I photographed the t-shirt on my own good self in my little courtyard after a morning trying to record a self-tape for an audition (awkward!) while my cat watched on in bemusement. Said photo (kia ora koutou!) was the result of a cellphone set to a a timer wedged between cut pieces of stuffing stuffed into a microphone clip on a microphone stand. (Where there’s a will there’s a way, and all that.)

All this to say, sometimes things don't quite go as planned, and you just don't understand why.

This is a feature all about such funny times and in-between spaces, and my nifty little methods for getting through them and out of them.

Read the full feature below while giving the accompanying playlist a spin!

Ah, those pesky in-between spaces! Katie Brown explores what might be hiding in them in this new feature, which has an accompanying playlist AND very cute t-shirt you can buy!

26/09/2023

Intriguing and experimental, new EP 'Liminal Music, Vol. 1', from Indianapolis artist Jackson VanHorn is an instrumental, soundscape-conjuring collection of six synth-driven tracks, and it'll take you on a journey. Read our review and listen to the EP below!

Indianapolis artist Jackson VanHorn releases intriguing new instrumental EP ‘Liminal Music, Vol.1’.

11/09/2023

Kia ora! We've loaded a new Mane Mixtape for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, and it's a good'un. From RIIKI REID + Muroki's 'Kārewa' and Dillastrate + TIKI TAANE's 'Ko Tātou Te Ahi' to Babe Martin's 'Far From You' and ratbag's 'rats in my walls' (pertinent!) there's a whole lot of excellent mahi from across these very special isles ready for your love and attention.

Follow/listen on Spotify below 🎧

Also featuring: TE TOKOTORU, The Mitchell Twins, Proteins Of Magic, Clementine Valentine, Brandon De La Cruz, Hannah Everingham, Brother Sister, Mim Jensen, Colter Carson, Erny Belle, EBONY LAMB, Hemi Hemingway, Mermaidens, Dr.Reknaw, deepState, Cloudy, Bridges, Grayson Gilmour, Repulsive Woman, Neive Strang Music

12/06/2023

The second book in Edinburgh-based author Sophia Hembeck's poetic memoir trilogy, 'Things I Have Loved' is a relatable exploration of self-worth, longing and love, told through recountings of objects Hembeck has loved. Rachel Soo Thow of The Lit List reviews the emotive book in today's book review - read more below!

Rachel Soo Thow of The Lit List reviews Sophia Hembeck’s ‘Things I Have Loved’.

09/06/2023

Jazmine Mary released their brilliant new sophomore album 'Dog' last week: poetic, vulnerable and mesmerising, it deals with the nature of "understanding parts of the beauty and ugliness of the world". We had a chat with Jazmine about the project - read the feature and listen to the album through link below! 🎧

Jazmine Mary releases beguiling and thought-provoking new album ‘Dog’. Read our interview with Jazmine within!

25/05/2023

This morning we're delighted to premiere the vibrant new video accompanying Tāmaki Makaura artist Emily Rice's new single 'Warenoa', a te reo Māori version of the catchy and upbeat 'Careless' from Emily's 2021 EP AUAHA. Watch the video and take a listen to the single below!

Tāmaki Makaurau artist Emily Rice releases gorgeous new music video/single ‘Warenoa’.

10/05/2023

It's been a little while, but we're back (hurrah!), and thrilled to be featuring delightful new single 'Bear' by Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist Davidda, written and produced in collaboration with Anna Coddington. It's tight, it's funk-filled, and it's cathartic: best get your ears around it!

Take a listen + read our interview with Davidda below ❤️

Tāmaki Makaurau artist Davidda releases cathartic new single ‘Bear’, a collaboration with Anna Coddington.

10/11/2022

Out of Touch with Reel-ality: in her new opinion piece, Rachel Soo Thow of discusses the ups and downs of the Bookstagram life, highlighting an underlying message of how uncomfortable - and how necessary - it is to be true to ourselves and to our art in a world that often favours the flash and glitz of what's gone in an instant. Read more below!

Writer and influencer Rachel Soo Thow of talks about the ups and downs of the ‘Bookstagram’ life.

31/05/2022

Award-winning Australian children's artist BENNY TIME has just released heartwarming new album 'Benny and Friends', a special release that features an array of music-making friends and creates a space for children dealing with difficult emotions and situations. Claudia Gunn had a quick chat with Benny about the project - more below!

Award-winning children’s artist Benny Time releases special new album ‘Benny and Friends’, and Claudia Gunn has a chat with him about the project.

19/04/2022

Compelling and emotive, 'What I Loved' by Siri Hustvedt is a must-read according to Rachel Soo Thow of The Lit List. Full review via link below!

Rachel Soo Thow of The Lit List reviews Siri Hustvedt’s ‘What I Loved’.

04/04/2022

Tāmaki alt-electronic act A Blunt Jester has just released a tight new three-track EP ' #', and it's a good 'un: equal parts high voltage energy and low-key wistful, it'll get you dancing while you muse. Or musing while you dance. You choose. We spoke with Jay Barnett of A Blunt Jester about the EP, and you can read all about it below!

We chat with Tāmaki act A bLUNT jESTER’s Jay Barnett about new EP ‘ #’.