The Topp Twins’ bio: Pride eBook Club special!

Celebrate Wellington Pride by joining us in reading Untouchable Girls: The Topp Twins’ Story. From March 8 to March 17, we’re providing unlimited eBook copies of the Topp Twins’ acclaimed biography. That means no waiting in long reserves queues – you’ll get free and instant access on Libby!

Untouchable Girls is described as ‘a rollicking, intimate, uproarious romp through the triumphant lives of Jools and Lynda that will make you want to sing, to go on the road, ride horses, fall in love and never stop laughing’ (Kete Books) — find out more below, or borrow a copy today!

Untouchable girls : the Topp Twins’ story / Topp, Jules (eBook)
“The iconic Kiwi duo – comedians, country music stars, yodellers, lesbians – in their own words. This is the incredible story of how a couple of country kids from Huntly became much-loved Kiwi icons and TV stars, with their own unique brand of original country music and comedy that has captivated audiences in New Zealand and overseas for more than 40 years. Jools and Lynda Topp aka The Topp Twins tell this story in their own words, describing their adventurous lives through laugh-out-loud anecdotes and heartwarming tales. As well as enjoying long careers as country music stars and comedians, with their characters like Camp Mother & Camp Leader and Ken & Ken, the twins have always stood up for their political beliefs and have been embraced by New Zealanders from all walks of life. Including never-before-told stories and images, this is a nostalgic and important historic record of the lives of two ground-breaking and inspiring women, and of the times through which they’ve lived.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

Interview: creator Ruby Solly on her new book, The Artist

The Artist, by Ruby Solly on the library catalogue

The Artist is Ruby Solly’s stunning new verse novel (published by Te Herengawaka University Press), which vividly and evocatively brings to life histories of our Southern iwi through the whakapapa of its characters and the rich world they and their ancestors call their tūrakawaewae – their place to stand, their place to sing. It is heavily rooted in a spiritual place that encompasses various times and realities and has a strong mythic quality. The book also illustrates in a deep way how legends and folklore tales have a fundamental importance to us in our present time in terms of understanding both ourselves and the world around us. As a novel, it is deeply evocative – cave art leaps from walls, pounamu birds sing, legends become reality, and history becomes the present. The book also uses Ruby’s own unique take on tarot within its creation and content.

Ruby SollyRuby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) is a writer, musician and  taonga pūoro practitioner living in Pōneke. Ruby describes herself as someone who “writes things, sings things and plays things”. While true, it doesn’t take much work to discover that this description doesn’t quite capture the scale – or indeed success – of Solly’s projects, publications and accomplishments.

Ruby’s first poetry collection Tōku pāpā gained rave reviews and was longlisted for the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry. Other poetic works  have been published in The Spinoff, Landfall, Sport, Ōrongohau / Best New Zealand Poems 2019 and more.

Ruby’s musical achievements are equally impressive and include playing with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Whirimako Black, Trinity Roots and The New Zealand String Quartet. In 2020, Ruby released her fabulous debut album Pōneke. Amongst her many other musical projects, Ruby is a key member of the Tararua collective whose albumBird Like Men was released on Oro Records, again to ecstatic acclaim — it was described in Songlines Magazine as “totally mesmerising” and “truly magnificent”.

As if that wasn’t enough, Ruby is also  just about to complete a PhD in public health, focusing on the use of taonga pūoro in hauora Māori. So, when the opportunity to interview Ruby about The Artist and her creative practice arose, we jumped at it! We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Ruby, for taking the time to answer our questions; for providing such an illuminating insight into her creative life, world and work; and also, for giving us permission to use snippets from tracks from her fabulous solo album and images of her artwork in the interview.

All music and art in this interview is used with kind permission and strictly copyrighted.

You can watch the video of our interview below or on our YouTube channel, and further below you will find links to some of Ruby’s creative works we have in the library collection. Enjoy!


The Artist / Solly, Ruby
“At first there is nothing but black sand, then something begins to grow; a gentle song emerges so bright that sound becomes sight… And so from the black the world is sung into being, not for us, but for itself, but for the song. In a Southern land, where the veil of time and space has worn thin, twins with otherworldly ways are born to a stone carver and his wife. As they grow into themselves, the landscape and its histories will rise up to meet them and change their whānau forever. Cave art leaps from walls, pounamu birds sing, legends become reality, and history becomes the present in this verse novel by Ruby Solly (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu). The Artist brings to life the histories of our great Southern iwi through the whakapapa of its characters and the rich world they and their ancestors call their tūrakawaewae – their place to stand, their place to sing.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Tōku pāpā / Solly, Ruby
“Serves as a map of survival for Māori growing up outside of their papa kāika. These poems look at how we take knowledge we are given by our ancestors and hide it beneath our tongues for safekeeping. They show us how we live with our tūpuna, without ever fully understanding them. This book encompasses a journey spanning generations, teaching us how to keep the home fires burning within ourselves” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Atua wāhine : a collection of writings by wāhine Māori
“Contains the following works : Machine-generated: He Whakaaro Noa Iho: Goddesses and Grandmothers / by Jessica Maclean — Hinetītama’s Unbroken Song / by Ariana Sutton — Atua Wāhine and Mana Wahine / by Ataria Sharman — Hine-nui-te-Pō / by Tayi Tibble — Hinewai / by Isla Reeves — With Teeth / by Cassie Hart — Hinepunui-o-Toka / by Ruby Solly — Hineteiwaiwa / by Stacey Teague — Hine’s Moko / by Ataria Sharman — Rua Tekau Mā Waru / by Nicole Titihuia Hawkins, edited by Karlo Mila — uwha / by Miriama Gemmell — Papatūānuku / by Saskia Sassen — About the writers.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Out here : an anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ writers from Aotearoa
“A remarkable anthology of queer New Zealand voices. We became teenagers in the nineties when New Zealand felt a lot less cool about queerness and gender felt much more rigid. We knew instinctively that hiding was the safest strategy. But how to find your community if you’re hidden? Aotearoa is a land of extraordinary queer writers, many of whom have contributed to our rich literary history. But you wouldn’t know it. Decades of erasure and homophobia have rendered some of our most powerful writing invisible. Out Here will change that. This landmark book brings together and celebrates queer New Zealand writers from across the gender and LGBTQIA+ spectrum with a generous selection of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and much, much more.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

A game of two halves : the best of Sport 2005-2019
“This book looks back through the fifteen issues of Sport from 2005 to 2019. In 600 pages it presents fiction, poetry, essays and oddities by 100 of our best writers, from leading lights like Bill Manhire, Ashleigh Young and Elizabeth Knox, to emerging glow worms like Tayi Tibble, Ruby Solly and Eamonn Marra.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Covid colab : a NZ lockdown music collaboration
“A Covid lockdown fundraising album created by some of New Zealand’s finest musicians remotely during lockdown. Featuring: Borne aloft / Al Fraser, Ruby Mae Hinepunui Solly, Michelle Velvin, Milo Meldrum, Nikau Te Huki — Defy / Maz Hermon, Nikita Tu-Bryant, Johnny Lawrence, Deanne Krieg, Johnathan Nott — Glass mountain / Benjamin James, Caroline Bay, Tom Watson, Annabel Alpers, Samuel Scott — Counting down the days / Ryan Prebble, Erika Grant, Ben Lemi, Estère Dalton, Flo Wilson, Cass Basil — The phone call / Samuel Scott, Caroline Bay, Stef Animal, Anita Clark, Benjamin James — Disguise / David Randall Peters, Peter Hamilton, Ayrton Foote, Rachelle Eastwood, Letitia Mackenzie — Precipice / Brooke Singer, Anna Edgington, Ben Lemi, Deanna Krieg, Grayson Gilmour.” ( Adapted from Catalogue)

Solar eclipse / Clear Path Ensemble
“DIY contemporary jazz meets electronic production from some of New Zealand’s most revered musicians in the Wellington scene. (Adapted from Catalogue)

I’ll Hum the First Few Bars : David Long in interview

David Long is one of Aotearoa’s most versatile and adventurous musicians, composers, and producers. He started his musical career performing in the Braille Collective in bands such as Six Volts and Jungle Suite in the late 1980s. In 1990 he started The Mutton Birds with Don McGlashan.

After touring extensively he began to compose for contemporary dance and film, including working on Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy and the soundtrack to The Lovely bones with Brian Eno. In addition to these projects David has composed for many TV series, including The Luminaries.

David has also won several Apra silver scrolls and produced for numerous bands. He also has made numerous albums with bands such as The Labcoats and Teeth not to mention  a number of his own works.

In 2017 he collaborated with Natalia Mann and Richard Nunns on what would be Richard Nunn’s last recording, the beautifully delicate Utterance. Just last year he released Ash and Bone, a gorgeously suite of pieces that defy easy generic categorisation, which David described as a work that makes “a constellation of musical styles but never quite rests in any one of them”. The same holds true for I’ll Hum the First Few Bars, a recording as texturally rich and sonically expressive as we have come to expect from this bold and inventive composer.

So, when David offered us a chance to interview him about his latest project we jumped at it!

We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to David for taking the time to answer our questions, for providing such an illuminating insight into his world and work, and also for giving us permission to use I’ll Hum the First Few Bars in the interview (you can hear the whole piece at the end). All music is copyright David Long and Rattle Records  and used with kind permission.

This interview was done in conjunction with Caffeine and Aspirin, the arts and entertainment review show on Radioactive FM.

For more information on Rattle records, visit their website.

You can watch David Downes’s superb, animated film created to run alongside the work here.

And to borrow just a few of the musical projects David has been involved with click below.

Envy of angels [1 CD] / Mutton Birds
“Envy of Angels could have been recorded ten years earlier considering its invocation of the new south — in particular the moodiness of Dumptruck — not to mention similarities to more commercial guitar rock of the same period […] Perhaps it isn’t a coincidence that Hugh Jones, who also worked with Dumptruck, produced Envy of Angels. He renders the Mutton Birds’ guitar strum and jangle in more solemn than bright tones, which suits the sometimes poetic lyrics and unusual chord progressions. ~ Greg Adams” ( Adapted from Catalogue)

Ash and bone. / Long, David
“Musicians David Long, synthesisers, banjo, electronics, electric guitar ; Carolyn Mills, harp ; Andrew Jarvis, tuba ; Mark Carter, trumpet ; Rachel Vernon, bass clarinet ; Pat Barry, clarinet ; Bridget Douglas, flute ; Riki Gooch, percussion, electronics. Contents Underground — Ash and bone — I follow it — You want to fight everything — The long long walk — A second glance — Wash your mouth out — Water the earth.” ( Adapted from Catalogue.)

Utterance / Long, David
“Musicians …David Long, banjo, theremin, bowed guitar ; Richard Nunns, taonga pūoro ; Natalia Mann, harp, prepared harp, zither, gongs, voice. Tracks Perilous knowledge — Old shadows — Spider shell — Upper circle, lower case — Celestial dog — Mercury — The nearest clear liquid — We died once — City of green — Hidden cameras — Begin again.” ( Adapted from Catalogue)

Flock : the best of The Mutton Birds / Mutton Birds

” Other Title Best of The Mutton Birds. Contents …Dominion Road — Nature — The heater — A thing well made — White Valiant — In my room — Anchor me — Wellington — Queen’s English — Don’t fear the reaper — While you sleep — She’s been talking — Come around — Envy of angels — As close as this — Last year’s shoes — Pulled along by love — Not to take sides.” ( Adapted from Catalogue)

The Mutton Birds. / Mutton Birds
” Dominion Road (3:55) — Your window (4:39) — A thing well made (4:39) — She’s like a city (3:56) — Before the breakthrough (4:52) — White Valiant (5:12) — Giant friend (3:15) — Big fish (4:33) — No plans for later (2:31) — Nature (3:39).” ( Adapted from Catalogue)

 

 

Salty / Mutton Birds
” The heater — Ngaire — You will return — Wellington — In my room — When the wind comes round — Queen’s English — Salty my dear — There’s a limit — Esther — No telling when — Anchor me — Too close to the sun — Don’t fight it, Marsha, it’s bigger than both of us. ” ( Adapted from Catalogue)

 

 

Riki Gooch in interview: Te Hou Nui

Riki Gooch Pirihi (Ngāti Wai/Patuharakeke/Ngāti Māhanga Hourua) is a conductor, composer, electronic musician, producer, and drummer based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa.

Riki has a huge and varied musical C.V; from being a founding-member of Trinity Roots, to playing with the likes of Fat Freddy’s Drop, Shayne Carter and Ria Hall. He currently performs with a wide variety of artists and organisations, such as: Alistair Fraser, Jeff Henderson, Noa Records, AJA, Mara TK, Orchestra of Spheres, and has been known to DJ in a gigantic cat’s head as DJ Oboe.

As well as big name bands and musicians, Riki has always had a keen interest in experimental works and underground circles and his focus over the years has been more and more in this direction. In recent years Riki has undertaken a post-graduate course with the intention of developing an indigenous embodiment of conduction. He’s also started to explore new ways of  turning a drumkit into a robot.

For this years CubaDupa festival, Riki was commissioned to create a piece and came up with Te Hou Nui, mass musical composition created for a large ensemble of 200+ musicians from all backgrounds and stages of musical development. Te Hou Nui is a work that has, at its heart, this idea that the music and the collective spirit adhere to the tikanga mauri of Ngaa iwi o Ngaati Ruanui, Taranaki, Ngaati Mutunga, Ngaai Tara, Ngaati Mamoe.During its performance, Riki uses his own version musical ‘smoke signals’ to conduct and communicate with four separate ensembles of 50+ players.

It all sounds so totally fabulous that when Riki offered to give us an insight into Te Hou Nui we just had to say yes. We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Riki for taking the time to answer our questions and for providing such an illuminating insight into his latest work. We’d also like to thank-you CubaDupa for arranging the interview.

You can view the full fantastic CupaDupa programme here. You can watch the video below, or on our YouTube channel.

To borrow just a small range of the musical works Riki has been  involved with  click the links below.

True / TrinityRoots
” Tracks include True,  Sense and cents, Beautiful people, Call to you, Passion , D by D,  Egos,  Just like you and Little things . Musicians : Warryn Maxwell, Rio Hemopo, Riki Gooch ; Guest artists: Steve Gallagher, Jonathan Crayford, keyboards ; Lisa Tomlins, Lisa Preston, Natalie McCormack, Stefanie Hearfield, vocals ; Dave Long, banjo ; Tim Jarrey, double bass ; Dan Yeabsley, triangle ; Kate Meade, cello ; Kerry Wood, violin.” ( Adapted from Catalogue) Also available on Vinyl.

Mirror / Orchestra of Spheres
“Orchestra of Spheres’ fourth full-length is their longest and most ambitious work to date, as well as their most hypnotic, with a greater presence of trance-inducing mantras among the genre-busting dance grooves usually heard on the group’s albums. Mirror also boasts fuller orchestration than their other efforts, with shamanic strings and colourful horns/woodwinds taking greater precedence than before. The album’s presentation makes it seem like their most honest work; the members are listed by their real names rather than their cartoonish pseudonyms, and there are fewer self-invented instruments listed in the credits. ” (Adapted from Catalogue) Also available on Vinyl.

Absolute truth / Arabia, Lawrence
“Over the course of a decade, James Milne made a quiet name for himself as a first-rate purveyor of classic McCartney-meets-Nilsson pop under the moniker Lawrence Arabia. His way with a sneaky hook, the care he puts into arrangements, and the quirky nature of his lyrical concerns all point back favorably to these twin titans of sticky-sweet songcraft. Many have followed that same path over the years; not too many have a body of work as solid and promising as Milne to show for their efforts. Released in 2016, Absolute Truth marks Lawrence Arabia’s debut for Flying Nun, the label that put New Zealand on the indie pop map. It’s also his strongest effort from top to bottom.” (Adapted from Catalogue) Also available on CD.

Ash and bone. / Long, David
“Musicians David Long, synthesisers, banjo, electronics, electric guitar ; Carolyn Mills, harp ; Andrew Jarvis, tuba ; Mark Carter, trumpet ; Rachel Vernon, bass clarinet ; Pat Barry, clarinet ; Bridget Douglas, flute ; Riki Gooch, percussion, electronics. Contents Underground — Ash and bone — I follow it — You want to fight everything — The long long walk — A second glance — Wash your mouth out — Water the earth.” ( Adapted from Catalogue.)

Big foot / Crayford, Jonathan
Jazz album featuring  musicians Jonathan Crayford, (Hammond c-3/Leslie, d-6 clavinet, Fender Rhodes, mini moog, electric bass, baritone guitar, and additional instruments) ; Riki Gooch,( drums, percussion) ; with Lisa Tomlin, vocals (tracks 3 and 9) ; Emma Paki, vocals (track 11 [i.e. 6]) ; and guest appearance by Hollie Smith. Tracks : Big foot, Can you hear the birds?, Nine,  Ganymede, Moana ,Jewel City, It’s you and Phantom. ” ( Adapted from Catalogue. ) 

Wits end / Thrashing Marlin
” Album featuring Steve Roche, David Donaldson, (vocals, various instruments) ; with Janet Roddick, Chris O’Connor, David Long, Jeff Henderson, Mike Cooper, Jonny Marks, Tim Prebble, Riki Gooch, Anthony Donaldson, Clare Cooper, Rowan Prior and  Andrew Thomson. Tracks: Forty shades of blue, Hardly a day,  Where will you be? , Tilt of the earth,  Misery’s hole, Way out, Sea of tranquility,  Ship of fools , Solomon’s song , Boo bam,  Venus and All you’ve got someday.” ( Adapted from Catalogue.) 

Pasif.ist / Mann, Natalia
“Genre/Format Art music Musicians :Natalia Mann, harp ; Izzet Kizil, percussion & drums — Sercan Halili, classic kemençe, alto kemençe ; Abdullah Shakar, fretless & electric bass ; Dine Doneff, double bass ; Richard Nunns, taonga pūoro (on Greenstones) ; Lucien Johnson, soprano & tenor saxophone (on Üç Adim) ; Riki Gooch, percussion (on Gül Çayi, Sunshine sister, Üç Adim) ; Naomi Jean O’Sullivan, co-writer, gongs (on Time) — Serdar Pazarcioǧlu, violin (on Butterfly effect) — Deniz Güngör, aqua (on Butterfly effect). Tracks : Gül çayi — Sunshine sister — Üç adim — When once the birds — Butterfly effect — Greenstones — Akşam duasi — 4.55 air — Time — Interlude for Grozda.” ( Adapted from Catalogue) 

Also Home land and sea

Interview: Musician Jack Woodbury

If I am mad, it is mercy! May the gods pity the man who in his callousness can remain sane to the hideous end!

H.P. Lovecraft, The Temple.

Unfathomed waters is a new album by Peter Liley and Jack Woodbury, inspired by the short story ‘The Temple‘, by H. P. Lovecraft.

It is an ambitious  collaborative work that aims to explore the story’s themes of awe, isolation, fear, longing  and lurking horror in a musical context. To achieve this, Jack and Peter employ electroacoustic noise, ambient textures, saxophone, and choral vocals in an ambitious tapestry of sound.

Both musicians are Wellington-based: Peter Liley is a Wellington-based composer and performer, and Jack Woodbury is a composer and audio engineer based in Wellington whose work has been presented in the USA, UK, Australia, as well as at home in New Zealand.

We were thrilled when Jack took time out from his very busy schedule to talk to us about Unfathomed Waters and all things musical, and extend our heartfelt thanks to Jack.

This interview was done in conjunction with Caffeine and Aspirin, the arts and entertainment review show on Radioactive FM.

For more information on Jack Woodbury, visit jackwoodbury.com.

For information on Unfathomed Waters, visit Rattle Records.

Unfathomed Waters is due to be played in full by Radio NZ later this year as part of a Halloween special.

You can hear the full interview, as well as reserve a copy of Unfathomed Waters below:


Unfathomed waters / Liley, Peter
“A dark and intense musical soundscape with lighter ambient pieces that draws inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft’s short story The Temple.” ( Adapted from Catalogue)

The thing on the doorstep and other weird stories / Lovecraft, H. P.
“Part of a new six-volume series of the best in classic horror, selected by award-winning director Guillermo del Toro.  The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories Howard Phillips Lovecraft’s unique contribution to American literature was a melding of traditional supernaturalism with the genre of science fiction that emerged in the early 1920s. The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories brings together a dozen of the master’s tales-from his early short stories “Under the Pyramids”,  “The Music of Erich Zann”, “The Dunwich Horror,” “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward,” and “The Temple.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Interview: Grammy-nominated & AMA-shortlisted percussionist Justin DeHart

We are totally thrilled to announce the release of our recent interview with Grammy-nominated and Aotearoa music awards shortlisted percussionist Justin DeHart; see above to view.

Justin’s musical practice is steeped in his interest in percussion from across the globe and in all its musical incarnations. To illustrate the point, when he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, he went to India to study that country’s percussion legacy, heritage, and current culture.

Justin DeHart originally hails from Sacramento and moved to Christchurch in 2017 as a Senior Lecturer in Music to teach at the University of Canterbury, in this country’s first ever percussion program. He is a performer of a wide range of contemporary musical styles from classical to pop, and from world to electronic. As an artist his musical resume is every bit as extensive, including performances with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, LA Phil New Music Group, I.C.E., pipa master Wu Man, and various pop legends, including Stewart Copeland and Cheap Trick, having appeared on over 100 solo, chamber and contemporary releases on many of the world’s most recognised labels.

Since his arrival in Aotearoa he has been inspired by the musical culture he has encountered.  These musical discoveries have subsequently led to the creation of Justin’s debut New Zealand release on Rattle Records.

Landfall New Zealand Percussion Vol 1
Featuring compositions for percussion by Glenda Keam, David Downes, Alex van den Broek, Mark Menzies, Chris Gendall, Rosa Elliott, Simon Eastwood, Robert Bryce and Reuben de Lautour.

We are thrilled that Justin has taken time out from his very busy schedule to talk to us about his new release, his career, and all things musical, and extend out heartfelt thanks.

For more information on Justin, visit www.justindehart.com

And for more information on Rattle records, visit  https://rattle.co.nz/

Landfall
“Tautology / Glenda Keam — Bells/Mirrors / David Downes — Order 81 / Alex van den Broek — Scales & taonga / Mark Menzies — Landfall / Rosa Elliott — The new music dance / Robert Bryce — Silver wind ; Golden earth ; White water / Simon Eastwood — Braided plain soundwalk / Reuben de Lautour. ” ( Adapted from Catalogue.)

 

Complete early percussion works / Stockhausen, Karlheinz
“Contents disc 1. Refrain (Pavlos Antoniadis, celesta, antique cymbals ; James Avery, piano, woodblocks ; Steven Schick, vibraphone, Alpine bells) (10:15) ; Schlagtrio : for piano and 2 timpanists (Katalin Lukács, piano ; Justin DeHart, Fabio Oliveira, timpani) (16:08) ; Kontakte : for piano, percussion and 4-channel tape (Steven Schick, percussion ; James Avery, piano percussion) (35:00) — disc 2. Zyklus : for a percussionist (Steven Schick, percussion) (10:30) ; Mikrophonie : for tamtam, 2 microphones, 2 filters, and controllers (Red Fish Blue Fish) (31:44).” (Adapted from catalogue)