Music – Teen Blog

Tag: Music Page 1 of 9

As K-pop is one of the big pop-culture trends in the world today, and there are a lot of good albums we have in our library collection, I would like to share the artists and songs I have liked since I started listening to K-pop as a teenager! I hope you will enjoy this music genre and culture as much as I do!

This time, I am going to introduce you to the most popular Korean boy group in the world, 방탄소년단 (BangTan Sonyeondan, which means “Bulletproof Boy Scouts” literally) BTS! Formed by HYBE Entertainment, BTS debuted on 13th June 2013, and its members include Jin, SUGA, j-hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. According to j-hope, the meaning of the group name is “to block out stereotypes, criticisms, and expectations that aim at adolescents like bullets, to preserve the values and ideals of today’s adolescents” (Source: Affinity). The group was rebranded in 2017, adding another meaning to the group’s name, which is “Beyond The Scene”, and new logos for the group and their fan club, A.R.M.Y (Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth). BTS does not have an official colour, but they have their specific official light stick, Army Bomb.

The main music style of BTS is hip-hop. Members RM and SUGA were underground rappers before they joined, and had already released several self-written songs. Their song “Hip Hop Phile” was talking about how much they love hip-hop and shout out to those hip-hop artists who influenced them like Epik High, Nas, Eminem and much more. Since the release of the “School Trilogy Project,” BTS has broadened their music style by trying different genres, like pop rock (Spring Day), synth-pop (Dionysus) and tropical house (Save Me).

Since their debut, BTS members have written, composed and produced most of their songs, with rap line members, RM, SUGA, and j-hope participating the most in songwriting. Their creative works are well known for their poetic and literary lyrics (Author’s note: I really admire how literary their lyrics are! I will recommend: Butterfly, Serendipity, and DNA). On SUGA’s YouTube video, RM describes rap as “poetry with rhythm,” showing how the group conceives of their lyrics as contributing to the field of literature.

BTS has always tried to convey different messages to society through their songs, with each album embracing a different theme. The School Trilogy Project discusses teenage dreams (2 Cool 4 Skool), happiness (O! R U L8, 2!), and love (Skool Luv Affair). Meanwhile, in the Youth Series, BTS talk about their hopes for ‘youth’ — even with all the uncertainly and insecurity (The most beautiful moment in life pt.1), the youth who embrace the pain and bittersweetness of live and keep running (The most beautiful moment in life pt.2) are in the most beautiful moment of their lives (The most beautiful moment in life: Young Forever). They talk about love, social issues, mental health, and all the topics they believe they should share with the public.

BTS is truly a group that has brought K-pop into the next chapter, and to a whole new audience. They’ve broken many music industry records, including being the first K-pop group to hit the 1st place on the Billboard Hot 100, the first K-pop group nominated for a Grammy Award, and the first K-pop group to speak at the United Nations. Today, BTS is focusing on the members’ solo activities as they complete their military service, and is expected to reunite and come back as a group again around 2025. Jin and j-hope are doing their military service and released a single, The Astronaut, a debut solo album, Jack in the Box respectively before they proceeded with their conscription respectively. RM released his first full-length album, Indigo last December and is preparing his second solo album. SUGA just released his first full-length album under his stage name ‘August D’, D-Day in April and is doing his show on BTS’s YouTube channel. Jimin also released his first solo album, Face in March and has received a very good result. Jungkook is expecting to release his first solo album around July and V had filmed a variety show, Jinny’s Kitchen, that was on air in February.

via GIPHY

BTS albums we have at the library

Love yourself : answer / BTS (Musical group)

LOVE YOURSELF 結 ‘Answer’ is a repackaging of BTS’s third full length album, LOVE YOURSELF 轉 ‘Tear’ that released in August 2018. This album also marked the end of their “Love Yourself” series. After taking about the brightness side of love (LOVE YOURSELF 承 ‘Her’) and the pains of love (LOVE YOURSELF 轉 ‘Tear’), this album concludes the message that “Loving yourself is where true love begins”.

My personal picks:

Euphoria
Serendipity
DNA
dimple
Trivia 承: Love
Fake Love
Trivia 轉: Seesaw
I’m Fine
Idol
Answer: Love Myself
Magic Shop
Best of Me
Mic Drop
Go Go

Proof / BTS (Musical group)

This album is BTS latest anthology album and their last album before they pause their group activity because of the military service. This album contains 48 songs, including 3 new songs, their lead singles since debut, members solo tracks, subunit songs and the demo version of their released songs.

My personal picks:

Born Singer
Boy in Luv
I NEED U (my all time favourite!!!)
RUN
Burning Up (Fire)
Blood Sweat & Tears
Spring Day
Boy With Luv
Life Goes On
Yet To Come
Moon
Friends
00:00

Books about BTS available at the library

BTS : rise of Bangtan / Stevens, Cara J.
“This unofficial biography tells the story of BTS and their global ARMY, which helped propel them to the top of the charts all over the world. Extensively researched, Rise of Bangtan explores the lives of RM, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V, Jin, and Jungkook, the story behind how they all got together, and their amazing rise to fame–from their start in East Asia to their dominance across the globe.” (Catalogue)

BTS : the ultimate fan book / Croft, Malcolm
“BTS: the ultimate fan book” is a spectacular celebration of the best and brightest K-Pop group from South Korea. Inside you’ll explore the songs, the moves and the fashions that have led the Bangtan Boys to worldwide success. Beautifully illustrated with photographs that highlight the band’s kaleidoscope of personalities and passions, this is a must-read for any fan who just can’t get enough BTS!” (Catalogue)

BTS : K-pop kings : the unauthorized fan guide / Brown, Helen
“BTS: Kings of K-Pop is the must-have commemorative celebration of BTS, the Korean boy band with a global army of fans.” (Catalogue)

BTS army handbook / Smith, Niki
“There are few who have made a mark on 2018 quite like BTS, the seven member Korean K-Pop group that is singlehandedly reviving the Age of the Boyband with their electric tracks, explosive dance routines and unnervingly perfect hair. BTS may have been catapulted to international acclaim this year, but there’s still a whole world of facts and stories from the six years it took for them to become the first K-Pop act to hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts. Become a fully-fledged ARMY and learn about the members, the songs, and all of the stages along their journey from pre-debut training to global stardom.” (Catalogue)

Larger than life : a history of boy bands from NKOTB to BTS / Sherman, Maria
“Larger Than Life is a history of boy bands in popular music, from the 1990s to 2010s.” (Catalogue)

That’s a wrap for my over-sharing about BTS 방탄소년단! Tell us in the comments below if you’ve found your favourite BTS song on our list! 안녕히 가세요!

via GIPHY

Youth Nights Come to Kilbirnie Library!

By Stephen

On Friday, 7 July, 2023

In stuff to do, troubled teens trying to put their past behind them

It’s been a long time coming, but we’re super excited to announce that our popular Youth Nights are finally coming to the queen of gorgeousness herself, the wonderful Kilbirnie Library!

On Saturday the 22nd of July, Kilbirnie Library will be open after hours, from 5.00 – 8.00pm, but only if you’re a teen. Bring along your student ID to prove you’re over 14, and your Emotional Support Adult to sign you in, and the fun shall commence! Our Youth Nights are LGBTQIA+ inclusive and we can’t wait to welcome you 🙂

If you’ve been to one of our Youth Nights at Karori or Johnsonville Libraries before, you know the drill — there’s free pizza, board games, music, crafts, anime, VR (can you beat the librarians at Beat Saber? Only time will tell…), chill vibes, good friends, and oh so very much more! (Did we mention free pizza? There’ll be free pizza.)

Also known as the Ruth Gotlieb Library, after the late legendary former City Councillor, stalwart library enthusiast, and fashion icon Ruth Gotlieb, Kilbirnie Library offers the following amenities for the discerning teen library-goer:

In honour of Matariki, a cosy ‘fireplace’ perfect for listening to gentle stories about the stars and doing celestial crafts with your pals
Magical ring lights in the ceiling that will ensure every selfie is perfectly-lit (as long as you are specifically taking them in the children’s picture book section)
Stunning views of the bustling Kilbirnie Crescent precinct and surrounds (I guess they might not be so bustling at night, and ‘stunning’ may be a strong word to describe ‘across the road from St Pat’s’, but you’ll be chilling indoors with pizza and friends so what does it matter?)
Books! Shelves! Comfy chairs! Cushions! Cool librarians! Unicorns! Enthusiasm for literature! Places to be yourself! And much, much more!

What kinds of Mischief, Hijinks, Tomfoolery, and Other Miscellaneous Examples Of Harmless Fun will we get up to at Kilbirnie Library’s Youth Nights? Well, that’s up to you to decide. Get in touch with us by email or message us on Instagram if you want more info, otherwise, we’ll see you there!

Why do we listen to K-pop? Because of Girls’ Generation!

By just a kpop fan

On Monday, 24 April, 2023

In art and stuff, music and other nice noises

This time, after two boy groups, I am going to introduce you to my favourite girl group, “지금은 소녀시대！앞으로도 소녀시대！영원히 소녀시대!”, the Girls’ Generation (or SNSD, GG)! Formed by SM Entertainment, Girls’ Generation debuted on 5th August 2007, with the song, “다시 만난 세계 Into the New World” from their eponymous first single. The original members include Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun, making Girls’ Generation the biggest girl group in Korea at that time. Their fan club name is S♡NE (소원, sounds like “So one,” meaning Wish in Korean) and the official colour is Pastel Rose Pink (Hex code, #ff4980). The group was carefully planned, having practiced their single “Into the New World” for around a year before their debut.

Since their debut, Girls’ Generation have always challenged themselves to try different music genres and concepts. At first, as their average age was just 17.4 when they debuted, their image was sweet, cute, and high-energy, while the music genres they focused on were teen-pop and bubblegum-pop (“다시 만난 세계 Into the New World”, “소녀시대 Girls’ Generation”, “Kissing You”, and “Baby Baby”). Then, they changed their concept to a more mature image, and started trying dance-pop and electropop, as in “Gee”, “소원을 말해봐 (Genie)” and “Oh”. After “Oh”, the girls began to present darker and stronger concepts (Run Devil Run and Catch me if you can), incorporating other musical styles like hip-hop (I Got a Boy and You Think), retro style (훗 Hoot and Lion Heart) and much more. Among all these different concepts they have tried, the group members themselves choose “Genie” as the song that represents them the best, from the concept itself to the song and its choreography.

Today, members of the Girls’ Generation are focusing on their solo activities. After their sixth full-length album, Holiday Night (from the two title songs, Holiday and All Night) which was released on their 10th anniversary, Tiffany, Sooyoung, and Seohyun decided to leave SM Entertainment, while remaining members of the group. Leader Taeyeon has a very successful solo singing career. She just released her third full-length album, “INVU” last year and is expected to release a new mini album this year (Author’s note: I will recommend 11:11, Wine, and Blue, however all of her songs are super good). Hyoyeon works as a singer and DJ. The other members are more focused on acting careers and have achieved good results respectively. The group had a full-group comeback last August for their 15th anniversary, and released their 7th full-length album, “Forever 1” (after five years, like finally!!!).

The Girls’ Generation means a lot to the whole of K-pop history. They have shown us, girls can be sweet and cute, but also strong and cool, encouraging us to be whoever we want, do anything we want. At the time of their debut, most of the popular idol groups were boy groups, and the girl groups tended not to survive long in the industry. The longevity of Girls’ Generation has attracted the public and forced them to pay more attention to “girl groups”. They prove that girl groups can achieve the same results as boy groups — better, even. Moreover, their debut song, “Into the New World” has found renewed life in protest activities in Korea, because of its meaningful lyrics and the powerful message the girls have conveyed:

I love you, just like this. The longed-for end of wandering.
I leave behind this world’s unending sadness.
Walking the many and unknowable paths, I follow a dim light.
It’s something we’ll do together to the end, into the new world.

— Girls’ Generation, “Into the New World”

via GIPHY

Girls’ Generation albums we have at the library

Mr. Taxi / Girls’ Generation

Mr. Taxi is the repackaged edition album of Girls’ Generation’s third full-length album, “The Boys” which was released in 2011. “The Boys” has received a very good result in Korea and also internationally. The title song “Mr. Taxi” of this album is an electropop and R&B song, and the Korean version of their first original Japanese song.

My personal picks:
— Telepathy
— Say Yes
— Trick
— How Great is Your Love
— Sunflower

I got a boy / Girls’ Generation

Girls’ Generation released their fourth full-length album, “I Got a Boy” in 2013. The title song “I Got a Boy” is a hybrid genre song that includes bubblegum pop, electropop, electropop, and R&B, while the pre-release single “Dancing Queen” is a remake of Duffy’s “Mercy”, used to plan to release with “Gee” together. This album has received a very good result as well, and “I Got a Boy” has become one of their iconic title songs.

My personal picks:
— Baby Maybe
— 말해봐 (Talk Talk)
— Promise
— Express 999
— 유리아이 (Lost in Love)
— XYZ
— 낭만길 (Romantic St.)

2011 Girls’s Generation tour / Girls’ Generation

This is the live album of their second concert tour, the 2011 Girls’ Generation Tour. They performed some of their Japanese singles on this tour, and each member had a solo stage.

My personal picks:
— Let It Rain
— Lady Marmalade
— Devil’s Cry

Girls’ Generation – TTS is the first subunit of this group, made up of vocal members Taeyeon, Tiffany and Seohyun. This subunit has a different music style compared to the Girls’ Generation. Their performance I like the most is their cover of Destiny’s Child’s “Cater 2 U” which shows how powerful their vocals are.

Twinkle / Girls’ Generation

Twinkle is their first mini album which was released in 2012, with the title song “Twinkle”. Twinkle is a medium-pop dance song. This album contains most dance-pop songs and some pop songs.

My personal picks:
— Baby Steps
— Library
— 안녕 (Good-Bye, Hello)
— 처음이었죠 (Love Sick)

Holler : the 2nd mini album / Girls’ Generation

Girls’ Generation – TTS released their second mini album “Holler” in 2014, with the title song “Holler”. “내가 네게 Whisper” was released three days earlier as a promotional single. Member Seohyun had written the lyrics for the song “Only U”.

My personal picks:
— 아드레날린 (Adrenaline)
— 내가 네게 (Whisper)
— Stay
— Only U
— Eyes

That’s a wrap for my over-sharing about Girls’ Generation! Tell us in the comments below if you’ve found your favourite Girls’ Generation song on our list! 안녕히 가세요!

via GIPHY

Why do we listen to K-pop? Because of Super Junior!

By just a kpop fan

On Thursday, 23 March, 2023

In art and stuff, music and other nice noises

After SHINee, I am excited to introduce my all-time favourite boy group, and also the reason I have started listening to K-pop, 우리는 슈퍼주니어 에요, Super Junior! Super Junior is a boy group formed by SM Entertainment and debuted on 5 November 2006, with the title song “Twins (Knock Out)” from their first mini album, Super Junior 05. They were the largest boy group in Korea when they first debuted with a total of 12 members: Leeteuk, Heechul, Han Geng, Yesung, Kangin, Shindong, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, Siwon, Donghae, Ryeowook and Kibum. When Kyuhyun joined the group six months later, the suffix “05” was taken out and Super Junior 05 became Super Junior as we know them today. After Han Geng, Kibum and Kangin left the group in 2011, 2015, and 2019 respectively, there are now ten members in Super Junior, although Sungmin no longer joins group activities. Their fan club name is E.L.F. which means Ever Lasting Friends, and their official colour is Sapphire Blue (Hex code, #0F52BA).

Super Junior gained a lot of popularity following their debut as all the members worked hard to join different shows to promote the group. But what brought Super Junior international success was their third full-length album, “쏘리 쏘리 Sorry, Sorry”. With catchy lyrics and melodies, and smooth and clean choreography, the title song “쏘리 쏘리 Sorry, Sorry” was a real hit in South Korea and also in other countries around the world. After the success of “쏘리 쏘리 Sorry, Sorry”, Super Junior maintained their frequency of releasing an album every year, becoming one of the most iconic K-pop groups in the world today.

Super Junior’s title songs are more focused on dance pop like “Mamacita(아야야)”, “Black Suit”, and “House Party”, with media outlets praising them for creating their own genre, “SJ Funky.” Aside from dance-pop, they have also experimented with other music genres like ballad, R&B, Latin and much more. As with SHINee, I like their ballad and R&B songs the most, and I recommend “너라고 It’s You” from the repackaged version of Sorry, Sorry, “사랑이 멎지 않게 Raining Spell for Love” from Mamacita, “같이 걸읅까 More Days with You” from The Renaissance, and Lovely Day – Rearranged Studio Version from their concert, Super Show 4.

Super Junior is also the first Korean group which started doing sub-unit activities. There are five subgroups, which are Super Junior-K.R.Y., Super Junior-T, Super Junior-M, Super Junior-H, and Super Junior-D&E, formed in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2008, and 2011 respectively. Each group consists of different members who perform in different music genres.

Super Junior-K.R.Y. focus on ballad-style songs, as this group is formed by the main vocal members, Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, and Yesung (When We Were Us).
Super Junior-T focuses on Trot music, the oldest form of Korean pop music (첫눈에 반했습니다 Love at First Sight).
Super Junior-M is a group that releases songs in Mandarin (Break Down).
The main music genre of Super Junior-H is bubblegum pop — the H stands for Happy! (요리왕 Cooking? Cooking!).
Super Junior-D&E was formed by members Eunhyuk and Donghae to do the music they like and enjoy, including hip-hop.

Aside from the subgroup activities, members of Super Junior also do a lot of solo activities, including musicals, solo albums, TV programmes, acting and much more. Super Junior is one of the longest-running K-pop groups (the oldest after Sechskies and Shinhwa) and they just celebrated their 17th anniversary last November! They also released their 11th full-length album, “The Road” last year with three title songs, which are “Callin”, “Mango”, and “Celebrate”. As a card-carrying E.L.F., I am very proud and looking forward to see what they will bring to us in the future!

via GIPHY

Super Junior albums we have at the library:

Mr. Simple / Super Junior

Mr. Simple is Super Junior’s fifth full-length album which was released in 2011. The title song “Mr. Simple” became one of their most popular songs and the album won several awards after release. This album contains various music genres like synthpop, electropop, R&B, and ballad. Members Donghae and Eunhyuk also wrote the lyrics for some tracks.

My personal picks:
— Walkin’
— Storm
— Memories
— Sunflower
— Y
— My Love, My Kiss, My Heart

A-cha / Super Junior

A-cha is the repackaged edition album of “Mr. Simple” that features four new songs and a new title song “A-cha.”

My personal picks:
— Superman
— Oops!!
— A Day
— Andante

Spy / Super Junior

Super Junior released their 6th full-length album, “Sexy, Free and Single” in 2012 and this album also become a hit in Korea. “Spy” is the repackaged version with 4 new songs and the new title song, “Spy”. “Spy” has the most complicated choreography and the members refused to perform it in the shows or concerts anymore (so E.L.F.s are always teasing them to perform it!)

My personal picks:
— From U
— Only U
— Haru
— Gulliver
— Someday
— Bittersweet
— Daydream
— A ‘Good’bye

The beat goes on / Donghae & Eunhyuk

This is the first mini album of the subunit, Super Junior-D&E which was released in 2015. With the title song “Growing Pains” written by the member Donghae, this mini album received a good result overall. This subunit is still active now compared to other subunits which have stopped working because of a range of reasons. Super Junior-D&E announces that they will release a new mini album this year and have a new concert tour after that.

My personal picks:
— Growing Pains
— 1+1=Love
— Love that I Need
— Sweater & Jeans
— Mother
— Still You

That’s a wrap for my over-sharing about Super Junior! Tell us in the comments below if you’ve found your favourite Super Junior song on our list! 안녕히 가세요!

via GIPHY

Why do we listen to K-pop? Because of SHINee!

By just a kpop fan

On Friday, 17 February, 2023

In art and stuff, music and other nice noises

The first K-pop artist I would like to introduce to you is 빛나는샤이니: SHINee! SHINee is a Korean boy group formed by SM Entertainment and debuted on 22 May 2008. The original group members included Onew, Jonghyun, Key, Minho, and Taemin. All the members had been trainees for around two to three years and received a lot of training in singing, dancing, and RAP before their debut. Their fan club is named 샤이니 월드 (SHINee World), with fans calling themselves Shawols or S.W. Their official colour is Pearlescent Aquamarine (Hex code #79e5cb, for anyone who wants to theme their Tumblr dash appropriately!).

SHINee debuted with the title song “Replay (누난 너무 예뻐)” from their first mini album “Replay.” They have gained a lot of attention since gaining the title of ‘Rookie Grand Slam’ following their debut. Defined as a “Contemporary group,” SHINee’s main music style is contemporary R&B, but they also have challenged musical boundaries by incorporating various music genres like Hip-Hop, EDM, and Deep House into their style. I personally like their pop ballad songs the most (my top three: Jo Jo from 2009, Year of Us, Don’t Let Me Go from 1 Of 1, and Symptoms from Everybody). Moreover, they always received a lot of compliments for their live performances because of their powerful vocals, exceptional choreography, and perfect synchronisation.

Today, the members of SHINee are focusing on their solo activities while waiting for the youngest member, Taemin, to complete his military service in early March 2023. Leader Onew is doing his solo concert in Japan and has been cast in several musicals, and Key is doing a lot of variety shows and has released his second full-length album “Gasoline” last August, while Minho has finally released his first solo mini album “Chase” with his new drama “The Fabulous” premiering on Netflix last December! Although member Jonghyun passed away in 2017, he was always one of SHINee’s most talented members, and his songs still have the power to heal us now (End of a Day).

We are lucky enough to have some of SHINee’s albums in our CD collection (editor’s note — do the kids still listen to CDs these days? Anyway, they’re free to borrow this year!), so check out some of my favourite picks below!

via GIPHY

SHINee albums we have at the library:

Sherlock / SHINee

Sherlock is SHINee’s fourth mini album which was released in 2012. The title song “Sherlock (Clue + Note)” is a “hybrid remix” of two songs, which are both from the same album: the second track “Clue,” and the third track “Note.” World-famous choreographer Tony Testa has done the choreography work for the title song and “Sherlock” has become one of SHINee’s masterpieces (Sherlock, Everybody, and View are always mentioned when we talk about SHINee’s outstanding and unique performances).

My personal picks:
–The Reason
–Honesty

Dream girl : the misconceptions of you ; Why so serious : the misconceptions of me / SHINee

In January 2013, SHINee announced that they were coming back with their third full-length album. The first chapter “Dream Girl – The misconceptions of You” was released in February with the title song “Dream Girl” and chapter two “Why So Serious – The misconceptions of Me” was released in April with the title song “Why So Serious”. Chapter 1 contains more happy and delightful songs, while Chapter 2 has more dark and gloomy songs. The complete album, The Misconceptions of Us, was released in June with an additional two new songs.

My personal picks:
Chapter 1 “Dream Girl – The misconceptions of You”
–Spoiler
–Girls, Girls, Girls
–Aside

Chapter 2 “Why So Serious – The misconceptions of Me”
–Excuse Me Miss
–Sleepless Night

The misconceptions of Us
–Selene 6.23
–Better Off

Odd / Shinee

Odd is SHINee’s fourth full-length album released in 2015 with the deep house genre title song “View.” The lyrics are written by member Jonghyun and describe how love intensifies people’s senses. It has received a lot of good reviews because of Jonghyun’s beautiful and sophisticated writing.

My personal picks:
–Love Sick
–View
–Farewell My Love
–An Ode To You
–An Encore

Ace : the first mini album / Taemin

Ace is SHINee’s member Taemin’s first solo mini album which was released in 2014. He is also the first member of SHINee who starts a solo career. With the title song “괴도 (Danger)”, Taemin has proved that he is not only good at dancing (he is the lead dancer in SHINee and well known as one of the best dancers in Korea) but also good at singing as well. Ace had received many good reviews in overall and Taemin has continued his solo career along with the group activities since then.

My personal picks:
–Ace
–Pretty Boy

Base : the first mini album / Jonghyun

My favourite member, Jonghyun released his first solo mini album, Base, in 2015. He was the second member after Taemin to start his own solo career. As the lead vocalist in SHINee, Jonghyun had always been praised for his singing skills, as well as his songwriting skills since his debut. He wrote all the lyrics for this album (not only this album but also all his solo albums that had been released after Base) and cooperated with other composers to write the music. This album explores various genres, including R&B, ballad, and soul.

My personal picks:
–Déjà-Boo
–Hallelujah
–Mono-Drama

That’s a wrap for my over-sharing about SHINee! Tell us in the comments below if you’ve found your favourite SHINee song on our list!

via GIPHY

Youth Nights Come to Karori Library!

By Stephen

On Monday, 15 August, 2022

In stuff to do, troubled teens trying to put their past behind them

You heard it here first, folks! After a successful trial run during Out On The Shelves in June, our popular Youth Nights are coming to Karori Library on the regular!

Starting this Saturday the 20th of August, Karori Library will be open after hours, from 5.00 – 8.00pm, but only if you’re a teen. Bring along your student ID to prove you’re over 14, and the fun shall commence. Our Youth Nights are LGBTQIA+ inclusive and we welcome folks of all stripes 🙂

via GIPHY

If you’ve been to one of these at Waitohi, you know the drill — there’s free pizza, gaming, music, crafts, anime, VR (can you beat the librarians at Beat Saber? Only time will tell…), chill vibes, maybe a spot of D&D or so, and oh so much more! (And did we mention the free pizza?)

We are just so extremely excited to be starting a new season of Youth Night at Karori Library. Who’s to say what Mischief, Hijinks, and General Tomfoolery we might get up to at the library after hours? Some of our favourite episodes from Season Waitohi include:

The one where we spontaneously held a wedding (don’t worry, it was fully platonic, even if there was cake. And fancy dress.)
The one where we accidentally built a pirate ship out of cardboard boxes and hope (miraculously, it stayed up in the library for like three weeks!)
The one where we did a good ol’ fashioned sleepover (complete with bedtime stories of bad Harry Potter fan-fiction, a pot-luck dinner, watching Cats (the bad one), and several rounds of Among Us IRL)
The one where we forgot to plan anything so we just sat around eating pizza and ranking the characters of classic ’90s cartoon Gargoyles on a scale according to their relative hotness (Goliath and Demona came first, obviously)

What will Youth Night Season Karori bring? Well, that’s up to you to decide. Email karori.youthnight@wcc.govt.nz if you’d like more info — otherwise, we’ll see you there!

Books About Stuff and Other Things: New Non-fiction for Teens

By Stephen

On Wednesday, 22 September, 2021

In lgbtqia+, music and other nice noises, non-fiction, stuff to do, stuff to read

Librarians spend a good deal of time scouring publication lists and trawling through horrifying numbers (like, you have no idea) of online reviews to settle on which books we should buy for our collection. Among the comics, fantasy epics, dystopian hellscapes, romantic comedies, and other fictional titles that routinely land on our desks, are analysed, and then purchased in their hundreds every month, we also seek out books about ~shock of all shocks~ reality. Stuff, things, and other such delights. Our non-fiction collections comprise books on just about every topic under the sun (and even some topics beyond the sun, but that’s a conversation for another day.)

Today, for your delectation, we are serving up some brand new books about nerdy stuff, hip-hop, jobs and careers, sex and sexuality, neurodivergence, and the environment — head down to your local library (or smash that handy and convenient “Reserve Now” button) and dig in!

Can’t stop won’t stop : a hip-hop history / Chang, Jeff
“From award-winning author Jeff Chang, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop is the story of hip-hop, a generation-defining movement and the music that transformed American politics and culture forever. Hip hop is one of the most dominant and influential cultures in America, giving new voice to the younger generation. It defines a generation’s worldview. Exploring hip hop’s beginnings up to the present day, Jeff Chang and Dave “Davey D” Cook provide a provocative look into the new world that the hip hop generation has created. Based on original interviews with DJs, b-boys, rappers, activists, and gang members, with unforgettable portraits of many of hip hop’s forebears, founders, mavericks, and present day icons, this book chronicles the epic events, ideas and the music that marked the hip hop generation’s rise.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Depression : insights and tips for teenagers / Cognevich, Christie
“This book offers relatable situations and strategies to guide teens struggling with mental health–including identifying signs of struggle, recognizing stress factors, and offering strategies to escape harmful mental habits which can leave individuals feeling vulnerable, helpless, or in despair.” (Catalogue)

Queerly autistic : the ultimate guide for LGBTQIA+ teens on the spectrum / Ekins, Erin
“From coming out to friends and family through to relationships, self-care and coping with bullying, being out and about in the LGBTQIA+ community and undergoing gender transition, this book is filled with essential information, advice, support and resources to help you on your journey, and also works as a primer on all things LGBTQIA+ for non-autistic teens just figuring it all out.” (Catalogue)

Coming out : insights and tips for teenagers / Endsley, Kezia
“This book addresses the hows and whys of coming out, as well as potential concerns teenagers may have–including how to know when you’re ready to come out, who to tell first, and how to deal with unsupportive people. First-hand accounts from teenagers provide personal insight throughout.” (Catalogue)

Marvel monsters : creatures of the Marvel universe explored / Knox, Kelly
“All Super Heroes need a monster to fight, or a monstrous sidekick to help them. Some are even monsters themselves. This comprehensive field guide to Marvel flora, fauna, and beasts great and small shows off claws, teeth, tails, and wings in sumptuous, never-seen-before detail. From tyrannosaurus rexes from alternative worlds and genetically modified deinonychuses from the future, to purple cat-sized dragons and swamp monsters, the Marvel multiverse is brimming with creatures both heroic and villainous. Explore swamps and the Savage Lands and more. Discover aerial beasts, artificially created creatures, and even monster team ups. This anthology is a beautifully curated guide to the best and the worst and ensures you will never get Fin Fang Foom and Tim Boom Ba mixed up again! © 2021 MARVEL” (Catalogue)

Hothouse Earth : the climate crisis and the importance of carbon neutrality / McPherson, Stephanie Sammartino
“As hurricanes, droughts, floods, and wildfires are increasing in regularity and intensity, climate change can no longer be ignored. Melting permafrost, forest dieback, ocean acidification, and other processes are creating positive feedback loops which could, if not aggressively and quickly addressed, spiral out of control and take global warming past the point of no return. Hothouse Earth examines how science, politics, and social justice must all be part of the equation to counteract climate change.” (Catalogue)

The world of Critical Role : the history behind the epic fantasy / Marsham, Liz
“A guide to the massively popular fantasy RPG livestream offers previously unreleased photos and artwork, sharing cast insights into its origins and storylines as well as the diverse array of art and cosplay that Critical Role inspires.” (Catalogue)

Let’s talk about it : the teen’s guide to sex, relationships, and being a human / Moen, Erika
“Growing up is complicated. How do you find the answers to all the questions you have about yourself, about your identity, and about your body? Let’s Talk About It provides a comprehensive, thoughtful, well-researched graphic novel guide to everything you need to know. Covering relationships, friendships, gender, sexuality, anatomy, body image, safe sex, sexting, jealousy, rejection, sex education, and more, Let’s Talk About It is the go-to handbook for every teen, and the first in graphic novel form.” (Catalogue)

Love your career from the start : making decisions for your future – a guide for young adults / Sandford, Caroline
“This practical book for 15-25-year-olds introduces the four key stages involved in making good decisions for your future. It contains easy exercises that will help you: understand who you are and who you want to become, explore the options that are right for you, create an action plan that ensures you have what you need to realise your goals, identify the strategies your need to create the future that YOU want.” (Catalogue)

Support Local: New Zealand Music Month 2021

By Stephen

On Tuesday, 4 May, 2021

In aotearoa new zealand, eLibrary, music and other nice noises, stuff to do, wellington (you can't beat it etc. etc.)

It’s May 2021, which means that New Zealand Music Month | Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa is upon us once again. We like music here on the Teen Blog, so we thought we’d share with you some of the cool stuff you can see, hear, or do to mark the occasion.

Album art for the following albums by Wellington artists: Kugels, Raven Mavens, Estere, Stalker, Flowz, David Harrow, Ariana Tikao, Spook the Horses, Julie Lamb, Phoenix Foundation, Neil Johnstone, and more.

A festive panoply of recent additions to our collection of Wellington music.

Find local music at the library

The theme of NZMM21 is simple: ‘Support Local. Stream Local. Follow Local. Buy Local.’ I’m not sure if there’s some kind of subliminal messaging at play here, but I think it’s possible that the kind folks at the New Zealand Music Commission are encouraging us to check out local artists. This is a message we at Wellington City Libraries wholeheartedly support. Our Customer Specialist for Music and Film, Mark, runs the Wellington Music blog and Facebook page, and if what you’re after is a constant stream of local Wellington content — interviews, videos and performances, anecdotes, new releases and more — well, he definitely has you covered. Check out his exhaustive Artist Directory for lists of literally hundreds of Wellington musicians and bands going back to the 1940s, complete with links to their material. It’s the best place you could start if you’re wanting to explore the music of this place.

On the off-chance that you are the kind of person who still likes to bust out the odd CD or vinyl record and give it a spin, we actually have a massive collection of both, at our Te Awe branch on Brandon Street, and Te Pātaka, our Collection Distribution Centre in Johnsonville. Use the Artist Directory to search by artist/composer/band, or browse the whole gosh darn collection at once:

Vinyl (Wellington) (New Zealand) (All)
Music CDs (Wellington) (New Zealand) (Māori) (All)

If you’re into classical music or jazz, we have a bunch of awesome resources for you to check out — from the score and songbook collection and classical and jazz CD collections (including the music of prominent New Zealand composers like John Psathas and Gillian Whitehead), to the truly massive and amazing online repositories of the Naxos Classical and Naxos Jazz Libraries — free with your library card.

Make music with the library

If you want to make music of your own but don’t have the means, you can actually borrow audio equipment like mics, PAs, field recorders, even the legendary Synthstrom Deluge synthesiser/sequencer/sampler/marvel of engineering from the library. It’s super easy — just pop your details in the form, tell us what you want and when you need it, and we’ll make it happen. One of our librarians will even sit down with you and show you how it all works if you need.

If the home studio isn’t quite the vibe you’re going for, you could also use our free recording studio at Tūhura/The HIVE at Johnsonville Library. For up to two hours at a time, you can have free use of the studio and all its gear to do whatever you want — record, jam, noodle, rehearse, whatever you need. Because the space is heavily used, bookings are essential — email johnsonville.library@wcc.govt.nz to book your spot. Here’re the specs on the studio software and hardware available to you:

Software: Logic Pro X, Garage Band, Da Vinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro X
Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Gen3
Microphones: Rode NT-1a, Shure SM57, Shure SM58, AKG P170
Audio Monitors: Mackie CR4BT 4″ Multimedia Monitors
Control Surface: Korg nanoKONTROL Studio
MIDI Keyboard: Icon Pro Audio iKeyboard 8Nano
Electric Drums: Alesis Nitro Mesh 8-Piece kit
Electric Guitar: Squier Bullet Mustang
Guitar amp: Marshall CODE50
Bass Guitar: ESP LTD B10

Gig guide

While our librarians have a well-documented propensity for being musical performers themselves, we also accept that there might be some cool stuff happening outside the library too. Thankfully, the excellent people behind NZMM21 have put together this fabulous calendar of live gigs for your edification and enjoyment. Make sure to visit their website for the full picture.

There will be more to come on New Zealand Music Month-related goodness in and around our libraries, but until then, remember: Support Local. Stream Local. Follow Local. Buy Local. Local is where all the best stuff is, anyway.

From the Vaults IV: Printed Music

By Stephen

On Friday, 30 October, 2020

In from the vaults, music and other nice noises, stuff to do, stuff to learn

Heads up, music nerds, this one’s for you! This week’s post in our From the Vaults series features some of the more niche content we hold in the vast warren of shelves that is Te Pātaka, our Collection Distribution Centre — printed music.

In the time since the Central Library closed, you may well have forgotten that it contained a massive collection of music scores and songbooks, covering all styles and genres of music from pop to classical, jazz to musical theatre, and much more. Whether you need a score for a music exam or NCEA performance at school, or just want to chill out at home learning some new tunes, there’s bound to be something in our collection for you.


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But how to find it, you ask? Sadly, it’s not quite as easy as just typing “classical music” into the catalogue search and hoping for the best. Your best bet is to know a little about what you want before hitting the keyboard. Here are a few different ways you can go about it:

1. Search by Composer

This is probably the most straightforward way to go about finding sheet music in our catalogue. First, go to our catalogue. Go to the “Advanced Search”, and click in the “author” field. Here you can type the name of the composer — it doesn’t matter what order you put their names in. For example, “Bach, Johann Sebastian” and “Johann Sebastian Bach” will return the same set of results. If you’re looking for guitar tabs for your favourite band, the band name itself is the “author,” e.g. “Green Day” 0r “Ed Sheeran.”

Once you’ve done your search, you may be confronted by an intimidatingly long list of results. Fear not! Your next step is to filter by format. Click on “Format” on the left-hand side, and then select “Score.” Now, your results will show just printed music, and you can browse and reserve the items to your heart’s content! The librarians/gremlins/mystical shelf beings at Te Pātaka will hunt down that score and send it wherever it needs to go.

Behold, the magic of catalogue filtering!

2. Search By Instrument

This feature is a little less reliable and a little more clunky than the above, and it can only be used for classical music and jazz, but it can still be useful if you’re looking for pieces to learn for school or leisure! Here’s how you do it:

Go to our catalogue homepage
Click on “Advanced Search”
Using the drop-down arrow, select “Call Number” from the list and “begins with” in the middle column
Type “score” followed by the following numbers (or you can click the links below to take you right there!):
1. Vocal music — 780
  1. Part songs — 780.4
  2. Sacred music — 780.5
  3. Choral scores — 780.6
  4. Musical theatre and Opera — 780.7
2. Instrumental music — 781
  1. Flute and piccolo — 781.11
  2. Recorder — 781.112
  3. Oboe — 781.12
  4. Clarinet — 781.13
  5. Bassoon — 781.14
  6. Trumpet — 781.15 (jazz trumpet 781.1598)
  7. Horn — 781.16
  8. Trombone — 781.17
  9. Saxophone — 781.18 (jazz sax 781.1898)
  10. Bagpipes and accordion — 781.19
  11. Harp — 781.2
  12. Lute — 781.24
  13. Guitar — 781.25
  14. Violin — 781.3
  15. Viola — 781.34
  16. Cello — 781.35
  17. Double bass — 781.37
  18. Piano — 781.4 (jazz piano 781.48)
  19. Harpsichord — 781.5
  20. Piano duets — 781.6
  21. Organ — 781.7 and 781.8
  22. Percussion — 781.9
3. Chamber and orchestral music — 782
  1. String trios — 782.1
  2. Piano trios — 782.2
  3. String quartets — 782.3
  4. Piano quartets — 782.4
  5. String quintets — 782.5
  6. Wind ensembles — 782.6
  7. Orchestral scores — 782.7
  8. Miniature scores — 782.77

3. Virtual Shelf Browsing

If you’re the kind of person that likes wandering through the shelves, revelling in the possibility of serendipitous discovery, there’s some good news — with our online catalogue, you can (sort of) replicate that experience! Here’s how you do it:

Go to our catalogue homepage
Click on “Advanced Search”
Using the drop-down arrow, select “Call Number” from the list
Enter “score” or “songbook” in the search
When the list of results come up, select “View As: Flow” in the top right corner
Finally, select “Sort By: Call Number” in the top left. The result will be all of the scores and/or songbooks held in the library collection, organised in order of where they would be on the shelf. If we have an image of the book cover, you will see that as well (but a lot of these books were added to the library catalogue before computers or the Internet existed, so we don’t have cover images for all of them!)

Just the same as browsing a physical library shelf… right?

So, if printed music is your jam, make sure you check out this veritable cornucopia of shtuff. It’s there for you to enjoy!

Music and Other Distractions

By Stephen

On Wednesday, 15 April, 2020

In eLibrary, music and other nice noises, stuff to do

School’s back today, which I’m sure everyone’s very excited about. Sometimes the best thing to do after a hard day’s distance learning is to chill out with some music. I know that’s what I like to do after another day churning out content for the library’s blogs. My irrational love of Alanis Morissette is already well-attested in this very publication.

Well, we got music for you. But first, it’s time to sing for your life. The New Zealand Choral Federation (the very same peeps who bring us The Big Sing every year) is running The Virtual Sing — an awesome project where rad people like your fine selves get to be part of a whole virtual performance of A Te Tarakihi by Alfred Hill, arranged by Wellington’s own Brent Stewart. Want an idea of what it will be like? Check out Eric Whitacre’s epic virtual choir of nearly 4,000 voices singing his Water Night below. YOU COULD BE AS COOL AS THAT TOO. Check the link for the deets.

If that ain’t your jam, there’s still plenty of free musical goodness the library can provide. First up are the awesome Naxos Music Libraries. If you’re classically inclined (I know you’re out there, dear classical readers!), the Music Library and Video Library provide access to, oh, hundreds of thousands of free performances of classical music from around the world, including live concerts, ballets, operas, studio recordings and more. The Jazz Library is the same, but it’s jazz, folks! Miles Davis, saxophones, weird chords, the lick — what’s not to love?

Before we leave the database side of things, I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you about Lynda.com. Plug in your library card number, and you’ll be set for life with guided tutorials on everything from music production to home studio setups, how to get creatively inspired, how to read and write music, and so much more. And it’s all totally free.

Finally, if you want to keep up with the latest happenings in the Wellington music scene, our friends over at the Wellington Music blog have you covered. New releases, exclusive interviews, sneak previews and more — it’s all going on there. We’re also hosting live music performances (#quarantunes) every night over on the Johnsonville Library Facebook page. Join in on the fun if you just want to chill out to some zen realness every night, but also get in touch if you want to be involved! We’re always keen to showcase local talent.

Alright, that’s it for now, folks. Until next time, stay cool.

All about Music

By admin

On Thursday, 28 May, 2015

In music and other nice noises

To mark the New Zealand Music Month why don’t we read books related to music? It’s a subject that I love and the first two books in the list are my favourites.

Syndetics book cover Eleanor & Park / Rainbow Rowell.
“Bono met his wife in high school, Park says. So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers. I’m not kidding, he says. You should be, she says, we’re 16 . What about Romeo and Juliet? Shallow, confused, then dead. I love you, Park says. Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers. I’m not kidding, he says. You should be.
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits–smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book cover Playlist for a broken heart / Cathy Hopkins.
“When Paige finds an old mix CD in a local charity shop, she can’t help but wonder about the boy who made it and the girl he was thinking of when he chose the songs. The tracks tell the story of a boy looking for his perfect girl, a story of being alone, being let down, misunderstood and not knowing where to turn. Following the clues of the music, Paige sets out to find the mysterious boy, going from gig to gig and band to band, hoping to track him down. But will who she finds at the end of the trail, be the boy she’s imagined?” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book cover Hold me closer : the Tiny Cooper story / by David Levithan.
“Especially for those of us who ordinarily feel ignored, a spotlight is a circle of magic, with the strength to draw us from the darkness of our everyday lives. Watch out, ex-boyfriends, and get out of the way, homophobic coaches. Tiny Cooper has something to say–and he’s going to say it in song. Filled with honesty, humor, and “big, lively, belty” musical numbers, Hold Me Closer is the no-holds-barred (and many-bars-held) entirety of the beloved musical first introduced in Will Grayson, Will Grayson , the award-winning bestseller by John Green and David Levithan. Tiny Cooper is finally taking center stage . . . and the world will never be the same again.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book cover Coda / Emma Trevayne.
“Ever since he was a young boy, music has coursed through the veins of eighteen-year-old Anthem-the Corp has certainly seen to that. By encoding music with addictive and mind-altering elements, the Corp holds control over all citizens, particularly conduits like Anthem, whose life energy feeds the main power in the Grid. Anthem finds hope and comfort in the twin siblings he cares for, even as he watches the life drain slowly and painfully from his father. Escape is found in his underground rock band, where music sounds free, clear, and unencoded deep in an abandoned basement. But when a band member dies suspiciously from a tracking overdose, Anthem knows that his time has suddenly become limited. Revolution all but sings in the air, and Anthem cannot help but answer the call with the chords of choice and freewill. But will the girl he loves help or hinder him?” (Syndetics summary)

Music is my boyfriend

By admin

On Tuesday, 27 May, 2014

In movies (they're like books that move!), music and other nice noises, stuff to read, [Books]

so claims a song by CSS (they’re pretty rad).

For some people, music is what keeps them going. It can be an essential part of coping and survival and can help people in ways even they can’t understand. It could be the melody, an intense beat or the maybe lyrics blasting through your headphones which make you think the song was written just for you. For whatever reason, music makes us feel things both good and bad. For some characters in the books below, music is what keeps them going through some especially difficult times.

Eleanor & Park, Rainbow Rowell

“Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.” (goodreads.com)

Eleanor has a pretty difficult home life, and Park enables and encourages her obsession with music. It helps her get through some pretty traumatic times and the 80s tunes Eleanor connects with relate just so to her life and surroundings. AND Rainbow Rowell herself published some playlists on her blog that inspired and represent each of the main characters, so you could listen to those while you read this amaaaazing book and truly immerse yourself in the experience! Just a suggestion. (You can find the playlists here at Rainbow Rowell’s blog)

P.S. We also have this as a book on cd!

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

“It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.” (goodreads.com)

Nick and Norah’s first connection is formed via the playlists Nick makes for his then-girlfriend Tris, who is also Norah’s friend. Tris couldn’t care less about the thought and effort put into these playlists for her, but Norah feels a connection to the person who compiled them and… well you’ll see when you read it 🙂 We also have the dvd, which is just 80c to issue using your YA library card!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky

“Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can’t stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.” (goodreads.com)

We have the movie version of this too! These music books sure lend themselves well to film adaptations, huh?

The Vinyl Princess, Yvonne Prinz

“Allie, a sixteen-year-old who is obsessed with LPs, works at the used record store on Telegraph Ave. and deals with crushes–her own and her mother’s–her increasingly popular blog and zine, and generally grows up over the course of one summer in her hometown of Berkeley, California.” (WCL catalogue)

The Vinyl Princess covers a bunch of niche areas – LP collecting, zine-making, blogging (although these are all becoming pretty ubiquitous) – so if you relate to any of these pasttimes, this may just be the book for you!

Fat Kid Rules the World, K. L. Going

Troy Billings is seventeen, 296 pounds, friendless, utterly miserable, and about to step off a New York subway platform in front of an oncoming train. Until he meets Curt MacCrae, an emaciated, semi-homeless, high school dropout guitar genius. Soon, Curt has recruited Troy as his new drummer, even though Troy can’t play the drums. Together, Curt and Troy will change the world of punk, and Troy’s own life, forever. (edited from goodreads.com)

Fat Kid Rules The World achieves something great in the way music, and particularly the energy of drumming is described. It could so easily fall flat, but Going really captures the energy and essence of a punk drummer.

Chopsticks, Jessica Anthony & Rodrigo Corral

This one looks like it’ll all be sunshine and happiness, but don’t be fooled: “In a love story told in photographs and drawings, Glory, a brilliant piano prodigy, is drawn to Frank, an artistic new boy, and the farther she falls, the deeper she spirals into madness until the only song she is able to play is ‘Chopsticks.'” So it’s kind of a graphic novel – there’s something for everybody!

We hope you’ve enjoyed NZ Music Month 2014, maybe came to one (or more!) of our library music events and we look forward to doing it all over again next year! If there were any highlights of NZMM that you’d like to tell us about, please do so in the comments! I’ll be back to regular scheduled posting next week – who’s excited for TFIOS? 😉

NZ music highlights

By admin

On Tuesday, 13 May, 2014

In aotearoa new zealand, music and other nice noises, wellington (you can't beat it etc. etc.)

Hopefully you’re celebrating NZ Music Month with us by listening to more local artists! I thought I would highlight a few recent-ish NZ releases we have in our collection, with some help from very music-savvy fellow librarian Kim. Let us know what you agree or disagree with, and please leave us some of your favourite NZ artists in the comments!

The Love Club EP by Lorde

Dating earlier than her hit album Pure Heroine, The Love Club EP (first released for free on SoundCloud) contains the ubiquitous ‘Royals’ along with four other songs not on her full length album. ‘Bravado’, ‘Biting Down’, ‘Million Dollar Bills’ and ‘The Love Club’ are all excellent songs, and have a slightly different sound to Pure Heroine – perhaps a little cheekier? In any case, any Lorde fan needs to listen to this EP.

Brightly Painted One by Tiny Ruins

I saw Tiny Ruins a.k.a Hollie Fullbrook when she opened for Calexico last year and they were both excellent! Morphing from gentle and folky to classical-sounding with strings and looping back around again, Tiny Ruins keeps it interesting. She has been compared to Beth Gibbons from Portishead AND Nick Drake, so if that’s not a recommendation, I don’t know what is.

Goin’ Steady by Newtown Rocksteady (adult collection, costs $1)

13-piece Newtown Rocksteady’s extended EP documents their musical progression over the last four years, representing and reinventing the 60s Jamaican vibe known as rocksteady. Rocksteady mixes together reggae, dub, ska and dancehall music, all perfect for a good boogie which they provided in droves at the Newtown and Womad festivals earlier this year. If you get the chance to see them live, do! They provide amazing entertainment and you’ll be blown away by their collective talent, not to mention their 5-piece horn section.

Louis Baker by Louis Baker (adult collection, costs $1)

Wellington local Louis Baker is sometimes mellow and completely soulful. His sound has been compared to Jeff Buckley – these are some amazing comparisons being made to our local talents! He’s very talented and grew up in Coromandel Street, Newtown. His self titled EP made it to number 8 in the NZ charts, check it out for yourself!

And then we have some faves that don’t have CDs out in the library yet:

Brockaflower Saurus-Rex (and the Blueberry Biscuits)

This 9-piece band’s first album is full on but spacious, allowing everyone their own instrument space – an impressive feat with so many people and instruments demanding attention. But they make it work, and very harmoniously, too. As for genre, they’re a bit funk, a bit psychedelic and a bit “neo-soul” (who even names music genres these days?) and they’ll keep you grooving with each song full of energy. They have an album out titled “Build It” but we sadly don’t have it in the library. You can listen to it in full here on SoundCloud though!

Estère

Speaking of genre names, Estère’s probably takes the cake – “electric blue witch hop”. She is a singer/songwriter/beatmaker/producer from Wellington and this whole album was made and recorded in her bedroom. She uses loops of live instruments, has an MPC named Lola and has been likened to Erykah Badu with her sometimes raspy and always stunning vocals. Although we don’t have her album here in the library yet, you can listen to it on SoundCloud for free, and even download it for free from Estère’s Bandcamp page!

Most Wanted: March 2014

By Grimm

On Tuesday, 4 March, 2014

In [Books]

These are the 10 most reserved Young Adult titles for the month. Happy reading!

1. The Book Thief, Markus Zusak [no change] * **
2. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green [no change] *
3. Divergent,Veronica Roth [up 1] * **
4. Allegiant, Veronica Roth [down 1] * **
5. City of Heavenly Fire, Cassandra Clare [no change, on order]
6. 1D: One Direction: Forever Young [up 1]
7. Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins [down 1] **
8. Insurgent, Veronica Roth [down 1] * **
9=. Looking for Alaska, John Green [back] **
9=. The One, Kiera Cass [new, on order]

* We also have this as a book on CD.
** We also have this as an eBook/eAudiobook.

More Divergent countdown trivia

By Grimm

On Wednesday, 26 February, 2014

In movies (they're like books that move!), music and other nice noises

In anticipation of the Divergent movie coming out, there’s also the Divergent soundtrack to look forward to. It’s available a couple of weeks before the movie, and the tracklisting is:

1 ‘Find you’, Zedd, ft. Matthew Koma and Miriam Bryant
2 ‘Beating Heart’, Ellie Goulding
3 ‘Fight for You’, Pia Mia, ft. Chance the Rapper
4 ‘Hanging On’ (I See MONSTAS remix), Ellie Goulding
5 ‘I Won’t Let You Go’, Snow Patrol
6 ‘Run Boy Run’, Woodkid
7 ‘Backwards’, Tame Impala and Kendrick Lamar
8 ‘I need you’, M83
9 ‘In Distress’, A$AP Rocky, ft. Gesaffelstein
10 ‘Lost and Found’ (ODESZA remix), Pretty Lights
11 ‘Stranger’, Skrillex, ft. KillaGraham From Milo & Otis & Sam Dew
12 ‘Dream machines’, Big Deal
13 ‘Dead in the water’, Ellie Goulding

The big winner is Ellie Goulding!

We will be getting this! We have other movie soundtracks in the Young Adult collection also: The Great Gatsby, Catching Fire, City of Bones, Avengers, Glee (lots of Glee, lots and lots of Glee) and much more.

Most Wanted: February 2014

By Grimm

On Friday, 14 February, 2014

In [Books]

These are the 10 most reserved Young Adult titles for the month. Hollywood rules: if they’re making movies of you (or your series) you’re onto a good thing. We’re really looking forward to The Fault in Our Stars (June) and Divergent (April).

1. The Book Thief, Markus Zusak [up 3]
2. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green [no change]
3. Allegiant, Veronica Roth [down 2]
4. Divergent,Veronica Roth [up 1]
5. City of Heavenly Fire, Cassandra Clare [new, on order]
6. Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins [down 3]
7=. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins [down 1]
7=. 1D: One Direction: Forever Young [up 2]
7=. Insurgent, Veronica Roth [back]
10. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins [down 1]

Upcoming!

By Grimm

On Wednesday, 5 February, 2014

In new stuff (ooh, shiny!), [Books]

A new music series, short stories for people with Divergent-withdrawal (if you can wait a few months), and time travel.

Rock War, Robert Muchamore – a new series (Rock War) by the creator of CHERUB. “Meet Jay. Summer. And Dylan. Jay plays guitar, writes songs and dreams of being a rock star. But his ambitions are stifled by seven siblings and a terrible drummer. Summer works hard at school, looks after her nan and has a one-in-a-million singing voice. But can her talent triumph over her nerves? Dylan is happiest lying on his bunk smoking, but his school rugby coach has other ideas, and Dylan reluctantly joins a band to avoid crunching tackles and icy mud. They’re about to enter the biggest battle of their lives. And there’s everything to play for.” (goodreads.com)

Four, A Divergent Collection, Veronica Roth (Juneish) – five short stories from Four’s perspective (“The Transfer,” “The Initiate,” “The Son,” “The Traitor,” and “Free Four”). Find out what Four thinks really happened.

The 57 lives of Alex Wayfare, M. G. Buehrlen – “For as long as 17-year-old Alex Wayfare can remember, she has had visions of the past. Visions that make her feel like she’s really on a ship bound for America, living in Jamestown during the Starving Time, or riding the original Ferris wheel at the World’s Fair. But these brushes with history pull her from her daily life without warning, sometimes leaving her with strange lasting effects and wounds she can’t explain. Trying to excuse away the aftereffects has booked her more time in the principal’s office than in any of her classes and a permanent place at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Alex is desperate to find out what her visions mean and get rid of them. It isn’t until she meets Porter, a stranger who knows more than should be possible about her, that she learns the truth: Her visions aren’t really visions. Alex is a Descender – capable of traveling back in time by accessing Limbo, the space between Life and Afterlife. Alex is one soul with fifty-six past lives, fifty-six histories. Fifty-six lifetimes to explore: the prospect is irresistible to Alex, especially when the same mysterious boy with soulful blue eyes keeps showing up in each of them. But the more she descends, the more it becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want Alex to travel again. Ever. And will stop at nothing to make this life her last.” (goodreads.com)

Most Wanted: January 2014

By Grimm

On Tuesday, 7 January, 2014

In [Books]

The Book Thief has raced up the reserves list since New Year’s. It’s got staying power: first published in 2006, it was on our most wanted list in 2009 – 2010, and has been on the New York Times bestsellers list continually for a very long time. It’s also one of 5 movie books on our list this month.

1. Allegiant, Veronica Roth [no change]
2. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green [no change]
3. Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins [no change]
4. The Book Thief, Markus Zusak [back after 4 years]
5. Divergent,Veronica Roth [up 4]
6=. The Fall of Five, Pittacus Lore [down 2]
6=. Black Friday, Robert Muchamore [down 1]
6=. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins [no change]
9=. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins [down 1]
9=. 1D: One Direction: Forever Young [down 3]

Most Wanted: December 2013

By Grimm

On Thursday, 5 December, 2013

In [Books]

These are the 10 most requested items in the Young Adult collection for this month. Because Catching Fire the movie ends on such a cliffhanger, everyone’s naturally wanting to re-read Mockingjay to remember what happens next – reserve yours now if you haven’t got around to it yet, so you don’t have to wait ages! See you next year.

1. Allegiant, Veronica Roth [no change]
2. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green [no change]
3. Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins [back]
4. The Fall of Five, Pittacus Lore [down 1]
5. Black Friday, Robert Muchamore [down 1]
6. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins [up 2]
7. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins [down 1]
8. 1D: One Direction: Forever Young [down 3]
9=. Divergent,Veronica Roth [up 1]
9=. Insurgent, Veronica Roth [no change]
9=. Champion, Marie Lu [up 1]

New Books

By admin

On Monday, 21 October, 2013

In new stuff (ooh, shiny!), [Books]

a rather grisly theme this week, these new books all have a dead character in the premise.

book cover courtesy of Syndetics Killing Rachel, Anne Cassidy (313 pages) – Rose’s mother and Joshua’s father have disappeared. Police inquiries have gone nowhere and the case, it seems, is closed: Rose and Joshua have been told that the police believe their parents are dead. But Rose and Joshua still hold out hope that they are alive. Joshua is determined to follow up his own inquiries, which includes working out the meaning of the cryptic notebooks – the murder notebooks – they have discovered. Then Rose is distracted by odd, desperate messages she receives from Rachel, a former best friend from her school, followed by the terrible news that Rachel is dead. But perhaps Rachel’s death will provide one more piece of the puzzle about what has happened to Rose and Joshua’s parents.

First lines: “Rose was hiding. It was dark and cold and she was in a shop doorway staring at two people across the road. The street was busy and a stream of people passed without noticing her, wrapped up against the cold night air.”

book cover courtesy of Syndetics Dead Silence: a body finder novel, Kimberly Derting (389 pages) – Violet thought she’d made peace with her unique ability to sense the echoes of the dead and the imprints that cling to their killers. That is until she acquired an imprint of her own. Forced to carry a reminder of the horrible events of her kidnapping, Violet is more determined than ever to lead a normal life. However, the people who run the special investigative team Violet works for have no intention of letting her go. When someone close to Violet becomes a suspect in a horrific murder, she finds herself pulled into a deadly hunt for a madman with an army of devoted followers. Violet has survived dangerous situations before, but she quickly discovers that protecting those closest to her is far more difficult than protecting herself

First lines: “Jay hit the door with his shoulder, but it didn’t splinter beneath his weight or anything quite so dramatic. The handle, which was probably old and in disrepair anyway, fell apart on impact and the door shot open, banging against the wall on the other side. The crashing noise filled the dark house, echoing off the walls.”

book cover courtesy of Syndetics Deviant, Helen FitzGerald (248 pages) – When 16-year-old Abigail’s mother dies in Scotland she leaves behind a faded photo, a weirdly cryptic letter, and a one-way ticket to America. Abigail’s mother gave her away when she was a baby, leaving her to grow up on an anti-nuclear commune and then in ugly foster homes. But the letter is a surprise in more ways than one: Her father is living in California. What’s more, Abigail discovers she has an eighteen-year-old sister, Becky. And the two are expecting Abigail to move in with them. Just as Abigail grows close to her newfound sister, Becky is found dead, the accidental victim of an apparent drug overdose. As Abigail wrestles with her feelings and compiles a “Book of Remembrance” of her sister’s short life, she uncovers a horrifying global plot aimed at controlling teen behavior: one that took her sister’s and mother’s lives, with vast implications.

First lines: “The guy facing Abigail across the desk wasn’t her parent and he wasn’t her friend. “Sit down, Abi,” he said, in a voice that tried to be both. He wasn’t a social worker either, more an unqualified asshole.”

book cover courtesy of Syndetics Dangerous Girls, Abigail Haas (388 pages) – It’s Spring Break of senior year. Anna, her boyfriend Tate, her best friend Elise, and a few other close friends are off to a debaucherous trip to Aruba that promises to be the time of their lives. But when Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna finds herself trapped in a country not her own, fighting against vile and contemptuous accusations. As Anna sets out to find her friend’s killer, she discovers harsh revelations about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth, and the ache of young love. Awaiting the judge’s decree, it becomes clear to Anna that everyone around her thinks she is not only guilty, but also dangerous. And when the whole story comes out, reality is more shocking than anyone ever imagined

As a side note, go read the reviews on Goodreads, they’re full of people exclaiming about how good this book is and what an incredibly masterful storyteller Abigail Haas is. I completely agree with them.

First lines: “”Shots! Shots! Shots!” We yell it together, slamming our hands on the sticky wooden table. The dreadlocked waiter pours a row of something lurid, neon blue. It’s our first night on the island, and the music is almost too loud for me to think; some European dance-pop thing that shakes the crowded beach club, making the glasses quiver and the blood vibrate in my chest.”

book cover courtesy of Syndetics Kill the Music, Nansi Kunze (280 pages) – Most people would love to be Lorna Powell, travelling the globe with her brother and his mega-famous band. Then again, most people don’t realise just how annoying four handsome rock stars can be. A new home and a new school seem like the start of a normal life – until Lorna overhears a chilling plot to silence the band forever. Soon Lorna is drawn into a frantic attempt to identify the killer before they strike. But it’s not easy to track suspects around the world when she’s got homework to do and secrets to protect. And when gorgeous lead singer Marius starts to act strangely, Lorna wonders if she’s had the wrong idea all along.

First lines: “The spa bubbled softly as I stepped into the green marble pool. Scented steam rose from the water; the faint note of a bird chimed in the air. I closed my eyes and sank into the warm depths.”

book cover courtesy of Syndetics More than this, Patrick Ness (480 pages) – A boy named Seth drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments, losing his life as the pounding sea claims him. But then he wakes. He is naked, thirsty, starving. But alive. How is that possible? He remembers dying, his bones breaking, his skull dashed upon the rocks. So how is he here? And where is this place? It looks like the suburban English town where he lived as a child, before an unthinkable tragedy happened and his family moved to America. But the neighborhood around his old house is overgrown, covered in dust, and completely abandoned. What’s going on? And why is it that whenever he closes his eyes, he falls prey to vivid, agonizing memories that seem more real than the world around him? Seth begins a search for answers, hoping that he might not be alone, that this might not be the hell he fears it to be, that there might be more than just this.

First lines: “Here is the boy, drowning. In these last moments, it’s not the water that’s finally done for him; it’s the cold. It has bled all the energy from his body and contracted his muscles into a painful uselessness, no matter how much he fights to keep himself above the surface.”

book cover courtesy of Syndetics Acid, Emma Pass (429 pages) – The year is 2113. In Jenna Strong’s world, ACID—the most brutal controlling police force in history—rule supreme. No throwaway comment or whispered dissent goes unnoticed—or unpunished. And it was ACID agents who locked Jenna away for life, for a horrendous crime she struggles to remember. But Jenna’s violent prison time has taught her how to survive by any means necessary. When a mysterious rebel group breaks her out, she must use her strength, speed, and skill to stay one step ahead of ACID, and try to uncover the truth about what really happened on that terrible night two years ago. They have taken her life, her freedom, and her true memories away from her. How can she reclaim anything when she doesn’t know who to trust?

First lines: “The first time I notice the new inmate is when we’re all lined up outside our cells for morning head count. He’s standing five doors down from me, sneaking glances at the rest of us as the guards wave their wrist-scanners across our hips to read the spytags that are implanted when we first get here.”

book cover courtesy of Syndetics This is W.A.R., Lisa & Laura Roecker (278 pages) – Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent. And everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return. Alone. They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away. Enter the W.A.R. – the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost.

First lines: “Willa Ames-Rowan never thought she would die. She firmly believed white should be worn before Labor Day, champagne was best enjoyed on an empty stomach, and sleep was for the weak. If it weren’t for the inky black water tugging at her limbs, clawing its way into her mouth, she might have welcomed the dark solitude of Hawthorne Lake. She might have floated on her back, counting stars, dreaming about what it would be like to wake up next to her future husband.”

book cover courtesy of Syndetics In the Shadows of Blackbirds : a novel, Cat Winters (387 pages) – In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

First lines: “I stepped inside the railroad car, and three dozen pairs of eyes peered my way. Gauze masks concealed the passengers’ mouths and noses. The train smelled of my own mask’s cotton, boiling onions, and a whiff of something clammy and sour I took to be fear.”

Wellington City Libraries

Te Matapihi Ki Te Ao Nui

Teen Blog

Reading, Wellington, and whatever else – teenblog@wcl.govt.nz

Tag: Music Page 1 of 9

Why do we listen to K-pop? Because of BTS!

BTS albums we have at the library

Books about BTS available at the library

Youth Nights Come to Kilbirnie Library!

Why do we listen to K-pop? Because of Girls’ Generation!

Girls’ Generation albums we have at the library

Why do we listen to K-pop? Because of Super Junior!

Super Junior albums we have at the library:

Why do we listen to K-pop? Because of SHINee!

SHINee albums we have at the library:

Youth Nights Come to Karori Library!

Books About Stuff and Other Things: New Non-fiction for Teens

Support Local: New Zealand Music Month 2021

Find local music at the library

Make music with the library

Gig guide

From the Vaults IV: Printed Music

Music and Other Distractions

All about Music

Music is my boyfriend

NZ music highlights

Most Wanted: March 2014

More Divergent countdown trivia

Most Wanted: February 2014

Upcoming!

Most Wanted: January 2014

Most Wanted: December 2013

New Books

Useful Things

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