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Electric Wire Hustle

Decade(s) active:

Elsewhere online:

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Music we hold — on our catalogue

The majority of our Wellington CD collection is available from our Te Awe Branch in Brandon St, or able to be reserved for free from our Distribution Centre in Johnsonville.

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EWH

Developing their own sound and twist on modern hip hop, psychedelic and soul Electric Wire Hustle’s unique sound challenges genre boundaries and preconceptions. The music of New Zealand’s EWH reaches forward while referencing key points of music’s past. Thick drums and percussion layered with synth lines, hints of the Fender Rhodes and nylon stringed guitars have your neck snapping while your ear cranes to the evocative vocals of Mara TK.

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Since forming in 2007 EWH have experienced an outstanding response to their music. Their strong live show has seen them perform all over the world and at notable events such as the UK’s Glastonbury, The Big Chill and Barcelona’s Sonar festival. In 2010 EWH were noted as the “CMJ Highlight” by The Revivalist / Okayplayer after their performance at the New York festival as part of their debut U.S. tour.

Electric Wire Hustle: Hustling up an MPC – NZ Musician, Oct/Nov, 2009 (Vol:15, No:3)

RNZs Sam Wicks speaks to Electric Wire Hustle about their own forays into futuristic psychedelic soul.

Their debut self titled album released internationally on BBE Records and Every Waking Hour in New Zealand has received love from many of the world’s top DJs and selectors including; BBC Radio 1 DJs Benji B who selected the track ‘Chaser’ as a top track of 2009 and Gilles Peterson who selected the track ‘They Don’t Want’ as a top track of 2009 and featured it as the opening track on his infamous Brownswood Compilation – Bubblers 5.

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On Foreign Soil: Electric Wire Hustle – NZ Musician, Oct/Nov, 2010 (Vol:15, No:9)

Electric Wire Hustle at Rhythm and Vines, 2011.

Electric Wire Hustle talk about making music with their biggest fans – their parents. Mara TK who’s the son of Billy TK, and father and son percussionists Myele and Sam Manzanza, talk about their family concert that will premiere at the Nelson Arts Festival, 2012

With their debut self-titled album Electric Wire Hustle achieving cult status: a number one song on Hype Machine, five-star reviews from the likes of Okayplayer, and BBC Radio support from Gilles Peterson and Benji B secured them unwavering support internationally; their heavily anticipated second album, Love Can Prevail, saw release in 2014, and the stellar reviews continued, along with a nomination for the Taite Music Prize. The Aeons EP was released in 2015…

Music review with Nick Atkinson – Featuring Electric Wire Hustle and Mara TK.

Electric Wire Hustle – Love Can Prevail, Director’s Cut.
Mara TK and Dave Wright join in the RNZ studio to talk through a tasting plate of cuts from their sophomore release.

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Following the release of ‘Love Can Prevail’, the band’s nucleus Mara TK and Dave Wright talk to Sam Wicks about their evolving lineup and sound.

The Mixtape – Electric Wire Hustle
From Music 101’s Mix tape season, Electric Wire Hustle’s David ‘Taay Ninh’ Wright and Mara TK share the songs that inspire and influence them.

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From ‘The Sampler’ on 01 Sep 2015: Aeons by Electric Wire Hustle – Melody Thomas assesses the new EP from soultronica duo Electric Wire Hustle

Mara TK and Taay Ninh in session for Music 101, performing two cuts from Aeons.

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Anatomy of a Song – Electric Wire Hustle’s Golden Ladder

2016 saw the release of third album ‘The 11th Sky’ on LP, CD and digital via New York label Bastard Jazz Recordings (World) and Loop Recordings (New Zealand). Expanding on their psychedelic-soul sound, ‘The 11th Sky’ continues the surreal storytelling of last years Aeons EP, which also featured Kimbra and Deva Mahal on vocals. The brand new album is described as “David Lynch meets Motown” by frontman and producer Mara TK, and indeed, a sense of the otherworldly is present here within EWH’s layered electronic production and Mara’s soaring vocals. Tracks like “Go Slow” walk into the genre-fog amongst drum machines and synthesizers. Meanwhile “I Light A Candle” with it’s piano, chopped vocal samples, towering strings and 808s strikes right at the heart of soul music.

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Verse Chorus Verse: Electric Wire Hustle
Track-by-track: Electric Wire Hustle dissect their new album The 11th Sky – The Wireless

Nick Bollinger traces the latest steps in the sonic and spiritual journey of Wellington’s Electric Wire Hustle.

Electric Wire Hustle: Ready For The 11th Sky – The 13th Floor

Text/Covers courtesy of Amplifier, Bandcamp & Loop Records. Photos courtesy of Loop. Used with permission.

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