CHARTFEST09 Artist Profiles

SOLAA - www.solaa.com
Formed in 1997 Solaa have created a unique sound that blends a variety of musical influences from Hip Hop and Soul to Latin and Afro-funk. This diverse sound is evident in their debut album ‘Steps in Time’ (2006). Recorded over 3 years, ‘Steps in Time’ is Solaa’s triumphant debut and a perfect testament to their dexterous skills as artists. With ten addictive joints the group dishes up a masterpiece of hip hop, R&B, soul and driving funk, in a work that sparkles with perfect musical precision. After 9 years of performing in New Zealand Solaa embarked on their first Australian tour in March 2006 including a performance as support for Fat Freddy’s Drop at Melbourne’s Forum theatre. Solaa have also performed alongside Mark de Clive-Lowe, Shapeshifter, Opensouls, Salmonella Dub, Che Fu and Dave Dobbyn. A group's whose remarkable musical diversity, is equally matched by their own varied ethnicity – Solaa are a cross-cultural triumph. Regardless of your mood, origin or taste, a sampling of this fine Kiwi delicacy will not leave you disappointed.

 

AARON TOKONA BUZZ - www.myspace.com/thehoribuzz
Don't miss the funky boilup that is Aaron Tokona's solo set, sure to get the auditorium jumping. Frontman from the reformed kiwi rock legends WETA, the now Lyttelton-based guitarist/songwriter has new projects in 2009 including A Hori Buzz, who recently supported Fat Freddys Drop at the Civic and Rhombus at the Harbourlight and dropped the funk at Sounday. Psychadelic funk mixed with roots rock stylings all mashed up using his trusty MPC, don't miss Aaron Tokona Buzz at CHARTFEST09.

 

 

SHOCKING PINKS - www.myspace.com/shockingpinks
Having released three albums in NZ (two on the legendary Flying Nun label), the Shocking Pinks is the solo recording project of Christchurch's Nick Harte and has inked a four-album contract with NY based DFA Records. For CHARTFEST 2009 Harte has assembled a live line-up that does justice to the dreamy recorded sound, featuring several likely indie popsters. The Shocking Pinks sound is hard to define but if you tried to picture the bastard offspring of My Bloody Valentine, The Stooges, Liquid Liquid and Fleetwood Mac, you'd be halfway there... Having recently toured Australia supporting Cut Copy on their 'In Ghost Colours' album release tour and blown away audiences in the States and Europe, don't miss this very rare hometown performance.

 

CLAP CLAP RIOT - www.myspace.com/clapclapriot
With a ferocious mix of dueling guitars, solid thumping drums and wild vocals, CCR's edgy guitar tones and high energy live show has to be seen. The band aim to recreate the excitement that has been lost from the essence of live performance. They have had comparisons to bands like The Small Faces and The Easybeats and were the 2008 winners of MTV Kickstart. Having completed extensive production work with Jimmy Christmas (The D4), they've played shows alongside The Datsuns, Cut Off Your Hands and The Checks as well as performing at the Big Day Out, Rhythm and Vines and Southern Amp festivals. Their debut 5-Track EP 'TV Knows Better' is drenched with Rock n Roll and sprinkled with Pop sweetness so be in the Auditorium to catch their searing live show.

 

BENEATH THE SILENCE - www.myspace.com/beneaththesilencenz
The 2008 Smokefree Rockquest national champions blew away over 500 school bands nationally to take out the prestigious title of best school band in New Zealand. Made up of students from Cashmere, Rangiora, Kaiapoi High Schools, BTS are a hard hitting mix of Sophia Di's wailing guitar solo's, pounding drums and hi-octane energy. This young band's huge following is well deserved, so don't miss them at CHARTFEST09 as they are set to bring the Town Hall Auditorium to its knees on Fri 29 May.

 

 

 

AWAKENED INFERNO - www.myspace.com/awakenedinferno
Hard-hitting 4 piece hard rock act from Aranui High School Awakened Inferno blew the CHARTFEST 2009 Band Search judges away recently with a blistering live set of hard rock, partnered with a super tight rhythm section, monster riffs and energy to burn to take out the 2009 title. Charismatic frontman Jacob Peters commands the stage and posesses a voice like a young James Hetfield only with Sammy Hagar hair and Kim Thayil fretwork (and looks). Their talented double-kick drummer, swirling lead guitar licks and confidence ultimately swayed the judging panel, so with the 2009 title they collect a swag of prizes and also the opening slot at CHARTFEST 2009 at 6.45pm.

 

 

 

NATHAN KING - www.nathankingmusic.com
Only five years after strumming that first chord, Nathan King found his songs and exceptional voice at the heart of multi-platinum, award-winning success as his band Zed saw their debut album shoot to number one. Mr King found himself honing his stagecraft in front of thousands of fans in Australasia touring with Robbie Williams and Coldplay and in the US and Europe with the likes of The Calling, Ash and Seal - all thanks to those great songs and teenage years spent devoted to the remarkable music of bands like U2, Simon & Garfunkel and The Beach Boys. Nathan returns to where it all began on the back of radio hits including "Never Too Late" and The Saddest Thing" with a solo album, produced by acclaimed maverick and genius drummer Brady Blade (Dave Matthews, EmmyLou Harris, Beth Orton), and Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, Bullet For My Valentine). Nathan King’s solo offering reflects a diverse edge to his writing unlike anything you’ve heard before.

 

LINDON PUFFIN & THE TRANSGRESSIONS - www.myspace.com/lindonpuffin
Lyttelton based rockabilly folk punk Lindon Puffin, spends so much time on the road, it’d be more accurate to simply say he comes from NZ. In the past 18 months he’s toured the country thrice, promoting the release of his much heralded second album Show Pony, performed with his heroes Billy Bragg and Jack Black, had his epic road movie Figure 8000 screened numerous times on Sky TV’s Doco Channel and if that wasn’t enough, he’s just returned from a whirlwind global tour
encompassing 12 countries & 36 cities! Renowned for his manic one-man live show, Puffin abuses a variety of instruments from guitar & piano to drums & ukulele. Walking a tightrope between music & comedy, he was particularly well received in Ireland & New York. Following the completion of his new album ‘Happy as Hell’, he’s reportedly heading back to give it a decent bash. Better catch him while you’ve still got a chance!

 

THE EASTERN - www.myspace.com/theeasternfamily
The Eastern promise to deliver a haymaker of footstomp folk, 12 round rock' n'roll, brokeheart blues, and old time harmony all with a little country kick. They bring… backpacks full of road songs, battered acoustics and no name electrics, banjo and glockenspiel, mandolin, harmonica, foot stomps and old time singing, straight from the gut, the fist and the heart… Fresh from a national tour supporting US country rebel Steve Earl, and with their sophmore album recently released don't miss the Eastern shake up the James Hay.

 

 

RAGAMUFFIN CHILDREN - www.ragamuffinchildren.com
The Ragamuffin Children are Anita Clark (vocalist, fiddle, guitar) and Brooke Singer (keyboard, songwriter) and at the fore-front of Nu-Folk movement in NZ. Formed as a duo in 2006, Brooke Singer is an accomplished songwriter and pianist, whose melodies have gained national recognition through winning LOOP recordings 'Rise and Shine' song writing competition. Anita's soulful and sincere voice resonates with a pure and unique quality which, teamed with Brooke's song writing and animated piano playing, produces a distinctly original sound. They bring to the stage beautifully crafted songs that are performed with imagination and soul, and their unique rapport with the audience creates a cosy and intimate ambience.

 

 

TRUTH - www.myspace.com/truthdubstep (dub step)
The theory that isolation breeds creativity has never been as apt as it is for Truth, a dubstep outfit hailing from one of the world’s most southern cities. What began as a musical experiment has now become something much more significant. Truth’s style defies categorisation, encompassing an array of melodies and vocals within spacious beats that range from half-step stompers like ‘The Fatman’ to deeper tunes like ‘Stolen Children’. One common element underpins every track though: a heavy bassline riddim that lays sheer force on any system heavy enough to handle it. In just a year, the sound of Truth has spread across the world. ‘The Fatman’ has been pulled back countless times in numerous cities, from Dubwar at Club Love in New York, to Sonar in Barcelona, to Mass in Brixton – the home of dubstep’s seminal club night, DMZ.

 

ISAAC CHAMBERS - www.myspace.com/isaacchambersnz (Prog/Electro/House/Tech/Trance/Breaks)
Brother of Jess Chambers from Firefly Orchestra fame, Isaac Chambers is one of the rising stars of the Christchurch electronica scene. On the back of storming DJ sets at Canaan Downs and Luminate Festivals his beats have featured on the Earthbeatz compilation and fast becoming dance anthems. Isaac Chambers latest offerings range from slow dubs, blues, hip hop, hawaiian surf jams, through to deep tech house/trance and breaks all with a touch of organic glitch - its all about mixing electronic goodness with instrumental lushness. Be upstairs in the RDU98.5FM MASSIVE Stage to see Isaac Chambers pump the beats.

 

MAITREYA - www.myspace.com/enterthemaitreya (hip hop)
Beginning his career in the formative hiphop Christchurch crew Dark Tower Maitreya (meaning a ‘Future Teacher’) moved to New York, gaining an internship at Roc-a-Fella Records (Jay-Z) and in 2006 signed up to the online music site SellaBand.com where he became the first Hip Hop artist ever to raise the $50,000USD in 2007 and began recording his debut solo album "Close To Home" in New York and London with The Silence (UK). The stunning lead single WAITAHA, combining the power of Maori vocals with NZ Drum n Bass masters Kilotone's driving and damaging beats was nominated at the 2008 Silver Scrolls for the APRA Maioha Award for Contemporary Maori Song Writing. Having just returned from his WAITAHA WINTER TOUR throughout New Zealand, Europe and Hong Kong, Maitreya released his second single LOTALUV featuring Hera. Come checkout ChCh hip hop at its best... Chur!

 

RARE SHOT BLUE - www.myspace.com/rareshotblue (trip hop)
After moving to Christchurch from Tokyo in 2001, Hideto Kobayashi caught the NZ dance music bug and started DJing and producing tunes under the name Rare Shot Blue. With a reputation for collaborating with interesting artists and exploring elements of electronica, both upbeat and down, Rare Shot Blue became a must-see live artist and a staple fixture at festivals including Southern Amp, PHAT and Canaan Downs Festivals. ‘Where I Was Born’, the debut album takes a journey through downbeat and trip hop beats, with soulful vocals (courtesy of LA Mitchell, Lucy Boanas and Sacha Van Beek) giving an Aotearoa-styled nod to the sounds of Massive Attack and Portishead, while setting out to explore uncharted waters in Aotearoa Electronica.

 

REALITY CHANT SOUND - www.myspace.com/realitychant (reggae dancehall dub)
Since early ’05, DJ/producer Gabriel ‘Messenjah’ Calcott – with major contributions from Ben ‘Nazarite’ Christian – have been producing reggae utilizing a solid core of heavyweight session musos. A road-tested playlist confirmed by their regular sweaty, satisfied dancefloor massive - the ultimate judge of the quality of Reality Chant Sound's ability to connect with roots/one drop and dancehall fans. All killer, no filler, slammin’ dancehall and militant roots reggae, nice up yourself with this seriously tasty slice of NZ music.

 

 

Based in Lyttelton port, Christchurch, The Harbour Sessions is a bi-monthly event aiming to provide a forum for Christchurch and NZ's underground, DIY singer/songwriters.

TIM MOORE - www.myspace.com/theklapmyspace
Integral member of The Klap - 2008's Roundup winning band, Tim Moore brings his swagger and style to the Volcano Radio Harbour Sessions Stage. Unpredicatable, yet wildly entertaining...

 

 

RICH DENSEM - www.myspace.com/westhammerproductions
Front man for psychadelic folk-blues outfit Mustard, Rich Densem invokes the spirit of Neil Young and Jim Morrison and goes solo at CHARTFEST fresh from an enchanting set at the recent the inaugural Harbour Session.

 

 

HARLEY WILLIAMS - www.myspace.com/harleywilliamsmusic
Harley Williams, creator of Harbour Sessions, plays a blend of indie folk music with an acoustic flavour. His debut album 'Kamikaze Fondue' was released in 2008 and received 4 star reviews, with the title track getting regular airplay on B-net stations throughout the country. The album was self-released and recorded mostly at home on his trusty Tascam 4-track recorder. Harley believes there is a strong DIY singer/songwriter contingent in Christchurch and he hopes that the Harbour Sessions will provide a regular forum for local songwriters to perform before local audiences.

 

KIM K - www.myspace.com/kimkoffical
A member of former Christchuch girl band Aviatour, Kim K has branched off to do some more lyric intensive, sweeter songs. She is currently working on her first solo EP at the Sitting Room. Kim draws her inspiration from many artists, such as the Beatles and Beach Boys but is more fond of folk, experimental, french pop and likes to experiment with unique percussion instruments such as Slinkys, Typewriters and Foley-type sounds.

 

GEARLOOSE - www.myspace.com/gearloosemusic
Gearloose is the musical project of Steven King, and when armed with his acoustic guitar as he creates beautiful music that ticks all the boxes - originality, tight musicianship and well crafted lyrics. The Gearloose sound blends good ol' fashioned rock, acoustic pop, a little bit of tenderness, and seals it all with a kiss from the islands.

 

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