New Producer: Evian Christ - Working on Yeezus, Flying to Paris and signing to Kanye West's Donda Music

Evian Christ was your regular everyday kid from the boondocks. However, his grind in his humble study with one studio monitor broke the mould. By abusing a cracked version of Cubase and a shitty 100 pound computer he created magic in the most unlikely of circumstances. I recently read an interview he gave and he said he's still coming to grips with having a fan base! :) 

Not many in NZ may know but Josh as Kanye West probably refers to him as made a classic record called in Kings and Them in 2012 for his project Tri-Angle. The shit blew up on the internet and got the attention of the ears of Jesus I mean Yeezus himself. Josh then transformed into Evian Christ and starting making hundreds of beats for Kanye's latest record. His song placed on the biggest selling Rap Album of 2013 was "I'm In It" which is a considerable feat for someone so young. His story has strong parallels to Boi1Da in my opinion, a young super talent visionary that ended up producing some of Eminiems biggest hits pre SSLP2.

Josh has gone on to sign with Mr West's Donda music and will be making beats for the Rapstar full time. This abrupt career change sees him move to New York city to come hip in the biz. The kid also has a new record dropping soon and will of course continue to crank out some of the hottest experimental mainstream cross-overs in the game. Check out his latest song "Salt Carousel" that has turned the internet into a wasteland after being ravaged by the fire track. Congratulations on getting crazy spins on Radio 1 and everywhere in-between Josh, big things to come for you bro!!! :)

p.s - Almost forgot Kanye flew Josh out to Paris on the asap when he start chopping up for Yeezus

https://www.facebook.com/evianchrist

An Album Review of The Buffalo Killers: Dig.Sow.Love.Grow

The Buffalo Killers album Dig.Sow.Love.Grow was released in the earlier part of 2012.The remarkably elegant album from the rockers from Cincinnati, Ohio is warm enough to melt the dust off any diamond record needle. You can easily hear the effort that has gone into making this album.The man behind the magic desk was Mike Montgomery clearly a mix master of an engineer.

The Buffalo Killers if you aren't familiar with them have recently finished up a tour with "The Sheep Dogs" who graced The Rolling Stone last year. The band has also toured with "The Black Keys" the biggest rock band in the world (move over U2). Dan Auberach lead guitarist/ vocalist of "the keys" also produced an earlier second album called 'Let it Ride" by the band .Interestingly enough both bands share the same legendary label Alive Records which is also home to Radio Moscow, T Model Ford, Left lane Cruiser, amongst other South U.S rock artists.   

The first track off Dig.Sow.Love.Grow "Get it" immediately draws me back to Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" arguably one of the greatest rock songs ever. The drumming and vocal delivery delivery on this track are immaculate. The understated but "knawerring rifff" also make this song a real hollering rock jam. The song also reminds of Lynrd Skynrd's music produced by the legendary Al Kooper. A person rumoured to have ripped the "Sweet Home Alabama" artists off for millions earlier in their career.

I can hear that Dig.Sow.Love.Grow has a somewhat melancholy feeling. It's as if someone has been left behind broken down lying on the floor then getting up with a vengeance to become a better man. A past lovers immature actions have obviously inspired a real rock album born out of fury. There are songs that counter such an overwhelming feeling for instance "Hey Girl" is more upbeat and could easily be a song off Jack White's latest album Blunderbuss. I can easily see the harmonised guitar licks getting the nod of approval from the music baron residing in Music City- aka Nashville City. Shout out to my friends on Music Row like Jim Zumwalt hope Cage the Elephant are behaving themselves.

However, in the majority songs like "Blood on your hands" ,"I am always here" and "Farewell" do lead one to the speedy suspicions of a painful heartbreak episode. Who said it was easy living in the South. My stand out favourite off the record is "Graffiti Eggplant" that clearly states sometimes a lovers "absence is not a surprise".What truly glistens for me on this album if I'm to be frank are the influences of Buffalo Killers .Acts ranging from Neil Young to Cream to Deep Purple are all screaming out of my speakers in a gumbo of southern rock soup. Even if rocks legacy has been completely lost upon the "Dubstep generation" it's only a matter of time. The screaming guitars off Fun's 1# smash "Some Nights" is clearly conveying a turn towards rock filtering back into the mainstream. A modern reinvigorating punch brings back rock in Dig.Sow.Love.Grow. to the musical frontier.

Moss Bioletti

Lady Hawke's Anxiety :Recorded on The North shore and in England-- And Yes its giving me anxiety ...Not!!!

An album that delivers a groovy, upbeat, feel-good vibe in which the mix of instruments and modern sounds in the songs work well with Pip Brown’s smooth, strong voice.

Her songs tend to start off with a contagious beat and calming vocals, and then build up into catchy choruses you would sing along to when pottering round your house or cruising in the car. Though your body starts with a toe tap, before you know it you are giving a good old Kiwi head bang (though it's more of a side to side than the classic rock up down motion). That being said, Anxiety doesn't feel repetitive. The separate elements in each song make for a full and successful album, and the lyrics portray messages about life, relationships, questions asked, and stories told.

 In the album's titular song, Ladyhawke sings, 'Take me on a ride, show me how to hide the voice in my head', and is a personal favourite. 'Quick and the Dead' has a kind of army march beginning that is repeated in the second verse, and quickly gets stuck in your head. Songs like 'Blue Ryes' and 'We'll Find You' allow the listener to imagine how much of a good performer Ladyhawke would be live – and we'll get to see for ourselves when she comes to Perfect Storm in July. 

As a young singer/songwriter myself, I find Ladyhawke very inspiring – and I look forward to her developing and growing. Even the album cover is interesting, featuring a drawing of Ladyhawke with miniature Ladyhawkes entangled in her hair, alongside bugs, feathers and other bits. Perhaps it reflects ideas and symbolic pictures for the meanings she holds in her head, or entangled in her hair? I think it reflects her simplistic yet multi dimensional album, which I very much recommend is worth getting your hands on. Support New Zealand artists.

Written by Laura Hunter

The Neo-Kalashnikovs: She's On Heat

The Neo-Kalashnikovs: She's On Heat

[Here's a link to the album for instant download http://www.mediafire.com/?o58i803sulne38t  ]  

If you have ever wanted a record that brought back those pre 1990's vibes of 

hard rocking Nirvana She's on Heat is for you. Hailing from Auckland 

The Neo-Kalashnikovs know how to rock. From the drum shattering start of 

"Bohemia" a song reminiscent of Metillica's "Nothing else matters" I like it … lots.

Before I listened to She's on Heat I had the pleasure of talking to guitarist Volita Bioletti about her debut album. She said that her aim was to define a movement towards rock without the manufactured stupid girl stereotype. Judging from the first song off the album "Diamonds" I think she's achieved just that. From the twangy sting of what most certainly is a Gibson guitar my speakers imploded. However, what I really like about the lead single "Diamonds" is it's vintage distorted vocals that sound like lead singer Volita is singing down a well in Siberia.

My second favorite song off the swelteringly hot under the collar album was "Shining Star". It's more relaxed tone has a depth lyrically that punches home a theme of love with some tasty banjo. "In a State of Paranoia" was also a real stand out with a reminiscent Yeah Yeah Yeahs swag. Sick.

Gee Gee (L.A Rocker)

Lana Del Ray: Born To Die (album Review)

Lana Del Ray: Born to Die

I think to objectively review "Born To Die" on it's merits one needs to firstly address the swirling allegations that Lana Del Ray is a fraud and a rich girl who doesn't deserve anything. Just google the studio and you can see that she recorded her break out song "Video Games" in squalor. The studio is arguably run by Sony BMG however the hard times of the record industry are drastically apparent as the studio consists of virtually only a computer and a pair of speakers. Lana Del Ray's dad may be a millionaire but if she has been being spoon feed millions it doesn't make sense that she would sign a record deal for $10,000 and move into a trailer park in upstate N.Y to write her songs. 

In terms of the music on the album its great. I'm not saying their aren't only positives but in terms of a hit album that has immediate appeal this is a great album. My personal favorites are "Video games" which uniquely ties sparse electro-symphony production to an 1950's swag. While "Summer Time Sadness" has a melancholy hipster edge. Standouts are also "National Anthem" that chucks a nod to J.F.K (R.I.P) and "Blue Jeans" for it's contemporary take on modern life/love that conjures striking imagery through it's lyrical beauty.

  Moss Bioletti (The Neo-Kalashnikovs)