The Very Good Agency

Oakley Grenell – Between the sheets

[audio:og-featuring-mark-vanilau_between-the-sheets.mp3]

Kia Ora people!

If you didn’t already know, Kia ora is the Maori (New Zealand native) greeting, like saying hello.

And if you didn’t already know, 2 cats from New Zealand; OG and Mark Vanilau have been raising the bar with a few projects they have teamed up for that are putting some soul back on the radio.  Kia ora Oakley and Mark.

I’m not suggesting that soul and blues music are not represented in Australasia, but it’s been some time since a pairing like this has come along. The first time I came accross this pairing of artists was when we interviewed Oakley not too long ago

The live video for ‘Moving On’ has a rawness and yet subtlety that just isn’t apparent in many artists work at this time. I guess only in a place like New Zealand could such a peaceful sound be created by a bunch of young fellas. mean

So a few months on, and Oakley Grenell is set to release his new album in October of 2009 “Departure Lounge in Session” with the first single again having the two paired. Perhaps the press release explains it best: “Once again Grenell joins forces with Mark Vanilau continuing on from the nu jazz soul liaison that started with last years ‘Moving On’. The achingly seductive  ‘Between The Sheets’ gives a nod to the lust and passion reminiscent of D’Angelo’s ‘Voodoo’ album and aims to evoke similar stirrings”.

Funnily enough, I had already made the D’angelo comment before reading this, as i’m sure many others have. Not a lot of people can be compared to D’angelo sitting so far ahead of the game in his area. Mark however has a certain softness and delicacy that sets him apart from others including D’angelo, that can only begin to be described in my mind as the sound innocence and selflessness would have if they were audible.

‘Between the Sheets’ (streaming at the top of the article) is a real fusion of styles and genres which hints at Oakleys incredibly diverse career so far. A patchwork quilt of blues, funk, soul, rock, hip hop, jazz, & ragga, with incredibly simplistic and pre-mediated musicianship, tied together by Marks innocence and realness.

“Once again Grenell has collected some of Christchurch’s most talented and accomplished musicians to make up the
Departure Lounge band – the stalwarts – Johnny Lawrence (Bass), Cameron Pearce (Trumpet), Chris Burke (Sax), Nick Gaffaney (Drums), Sum Suraweera and Kurt Dyer (Percussion), guest vocalists Mara TK (Electric Wire Hustle, Fly My Pretties), MC KP (Sunshine Soundsystem) and the exceptional soulful talent Mark Vanilau alongside new additions Darren Pickering on keys and guest vocalist Roz Langdon.”

Kia ora boys and girls… Kia ora.

You can check out more from Oakley and his band at:

www.myspace.com/centralrecords

www.centralrecords.co.nz

…bs

Tags: Blues, Funk, hip hop, Jazz, New Zealand Artists, Soul

Emerge Festival

With a whole lot of Apathy, the winter chill has indeed set in …

“The reason we’re trembling, embracing our heaters, the season where Timberlands replace our sneakers. The trees look so wicked with no leaves in it. The breeze is so frigid that it freezes liquid and I start up the whip can’t just jump in it, gotta let the shit run for like fifteen minutes…” Fortunately for us kids in Melbourne City the cold blitz sets the backdrop for a whole lot of festivities including the Emerge Festival which began in celebration of Refugee Week.

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Diafrix – Hold On

Not only the obvious highlight of the closing Visible Concert on the 26th of July but also the monthly Sessions Live at the Black Box (Hamer Hall), which are due to run right through to November.  Featuring talent from all over the world, these jam sessions are jam packed with a fresh mix of local MCs, vocalists, bands and beat makers as they fuse styles and create new sounds. Secondly, this Sunday the 12th July is not to be missed with the Fresh Project 2009. As a part of the Mix it Up Jam Session, the Arts Centre Black Box presents an afternoon of jammin’, free stylin’ and fresh sounds from MC Elf Tranzporter, and his multi-talented LO2’s Fleet featuring DJ TakaCo, Bboy Lamaroc,Twoone, the beautiful Vida-Sunshyne, & Altona’s Little G. Last but not least, the people of Maribyrnong celebrate 150 years with the annual ‘Footscray Festival’ on July the 18th . With international cuisine, arts, crafts and entertainment, Nicholson Street will surely heat up, especially after the smooth grooves of Melbourne artists, Diafrix. It’s not all doom ‘n’ gloom this winter Melbournites, and its nice to see that hip hop is bringing light to those cold fronts. It’s all free so no excuses here. Enjoy.

To find out more about the festivities, head to:
www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
www.multiculturalarts.com.au/events2009/emerge.shtml
www.multiculturalarts.com.au/events2009/fresh.shtml

miss P x

Tags: Australian Artists, Funk, hip hop

Pacific Heights – In a Quiet Storm

Alright, alright… for those that didn’t know: Pacific Heights is a solo project of Devin Abrams, one of the jazzy dudes from drum n bass pioneers shapeshifter. They are a kiwi group based in Australia, who seem to get all around the place. They formed in the late 1990’s, after meeting at Jazz school in Christchurch. 

For his solo stuff, I guess you’d be expecting more of the same drum n bass type scenario, melodic and jazzy but primed for the dancefloor. Well you’d be slightly wrong on that prediction, as there is hardly a break beat in earshot as Abrams mixes up “laid-back hip-hop, gently pulsing, and at times convulsing electronica, and lashings of smooth Kiwi soul.”

Peace – Feat. Joe Dukie

On the album Devin is helped out by his musical friends/well-known singers Ladi6 and Fat Freddy’s frontman Joe Dukie, and up-and-comers from his hometown of Christchurch, including the seductive mutterings of Mara TK on TK Funk. 

So check out the video above and look out for more smooth grooves from the man with the plan!

Tags: Collaborations, Funk, hip hop, New Zealand Artists

Hip Hop – Australia VS New Zealand Round 2

With New Zealand taking out the first round of this competition it’s time to see how this silly little game plays out for round two. Two more groups lifting the standard of the scene for their respective communities, and Australasia, and creating a new breed of funky hip hop crossovers…

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In the Red Corner with their crazy Brazilian style percussion, Adidas track-suit wearing horns section, fine vocalists, and a 13ish piece line-up… it’s amazing they even manage to get everyone along to tour, but they do, and it’s a fun, high energy night every time with the style and experience of this group from New Zealand

Batucada Sound Machine – Rivers of Rhyme

In the Blue corner, weighing in with bounce loads of uplifting energy, a beautifully matched collaboration of styles and voices, and one of the cooler video clips I’ve seen lately… it’s Australia

Astonomy Class feat. Vida Sunshyne and Kween G – Where you at?

If you remember in the last round I said:

“In reality there will be no champion between the countries, and the true question should be – why don’t these two countries have more collaborations between these awesome artists, to solidify the community of like minded artists with something more to offer?”

Quite a few people actually told me last time that they couldn’t vote because Olmecha Supreme and True Live were both so good that they couldn’t decide. Well good, but sometimes you have to choose… come on people life gets way harder than this, so who’s it going to be?

Australia or New Zealand?

To vote – click into this article and leave your vote in the comments section.

You can check out more of these artists at:

Batucada Sound Machine

Astronomy Class

Vida Sunshyne

Kween G

…bs

Tags: Australian Artists, Funk, hip hop, New Zealand Artists

Mihirangi

Maya Angelou – Phenomenal Women
“…it’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s….

“mihi – to greet, pay tribute, acknowledge, thank
rangi – day, sky, heavens, heavenly realm, heaven, weather, tenor, drift, tune, air, melody”

What would you expect at a poetry evening at the State Museum of Victoria? Wine?  Sure. Couches?  Possibly but only one at the front. A loop pedal?  Oh hell no, wait!  Is this the right room? How about the introduction to “the maori princess of funk” who’s rocking a diamond shape tãmoko in the centre of her forehead? I shit you not, this is what they call a ‘poetry evening’ these days and I lapped it ALL up.

Through hypnotic live looping, Mihirangi opened this particular poetry night with diversity and roots based flavor, with an original song, “No War”. Infusing Te Reo Maori and English languages effortlessly throughout her performance, Mihirangi’s infectious joy oozes from her very being, and captured our hearts at the answer to “how did you come about all of this?” “Oh, because I couldn’t get the band motivated to tour so I left them behind.”

Mihirangi’s mix of beat boxing, vocal harmonies, percussion, acoustic guitar and flute combined with potent lyrics addressing indigenous and environmental issues have ensured her place as one of the most exciting, original and conscious solo performers of Australasia. Her one woman show has been mesmerizing audiences all over the world, and she has quickly become a favourite at world festivals performing with the likes of K’Naan, Public Enemy, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Lee Scratch Perry, Blue King Brown, The Resin Dogs, Salmonella Dub and Ladi6.  This girl has got so much raw talent and enthusiasm it is an honour to watch her perform.

Mihirangi – Live at Womad

Performances at “Power to The Peaceful” Festival in support of social justice, non-violence, and environmental sustainability in San Francisco, to an audience of 60,000 people and to an audience of globally active artists including The Dixie Chicks, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Pierce Brosnan and Martin Sheen at their 30th Anniversary Benefit concert in LA.
Mihirangi’s credibility comes down to the fact she is so fucking honest.  With her music, her audience and herself and she sends a clear message to all that hear her…

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata,     he tangata, he tangata”
(-Sir Apirana Ngata)

“What is the greatest thing in the world? It is people. It is people, it is people”

I have been a bit biased to show so much love to our sisters of soul; however I’ve found solace within her Kulcha Nation lyrics.
Maybe you will too.

“You ignore your own responsibility
towards the world and your community.
Because you think that your life
has no guarantee
So this is a message from me to you and you to me…
No more repeats of boring warring histories.
Man that’s old school, education’s to blame.
We’ve gotta teach our kids about truth, compassion and change.
Don’t forget to mention our leaders redemption,
jubilation of cultural nations
with ritual and spiritual celebration”

You can check out more of Mihirangi at:

www.myspace.com/kulchanation

www.mihirangi.com
Right on!

miss P.

Tags: Funk, hip hop, New Zealand Artists, Poetry, Soul