The Very Good Agency

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

Def Poetry – Australia represent

For a while now I’ve been asking the Very Good audience to help me out with a question… Where the poets at?

There is a growing hip hop community in Australia and New Zealand, and yet I don’t see a whole lot of poets on the scene. Well it turns out i’m just a busy kid who hasn’t opened his eyes to the right direction, and unfortunately the audience have been as unproductive as I have on this one.

So Thursday night I take one of the most art filled journeys I have ever experienced in one evening, kicking it off with a poetry break at Melbourne’s state library on Swanston St. Ok, so this evening was really amazing for me given that I was taken along to basically exactly what I want see the community getting behind. If I were to go through my head space on the evening, or describe exactly what I thought of each poet and performer on this evening, this article would be as long as my driveway, so lets have some of them speak for themselves, firstly with the man of the evening for me, Si

Si – Victoria’s Slam Poetry champion

So this next group just took me by surprise, because I haven’t ever actually seen and aboriginal rap crew, and so the first I have being one that had a positive message, and what seemed to be 3 extremely gentle, focused, strong Australian men, with a clear message of positivity, putting in work all around Australia… and I was just like… what the F&*^ – have I had my eyes closed or what?

Tjimba & The Yung Warriors feat Outlawz – For The People

So as if this wasn’t enough for one evening, there was another, and another, and another who took my eye on the evening, however the ‘Melbourne State Library’ website has been down for a few days now, so i’ll have to catch you up on an artist whom I think was called Miriahanga when it kicks back into action.

If your into Slam Poets, you can also check out Omar Musa who took out the Australian champs last year.

Or head along to one of these poetry nights in Melbourne at:

www.slv.vic.gov.au

…bs

Tags: Australian Artists, gigs, hip hop, New Zealand Artists, Poetry

Che Fu receives Queens Birthday Honour

Congratulations goes out to Che Fu, or as he goes by his real name from time to time, Che Ness, who has had a laugh receiving a queens birthday honour addressed to Mr Fu. After replying with a simple request to please make it out to his real name, Che Kuo Eruera Ness, he now receives the prestigious award in honour of his services to music in New Zealand. So Che is able to add yet another accolade to  the pile following his APRA silver scroll for songwriting, and his multiple New Zealand music awards for his solo work in which he is often backed by his wicked live band The Krates.

Dam Native feat. Che Fu – The Son

Throughout his amazing career he has been given some incredible praise from some of the industries finest talents including (among many others) Crowded House, and Chali 2na who praised him for having the natural progression of hip hop right, being as a master of his home territory first. I’m not sure how many hip hop stars around the commonwealth have been shouted out to by the queen though, so good on you Mr Fu, I mean Mr Ness, or is it Mr Groove?

Whatever it is…

shot bo

More Che Fu is at:

www.verygood.com.au/artists/che-fu

www.myspace.com/chefunz

…bs

Tags: hip hop, New Zealand Artists, Old School, Soul