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Not Yours is the debut single from Kirikiriroa-based Nicholas Joseph and the first of three singles from a forthcoming EP out through Sonorous Circle.

Written and produced by Nicholas Joseph in an underground recording studio in Shanghai, China, Not Yours features Mark Brenndorfer (also known as Mild America) on live drums and additional mixing and mastering by Thomas Arbor (Kōtiro, Seth Frightening, I.Ryoko).

The song starts with an explosive beat and the line ‘face it, don’t fake it, I’m not yours’, setting a decisive tone. One part break-up song, one part victory march, Not Yours feels triumphant and vibrant. But soulful guitar solos question the resolve of Joseph’s anthemic vocals. For all their force there is a hesitancy lurking just under the surface. In its final seconds the song disassembles, the keyboard chords that have been there all along sounding sadder now stripped of the driving rhythm of the drums. While few will be familiar with the name Nicholas Joseph, the singer and multi-instrumentalist (government name Nicholas Joseph Walsh) was an active participant in Auckland’s indie scene for a decade. Cutting his teeth as the bass player for post punk trio Vacants (who played frequently with the likes of the Mint Chicks and Die!Die!Die!), and later the primary songwriter and front person of Deer Park.

Joseph’s former musical project Deer Park was a collaborative project with cousin Shannon Walsh. The band toured regularly making a name for the band with their sometimes slightly unhinged and emotive performances. The band toured regularly. Its heady combination of hip hop beats, samples and a horn section featuring Peter Ruddell (Wax Chattels/Sulfate) and JY Lee (Avantdale Bowling Club, Yoko Zuna) wowed audiences around the North Island. In 2015 the band were one of just a handful of local acts to play Laneway Festival, handpicked by festival organizers of the strength of their live performances. In spite of the growing hype, Joseph relocated to Shanghai, China, and the collection of songs that had garnered the band attention emerged much later under the album title ‘Saboteurs’. In the interim Jospehhas returned to New Zealand, founded Never Project Space, an artist-run space that championed emerging music and contemporary art (2020-2022).

Having tested the waters with a tour in China and a handful of shows in his hometown Kirikiriroa under the name Umbrellas, Nicholas Joseph is ready to lose the moniker and stand on his own two feet – taking on his first and middle name with a collection of songs that are stripped back, personal and raw – a far cry from the hazy beat driven soundscapes of his former band. Joseph’s new music is arresting and melodic – taking cues from the likes of Big Thief, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Nick Hakim – and favouring electric guitar over keyboard. Front and centre are his distinctive vocals,unembellished and layered.

His debut is scheduled for release via Poneke collective Sonorous Circle (home to the likes of Seth Frightening, Kōtiro and Thomas Arbor) with an accompanying tour to follow shortly after.

Artist Page:

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In May 2019, a climate emergency was declared in the Daintree, the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, as a predicted slow decline from climate change mutated into unprecedented rapid and catastrophic changes. Gondwana is a groundbreaking durational immersive simulation, powered by climate data, that allows audiences to experience and influence the Daintree’s possible futures.

Participants are invited to roam the living, breathing forest and shore for an extended period to witness climate change in action over the course of each generative, 24-hour exhibition. The longer you are immersed, the more you will find, from hidden caves to mangrove forests, and butterfly swarms to crocodile encounters. You may also come across other participants in the environment, represented as luminous fireflies.

Every 14 minutes, the rainforest jumps forward in time by one year. With every time-jump, the rainforest degrades, bringing to life climate data projections. There is a salve, however; the more people take part, the more dynamic and resilient the forest becomes.

https://festival.sundance.org/program/#new-frontier-info/61ae1ed914aef7dfed1c565f

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SC artist Erin K Taylor has released a new work through Wellington’s Pyramid Club! A 45-minute meditative listen comprised of gongs, singing bowls and the serene sounds of local Australian fauna.

“Lie down, feel your back against the ground. Feel how it holds you. Let go into it, heavy, sinking deeply.

Body is space, wide open space. Clear, empty, radiant, infinite.

Self is sound.”

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Performed and Recorded on country of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk nations; towards whom I extend my deepest respect.

Performed and Mixed by Erin K Taylor.

Engineered and Mastered by Matt Faisandier.

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For more of Erin’s Sacred Sound Healings check their website.

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LIGEIA is an interdisciplinary project of Taranaki-born artist, Abigail Daisy Wells. Using sound, performance, text and visual elements the artist aims to 'unravel the self', digging deep to draw out latent voices within – a ritual 'undoing of the tightly sewn veil'.

In this release, THE SECOND BURNING, Ligeia uses sound to explore divine darkness and the hidden multiplicities of human nature. The result is a churning, slow-breathing meditation in dark drone using voice and electronics – with an accompanying video by Berlin-based collaborator, Anna Winslow.

Listen/ download the track here:

And for more from LIGEIA see their page here:

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Womb have a way of writing songs that make you feel confided in, but still you've only just scratched the surface of a story that goes all the way down. The Pōneke trio's latest song 'Dust To Dust' was recorded during lockdown in April, with all three siblings sending tracks back and forth between their separate bubbles, an exercise that helped them stay connected to each other in an inarguably lonely period.” (UTR)

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“Tāmaki’s Alexa Casino and Pōneke trio Womb present a total dreamboat collaboration in new single ‘Stars’. The delightfully glitchy track calls on the soul-stirring falsetto of Womb’s Charlotte Forrester, with killer co-production from Haz Forrester, and Womb drummer and visual artist Georgette Brown provides spacey, curly artwork for the single cover.” – (UTR)

Listen here:

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Please email submissions (44.1kHz +, 24 bit Wave files) to worksforloudspeakers@gmail.com.

If selected you will be asked for a brief bio and/or programme note. Your work will receive basic mastering for playback and inclusion on the compilation.

NB: WFLS is entirely self-funded for the love of sound and as such we cannot offer payment for works at this time.

More info here

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