Features

Nick Bollinger discusses a funky and forthright new album from Janelle Monae; the first new songs in more than a decade from Americana icon John Prine, and a live set from the darker corners of the Neil Young archives.

This Oscar-nominated documentary about the feisty yet affectionate partnership of two French artists is a delight, writes Dan Slevin.

Bella Hristova and Michael Houstoun performed the ten Beethoven Violin Sonatas at three concerts in two days in Auckland last September. Here they play three of them, including the lively 'Spring Sonata'.

Sheep farmer Noel Moleta is turning his hand to hops on a 122-hectare property in the Marlborough Sounds. Audio

Outrage and tears followed news of the sudden closure of Dunedin's Fortune Theatre last week. Lynn Freeman checks in with a couple of people from the local theatre community. Video, Audio

The countdown is on for the Wellington Jazz Festival. RNZ Concert’s resident jazz-man Nick Tipping gives us his five faves from artists that you shouldn’t miss. Video, Audio

The Southern Lakes region is starved of good journalism. A new local media venture plans to put that right. Audio

Susan Murray checks in with an apple harvesting gang and an apple orchardist who says proposed wage increases will cost him an extra $75,000 dollars a year. Audio

... and it’s really, really good, according to The Wireless' Kate Robertson.

Jamie McDell goes back to her country roots on her new album Extraordinary Girl, and brings the band into the studio to play live.  Video, Audio

DJ Dylan C talks us through Low Key Source Vol 1, a mix he has dropped showcasing some of the label's great Australasian beat makers and MC's. He talks it through with Alex Behan.  Audio

After nearly three decades of lending her voice to the likes of SJD, Neil Finn, and Placebo, Sandy Mill has finally released her own EP. Audio

Artificial intelligence technology will not lead to mass unemployment in this country, according to a new report. Peter Griffin and Emily Wang delve in on Bits + Bytes. Audio

Introduced plant species are already taking over the NZ landscape, and ornamental plants could 'jump the garden fence' and get out of control, too, a plant biosecurity specialist says. Audio, Gallery

The NZSO's all-Rachmaninov concert has a performance 'filled with poetic and quixotic touches' from pianist Joyce Yang.

Kiwi musician Jamie McDell goes back to her country roots on her new album Extraordinary Girl. Watch her perform 'Slow Dream Boat' in our Auckland studio. Video, Audio

Filmmaker Gaylene Barnes and her brother Andrew grow heritage potatoes, yams, carrots and parsnips on the south side of the Rakaia River. They're also trialling a crop of oil-producing peppermint.  Audio, Gallery

“[Russia doesn't] have good sides, we don’t have good guys. Only evil guys who are fighting against each other” – Auckland education consultant Dennis Vlasin. Audio

For New Zealand Music Month, Wellington Museum is celebrating the capital’s first generation rockers and rollers with a new exhibition  Burning Up Years - a showcase of New Zealand music made in 1960-78. Audio

Paul Smith of consumer.org.nz has been reviewing smoke alarms. He tells us which ones are the safest and best. Audio

Commonwealth leaders have just returned from a London retreat with a new sense of purpose for the 53 nations. But how realistic are their ambitions? Insight investigates. Video, Audio

Inspired by jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, John Beasley has brought together the MONK'estra to play Monk's original music with an experimental big band sound. Video, Audio

Once there was a very pleasant witch. She looked exactly as a witch should look, except for one small, furry detail... No cat! Francesca Emms reads a delightful story of perseverance and unlikely friendship. Audio

Star TV presenter and singer of hit songs 'The Rainbow Connection' and 'It's Not Easy Being Green', Kermit The Frog comes clean about his vocal technique and what he'd really like to do with his New Zealand audience. Video, Audio