PuoroMusic

Marlon Williams has sung in te reo Māori his whole life, but never felt confident enough to write a full album in the language - until something shifted with his first waiata, Aua Atu Rā.

The experimental music project of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner are releasing their sixth studio album with the help of a special guest - their 3-year-old.

On Blush , There’s A Tuesday show off some fantastic songwriting, plus local dub merchants Pitch Black release a collection of top-tier remixes, and American indie folk band Beirut soundtrack a literal circus.

Tina Cross reflects on her childhood dream of being a prison warden, the 1979 Pacific Song Contest win that forged her path, and the Women's Refuge charity single she was born to write.

Nikau Grace, 17, says she felt a personal connection to the anthem because her koro was in the same battalion as Sir Bom.

Lamar was leading with 10 nominations, including for artist of the year and song of the year for his Grammy-winning diss track Not Like Us.

Director of the NZ Youth Choir, David Squire, and young bass-baritone singer Tim Evans chat about working on the hit Kiwi film.

The Kiwi artist has not released an original solo track since 2021.

And as the songs fly past, there it is: Can you hear the drums echoing tonight? Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti.

Musician Byllie-jean talks about overcoming whakamā [shame] to release her debut EP Filter and the house truck that keeps her housing anxiety at bay.

New Zealand’s hard rock heroes Shihad made ten albums during a 37-year career, but Killjoy stands above the rest.

Tony Stamp checks out the latest release from Babe Rainbow, the reissue of Unrest’s final album and DJ Koze’s kaleidoscopic new LP.

Water can be both a barrier and something that connects us, says rising star harpist Ashley Jackson.

Someone in the Auckland audience yelled a lifelong truth to Chaka Khan: “You were the reason I put heels on!” She replied in signature sass: “Yeah, that’s me, that’s what I am”.

Maipi-Clarke, the youngest MP in New Zealand’s parliament, has a starring role in Walker’s single and music video for 'Mō Āke Tonu'.

Op shopped treasures, designer threads and quirky vintage - the black carpet at the prestigious independent music awards had it all.

Mokotron, the musical identity of academic Tiopira McDowell, was honoured for his album WAEREA, which aims to represent the sounds of urban marae.

You make your world bigger when you can live outside of being comfortable, says musician Jordyn Morgan (aka Jordyn with a Why).

Neive Strang serves up slow-burning ballads, Void Waves puts out some synthy post-punk, and folk-futurist Bon Iver shakes off the gloom.

MĀ doesn't shy away from rapping about the environmental themes of her day job in pest control and biodiversity.

New Zealand's go-to saxophonist is up for Best Jazz Artist at this year's Aotearoa Music Awards.

We've left the beach from Solar Power and we're going back to the dancefloor.

The series of shows celebrate the release of the band's seventh album, Elemental.

Despite knowing the news for a while, Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono is still pinching himself. "I’m just still in shock trying to make sense of it all. It's all coming to life now, it's all becoming reality.”

The Persian-Kiwi has earned five nominations at this year's Aotearoa Music Awards which she says is "crazy".

Stan Walker and CHAII lead nominations for the awards that celebrate New Zealand's music industry.

As the beloved Kiwi funk band reunites for a national tour, vocalists Che Fu and Karl Steven rewind to the 1990s.

Who drops their first-ever Māori language album, performs a run of sold-out shows overseas and releases an intimate personal documentary - all within a month? Kiwi folk legend Marlon Williams.

Tom Lark finds song gold in his family history, MĀ turns her attention to the world around us and everything is mellow with Serebii.

Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka. This is a beautiful record, and an important one.

Sparkly miniskirts shimmied, knee high boots jumped and popstar Dua Lipa transformed Spark Arena into a spicy, sweaty nightclub where under-18s were allowed.

Punk is dead, people have been saying since 1978 or so. Of course, that’s a lie. It’s still there, just constantly changing.

Dan Golding, Andrew Pogson and Nicholas Buc will bring a live version of their podcast The Art of the Score to Auckland.

Tony Stamp reviews American songwriter Lucy Dacus's fourth album, the third solo LP from Ringlets guitarist László Reynolds and some blunt, pithy techno from Canada’s Marie Davidson.

Heavy black clouds hinting at rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of attendees at this year’s Synthony music festival in Auckland.

The sold-out Synthony in the Domain was a magical farewell to summer as 40,000 festival-goers threw on their glitter and party gear for a nostalgic trip down dance music lane, writes Liz Garton.

Aotearoa’s premier music historian talks to Nick Bollinger about a lifetime of unearthing and keeping alive rare Kiwi tunes.

Here's how to dig into some classical music history without leaving the house.

The rock band will score a prize for their album, Killjoy, which set them on their way to New Zealand legend status.

How did a concert that started with an orchestra playing dance bangers become the biggest one-day festival in New Zealand?

Once a brake pad salesman, Nick Hayes has launched a second career, spinning techno and hard industrial dance tracks from his yard in Yorkshire.

With hair wet from a swim in Point Chev, the LA-based artist chats about her new jazz-inspired songwriting, her upcoming NZ shows and the silver lining of the Los Angeles wildfires.

A young Canadian woman has honoured her father's memory - and his massive record collection - by sharing it with the world.

Black leather jackets filled Spark Arena for the ethereal sounds of the dream-pop band.

There's so much going on at the annual festival of global music that it can feel overwhelming. The only option is to surrender, say Tony Stamp and So'omālō Iteni Schwalger.

Groundbreaking New Zealand DJ Lady Shaka is a proud femme queen turning international dance floors into a celebration of joy and diversity.

RNZ's Tony Stamp reviews the latest LP from Wellington sibling band Womb, alongside Panda Bear’s latest collection of sunny harmonies and Eddie Chacon’s smoky RnB.

Bob Marley, Beyoncé and New Zealand opera great Dame Kiri Te Kanawa are on the King's rotation.

Nearly 40 years after he first got on the decks, Kiwi hip-hop pioneer DJ Manuel Bundy (aka Manuel Matisi) shares the six songs closest to his heart.

Despite 50 years in the business, soul legend Chaka Khan's voice is as strong as ever, she says, and she has no plans to put up her performing shoes yet.

After a busy year performing a "half-hour of power" at international music festivals, Auckland indie band The Beths spent the summer back home mixing their upcoming album.

Staring into the void of Covid and lockdowns, musician Reb Fountain was scared. She started having crazy dreams that would wake her up, with a need to record the thing she was dreaming about.

Country music is here to stay to in Aotearoa, so saddle up and enjoy the ride.

A decade since its inception the Christchurch music festival stands as arguably the "biggest festival in Australasia".

Tony Stamp puts Laneway festival's youngest performer, American garage-rocker Benjamin Booker and Pōneke's Ripship under his musical microscope.

Deva Mahal on attending the Grammys, her upcoming show at Wellington's Fringe Festival and being inspired by WOW.

After exploding onto the world stage with their 2024 album Cartoon Darkness, big dreams are coming true for Melbourne punk band Amyl and The Sniffers.

Police blame alcohol and violence on a widespread crackdown. But organisers say that's "misinformation".

Fresh from winning three Grammys, Charli XCX captivated a 30,000-strong crowd at Auckland's Western Springs Stadium.

The Australian model and architect walked the red carpet at this year's Grammys in an outfit one tiny sheer body stocking away from being completely nude.

Tenor Pene Pati says it was such a far-fetched dream to be able to make this debut. He's proud to represent Samoa and Aotearoa New Zealand.

This month, the "elderly rockers" tour NZ. Their biggest problem is getting through all the hits, guitarist Ian Moss tells Summer Times.

American country singer Luke Combs makes a new fan of So'omalo Iteni Schwalger.

Local albums, international releases, docos and shows - what Tony Stamp is getting amped about in music.

Auckland finally has a post-New Year's party to be proud of. All it took was Australian music producer Fisher showing us how it's done.

You're ready to go the show, and check out your favourite band - but then it's called off. What do you do next?

Poet and songwriter Tucker Zimmerman shot to newfound fame this year - at 83.

Tony Stamp looks back at a year of musical offerings from the UK and North America - from industrial disco to affable country.

Buffalo was the album that lifted the profile of Wellington band The Phoenix Foundation both here and internationally. Nick Bollinger peels back its sonic layers with the group's three main songwriters.

Electronic musician Tiopira McDowell is challenging other creatives to make a distinctive local sound for Tāmaki Makaurau.

For 75 minutes on Monday night, Auckland's Spark Arena was transformed into a euphoric nightclub experience for the closing night of Troye Sivan's Something To Give Each Other Tour.

Hip-hop is a musical form invented by African Americans yet King Kapisi's 2000 debut could only have come from deep in the Pacific.

Want to forget yourself for a while? Listen to Bic Runga's often-overlooked third album, writes Nick Bollinger.

Secure your 3D moon googles and slip on a compostable plant-based LED wristband.

Hitting multiple festivals isn't practical for a lot of Kiwis, and picking the right one can feel intimidating. Here's RNZ's guide to help pick the perfect summer gig.

This was a night for celebration, and if this band needed a crowd coming together, they couldn't have asked for much more than this one.

The founding member of one of Aotearoa's best-loved bands speaks with Tony Stamp about longevity, influences, and their long-awaited sixth studio album.

I wasn't sure what kind of crowd would show up to see the American actor's rock band - would it be DC fans wanting to see Aquaman? Metalheads just there for the music? Or excitable aunties just hoping for a glimpse of a certified dreamboat?