Rnz: Music 101

The Song Crush team this week listen to new releases ranging from homegrown, colloquial hip-hop to grown-up love songs, Japanese indie pop to British Brexit music. 

In this week's Pocket Edition we catch up with Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, Pop songwriter Jenna Andrews, and local dub merchant Christoph El' Truento.

Booka Shade are one of the most acclaimed electronic acts in the world. In Auckland recently to play a show, the German duo sat down with RNZ's Tony Stamp.

Christoph El' Truento is perhaps best known as the beat-making brains behind hip hop outfit @Peace, as well as lending his skills to the likes of Homebrew and Avantdale Bowling Club - to name a few.

Jim Pinckney remembers the music and career of The Beat frontman and 80s two-tone and ska pioneer Ranking Roger (born Roger Charlery) who passed away this week age 56.

Jenna Andrews works in the Los Angeles pop industry, co-writing with heavyweights like Drake, Jennifer Lopez and Max Martin. In Auckland recently for SongHubs - an event that saw her working with local musicians- she spoke with Tony Stamp.

At only 17 years old, gloomy pop merchant Billie Eilish has just released her long-awaited debut album When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?  Last year, Billie played the Laneway Festival and Yadana Saw got to delve beneath her staunch and surly exterior in a conversation about horseriding, clothing as armour, fanhood and skin maladies.

Jeremy Taylor of Slow Boat Records joins Yadana Saw on Music 101 to discuss the life and career of avant-garde pop musician Scott Walker who passed away last week at the age of 76.

Adam Hattaway from Adam Hattaway and The Haunters introduces their song 'Turn Around'.

Ahead of his New Zealand concert, Irish singer-songwriter Hozier talks to Yadana Saw about writing the follow-up to his smash hit of 2013, 'Take Me To Church'.

Pop prodigy Billie Eilish's long awaited debut LP is out, and who better to give it a first listen than a group of 11-13 year old young women? Plus we have new music from Flume, Lafawndah, SOAK and Mdou Moctar.

In this week's Pocket Edition we talk to Persian-Kiwi rapper Chaii, and UK DJ Vadim.

This week's RNZ Mixtape selectors Broods share their favourite songs. Brother and sister Caleb and Georgia Nott talk about their musical family and unreal Los Angeles life with Yadana Saw.

Cha Wa is a Grammy-nominated Mardi Gras Indian funk band based out of New Orleans, Louisiana. Front man, J'Wan Boudreaux, carries his cultural origins by dressing in traditional Mardi Gras Indian suits including an intricately designed 20-inch headdress. 

Kiwi expat and music industry professional Milly Olykan on her role in bringing country music to the world, and why women in country are often writing more interesting songs than their male counterparts.

CHAII came to New Zealand as an 8-year-old Iranian immigrant who learned to speak English by rapping to Eminem. Her debut single 'Digebasse (Enough)', with lyrics in both English and Farsi, has taken on a new meaning since the Christchurch attack.

In an impromptu kōrero with RNZ's Tony Stamp, Tiki Taane shared his thoughts on last week's terrorist attack in his hometown of Christchurch.

Songs with a contemplative feel dominate the Song Crush selections this week, with songs from The Cinematic Orchestra, Neneh Cherry, Scott Mulvahill and Koffee.

It's a jumbo edition of Song Crush this week as seven of RNZ Music's regular song-crushers choose their best track of the summer.

NZ Music was lucky enough to record an intimate live session with Estonian experimental electronic duo Maarja Nuut & Ruum. They performed their darkly evocative track ‘The Lost Geese’.