Rnz: Music 101

Playing with the Auckland Philharmonia is a big deal, and the traditionally laid-back R&B five-piece Leisure, aren't treating it lightly.

Gin Wigmore has a beautiful six-month-old boy, a brand new album – Ivory, and she's just started a 'girl gang'.

Founder of English dub label On-U Sound and champion of global bass culture Adrian Sherwood shares his theories on the universal appeal of reggae music.

Nick Bollinger delves into the life-and-death matters of Zola Jesus's Okovi.

Nick Bollinger discusses the bloody, gutsy songs of 20-year-old Sophie Allison, otherwise known as Soccer Mommy.

Wellington band Eb and Sparrow peer into some dark corners but also find places of comfort and hope on their third album. Nick Bollinger has a listen.

Local pop sensation Nakita is reinventing herself at the ripe old age of nineteen.

Australian EDM artist What So Not talks about Piha being the genesis of his album and how playing Toto's 'Africa' in his sets made the song chart after thirty years.

Today's hip-hop 'battles' have interesting similarities with the art of traditional Samoan oratory (lauga), says music producer Anonymouz. He brings the two art forms into conversation in the upcoming show 4 Tha Lumana'i.

British pop star Dua Lipa was named the UK's most streamed woman of 2017 by Spotify, and when Bruno Mars brought his mammoth 24K Magic tour to New Zealand last month, he handpicked her as his supporting act.

Lucy Dacus' astonishingly confident second album Historian has cemented the 22 year old from Virginia as one of the standout artists of 2018.

Public Enemy's Chuck D and Rage Against The Machine's Brad Wilk talk power, politics and packing a punch with their new band Prophets of Rage.

Jack White has always gone against the grain, drawing on the minimalism of early blues and analogue recording for The White Stripes when everyone else was going digital. His third solo record Boarding House Reach is packed to the rafters with new sounds and colourful characters. He speaks to Kirsten Johnstone.

Trevor Reekie talks to Israeli musician Victoria Hanna backstage at Womad.

Tina Cross started her career as a teenager on song and dance Television shows in the 70s. At 59, she's a songwriter, an ambassador for Women's refuge, and she runs workshops in prisons.

Cinematic jazz gang Carnivorous Plant Society perform live at RNZ.

Tony Stamp speaks to Hex's Kiki Van Newtown at South By Southwest.

Rahim Alhaj's new album 'Letters from Iraq: Oud and String Quintet" draws from the stories and experiences recounted to him by Iraqui people following the U.S. invasion. He talked to Trevor Reekie backstage at Womad.

Kim Deal is one of the most iconic and influential voices of the 90s as bassist and sometime singer of The Pixies, and as leader of her own band The Breeders.  She speaks to Kirsten Johnstone about The Breeders' new album All Nerve, sobriety, and having songs written about her. 

The American tenor saxophonist heralded as the saviour of jazz tells us he leaves "the music wide open".