Rnz: Music 101

Almost ten years after her death from an asthma attack, the late Mahinārangi Tocker was celebrated with a tribute show Love Me As I Am, part of the Auckland Arts Festival. Tony Stamp speaks to songwriter, colleague and good friend to Mahinārangi - Shona Laing. 

In this week's Pocket Edition we have interviews with jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, who just performed at Womad and Auckland Arts Festival, and Kim Deal, the veteran bass player, singer, guitarist and front-person for The Pixies and The Breeders.

Perfume Genius - performing name of American musician Mike Hadreas - is in New Zealand for festival shows in Wellington and Auckland. Nick Bollinger talked to him and caught one of his Wellington concerts.

Literate lyrics and memorable melodies define the second album by 22-year-old North American Lucy Dacus. Nick Bollinger discusses.

Nick Bollinger absorbs the guitar-soaked fantasias of Texan exoticists Khrungabin.

In this week's Pocket Edition, Kirsten Johnstone hosts Broods' Georgia Nott for a live session of her new material; Tony Stamp catches up with Pitch Black who are on their 21st anniversary tour and Trevor Reekie speaks to the inimitable Laurie Anderson.

The RNZ Music team talk about some of the best tunes of the summer (in their opinions).

World Champion DJ Spell who once dominated the turnabilism is now running his own global search for the world's best DJ. He and DJ Alphabethead give Yadana Saw a crash course in the art of scratching.

Michael Hodgson and Paddy Free of Pitch Black talk us through their collaboration with Phil Dadson's From Scratch project.

Laurie Anderson, pioneer of electronic music, inventor, visual artist, and wife of the late Lou Reed has just released an album with The Kronos Quartet, inspired by the objects she lost in Hurricane Sandy. 

Kiwi musician Maddie North AKA So Below talks about her new EP II.

Broods frontwoman Georgia Nott released her new album on International Women’s Day. For The Venus Project, she has collaborated with an all women crew, from players to publicists.

The genre-agnostic Grammy-winning musical chameleon that is Beck sits down for a frank exploration of his humble beginnings and his musical legacy.

Hugh Sundae started his career as a volunteer at Auckland's 95bFM when he was fourteen. Twenty five years later he's just finished a three year stint as General Manager. In this week's Mixtape Hugh talks about his multifaceted career, and six of his favourite songs.

Hybrid Rose introduces her song System Corrupt.

Off the back of 1.4 million spotify streams Robinson has just signed to a major label and is getting ready for her debut album. The twenty year old from Nelson stops by RNZ studios to perform live.

Christian from Phoenix says hello to New Zealand for the first time as the French band prepare to play Auckland City Limits.

Thundercat AKA Stephen Bruner speaks with Yadana Saw about Erykah Badu, why he loves comedy and how he might work for us.

Jack Antonoff is perhaps best known as the co-writer and producer of Lorde's album Melodrama. He's also worked with Taylor Swift, St Vincent and recently played New Zealand with his solo project Bleachers. He spoke to RNZ's Alex Behan about crafting perfect pop songs.

Director Sophie Fiennes spent five years making Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami - a film that gets close to the Jamaican icon, both on stage and off.