Featured Music Stories
The Mixtape: The hero guitars of NZ music with Glen Moffatt
This special NZ Music Month Mixtape celebrates the hero guitars played by some of our most legendary musicians. Audio, Gallery
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Serj Tankian: Learning to deal with your own mind
18 May 2024Serg Tankian, frontman of System of a Down, talks to Charlotte Ryan about his colourful life as a young immigrant to Los Angeles, and the risks and reward of being part of an avant-garde, political band. Audio
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Han-Na Chang: 'The day I met Ludwig van Beethoven'
16 May 2024Han-Na Chang began her musical career as a solo cellist, but she's in New Zealand for concerts with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra as the conductor. She talks with David Morriss about how the move from bow to baton came about. Video, Audio
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Jordan Rakei: On work ethic and selling out
11 May 2024London-based Jordan Rakei hasn’t lived in New Zealand since he was four years old, but on his new album The Loop NZ music influence is evident. Audio
RNZ Concert
RNZ Concert is New Zealand’s fine music network. Concert promotes New Zealand music and composition and features live broadcasts of concerts and recitals, as well as international content from other public radio broadcasters, podcasts, and on-demand programmes.
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New Horizons: Delaney Davidson's Lucky Number Ten
about 8 hours agoDelaney Davidson's Out Of My Head is his first solo album for a long six years and tenth in total. William Dart checks it out in the context of the singer's earlier partnerships. Audio
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Hymns on Sunday, 19 May 2024
4:15 am todayHymns for the Feast of Pentecost today, including contemporary hymns by NZ hymn writer Bill Wallace (Wild wind of the Holy Spirit) and the UK's Bernadette Farrell (Spirit of God, rest on your people). Audio
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Bruce Paine: ...still we sang
8 May 2024Guitarist Bruce Paine has just released an album of his own compositions, ...still we sang. He came in to the RNZ Auckland studio to talk with David Morriss and play some of his music. Video, Audio
Featured Music Programmes
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Nashville Babylon: 18 May 2024
18 May 2024On this week's show there's ska from Joya Landis, classics courtesy of Joni Mitchell and Look Blue Go Purple plus a birthday tune for Big Joe Turner. Audio
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Nashville Babylon: 11 May 2024
11 May 2024On this week's show there's blues courtesy of Little Walter, ska from Derrick Morgan plus classic soul from Stevie Wonder and Dinah Washington. Audio
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Nashville Babylon: 4 May 2024
4 May 2024On this week's show Mark has blues from Muddy Waters and Mike Henderson, classic country courtesy of the Louvin Brothers, gospel from Sister Rosetta Tharpe plus… Audio
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Nashville Babylon: 27 April 2024
27 Apr 2024On this week's Nashville Babylon there's classic blues from Ma Rainey and Freddie King, soul courtesy of Otis Redding and Nina Simone, reggae from Marcia… Audio
Recent Music Stories
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Whakapapa
18 May 2024Jazz musicians often explore their own identity through their music. Nick looks at the connection between jazz and whakapapa through the music of Harry Harrison, Jasmine Lovell-Smith, Umar Zakaria… Audio
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Yesterdays
18 May 2024Nick checks out Lester Young's signature tune, Benny Green playing Sonny Clark and Sonny Clark playing Miles Davis, some classic Coltrane, and two songs about yesterday. Audio
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Dame Hinewehi Mohi welcomed into the NZ Music Hall of Fame
18 May 2024Dame Hinewehi Mohi has been welcomed into the NZ Music Hall of Fame. She talks to Charlotte Ryan about her remarkable life, and her brave moments that put music in te reo Māori on the world's stage. Audio
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Lyrics to NZ’s most misquoted song up for auction
18 May 2024The words to Supergroove's iconic song Can't Get Enough will soon be revealed as the lyrics go up for auction on Trade Me. Dr Karl Steven, former Supergroove frontman, has written down the "accurate"… Audio
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Delaney Davidson: LIVE at the Great Hall, Christchurch
18 May 2024Enigmatic singer/songwriter Delaney Davidson performs live with Chamber Music New Zealand from his new album Out of my Head at the Great Hall, Christchurch. This performance was recorded by Darryl… Audio
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Review: Rubricator by Sam Bambery
18 May 2024The Christchurch musician's second album wanders beyond the boundaries of alt-country and folk into more adventurous territory. Video, Audio
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Yadana Saw on her favourite Wellington venues
18 May 2024Tony Stamp visits Wellington for a guided tour of his former RNZ colleague's favourite music venues, in the third of this four part series. Audio
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Dame Jane Campion: 'Even if they took a few months off my life, I would still do them'
18 May 2024Dame Jane Campion talks to Susie Ferguson about the intense job of directing movies, her love of napping in the bush and losing a baby as she won international acclaim for The Piano. Audio
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Dame Hinewehi Mohi welcomed into the NZ Music Hall of Fame
18 May 2024Dame Hinewehi Mohi talks to Charlotte Ryan about her remarkable life, and her brave moments that brought te reo Maori to the world's stage through music. 2024 marks a year of significant anniversaries… Audio, Gallery
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Playing Favourites with Dame Jane Campion
Dame Jane Campion talks to Susie Ferguson about the intense job of directing movies, her love of napping in the bush and losing a baby as she won international acclaim for her 1993 film The Piano. Audio
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Singer Hollie Smith unveils her debut art exhibition
Many people will be familiar with the name Hollie Smith, she is one of the country's most successful music artists with three #1 debuting solo albums, and a slew of awards under her belt. But in… Audio
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Dame Hinewehi Mohi inducted into New Zealand Music Hall of Fame
18 May 2024The singer, producer and te reo Māori advocate says she's honoured to be recognised for her music - her "real heart project".
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Aotearoa Music Awards 2024: Where to watch and who will perform?
17 May 2024One of the biggest nights in New Zealand music is fast approaching - the 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards will be held on 30 May at Auckland's Viaduct Events Centre.
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Out Lately with Finn Johansson
Tonight, Finn has a selection of tracks from Los Angeles band 2070, UK psychedelic pop band duo Broadcast, and Tāmaki Makaurau anonymous avant-garde creative genius Donk Dobbo. Audio
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Music 101: Charlotte Ryan
17 May 2024Charlotte Ryan, host of Music 101 here on RNZ each Saturday afternoon from 1pm talks about what's happening on the music scene over the weekend, what's coming up on her show tomorrow and because… Audio
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NZ Live: Louisa Nicklin
You may have spotted her playing guitar, or bass, or saxophone for some of your favourite Kiwi bands, but a few of years ago Louisa Nicklin took the plunge and stepped out on her own. She's in for NZ… Audio
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Record numbers set to compete at Smokefree Rockquest
17 May 2024The number of bands entered in this year's Rockquest is 'ridiculous - in the most positive way', says the competition's general manager/ Audio
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Taite Music Prize winner Vera Ellen's new EP is 'prickly, unpolished and heart-rending'
17 May 2024The Taite Prize award-winner's new EP is a collection of home recordings, raw with emotion and low in fidelity, her phenomenal songwriting chops fully intact. Video, Audio
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Music Critic: Matthew Crawley
16 May 2024Today Matthew talks to Jesse about tracks from Tinariwen and Camera Obscura. Audio
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The TAHI 16/5/24
On today's show Evie is back from the Lord of the Rings set, Tongan Reggae artist Swiss catches up with So’omālō to chat about his heartfelt Mother's Day tribute, and we predict the next viral food… Audio
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Tom Scott on his most political album yet: TREES
16 May 2024In an interview from 2012 Tom Scott speaks to Charlotte Ryan about the influence of nature, spiritual jazz, and new ways of living on the award winning Avantdale Bowling Club album. Audio
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Warming up Auckland for the World Choir Games
Come the 10th of July, Tamaki Makaurau Auckand will sound a little sweeter. 11,000 singers from more than 250 choirs will hit the city for the 2024 World Choir Games. = Audio
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The TAHI 14/5/24
On today's show So’omālō tells us how he spent the weekend living out his greatest fear, Waimirirangi was convinced the Aurora lights made whale sounds, and Tāmaki Makaurau musician MOLS joins us to… Audio
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The Taite Music Prize
12 May 2024For his second NZ Music Month programme, William Dart looks back at the history of the Taite Music Prize as well as the hopefuls and winner of this year's big prize. Audio
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