The Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire
Fifteen revealing questions submitted to well-known musicians or newcomers which they can answer as serious or as silly as they please.Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly updates.
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE SONGWRITER QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Ted Brown
25 Mar 2024 | 4 min read
As we mentioned when we reviewed his new album Solstice Canyon Loop, Ted Brown has been away from New Zealand for over 20 years, living and working in Los Angeles. That means he's probably slipped off the radar although as longtime guitarist for expat Greg Johnson – also living in Los Angeles – some will certainly remember him. However now is the time to get reacquainted... > Read more
Dark Side of Memory Lane
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE BLUES QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Courtnay Low of The Mons Whaler and The Unholy Reverie
11 Mar 2024 | 4 min read
No doubt many already know of singer/guitarist and keyboard player Courtnay Low but she only came on Elsewhere's radar last week with the Taranaki-based band The Mons Whaler. Their debut album Hold My Gun is like a box of firecrackers and Low's playing was just one excellent element in a band which managed to be tough, soulful, blues and appealing all at the same time. Outside of... > Read more
It Ain't On Me, by The Mons Whaler (ft Courtnay Low)
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Blair Jollands
10 Mar 2024 | 2 min read
Because we've written about Blair Jollands – and interviewed him – in the past, we'd like to think Elsewhere readers would be aware of him. But the fact he hasn't lived here for about 20 years – London his longtime home – we figure you might need a reminder in advance of his forthcoming tour. He also muddies his own waters by having played under different names:... > Read more
My Home Town
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE SONGWRITER QUESTIONNAIRE: Kevin Welch
26 Feb 2024 | 3 min read
Kevin Welch is the legendary Americana singer-songwriter whose work has spanned decades and been covered by Waylon Jennings, Linda Ronstadt, Garth Brooks, Patty Loveless, Solomon Burke and more recently Chris Stapleton, all legends in their own right who hardly needed to go beyond their own catalogue for material. But Welch's songs, right from his first albums in the early Nineties, have... > Read more
Troublesome Times
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Ella McCool-Reay of Wax Eye
9 Feb 2024 | <1 min read
The alt.folk Wax Eye are singer Ella McCool-Reay and her father Steve Reay (of Vor-Stellen) who deliver a very seductive self-titled debut: five songs acoustic-framed songs with bassist Jared Johanson (Subliminals, Vor-Stellen) and writer/trumpeter Marco Scott. Erring towards a melodic take on drone-folk's mesmerising repetition with gentle harmonies and subtle electronics, Wax Eye hit... > Read more
One of Us
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Macey
16 Oct 2023 | 2 min read
Auckland singer and songwriter Macey (Harry Parsons) has delivered a debut album The Lovers which went into out Favourite Five Recent Releases the week after we reviewed it. And we upgraded it also as a Recommended Record because the vinyl is quite special in a cover which appears to be a distressed painting from the Pre-Raphaelite period, all doomed romance and yearning. In many ways that... > Read more
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE SONGWRITER QUESTIONNAIRE: Rodney Fisher
2 Oct 2023 | 3 min read
Perhaps best known for his work as a frontman and songwriter for Goodshirt – he penned their hit Fiji Baby among others – Rodney Fisher has been off the radar for most since the band called it quits in 2005 and Fisher headed off to London. There have been occasional Goodshirt reunions but Fisher busied himself in promotion, booking gigs and helping emerging artists. A... > Read more
Locked Up
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE HIGHLY PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Alayna
17 Jul 2023 | 5 min read
One of the great pleasures of music, that which makes it a life-long and rewarding passion, is there's always something new to discover: a new genre emerges, new music appears from a part of the world you hadn't heard from previously, new technology allows for innovation and creativity . . . and, of course, new artists. “Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts,” said... > Read more
Icicles on my Eyelashes
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE HIGHLY PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Jazmine Mary
14 Jul 2023 | 4 min read
When Jazmine Mary and band played a mesmerising show at the Hollywood Avondale in Auckland recently Jazmine – who identifies as they/them – initially came on dressed like an Amish woman off to the celebration after a barn-raising, then later changed into what looked like a 1950s bathing suit. That dichotomy of presentation illustrated the breadth and scope of her work, from... > Read more
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Nigel Mitchell of Orangefarm
26 Jun 2023 | 4 min read
As we noted in our review of the Orangefarm debut album Inheritance, the band has been around Wellington for about 20 years with a revolving door of a small number of loyal members. At the core however is singer, songwriter and guitarist Nigel Mitchell. His songs are sharp, sometimes sentimental (but not soppy) and melodic. We noted the influence of the Eighties indie rock out of... > Read more
Listen
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Tom Lark
19 Jun 2023 | 2 min read
Previous releases by Tom Lark a few years ago went past us, but he's a hard man to pin down. He also goes by other names: Shannon Matthew Vanya and Shannon Fowler. We leave it over to you to chase them down, but refer you to his excellent Tom Lark debut album Brave Star which is a classy collection of dream pop with a little powered-down power pop. He's also got something to say as... > Read more
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE HIGHLY PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Tony Richards of The Cosmic Debris
12 Jun 2023 | 3 min read
We will be honest, we had never heard of Auckland's Tony Richards of his musical persona Cosmic Debris until he was in touch offering us his third album which promised soul-funk. That sounded very tempting and when the album arrived – it is out on CD and limited edition vinyl, see below – we did our research. And he's had quite an interesting and long career in and out of... > Read more
Let Me Be the One
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE HIGHLY PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE . . . The Terrible Sons
24 May 2023 | 9 min read
On occasion Elsewhere is obliged to give the background of artists who respond to our questions. But not so Lauren and Matt Barus from Christchurch about whose recent album The Raft is Not the Shore we said “alongside elegant folk there's smart pop (You Can Choose,Tomorrow Always Comes) and weightless dream-folk (Yelling in the Wilderness) within this self-described music “for... > Read more
Yelling in the Wilderness
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE HIGHLY PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Maxine Funke
19 May 2023 | 3 min read
Maxine Funke's new album River Said may seem like a split personality pressed onto vinyl: one side delicate acoustic folk, the other sonic soundscapes with field recordings and disconcertingly atmospheric cello. But as we noted in our review, they are all part of a piece and reflect different but not disparate sides of Funke's musical personality. As Bleep said, “Peer beyond the... > Read more
Cherry Blossom Gin
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE HIGHLY PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Ben Tolich aka Mali Mali
14 Apr 2023 | 5 min read
Over the years Elsewhere has listened to and favourably reviewed the interesting and unique sound of Mali Mali, which is the performance name of Auckland's Ben Tolich whose work we admired for its lo-fi and lyrical honesty. Tolich has remained uncompromisingly true to his style but his lyrics have deepened, the songs become sharper and his latest album Spirit Tide is full of his... > Read more
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE HIGHLY PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Damien Binder
10 Apr 2023 | 7 min read
Despite having lived in Australia for many decades, former Auckland rock musician (Second Child) turned singer-songwriter Damien Binder has frequently appeared at Elsewhere. That's because as a singer and writer he always has something interesting to say, and the songs to deliver it. With a new album Bright Side coming out on April 21 – we've heard it, it's very... > Read more
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE HIGHLY PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Mike Baker
16 Mar 2023 | 4 min read
Mike Baker – who records as BAkeR – has had an interesting career in and out of music. He played in bands around Auckland but then in the Eighties moved to Australia and ended up managing the import/export division of Hot Records, working with the likes of Laughing Clowns, Triffids and Celibate Rifles. At the end of the Eighties he came back to Auckland and joined the noisy and... > Read more
Star Bugz
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE . . . ifiwereme
5 Mar 2023 | 2 min read
ifiwereme is the name under which Auckland musician Costa Colachis Glass, who came here from Seattle, goes by. He grew up playing jazz sax but moved on to punk-influenced music, field recordings and now studies sonic arts in conjunction with environmental engineering. His album Water Buffalo however was all recorded live and he won over our interest when he described it as “floating... > Read more
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE INNOVATORS QUESTIONNAIRE: Designer David Trubridge
6 Feb 2023 | 5 min read
We have described British-born, longtime New Zealand resident David Trubridge as a designer. Which he is. But he is so much more. He has appeared at Elsewhere previously when we offered a brief photo-essay of his innovative lighting design and sculpture. But from his studio/workshop in Hastings, Trubridge also designs and creates striking furniture and public art, writes a... > Read more
THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE HIGHLY PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE: Adam Hattaway
28 Nov 2022 | 2 min read
Five albums into their career (one a double) and we finally get around to asking singer/songwriter Adam Hattaway of Adan Hattaway and the Haunters some questions. We came into their five year recording career around their third album, hailed their Woolston, Texas album of 2021 and now shine a light on their most recent release Bug Eyes. Out of Christchurch, the band have constantly... > Read more