Unidub

UniDub Workshop at 'The Spot'
- Wairarapa reap

Unidub - Energiser video
Music video for Energiser from our EP. Download at unidub.co.nz Shot in 3 hours independently and without a budget by a group of close friends from South Seas Film and Television School.

- NME First for music news

Masterton youth will have the chance to develop their musical talent at a workshop run by Wellington electronica band, Unidub.

Vocalist and songwriter, Wake Matthews, was born and bred in Masterton. He said the band performed at the Waitangi Day origins festival earlier this year and was called back to see if he would help run the workshop.

"A lot of youth have talents but they're not given a structure on how to use them," he said.

The six-hour workshop, originally organised to be part of Youth Week (the week ending May 29 - this year's theme was "Step up, be heard, take responsibility and be youth") will be held on June 18.

Matthews plans to teach the 10 participants, who need to apply for a space, how to write a song and to carry the process through to performing it, as well as how to use the internet to make a living from their passion.

"The internet is how everybody sells their music these days," he said. Unidub mostly focuses on electronica and reggae dub, and mainly uses keyboards and beat machines. "I'm excited because it's a hobby of mine," said Matthews.

The workshop was organised by The Spot, Youth Conex and Masterton Youth Council, and funded by Creative Communities, The Mayor's Taskforce, Toi Wairarapa and the Youth Development Partnership Fund.

The youthful participants will perform their tracks to up to 150 people at The Spot on June 25 from 8pm at no cost.

- Wairarapa times-age

Waiata Maori Music Awards Finalists
Tiki Taane, Anna Coddington, Jayson Norris and many more make up this year's finalists for the 2011 National Waiata Maori Music Awards.

The number of finalists this year is 18, an increase on the 11 recorded in 2010. Judging now begins on marking the work of the finalists across the 10 categories of the music awards.

Individual judges will assess the work of the artists online independently, rather than as a group or collective panel. The results will be submitted via the Internet to the awards' administrator and collated.

Judges have been nominated from the music industry - both Maori and mainstream musicians, composers, managers and music organisations.

Executive director Tama Huata says this particular type of judging system has been adopted to ensure the Waiata Maori Music Awards maintains a high level of independency when it comes to professional standards.

The winner of each category will be announced on the night of the awards ceremony on Thursday 8 September, at the Hawke's Bay Opera House in Hastings.

The finalists are now confirming whether they will appear at the awards ceremony, or nominate a member of their family or management team to represent them at the event.

Among the finalists this year is performer Tiki Taane, a finalist in four categories - Best Urban Hip Hop/RAP/RnB Album, Best Maori Male Solo, Best Song by a Maori Artist and Best Songwriter.

Taane is no stranger to the awards. He won the Radio Record Airplay Of The Year By A Maori Artist Award for his song Always On My Mind, as well as the Best Maori Male Solo Artist Award, both in 2008.

Anna Coddington, a finalist from the 2008 Waiata Maori Music Awards, returns as a finalist this year, for Best Maori Pop Album, Best Maori Female Solo and Best Maori Songwriter categories.

UK-based performer Jayson Norris, Ngati Kahu, is a first-time finalist, in the Best Maori Pop Album and the Best Maori Male Solo categories.

Another off-shore act, The Kumpnee, is a finalist in the Best Maori Urban RAP/Hip Hop/RnB category. The urban funk band is based in Sydney and this is its first time contesting the awards.

The new Best Maori Urban Roots Album category introduced this year has produced four top finalists, including NRG Rising, Box Juice, Katchafire and House of Shem.

"We are very happy with the response from recording artists to the new Reggae genre and the entries reflect this," Mr Huata says.

A range of veteran artists is also in the running for awards this year. Maori singer Ngahiwi Apanui from the East Coast is a finalist in the Best Maori Traditional Album in Te Reo with his fourth studio album Matariki. He is also a finalist in the Best Maori Songwriter category.

Another well-known name, entertainer Dennis Marsh, is a finalist in the Best Maori Male Solo category. To date he has released 23 albums with four platinum and 10 gold to his name.

Selwyn Rawiri will also contest the Best Maori Male Solo award. Born in Te Awamutu, his career spans five decades, initially with The Maori Volcanics. He still performs today while studying law at Waikato University.

Sheree Waitoa, from the East Coast, is a first-time finalist in three categories, Best Maori Traditional Album, Best Maori Female Solo and Best Song by a Maori Artist. Her latest album Kokopu ranges from reggae dub to electronic funk fused with traditional taonga poi.

Another new finalist in this year's awards is WAI, in the Best Maori Traditional Album in Te Reo and Best Maori Female Solo. WAI has created a sound which is described as Maori electronica roots from traditional Maori songs.

Miss Black, Tuhoe, Tuwharetoa, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, is a finalist in the Best Maori Female Solo category and her debut album Black Light is also a finalist in the Best Maori Urban RAP/Hip Hop/RnB Album category. She is a fluent speaker of Maori and a bilingual singer/song writer who has been composing for more than a decade.

Unidub is an electronic band formed in Albany, Auckland, which is a first-time finalist in the Best Maori Pop Album category while The Nok, a trio of "balladeers" from Wellington, also contest the pop album award, as well as Best Song by a Maori Artist and Best Maori Songwriter.

Tatou Tataou e is a collective of kaiwaiata from around New Zealand which aim to produce original Te Reo Maori songs. The group is a finalist for Best Maori Urban RAP/Hip Hop/RnB Album.

The nominated award section was announced earlier this year. The nominated award is for a person who is or has been dedicated to teaching Maori culture in music. There are four nominated sections each year, recognising the contribution people have made to waiata Maori.

This year's nominated award winners are: Iconic Maori Composers Award, the late Sir Kingi Ihaka; Maori Music Industry Awards, Frankie Stevens and Ardijah; Lifetime Contribution to Maori Music Award, Mahora Peters, Maori Volcanics; and the Keeper of Traditions Award, Tihi Puanaki.

- Amplifier Magazine

Finalists announced for Waiata Maori Awards 2011 - New Zealand Music Commision

Finalists announced for 2011 Waiata Maori Music Awards
Monday, 29 August 2011, 10:38 am
Press Release: Maori Music Week

PRESS RELEASE
Sunday, August 28, 2011

Finalists announced for 2011 Waiata Maori Music Awards

A mix of international, up and coming and well-known performers make up the mix of this year’s finalists for the 2011 National Waiata Maori Music Awards.

The number of finalists this year is 18, an increase on the 11 recorded in 2010. Judging now begins on marking the work of the finalists across the 10 categories of the music awards.

Individual judges will assess the work of the artists online independently, rather than as a group or collective panel. The results will be submitted via the internet to the awards administrator and collated.

Judges have been nominated from the music industry, both Maori and mainstream musicians, composers, managers and music organisations.

Executive director Tama Huata says this particular type of judging system has been adopted to ensure the Waiata Maori Music Awards maintains a high level of independency when it comes to professional standards.

The winner of each category will be announced on the night of the awards ceremony on Thursday, September 8, at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings.

The awards ceremony will be recorded by Maori Television for a later date broadcast.

“There was an increase in entries this year which I feel reflects the integrity of the Waiata Maori Music Awards and acknowledgement from Maori composers, musicians and performers and the general public to this major event,” Mr Huata said.

“The support of Te Mangai Paho and Maori Television in televising the awards is also a major contributing factor for exposure to Aotearoa. This years entries come from a diverse range of music which reflects the broadness of where Maori composers, singers and musicians are coming from,” he said.

The finalists are now confirming whether they will appear at the awards ceremony, or nominated a member of their family or management team to represent them at the event.

Among the finalists this year is performer Tiki Taane, a finalist in four categories, Best Urban Hip Hop/RAP/RnB Album, Best Maori Male Solo, Best Song by a Maori Artist and Best Songwriter.

Taane is no stranger to the awards, he won the Radio Record Airplay Of The Year By A Maori Artist Award for his song, Always On My Mind, and the Best Maori Male Solo Artist Award, both in 2008.

Anna Coddington, a finalist from the 2008 Waiata Maori Music Awards, returns as a finalist this year, for Best Maori Pop Album, Best Maori Female Solo and Best Maori Songwriter categories.

UK-based performer Jayson Norris, Ngati Kahu, is a first-time finalist, in the Best Maori Pop Album and the Best Maori Male Solo categories.

Another off-shore act, The Kumpnee, is a finalist in the Best Maori Urban RAP/ Hip Hop/RnB category. The urban funk band is based in Sydney and it is its first time contesting the awards.

The new Best Maori Urban Roots Album category introduced this year has produced four top finalists, including NRG Rising, Box Juice, Katchafire and House of Shem.

“We are very happy with the response from recording artists to the new Reggae genre and the entries reflect this,” Mr Huata says.

A range of veteran artists is also in the running for awards this year. It includes Maori singer Ngahiwi Apanui, East Coast, is a finalist in the Best Maori Traditional Album in Te Reo with his fourth studio album, Matariki. He is also a finalist in the Best Maori Songwriter category.

Another well-known name, entertainer Dennis Marsh is a finalist in the Best Maori Male Solo category. To date he has released 23 albums with four platinum and 10 gold to his name.

Selwyn Rawiri will also contest the Best Maori Male Solo award. Born in Te Awamutu, his career spans five decades initially with the Maori Volcanics. He still performs today while studying law at Waikato University.

Sheree Waitoa, East Coast, is a first-time finalist in three categories, Best Maori Traditional Album, Best Maori Female Solo and Best Song by a Maori Artist. Her latest album Kokopu ranges from reggae dub to electronic funk fused with traditional taonga poi.

Another new finalist in this year’s awards is WAI, in the Best Maori Traditional Album in Te Reo and Best Maori Female Solo. WAI has created a sound which is described as Maori electronica roots from traditional Maori songs.

Miss Black, Tuhoe, Tuwharetoa, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, is a finalist in the Best Maori Female Solo category and her debut album, Black Light, is also a finalist in the Best Maori Urban RAP/Hip Hop/RnB Album category. She is a fluent speaker of Maori and a bilingual singer/song writer who has been composing for more than a decade.

Unidub is an electronic band formed in Albany, Auckland, which is a first-time finalist in the Best Maori Pop Album category while The Nok, a trio of “balladeers” from Wellington also contest the pop album award, as well as Best Song by a Maori Artist and Best Maori songwriter.

Tatou Tataou e is a collective of kaiwaiata from around New Zealand which aim to produce original Te Reo Maori songs. The group is a finalist in the Best Maori Urban RAP/Hip Hop/RnB Album.

The nominated award section was announced earlier this year. The nominated award is for a person who is or has been dedicated to teaching Maori culture in music. There are four nominated sections each year, recognising the contribution people have made to waiata Maori.

This year’s nominated award winners are: Iconic Maori Composers Award, the late Sir Kingi Ihaka; Maori Music Industry Awards, Frankie Stevens and Ardijah; Lifetime Contribution to Maori Music Award, Mahora Peters, Maori Volcanics; Keeper of Traditions Award, Tihi Puanaki.
ends
- 'Scoop' Independant news.

A group of student flatmates has formed a band that's taking South Seas by storm.

In photo from left: Harley Roberts, Matt McKegg and Wake Matthews.

The three friends met at the beginning of this year when they started flatting together at Uni House. They are all students at South Seas with Wake and Matt studying drama directing and Harley training to be an editor.

"It took us a while to realise we all had music in common," says Wake. "Especially with Matt - he's a nerdy kind of computer guy and very quiet, so we were surprised to hear some of his beats."

Since discovering each others' talents, the three friends have been busy making music. So far they have recorded five songs together, produced a video clip, played their first gig at the South Seas Ball, developed a website and have hundreds of fans on their FaceBook page. They say they would have done more, but they have been too busy at school!

"We work together to make our own style," says Harley. "Matt lays down some beats then Wake, Matt and I all work together to match up the vocals. We can each do things the others can't do so the three of us make a really strong team."

Their video, for the song Energiser, was an exciting development. "We are so lucky to have the talents for music combined with the training for film and television," they say. They add that they could have made the video earlier if they had known what they know now. "We are learning the rules to get into the film industry, then we threw them all away to make our video," says Wake. "A music video can break all the rules."

Currently the band is putting together a DVD package to send to television music channels - continuing their journey into modern, low-budget marketing methods. Aside from their YouTube and FaceBook presence, they have also entered the C4 Party People contest in the hopes of winning invitations to the Music Video Awards.

The boys describe their style as eclectic. "It's everything - dubstep, electronica, hip-hop, soul, reggae." To make up your own mind, visit their website: unidub.co.nz where you can listen to their music and even buy some of their songs. We're sure you'll soon become a fan!

- South seas Film & Television School