The Sound of Muzack Part I

This is a post I have been looking forward to for a while now.  I'm going to tell you guys a little about kiwi music.  I have been listening to a lot of it ever since a friend from work hooked me up with a full thumb drive, and I'm completely blown away by how amazing it is.  With that said, let's begin…

First and foremost, stop reading this and listen to Shapeshifter immediately.  This is arguably the biggest kiwi band and is beloved by virtually the entire youth population.  They are a very interesting group from Christchurch, with a mix of reggae, hip hop, and rock undertones fueling their huge, synth based electronic sound.  What really makes the group unique is their vocalist, whose soulful melodies and inspired lyrics bring everything together in a remarkable way.  What's more is that they've pushed themselves into new territory with each album, reinventing themselves each time.  Their latest album, Delta, was released May 31st, 2013 and I absolutely cannot wait to see this band live.  I'm hoping to catch them at an outdoor festival on New Years Eve.  Here are a few YouTube links to get you started:

In Colour - Delta - This is their latest hit off of what, in my opinion, is their best album

Dutchies - The System Is A Vampire - This is the song that originally grabbed my attention before throwing me down the wormhole

In The Rain - Solstice - This showcases their more mellow side, and is a good representative of Solstice as an album

Next in line to be mentioned is Six60.  Six60 was incubated in the legendary Dunedin Uni scene before reaching international fame with the release of their debut self titled album in 2011.  This band sits comfortably somewhere between Incubus, 311 and Shapeshifter for their rock/reggae influenced good times sound with an occasional synth swelling at just the right moment.  This band shows a lot of promise, and I'm really looking forward to their sophomore release.  To get you started:

Forever - Six60

Run For It - Six60

This last artist for today is a bit more underground than the previous two, but that is part of their appeal.  @Peace is an emerging Auckland based hip hop group with an incredible MC.  This isn't the sort of hip hop you dance to, as the groups self titled debut album deals with some somber topics ranging from homelessness to death.  The lyrics are clever, poetic, and at times deeply profound, leading you to walk away from the experience with a fresh perspective and an odd sense of zen.  They remind me of q-tip and The Living Legends with their enlightened, boutique style rap.  The group is currently working on their first major release and it's bound to be evocative if not anything else.  Unfortunately due to their obscurity there aren't many YouTube videos containing their music.  I encourage you to just spend the $9 on their self titled album, as I can promise it will be worth your while.  

Nothing - @Peace - This song is sheer poetry