Blackbird, have been in and around the NZ music scene since 2003. A summer project for original members Hamish Pinkham and Kyle Bell, has now turned into more than just a hobby with regular performances at some of NZ’s festival events and regular tours with international artists such as Bedouin Soundclash (Canada) and Bonjah (Australia). Each summer “The Birds” - as they are often called – meet up with new tunes and ideas which express each individual’s flavour and influence and apply it to the flocks of chicks that attend. 

Blackbird has slowly been establishing a solid loyal fanbase with a collection of soulful Folk songs which encapture the influence of the East Coast and all that the lifestyle brings. Their first EP release is due out in 2012 including the popular East Coast Toast.

Blackbird consists of original singer songwriters Kyle Bell and Hamish Pinkham, with Helen Corry, Jack Castle, Dion Whaanga and Nego Beto from Brazilbeat Soundsystem joining the nest. The addition of Jack Castle and Helen Corry to the fold provides further flavor and energy to the Blackbird sound, Helen Corry with her soulful soothing vocals, and Jack Castle with his strong energetic performance. Dion Whaanga and Nego Beto deliver the all important tempo and beat to the Blackbird melodies.

Summer will see Blackbird once again open proceedings in Gisborne on New Year's Eve at Rhythm and Vines and an expected stellar performance at summer locations near you. Don’t miss out on hearing Blackbird this summer, as it’s a long winter with out them.

STORMY WEATHER
–
NEW SINGLE BY
RIQI HARAWIRA
TO RAISE FUNDS FOR FLOOD RELIEF IN
HAWKES BAY
Riqi Harawira
(Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa)
releases
today
his
reggae rock fusion track
Stormy
Weather
.
Written
about
his
adopted home of Hawkes Bay and
Cyclone
Gabrielle
,
which
devasted
communities
there and around
Aotearoa
,
Stormy Weather
tells a powerful and hopeful story of a
community resilience and coming together to mend.
‘
Lend a hand to those in need, yeah, plant the seeds.
Waiohiki, Esk Valley, Takami Makaurau, Te Awa, Ahuriri, Karanema, Omahu and Coromandel,
Taupo, Waikato, Bay o
f Plenty, Wairoa, Pakowahi, Tairawhiti, Tai Tokerau, Tangoio
’
Riqi
Harawira witnessed Cyclone Gabrielle
’
s devastation firsthand
,
working as
part of the
Te
Taiwhenua
cleanup
team
in Hawkes Bay helping
the Omahu and Waiohiki communities.
“
M
y greatest
desire
as a songwriter
is
to
uplift and inspi
re
through music. I call it
‘
Rongoa for the
rohe, Rongoa for the people
’
(medicine for the land, medication for the people). When I saw the rain
had marked Te Mata Peak and it looked like the maunga was crying, I felt a calling to put pen to paper
and use my skills to unite people for a common cause. I just couldn
’
t sit around
and do nothing. So, I
wrote a song with a hopeful narrative that will bring people from Hawkes Bay together and
as a
tribute
to their resilie
n
ce
”
said Riqi.

The
Karanga
featured
in
Stormy Weather
is
by
w
haea
Dianne Hilton
(
Ngāti
Kahungunu ki Heretaunga
)
from Te Hauke
.
A
testament
to the power
and
importance of honouring those who have
passed away
, it
serves as a traditional goodbye to those lost during
Cyclone Gabrielle. This type of
k
aranga
,
known as hui or
a,
express
es
deep sadness for the living who h
ave experienced death, sickness, and
grief. It reminds us that we must not forget those who have passed away
during Cyclone Gabrielle in the areas mentioned in the song
and says that we
celebrate and farewell
them by coming together and returning to the ma
rae of Hine
-
nui
-
te
-
pō. Even though we cannot be
there physically, we can connect with them spiritually.
Stormy Weather
was
produced with the
assistance from
Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga
,
Jonny Pipe
Audio
,
Tom Pierard
(drums),
Caleb Robinson
(Bass guitar),
Chris Chetland
(masterin
g)
and
Sam
Henry
vocalists.
All royalties/proceeds
from the track will go to the charities
I AM HOPE
to
provide counselling to
impacted
tamariki
.
Riqi
’
s
musical journey began as the lead guitarist and
co
-
songwriter for
the renowned band
Dead Flowers
.
He
now stands at the forefront of
Māori fusion music, infusing performances with the beauty of Te Reo
Māori and waiata Māori
.
In
2022
Riqi
was a
nominee for
Best Male Solo
Artist
at the prestigious
Waiata Māori Awards
.
His
music
embodies
diversity
–
a
blending of different worlds
and
speak
s
of cultural harmony
.
W
hile
many
of his
songs
are
written
in
Indigenous
Māori,
they
transcend
language barriers
through his
electrifying
delivery
that
feature, a
fusion
of traditional haka energy
,
exhilarat
ing
rock
-
style music from the 1980
’
s
that
echo
the likes
of guitar legends like Slash and Jimi Hendr
ix
,
and his
commitment to his own homegr
own
unique sound
.
Donate by p
urchas
ing
via
;
BANDCAMP
/
SPOTIFY
Dec 31
-
New Year's Napier
Soundshell
ASSETS FOR DOWNLOAD
HERE

Stormy Weather
–
R Harawira
We
’
ll weather the stormy weather,
Mend the hearts, the broken homes,
Coz
’
toge
ther we are strong,
We gotta stick together: we
’
re not fair weather,
All the people from all around, from the country to the towns.
When the wind all the rains come down
All our lives were turned upside down.
But we
’
ll never give up: we
’
ll get through.
Kia kaha, E Tu!
We remember all the ones we lost.
Hold them close no matter what the cost.
Keep moving forward day by day, we
’
ll find a way.
Gabrielle came with her might,
Aotearoa in her sights,
We stood strong in the face of fear; we will preserve.
All
the roads ahead going to be long.
Together we
’
ll stay strong.
Lend a hand to those in need, yeah, plant the seeds.
Waiohiki, Esk Valley, Takami Makaurau, Te Awa
,
Ahuriri, Karanema, Omahu
and
Coromandel,
Taupo, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wairoa,
Pakowahi, T
airawhiti, Tai Tokerau, Tangoio
.
He Rongoa ki te Whenua, He Rongoa ki te Tangata, He Rongoa
Karanga hui ora
-
Whaea Dianne Hilton
Haere atu rā me ō karangatanga maha Kahurangi
.
E ngā uri ki te huinga o te marae o Hine
-
nui
-
o
-
te
-
pō
(
Go forth with the many
calls from descendants gone before to assemble in the blue sky abov
e)
MEDIA: Leesa Tilley +64 21 243 6899 /
publicity
-
machine@orcon.net.nz
/
www.publicityplus.co.nz

www.facebook.com/choresofficial
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1iRqRj6wAq5wAAjfzpbH1I

Management:

NicNak Media - Nicole Thomas and Paula Yeoman nicole@nicnakmedia.com 

Bookings: 

fenella@twicethehype.co.nz

MissB delivers a distinctive blend of driving basslines, acid-laced synths, and quirky percussive textures — a sound shaped by her classical music roots and the warehouse parties of her youth. 
Her DJ sets rarely stick to a single genre, weaving deep grooves, hypnotic rhythms, and unexpected twists into the dancefloor journey.
In two decades behind the decks, she’s lit up stages from Burning Man to Splore, Sonorous, Synthony, Shipwrecked, Rhythm & Alps and more, and has supported legends like Carl Cox, Basement Jaxx and Felix Da Housecat.
As one half of Sarah² with Mamadafunk, and one half of MissBatsy with Patsy Skeet, as well as performing live with MC Tali, MissB thrives on the chemistry of creative partnership. 
Her releases span local and international labels including paperecordings and Sqeaky Wheels, with collaborations alongside MC Tali, Max Maxwell, and most on the Cosmic Diskotek EP — released on Squeaky Wheels and remixed by both established and emerging talent.
2025 marks a shift in MissB’s sound- darker, edgier, and more daring with fresh collaborations and explorations into new audio depths.

Beyond the booth and the studio, MissB is a champion of diversity, gender equality, and safer spaces in electronic music. 
She mentors several emerging producers, sharing her skills to help them craft their own distinct sonic voices.

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