New Zealand may only have a population of around 5 million people, but the country has produced many world class musical acts. Such is the variety of top musical performers from New Zealand, we have chosen some of the best from various genres.
Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, better known as Lorde, is a singer-songwriter from Auckland. Having released the ‘The Love Club EP’ for free download online, the single “Royals” went on to reach number one in several countries in 2013, including New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada, and United States. Having sold over 10 million units, it is one of the biggest selling singles of all time. The single also won Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance at the Grammys. In addition, Lorde has won at the Billboard Music Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, NME Awards, and World Music Awards. Lorde is still performing today and continues to push the boundaries of pop music with a cover of Al Green’s “Take Me to the River” and a collaboration with Charli XCX.
From pop to classical music and Hayley Westenra was born in in Christchurch. Her hugely successful musical career dates back to 2003 and the international release of her album ‘Pure’. The album reached number one on the UK Classical Charts and has sold over two million copies across the world. Westenra has since released several international albums, including Odyssey, Treasure, and, most recently, Hushabye. Westenra has also provided vocals on video games and performed the song “World in Union’ for ITV’s coverage of the Rugby World Cup in 2011. It is highly unlikely Westenra had a wager on the tournament but with a top casino online in New Zealand also offering sports betting odds, it could have been tempting.
Born in Te Awamutu, Waikato, Neil Finn is best known as being a member of the band Split Enz. Finn wrote many of the bands best hits, including “One Step Ahead”, “Message to My Girl”, “I Got You”, and “History Never Repeats”. The band split in 1984 and Finn helped form Crowded House, achieving international success with the band. Finn also performed with Fleetwood Mac on their tour in 2018 and stayed with them for four years. Finn also worked as a solo artist and released several albums under his own name and has recently been involved with film and television soundtracks.
This seven-piece band from Wellington are one of New Zealand’s best musical acts due to their wonderful combination of reggae, jazz, dub, techno, and rhythm and blues. Formed in 1999, Fat Freddy’s Drop have produced many fantastic improvised live musical performances and they have released six albums to date, with the latest being SLO MO. The band have won several awards in New Zealand, including Highest Selling NZ Album and People’s Choice Award in 2006 plus the International Achievement Award in 2016.
Some of the other leading New Zealand musical acts include Evermore, Broods, Daniel Bedingfield, and Flight of the Conchords.
The post Who are New Zealand’s Best Musical Acts? appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
Lorde
Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, better known as Lorde, is a singer-songwriter from Auckland. Having released the ‘The Love Club EP’ for free download online, the single “Royals” went on to reach number one in several countries in 2013, including New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada, and United States. Having sold over 10 million units, it is one of the biggest selling singles of all time. The single also won Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance at the Grammys. In addition, Lorde has won at the Billboard Music Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, NME Awards, and World Music Awards. Lorde is still performing today and continues to push the boundaries of pop music with a cover of Al Green’s “Take Me to the River” and a collaboration with Charli XCX.
Hayley Westenra
From pop to classical music and Hayley Westenra was born in in Christchurch. Her hugely successful musical career dates back to 2003 and the international release of her album ‘Pure’. The album reached number one on the UK Classical Charts and has sold over two million copies across the world. Westenra has since released several international albums, including Odyssey, Treasure, and, most recently, Hushabye. Westenra has also provided vocals on video games and performed the song “World in Union’ for ITV’s coverage of the Rugby World Cup in 2011. It is highly unlikely Westenra had a wager on the tournament but with a top casino online in New Zealand also offering sports betting odds, it could have been tempting.
Neil Finn
Born in Te Awamutu, Waikato, Neil Finn is best known as being a member of the band Split Enz. Finn wrote many of the bands best hits, including “One Step Ahead”, “Message to My Girl”, “I Got You”, and “History Never Repeats”. The band split in 1984 and Finn helped form Crowded House, achieving international success with the band. Finn also performed with Fleetwood Mac on their tour in 2018 and stayed with them for four years. Finn also worked as a solo artist and released several albums under his own name and has recently been involved with film and television soundtracks.
Fat Freddy’s Drop
This seven-piece band from Wellington are one of New Zealand’s best musical acts due to their wonderful combination of reggae, jazz, dub, techno, and rhythm and blues. Formed in 1999, Fat Freddy’s Drop have produced many fantastic improvised live musical performances and they have released six albums to date, with the latest being SLO MO. The band have won several awards in New Zealand, including Highest Selling NZ Album and People’s Choice Award in 2006 plus the International Achievement Award in 2016.
Some of the other leading New Zealand musical acts include Evermore, Broods, Daniel Bedingfield, and Flight of the Conchords.
The post Who are New Zealand’s Best Musical Acts? appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
