MUSIC

LA DE DA 2014 - a new cultural tradition that never happened... /  by JoFF Rae

2014. Well, actually, 2013 this proposal went to Council. 10 years ago!

A very excited Council… then the wheels fell off when the administration couldn’t see the “value” in the event.

Creative Director on this was Philip McDougall. At the time Philip was EVP Creative in New York for the prestigious Global Experiential Marketing Agency Jack Morton Worldwide & was rebranding San Francisco Bay Area in preparation for Super Bowl. He had been Creative on some of the largest broadcast events of the new century including Melbourne Commonwealth Games & Beijing Olympics as the head Creative of JMW Australia… he was home on a rest while waiting on his new position with another global giant & we decided to put our heads together to make something to celebrate our home town…

We aimed to show Wellington as vibrant & exciting to the world. Not celebrating ourselves to ourselves. Allowing others to celebrate us, our city & our place in the World - if only for the fact we are the first capital city to see the New Year!

We did this to instil some pride in our children for our home town & partly because we could. I mean, he was very capable & Wellington couldn’t afford him (something I said as we parted Council). There was no personal gain for us. Sure we each have a son at Victoria & I even have a son who works at premium digital agency Paperkite as a Product Owner & Designer, but he lives in Christchurch. All our other kids live overseas or Auckland or Christchurch & don’t see Wellington as “home” like we do.

Philip is now Creative Director at Google in San Francisco. He’s accomplished lots! He makes events & brand engagements that the World notices. So much it’s crazy! Phil was once in a pipe band with Mu from Fat Freddy’s Drop & Ashley Bloomfield from… well I’m going to say daily lockdown updates. Those guys are big news to us. Phil is next level. Phil does this stuff on a large scale… & we can’t afford him.

My business has evolved. Our production company has been providing the same production every year to Waitangi Day at Waitangi Park with every opportunity to improve but despite our efforts its been allowed to get stale. We didn’t tender this year & no one asked why not. The now Auckland based business has morphed in to a nice operation that tours constantly & looks after Parris Goebel & Palace Dance Company including international tours even Dubai EXPO2020 last year. We did a couple of stages at Homegrown this year - 21 years of that Waterfront event. Last year we reformatted Waitangi Day for a red light hybrid streamed event that just demonstrated our ability to effect change. The production company has out grown me but is still part of our bigger operation that as mentioned is based in Auckland now & we are about to share an office.

I’m shifting our digital immersive media business out of Wellington this month moving HQ to Auckland & operations overseas. Our digital business has been developing products for augmented reality & immersive media & is enjoying some great success. Our clients are all outside Wellington - North America, Australia & Auckland. Nothing keeps us here & not that we haven’t tried. Wellington doesn’t have the innovation or forward thinking.

I’m still questioning why Wellington does not have anything to offer us. But I keep thinking it’s more that Wellington wants nothing that we have to offer…

Wellington creatives don’t make it in Wellington. They make it elsewhere & live in Wellington until it becomes easier to live somewhere else or they are prepared to adjust their work & lifestyle to suit - I live in Wellington but we’re moving core business to Auckland. When I first worked with Phil in 2000 I commuted to Melbourne but worked in a satellite office (old style remote) back here in Wellington or my studio in Melbourne… we worked on installations in Sydney & I worked on events in Auckland too.

But as Wellington gets more & more isolated the remote working style gets more difficult to justify. The issue for our home town is that it keeps telling us it has great food & theatre & entertainment & all these things it has to offer… however the culinary & entertainment & lifestyle experiences are not as good as Melbourne or Auckland or Christchurch right now - ask all those new students who went to Canterbury this year.

Wellington could start offering a place that new people feel they are making a contribution… that’s what we wanted from LA DE DA 2014. A new culture that offered a place to belong & then celebrate that. And then show off about it to the World! A place where our hometown heros could come home to & invite the World to join in. That’s what culture is about. It’s about belonging & being able to contribute.

Wellington is still our home town. It would be nice to be able to make a contribution some day…

note: 2014 the main question was “who is Kendrick Lamar?”

CHRIS CUFFARO - Photographer | Director /  by JoFF Rae

CHRIS CUFFARO

Photographer | Director

CuffaroPhoto.com | CuffaroHits.com

Whether it’s glitz and glamour or raw reality, by consistently capturing the “real” person behind the “famous” face, Chris Cuffaro brings a new level of emotional depth to the two-dimensional art form of photography. In fact, over the past 35 years, Chris's signature work with a galaxy of A-List actors, models, athletes and musicians has helped them define their public image while establishing his reputation as one of the most respected photographers in the entertainment industry.

Drawn to the excitement of music as a teenager growing up in Northern California, Chris began his career by shooting local rock shows for fun. He quickly graduated to headlining acts and, since moving to Los Angeles in the early 1980’s, has worked with a succession of top musical artists from pop sensation George Michael and the legendary Iggy Pop to the ground breaking bands Jane’s Addiction, Pearl Jam, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana. Chris’ live and studio images of these musicians and others, including No Doubt, Limp Bizkit, Henry Rollins, Elvis Costello, Fiona Apple, Scott Weiland and Soundgarden, have regularly appeared in Rolling Stone, Spin, RayGun, Vibe, Musician as well as on the covers of more than 300 record albums and CDs.

Yet along with his significant commercial and editorial contributions as a music photographer, Chris’ portfolio also includes an equally impressive group of non-musicians. Among these are iconic images of leading sports figures, such s Kobe Bryant, Wayne Gretzky and Tony Hawk, along with stunning fashion photography of today’s hottest super-models and designers. 

In addition, Chris’ dramatic portraits of veteran actors Sidney Poitier, Johnny Depp, Dustin Hoffman and Vince Vaughn as well as new starlets like Brooke Burke, Judy Greer and Mira Sorvino have been prominently featured in the pages of Entertainment Weekly, US, Stuff, Maxim, Premiere, British Elle and W while his gallery photos for the USA Network, HBO, Nickelodeon and FOX’s landmark television series “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance” have made him a first-call among leading media, ad and talent agencies around the world.

Most recently, Chris has set his sights beyond photography; making a seamless transition from film to digital imaging by both producing and directing a number of music videos and independent films. His personal involvement in Ashton View, Inc. production, publishing and web activities offers further evidence that his natural talent, versatility and tireless pursuit of artistic expression continue to grow no matter the medium.

“Regardless of what I’ve been able to accomplish in the past, there are always new mountains to climb and new borders to cross,” Chris explains. “I’m excited by where I'm going and what lies ahead… by the journey as well as the destination."

Chris Cuffaro ©2014

CHRIS CUFFARO - Greatest Hits NZ

Los Angeles based music photographer Chris Cuffaro is coming to Aotearoa for the first time this February to present his Greatest Hits photography and multi-media exhibition. Featuring over 60 framed works, plus be- hind the scenes footage, Chris Cuffaro Artist Talk, Chris Cuffaro Photography Workshop (hosted by NZ music photographer collective FromThePit), the exhibition opens every day from 10am, Wednesday 8 – Sunday 12 February at Indigo Studios at 50 Pollen St, Grey Lynn, Auckland. Admission to the exhibition and all events is FREE!

Chris is one of the most respected photographers in the entertainment industry, working with A-List actors, models, athletes and musicians, helping them define their public image. He has photographed some of the biggest musicians globally, including iconic shots of ground breaking bands Jane’s Addiction, Pearl Jam, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, George Michael, Iggy Pop, No Doubt, Henry Rollins, Elvis Costello, Nick Cave and Soundgarden. These images have regularly appeared in Rolling Stone, Spin, RayGun, Vibe, Musician as well as on more than 200 album covers.

Along with significant commercial and editorial contributions, as a music photographer, Chris’ portfolio also includes an equally impressive group of actors from Johnny Depp to Dustin Hoffman, sports icons from Kobe Bryant to Wayne Gretzky, and television shows from American Idol to So You Think You Can Dance. His images have been in Entertainment Weekly, US, Stuff, Maxim, Premiere, British Elle and W.

Most recently Chris hosted his Greatest Hits exhibition in Sydney Australia, is currently expanding the exhibi- tion worldwide and filming his Greatest Hits Documentary.

Chris Cuffaro’s Greatest Hits is presented by Agentx/Publicity+ with help from sponsors and media partners Rolling Stone, Radio Hauraki, Phantom Billstickers, FromThePit, and production from Indigo Studios and iSPARX™, who are also providing a mobile App for additional content during the exhibition.

Auckland City of Music and MusicHelps are assisting Agentx/Publicity+ with organizing a Kiwi musician photo shoot with Chris, and these images will be exhibited in May 2023 (NZ Music Month) and auctioned afterwards, with all proceeds to support charity partner MusicHelps. The New Zealand photos will also feature in the June/July issue of AUS/NZ Rolling Stone magazine.

“I’m so excited to show my exhibition in New Zealand for the first time. Also, to have the opportunity to share my experience with Kiwi’s and to photograph local musical talent and give back to musicians in need” – Chris Cuffaro

Exhibition from Wed 8 - Sun 12 Feb, 10am – 8pm (except 6pm on Sat & Sun)

Wed 8 Feb, 6pm Thurs 9 Feb, 6.30pm Fri 10 Feb, 5pm Sat 11 Feb, 11am Sat 11 Feb, 4pm

Official Opening with Live Music via RSVP – see website for more information Artist Talk with Chris Cuffaro, Hosted by FromThePit
Live Music, bands TBA
Photographer Workshop with Chris Cuffaro, Hosted by FromThePit Deejay Murray Cammick

CHRIS CUFFARO

Photographer | Director | Creator CuffaroPhoto.com | CuffaroHits.com | CuffaroPlus.com

The indigi.nz™ 5G Agency - Art+Media Facility /  by JoFF Rae

SPACE ∞ TIME

The indigi.nz™ 5G Agency is operated by ALPHA State Limited.

The facility provides an exceptional creative environment & innovative resources for music & arts projects & creative productions.

As an agency indigi.nz™ designs compact short & long term exhibitions, installations & events that scale for online & interactive engagement or produced installation.

The indigi.nz™ 5G Agency immersive media studios feature state of the art equipment & innovative immersive media concept.

indigi.nz™ is a JV involving ALPHA State Limited (ARTIVIST : creative) & iSPARX.group Limited with selected independent creative operators to house the 5G immersive media studio.

CONCEPT ÷ INNOVATION

indigi.nz™ is an Agency.

An art studio in the business of emergence, incubation & facilitation of artistic & creative outcomes.  The concept of a contemporary art facility that embraces technology & specifically the anticipated impact of 5G on the arts, culture & heritage sector.

indigi.nz™ 5G Agency demonstrates incremental & disruptive innovation…

incremental innovation utilising our existing technology to increase value (features, design changes, etc.) within the existing market.

disruptive innovation, also known as stealth innovation, involves applying new technology or processes to our current market.

indigi.nz™ 5G Agency maintains a strong artistic ethos & ideology; embraces technology & innovation; & is unique, ambitious & revolutionary!

Engage

The indigi.nz™ solution to immersive media engagement involves a unique ability to develop & deliver on effective live, hybrid & digital engagement products - low latency multi user interactivity for mobile devices, installations & events.

New Media & App development

We design event Apps & custom media systems for integrated virtual engagement & dynamic content delivery. Our systems are unique & include a powerful drag-&-drop web interface to manage, update & collate information, media & content.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality & immersive media that integrates interactive assets responsive to user preferences & requests. We build augmented reality experiences.

3D

Photogrammetry & 3D rendered models of real world objects for AR, VR, MR & interactive installations. We have developed modular prescriptions for 3D & 2D assets & content.

Location

Positioning, location & wayfinding - a location positioning interface with BLE beacons, GPS, IPS, magnetic field mapping & spatial computing.

live + on demand engagement

*streaming from camera to distribution for conferences, live performance & concerts, festivals & cultural events, Hui & Wānanga - any requirement with a need to reach people.

live stream

Inform your audience. Live streaming is more relevant & accessible than ever before. With 5G & technology in mobile devices the engagement of streaming is growing.

360°

Immersive 360° media. 8K live streaming with the Insta360° Pro / Black Magic Design ATEM switching / STRATEGIC OB / Vision Switch - stream multi channel 360° to mobile devices, augmented reality or virtual reality hardware.

interactive

Impose your media. Integrated interactive & responsive media content enhances measurable engagement & value.

CONNECT WITH US

>> www.indigi.nz

Level 5 / 138 Wakefield Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011

+64 21 969 434

media enquiries : media@indigi.nz

Salmonella Dub release fresh tracks & vinyl... 'Soul Love Trippa' /  by JoFF Rae

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Salmonella Dub - Soul Love Trippa 12” vinyl EP

"Hear what the good music of Aotearoa has to say" 

Salmonella Dub launch orders for their new 6 Track 12" vinyl 

Soul Love Trippa from their Dub Stop store www.salmonelladub.com/dubstopstore

The Soul Love Trippa 12” - is a 36 minute journey through the freshly mastered basslands of Aotearoa’s original space weavers Salmonella Dub. This record features 4 exclusive new album tunes, Sprang it, Andy’s Jam, Molesworth and the extended mix of Soul Love Trippa all unavailable digitally, plus the Soul Love Trippa 7” remix by David Harrow & Searching for the Sungle a jungle excursion of For the Rain Dub produced by Harry Bretherton.

This auspicious new vinyl is the first in 4 years since the release of their now sold out 10 album Deluxe Vinyl Box Set and book released for their 25th in 2018. Like the boxset, Soul Love Trippa has been pressed in a limited run with pre-order deals and new merch options open from their Dubstop store on May 4th.

SOUL LOVE TRIPPA 12” 

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Salmonella Dub featuring Nino /  by JoFF Rae

This be a brand new tune, featuring the awesome Nino Birch from Beat Rhythm Fashion.

World She Waits, is the beginnings of Salmonella Dub's 25 year celebrations.

Tune Includes; Scotty Taitoko on bone, shouts out from the Mighty Asterix, mastered by King Willy and produced by the epic Harry Bretherton.
Drums, ride, backing vocals from Dave Deakins, big phat bass in ya face from Mark Tyler and some gat chops, melodies and timemachine from Andrew P.

Driving Aunt Daisy to Meet Nino's People was the initial working title for Salmonella Dub’s 25th single World She Waits launched to radio this week to celebrate the beginnings of the bands 25th birthday.

The tune became a collaboration with Nino Birch from Beat Rhythm Fashion, the band’s choice of an influential artist to represent them at the New Zealand Music Awards this week. Unfortunately, that never was to be as Recorded Music NZ rejected Salmonella Dub’s choice stating that the ‘show producer’ had never heard of the iconic Wellington group. Because of that Beat Rhythm Fashion were deemed too obscure for the TV show demographic and Salmonella Dub stood down from accepting the offer of a ‘Legacy Award’.

Our great Aunt Daisy was of course the famous NZ radio broadcaster from the 30's to the 60's. Like the Recorded Music NZ she was a fast talking sponsor-product-placer who was seriously lacking in knowledge and content. So during our writing mahi with Nino, Aunt Daisy became a cheeky euphemism for the Recorded Music NZ ;-)

Aunt Daisy in Action in the 50’s
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTdvpiHbO0s

Nino’s, World She Waits lyrics were inspired by global issues, corporate greed and land right clashes both here in Aotearoa and with native American tribes affected by the Dakota oil pipeline project.

Searching For The Sun - Salmonella Dub [ NEW unreleased ] /  by JoFF Rae

vocal competition// record with Salmonella Dub!

Vocal competition music bed: Yodel a vocal for this new tune for the summer. No holds barred! All styleez welcomed. Pic taken Monday Dec 12th 2016 from our boat in Monaco Nelson.

Yo, hope your week has been fine? Here's our first nu tune for the summer. We're running a vocal competition for this starting next week. Yodel a vocal for us... All styleez welcomed. The winner gets to release a recorded version with us + 2 VIP tix to Raggamuffin X Feb 18th, plus a box set of Sal Dub CD's and vinyl. Comp starts next week. More info here over the weekend. ENJOY!

review - James Cabaret: sold out gigs & a new era of events... /  by JoFF Rae

The James Cabaret reopened it's doors 30th March 2013 - closing the doors on 31st March 2015 after exactly 2 years of the best gigs Wellington has experienced in some time...

An experiment in an event & venue model the venture demonstrated that Wellington City was capable of sustaining a venue - in fact needs a venue of the calibre & size.  The New Zealand Festival of the arts made the James Cabaret its home for the contemporary music program & several prominent promoters based tours of international acts around the ease & quality of production provided.  The venue quickly became renown for it's high level of production values (international standard & the largest house system in New Zealand) & sold out shows!  Nominated Venue of the Year the James Cabaret ended on an high note!

So why close the doors?  Our source tells us it was 3 issues:

  1. THE LANDLORDS... a committee with the reputation of being difficult to work with (a statement from a past tenant was "they're a pack of arseholes") having driven the doors closed on every other proprietor over the years.  The lease holder from the 90's when the James Cabaret earned it's reputation as a concert venue is not surprised that the Landlord was "impossible to work with - again".
  2. LICENSE ISSUES - sound & crowd issues from disgruntled neighbours with some complaints from a new neighbour (they provided photographs of rubbish including cans of beer - a brand not sold at the James Cabaret).  Sound was an ongoing issue.  "The issues are like mice... " our source says, "when you have one there's going to be more."
  3. END ON A HIGH NOTE!  The source says "we didn't want to end on a low or be forced out by the Council so we took an option provided by the Landlords with their unreasonable demands & walked" he says with no malice, "we felt better about leaving the building with a reputation of producing the best concert events in Wellington!"

The features of the 2 years?

  1. Neneh Cherry.  An icon & the best lady!  Amazing yet simple performance & show (especially the request for no front light until the very end leaving dramatic silhouettes through the performance).
  2. NAS.  EPIC event by Robin Fernando - an amazing effort!  HUGE!
  3. New Zealand Festival Of The Arts.  Best performance from Charles Bradley & Brel: The Words & Music of Jacques Brel featuring Jon Toogood - great to have him in the home of Shihad.
  4. School Boy Q... & the encore!  So huge they had to come back & another epic event from Robin Fernando!
  5. Sticky Fingers.  What an awesome show!  Wellington will wait a while to top this one that was held at 10 days notice & sold out!  Thanks to Rhythm Group!
  6. Run The Jewels, Danny Brown & Earl Sweatshirt.  Probably the closest we will get to Odd Future - let's hope Robin Fernando work that one out!
  7. Aloe Blacc - all style & a great band!
  8. 6 local/domestic acts feature: Brownhill - "resident band"; Devilskin - awesome band & a great bunch to host; Tunes Of I - on their way up & best support; Shapeshifter & Upbeats - a great duo; Phoenix Foundation at their best are the best local; Katchafire - every time!
  9. The better promoters - Robin Fernando, Rhythm Group, 40 Days, Plus1, Mystery Girl & the others who kept bringing great acts; Brotha D for taking the  first risk & bringing the first act to the reopening.
  10. THE AUDIENCE!  The promoters & the venue pay big respect to the people who came to the shows!

& What now?

Watch this space - more to follow...