For NZ Music Month, we're asking local musicians to tell us about the New Zealand songs they love the most. First up, October (aka Emma Logan) tells us what she loves about songs from Kimbra, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ladyhawke, SoccerPractise and Scuba Diva
Photo: Supplied
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Kimbra – Settle Down
When I was about 14, I remember hearing this and instantly being hooked. I was fascinated with how a song could be so captivating from first listen – it was easily one of the more interesting and intricate pop songs I’d ever heard, full of ebbing layers of vocals folding over one another, but it was never too much. I think Kimbra was one of the first artists I truly idolised. I spent the following 12 months of my life emulating her music and begging my parents to buy me a loop pedal.
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Unknown Mortal Orchestra – So Good At Being In Trouble
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Ladyhawke – Paris Is Burning
I was 12 and thought I was really trendy and alternative because I cut my own side fringe and wore beat up Chuck Taylor’s and listened to Paris is Burning by Ladyhawke consecutively for about 40 minutes every day for two weeks. And I don’t blame myself, because this song is still SO good. The chord progression in the chorus makes me feel so much and those suspension chords that resolve right on the repeat lyric of “Paris is burning” gets me real good every time. The 80s-inspired funk sound still sounds really fresh and the song just doesn’t really age at all. In fact, I might go listen to this on repeat for a while now.
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SoccerPractise – Windfall
I was first introduced to SoccerPractise when they played their set after mine at The Others Way festival. I went to get some water and came back to the most hypnotic, entrancing and captivating music I’d heard in a long time. The song they were playing was Windfall, and you will see what I mean. The simplicity of the pitched toms that stand in place as a bass line, the crunchy, flickering percussion, and the repeated chant of the lead vocals is dizzying in the best possible way. I remember sitting at home the day after the gig and listening to their song non-stop trying to dissect every little piece of the music to figure out what made it so infectiously good.
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Scuba Diva – What’s The Point
I first met Jimmy at a gig he was DJ’ing in Wellington. I was already a huge fan of What’s The Point so I drunkenly introduced myself to him, reassured by the confidence that he had liked my song on Soundcloud (which is obviously a huge deal).
I love this song because it’s reminiscent of Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock, which became one of my favourite songs after my 5-year-old craze over the Austin Powers movies (which looking back now is somewhat inappropriate). What’s The Point is a song so effortlessly perfect, like waking up late on a Sunday afternoon in December with a bad hangover, but knowing you have nothing to do that day. Underwater Funk has become my new favourite genre since Scuba Diva blessed us with his music.
Follow October on Facebook and Soundcloud.