Wax Chattels are Auckland post-punk band Peter Ruddell (organ/vocals), Amanda Cheng (bass/vocals) and Tom Leggett (drums). Wax Chattels don’t waste time. They enjoy effects pedals, loudness and using the words “fuck” and “smash” a lot. “I am restless,” says Amanda. We’re at Wax Chattels’ sold out show at Whammy, the Friday night conclusion to their national tour and working week. The Taipei-born,ContinueContinue reading “Real Talk with Wax Chattels”
Tag Archives: Auckland
Ten Years of China: Interview with Daniel Beban
Dan Beban a.k.a. Baba Rossa is the wearer of many hats (both costume and otherwise), a prolific Wellington-based artist, organiser, documentarian, DIY master… To add to that, he’s just curated his first exhibition The Middle Kingdom: Made in China 2002 – 2017 at Audio Foundation in Auckland. Kiwese zoned in to find out more. I’d just returnedContinueContinue reading “Ten Years of China: Interview with Daniel Beban”
Far Out Distant Sounds in New Zealand: Interview with Ricky Maymi
Owing to the wondrous power of the innernette, I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Ricky Maymi for a few years now. Known to many as guitarist of the notoriously volatile Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Imajinary Friends, Maymi is also synonymous with the promotion of Chinese indie rock abroad, specifically the Beijing bands that emerged inContinueContinue reading “Far Out Distant Sounds in New Zealand: Interview with Ricky Maymi”
Favourite Gigs 2016
Construction and redevelopment has seen Chengdu’s cultural landscape (read: the places we go to drink alcohol and listen to music) change dramatically. But as old places close and new ones emerge, great shows from bands, performers, DJs and collectives continue to entertain and inspire. Along with the loss of Bowie, Prince and George Michael, we lost manyContinueContinue reading “Favourite Gigs 2016”
Responding to Brian Rudman’s Push for More Nationalism and Less Dragons
Yesterday a friend of Kiwese sent through this opinion piece: ‘Why focus on other cultures and not our own?’ by NZ Herald columnist Brian Rudman. I eyeballed it somewhat carefully – any article that opens with possessive pronouns around culture and a cartoon dragon engulfing a white, flag-waving, Fred Dagg figure in a wife beater warrants several deep breaths through theContinueContinue reading “Responding to Brian Rudman’s Push for More Nationalism and Less Dragons”
Losing My Shit Over Polyswagg
Earth has borne witness to unstoppable forces of nature – earthquakes, volcanos, hurricanes and The Royal Family. TW: extreme fangirling Crowns UP! The Royal Family are so fucking badass. I’m hooked. Tautoko these bitches all day – literally. Maybe a little too literally… For the past 48 hours I’ve been on a very real YouTube marathonContinueContinue reading “Losing My Shit Over Polyswagg”
Favourite Releases 2015
From Wellington stoner country to Beijing glitch hop, 2015 was packed with awesome releases from both New Zealand and China. Here are fifteen Kiwese favourites! Illustration by Ali Pang. With Knees of Honey in Goodbye Canyon by So Laid Back Country China (Wellington, NZ) So Laid Back Country China (or 很放松乡村中国) is a four-piece band fronted by Harriet Ferry andContinueContinue reading “Favourite Releases 2015”
Vinyl Destination: Interview with Cian O’Donnell from Conch Records
In this content-saturated Internet age of free digital downloads and infinite streaming, Cian O’Donnell is among those still repping the power of wax over at his well-loved shop Conch Records, which has been spinning records in the City of Sails for the best part of two decades. Kiwese caught up with the voice so familiar to George FM listeners ahead of his upcoming vinylContinueContinue reading “Vinyl Destination: Interview with Cian O’Donnell from Conch Records”
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