09: What is 'New Zealand Music?'
We tried to define NZ Music last year and this what we came up with:
No one sings about New Zealand like New Zealanders sing about New Zealand. Well, no one else sings about New Zealand (except U2’s “One Tree Hill”). We are a small island nation at the bottom of the Pacific like a little life raft. Most people think we’re part of Australia. It’s important that we listen to our own stories, and support those that are telling them, because no one else will.
Defining ‘New Zealand music’ is not a task for the weak. Although, Andrew Witty did a good job explaining the complexities to us. It could rest on where the influence is drawn, where the music was written, or even who performs it. Witty explained that “NZ music identity is still highly contested in an NZ setting”. Some music might be seen as NZ music overseas, but not perceived that way locally, ”muddying an already tricky dialogue”. Natasha Bedingfield went to school here but not many of us would consider “Unwritten” an NZ greatest hit.
The weird thing about living on a little life raft in a globalised world is that we play a lot of international artists through our speakers, but they’re talking about their own streets. In 1981 Blam Blam Blam released ‘“There Is No Depression in New Zealand”. This came out against the backdrop of rising unemployment, growing resentment of the government, and the Springbok Tour. The hook goes like “We have no dole queues/ We have no drug addicts/ We have no racism/ We have no sexism.” It’s an upbeat banger dripping in irony, articulating the feelings living in the shadows.
Home Brew used the line “there is no depression in New Zealand” in their song “Listen to Us”. We’ve all missed the messages they’ve sent and gotten drunk in a shithouse flat to “Alcoholic.” It takes skill to turn hard truths into something that sounds good playing out of your garage speakers. It’s a trojan horse of a song. These are important messages which provide a critique on important societal issues. At this point I’d rather hear it from Tom Scott than some not-necessarily accurate government statistics.
Then there’s the straight up familiarity you won’t get anywhere else. We’ve been to the fish n chip shop from the Wandering Eye music video. When David Dallas said “ain’t hexed my drive since my Honda civic got rusty,” we felt that. When Brett McKenzie pipes up with “ooo you’re a legend Dave” for getting “The Most Beautiful Girl [In The Room]” to his party, we all thought of a Dave. And of course, the Sky Tower in The Beths’ music video for “Happy Unhappy” is iconography at its best.
We’ve only had proper sound recording equipment since the 1940s. ‘Blue Smoke’ (1949) was the first song recorded here. It was written by Ruru Karaitiana with vocals by Pixie Williams. The song was picked up by that American dude Dean Martin (allegedly the ‘King of Cool’) and did well overseas, too. Their legacy has meant that other artists can do their work, for local and international audiences, wherever they call home. It’s good music. It’s been there for you, as Kids of 88 was there for Matt’s First Kiss.
New Zealand music is whatever it wants to be. And just like everyday is Mother’s Day, every month is New Zealand Music Month. Now is the time to reflect on what that means to you. There’s no substitute.
Happy 21st birthday NZ Music Month,
Sally Ward (she/her) and Matthew Casey (he/him)