I reckon peter that your influence within NZ music might be short and sharp. To say that NZ music doesn't sound international.... well, there is some pretty good reasons for that.
Kiwi bands fall victim to their sophomore albums here in NZ... the old recipe repeats itself time and time again. Big label signs 'it' band... over produces the music, alienates NZ music within it's own country by trying to stack up against the produced sound of US imported music, and by the time album no/ 2 is dropped.... usually the band is too by their label. Or, alot of bands want to get out of their contracts with Sony. Universal.... whatever.
Not only that, but because we're so small, and the market has to keep moving with new bands and flavours, there's only so much of a shelf life for the 'it' bands.
NZ doesn't have the same level of equipment as the US. What IS popular IS the sound of an SSL 9000/4000 console. Tape (too expensive in NZ), and beautiful fucking slammed compression. The gear is one thing, but what NZ production industry lacks is an exposure to this level of gear which inherently develops the expertise, and has led to the ommission of this style of production in kiwi land.
Most of NZ's longest standing bands understand their own market... and sorry to say Peter, but in the grand scheme of a Kiwi bands career, you really don't matter much to us, the band, or the record company. Hey, maybe you can sell a few copies quickly, and maybe you can appease the inflated masses from your home country. But anyone who's worth their salt for the good of NZMusic should be spending more time in the trenches with the true pioneers, and the future bands of NZ music..... NOT assimilating what has been already done o'seas.
Wow, what a flame starter this is!
I reckon peter that your influence within NZ music might be short and sharp. To say that NZ music doesn't sound international.... well, there is some pretty good reasons for that.
Kiwi bands fall victim to their sophomore albums here in NZ... the old recipe repeats itself time and time again. Big label signs 'it' band... over produces the music, alienates NZ music within it's own country by trying to stack up against the produced sound of US imported music, and by the time album no/ 2 is dropped.... usually the band is too by their label. Or, alot of bands want to get out of their contracts with Sony. Universal.... whatever.
Not only that, but because we're so small, and the market has to keep moving with new bands and flavours, there's only so much of a shelf life for the 'it' bands.
NZ doesn't have the same level of equipment as the US. What IS popular IS the sound of an SSL 9000/4000 console. Tape (too expensive in NZ), and beautiful fucking slammed compression. The gear is one thing, but what NZ production industry lacks is an exposure to this level of gear which inherently develops the expertise, and has led to the ommission of this style of production in kiwi land.
Most of NZ's longest standing bands understand their own market... and sorry to say Peter, but in the grand scheme of a Kiwi bands career, you really don't matter much to us, the band, or the record company. Hey, maybe you can sell a few copies quickly, and maybe you can appease the inflated masses from your home country. But anyone who's worth their salt for the good of NZMusic should be spending more time in the trenches with the true pioneers, and the future bands of NZ music..... NOT assimilating what has been already done o'seas.