Latest news with #HamishJellyman
Scoop
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
The Flow Collective Release New EP Black Swans
Press Release – The Flow Collective An intimate reflection on memory, identity, and relationships WHANGANUI, NEW ZEALAND – Acclaimed Aotearoa musicians Elizabeth de Vegt and Hamish Jellyman (Ngāi Tahu) return as The Flow Collective with their deeply personal new EP Black Swans, releasing on Friday, 16 May 2025, in celebration of New Zealand Music Month and de Vegt's birthday. Black Swans is a contemplative body of work that reflects on personal histories and how our identities are shaped by past events and relationships. Written and recorded in 2024 at The Stomach in Palmerston North, the EP draws on themes of memory, family, and resilience. The songs express the complexities of navigating the emotional terrain of transformation, and the determination to resist disassociation. 'These songs come from a place of honesty and looking back,' says de Vegt. 'They are about recognising how the past lives in us and shapes who we are today, especially as artists.' This EP represents the first in a duo, where the underlying threads of past, present and future will link them together. While their previous release Flow was expansive—drawing on the poetry of Airini Beautrais and a collective of musicians—Black Swans is paired back and raw. With lyrics written solely by de Vegt, the EP is grounded in storytelling and emotional vulnerability. Her powerful vocal performances and melodies complement Jellyman's multi-instrumental compositions, showcasing his skills on bass, synth, brass, guitar and keys. The result is a strikingly intimate record that sits within the evolving tradition of contemporary New Zealand folk, yet remains firmly rooted in personal experience. Artist Bios Elizabeth de Vegt is a composer, sound artist, singer-songwriter, performer, and researcher based in Whanganui. She is a vocal and piano teacher and holds a Master of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Waikato, where she also completed doctoral research supported by a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship. De Vegt's work spans contemporary classical, electroacoustic, theatrical, and folk genres. Her compositions have been performed across New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and the USA. She is a recipient of the Gill Presland Award for Excellence in Teaching and holds multiple certifications in adult education and professional coaching. Hamish Jellyman is a Whanganui-based composer, educator, and multi-instrumentalist. He completed a Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance (Trombone) at the New Zealand School of Music and has performed throughout New Zealand, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Australia. His credits include the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Royal NZ Air Force Band, Auckland Jazz Orchestra, and bands such as Niko Ne Zna and Spiral Jazz Collective. Hamish is also a dedicated music educator, teaching in schools across the country and directing jazz and concert bands. His studio work includes recordings with Shapeshifter, Gareth Thomas, and others. Black Swans will be available on all major streaming platforms from 16 May 2025. This EP offers a resonant and courageous take on songwriting from two of Aotearoa's most thoughtful and experienced musical voices.
Scoop
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
The Flow Collective Release New EP Black Swans
An intimate reflection on memory, identity, and relationships WHANGANUI, NEW ZEALAND – Acclaimed Aotearoa musicians Elizabeth de Vegt and Hamish Jellyman (Ngāi Tahu) return as The Flow Collective with their deeply personal new EP Black Swans, releasing on Friday, 16 May 2025, in celebration of New Zealand Music Month and de Vegt's birthday. Black Swans is a contemplative body of work that reflects on personal histories and how our identities are shaped by past events and relationships. Written and recorded in 2024 at The Stomach in Palmerston North, the EP draws on themes of memory, family, and resilience. The songs express the complexities of navigating the emotional terrain of transformation, and the determination to resist disassociation. 'These songs come from a place of honesty and looking back,' says de Vegt. 'They are about recognising how the past lives in us and shapes who we are today, especially as artists.' This EP represents the first in a duo, where the underlying threads of past, present and future will link them together. While their previous release Flow was expansive—drawing on the poetry of Airini Beautrais and a collective of musicians—Black Swans is paired back and raw. With lyrics written solely by de Vegt, the EP is grounded in storytelling and emotional vulnerability. Her powerful vocal performances and melodies complement Jellyman's multi-instrumental compositions, showcasing his skills on bass, synth, brass, guitar and keys. The result is a strikingly intimate record that sits within the evolving tradition of contemporary New Zealand folk, yet remains firmly rooted in personal experience. Artist Bios Elizabeth de Vegt is a composer, sound artist, singer-songwriter, performer, and researcher based in Whanganui. She is a vocal and piano teacher and holds a Master of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Waikato, where she also completed doctoral research supported by a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship. De Vegt's work spans contemporary classical, electroacoustic, theatrical, and folk genres. Her compositions have been performed across New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and the USA. She is a recipient of the Gill Presland Award for Excellence in Teaching and holds multiple certifications in adult education and professional coaching. Hamish Jellyman is a Whanganui-based composer, educator, and multi-instrumentalist. He completed a Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance (Trombone) at the New Zealand School of Music and has performed throughout New Zealand, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Australia. His credits include the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Royal NZ Air Force Band, Auckland Jazz Orchestra, and bands such as Niko Ne Zna and Spiral Jazz Collective. Hamish is also a dedicated music educator, teaching in schools across the country and directing jazz and concert bands. His studio work includes recordings with Shapeshifter, Gareth Thomas, and others. Black Swans will be available on all major streaming platforms from 16 May 2025. This EP offers a resonant and courageous take on songwriting from two of Aotearoa's most thoughtful and experienced musical voices.
NZ Herald
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Brass Whanganui's Sound Canvas show in new venue for 2025
'It's a very different perspective. 'Projecting the art on to the walls of the church will also be pretty spectacular.' There will be three performances; on May 2 at 7.30pm, and 2pm and 7.30pm on May 3. Jellyman said Sound Canvas' artistic team (himself, Hayden Davis, Hamish Jellyman and Fergus Reid) had 'come up with as many strange ideas as we can'. 'It's very collaborative across the board, and it takes us four days to rig this up and get it going. 'Each musical piece has been carefully curated to complement visual artistry, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in a world where melodies and colours intertwine. 'It's an exploration of how music can inspire visual art and vice versa.' He said most of the art and music was local, with Hamish Jellyman writing two new musical pieces; Crisp Morning Air and Coming Around the Bend. Singer and songwriter Charlotte Melser is also part of the performance. Davis was 'the man behind everything', particularly around the use of technology and how the show looked, Jellyman said. 'He's a percussionist, bassist and collaborator to everyone. 'His task is to link in with Fergus Reid, the best light and sound tech ever.' He said artist Mike Marsh would be painting live during the show. 'That will pop up on the video wall from time to time and, at the end, you can bid to buy it.' Visual art has been curated by Jacqueline Brand-Holt, in partnership with several Whanganui artists and Whanganui Artists Open Studios. Jellyman said tickets were still available for the shows. 'Last time, we had to turn people away, and I would expect Friday night to be full very soon.'
