Latest news with #SouthernCrossCountry
Newsroom
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsroom
The revival of a genre that never went away
Once considered niche and tucked away in dusty record stores or rural community halls, country music in New Zealand is enjoying something of a golden moment. From chart-topping Kiwi artists to two dedicated music stations in the past 18 months, the genre is striking a heartfelt chord with more people than ever before. Mark Rogers, host of Nashville Babylon on RNZ, grew up listening to country music, from Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash to Marty Robbins, and tells The Detail that it's all about the storytelling. 'As a kid, the songs and storytelling caught my imagination,' he says. 'The songs have no fat on them, they cut to the chase straight away, they are pretty simple, there's nothing too complicated about them, you know exactly where you are. 'And the classic country songs have something in them that will appeal to just about everyone. They hit home. They are easy to get and understand. People can identify with them. 'It's rare that they are talking about big flash cars or billion-dollar jewellery. It's the working man's music – that's been its appeal for many, many decades, and that will continue to ring true.' Kiwis, it seems, are falling more in love with the genre. And over the past 18 months, this has prompted the launch of not one, but two dedicated country music radio stations in New Zealand. First, broadcaster Mike Puru started Southern Cross Country, found on digital platforms. Then this month, NZME launched iHeartCountry NZ, offered on the iHeartRadio app and selected FM frequencies around the country. There are no presenters, just pre-programmed country music. Both stations showcase global legends and local voices. Among those voices, one name stands out: Tami Neilson. The Canadian-born, New Zealand-based powerhouse has been a trailblazer for years and has just won the inaugural Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music in Aotearoa, recognising her outstanding impact and unwavering dedication to the country music scene. 'What Tami is doing at the moment is astounding; she has been teaming up with Willie Nelson over in the States, which is a dream come true for her,' Rogers says. 'It's incredible and I'm super proud of what she is achieving…. I would like to think she will get on the (mainstream radio) playlists, because what she is doing is absolutely fantastic. The songs are great, and radio loves a good song, so there is no excuse not to play Tami.' But she is competing for airtime with unlikely country singers, including Beyonce and Post Malone, who have swapped pop and rap, respectively, for country beats. 'This has just exploded, and I think it's a good thing,' Rogers says. 'Admittedly, I'm not a massive fan of some of it, but I'm a big fan of others. 'I don't think it's cheapened the genre at all; it's just music developing.' And it's clear Kiwis want more of it, proving country music in New Zealand isn't just surviving. It's thriving. Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The Detail: How New Zealand is falling in love with country music
Tami Neilson has been recording with country icon Willie Nelson. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Once considered niche, and tucked away in dusty record stores or rural community halls, country music in New Zealand is enjoying something of a golden moment. From chart-topping Kiwi artists to two dedicated radio stations in the past 18 months, the genre is striking a heartfelt chord with more people than ever before. RNZ Nashville Babylon host Mark Rogers grew up listening to country music, from Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash to Marty Robbins, and told The Detail that it's all about the storytelling. "As a kid, the songs and storytelling caught my imagination," he said. "The songs have no fat on them, they cut to the chase straight away, they are pretty simple. "There's nothing too complicated about them, you know exactly where you are and the classic country songs have something in them that will appeal to just about everyone. They hit home, they are easy to get and understand, people can identify with them. "It's rare that they are talking about big flash cars or billion-dollar jewellery. It's the workingman's music - that's been its appeal for many, many decades and that will continue to ring true." It seems Kiwis are falling more in love with the genre and over the last 18 months, this has prompted the launch of not one, but two dedicated country music radio stations in New Zealand. First, broadcaster Mike Puru started Southern Cross Country, found on digital platforms. Then this month, NZME launched iHeartCountry NZ, offered on the iHeartRadio app and selected FM frequencies around the country. There are no presenters, just pre-programmed country music. Both stations showcase global legends and local voices. Among those voices, one name stands out - Tami Neilson. The Canadian-born, NZ-based powerhouse has been a trailblazer for years and has just won the inaugural Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music in Aotearoa, recognising her outstanding impact and unwavering dedication to the scene. "What Tami is doing at the moment is astounding," Rogers said. "She has been teaming up with Willie Nelson over in the States, which is a dream come true for her. "It's incredible and I'm super proud of what she is achieving. I would like to think she will get on the [mainstream radio] playlists, because what she is doing is absolutely fantastic. "The songs are great and radio loves a good song, so there is no excuse not to play Tami." Neilson competes for airtime with unlikely country singers, including Beyonce and Post Malone, who have swapped pop and rap respectively for country beats. "This has just exploded and I think it's a good thing,'' Rogers says. "Admittedly, I'm not a massive fan of some of it, but I'm a big fan of others. "I don't think it's cheapened the genre at all - it's just music developing." Clearly, Kiwis want more of it, proving country music in New Zealand isn't just surviving - it is thriving. Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here . You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter .
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Country-Pop Maven Miranda Easten Releases Poignant New Single ‘When I Dream'--A Heartfelt Tribute To Those We've Lost
'WHEN I DREAM', the first single off Eastens' upcoming new album SOUTHERN, 15 tracks set for digital and vinyl release this summer. Chart-topping local country artist MIRANDA EASTEN unveils her most moving release to date with 'When I Dream' – a hauntingly beautiful ballad that captures the bittersweet ache of longing for someone who has passed on. Co-written with UK friend Chris Childs, 'When I Dream' explores the surreal comfort of dreaming about a loved one who is no longer here – where memory and imagination collide, and love lingers in the silence of night. The highly evocative track has already received extremely positive feedback from both local and Australian industry ears with the teams at KIX Country and the Australian CMA in full support of 'When I Dream', and Southern Cross Country immediately adding it onto A Rotation. The track, and the whole upcoming album SOUTHERN features a world-class production team with album producer Greg Haver (Melanie C, Manic Street Preachers, Kimbra) confirming London based luminary Adrian Hall (Shakira, Tori Amos, All Saints, Robbie Williams) will be on mixing duties, and mastering to be completed by Nashville's esteemed Ryan Smith (Coldplay, Britney Spears, Adele, Beyoncé). Says Miranda: ' I was incredibly lucky to have Adrian Hall mix the track. He's based in London and has worked with everyone from Robbie Williams and Alicia Keys to The Black Eyed Peas. His credentials are insane, I'm thrilled to have his expertise and input!'. The result is a sonically rich, emotionally stirring track that fuses Easten's signature country storytelling with lush, cinematic instrumentation. With each of Easten's first two albums being recorded over multi-year periods, the place for her third album is more succinct and distinctly clear – to take Miranda and the songs already written for the album to Nashville, and smash it out over a week. Says Haver: 'Bringing Miranda and her songs to Berry Hill, her musical home, to absorb the country music spirit of the city is a great precursor to recording the album. The plan for SOUTHERN is to record live off the studio floor over the course of a week, with me (album producer Greg Haver) on drums, co-writer Chris Childs on bass, and with a selection of Nashville's finest musicians to naturally imbue the album with an authentic taste of its edgy, hipster country vibe.' Easten's critically acclaimed second album CONCRETE AND HONEY debuted at #6 on the Official New Zealand Album Charts in 2024, cementing her status as a rising force in modern country music. Her work has been featured on CMT, MTV, Nashville TV, and she continues to build a strong international fanbase through her striking music videos and heartfelt performances. 'When I Dream' is a song for anyone who's ever loved and lost – and found comfort in dream-filled nights.
