Talkin’ With Temper Trap (Interview)
Australian band The Temper Trap has just released the follow-up to their very successful 2009 debut album Conditions. Between then and now the band has added a new member, keyboard player Joseph Greer, who hails from Auckland. Joseph is not completely new to Temper Trap fans, he played on the first album and has […]
The Latin Soul of Jennifer Zea (Interview)
Jennifer Zea has just released her debut album,The Latin Soul. It was produced by Nathan Haines and co-written by Kevin Field. Jennifer is a native of Venezuela who has brought her style of Latin Soul to the Auckland music scene. The 13th Floor spoke to Jennifer Zea just as her album is about to be […]
Heavy Metal Ninja Revealed
Are you curious about the mysterious band known as Heavy Metal Ninjas? They are the ones who will be playing Auckland’s Powerstation on Friday, May 25th along with Cairo Knife Fight and Supervillians. The 13th Floor tracked down these shady characters to their rehearsal room in the bowels of the Auckland CBD and cornered the head Ninja […]
Shirley Manson Talks Trash With The 13th Floor (Interview)
After a seven-year layoff, Garbage is back with a new album, Not Your Kind Of People. The 13th Floor caught up with frontwoman Shirley Manson just as the band was hitting the road to promote the new release. Click here to listen to the interview with Shirley Manson of Garbage: Click here to listen […]
Zowie Speaks! (Interview)
New Zealand’s electronia-pop dynamo Zowie (aka Zoe Fleury) has just released her debut album Love Demolition. Zowie’s been on the Auckland scene a while now, dating back to her days as Bionic Pixie. Now, after raves from Perez Hilton and opening slots for Katy Perry, she’s poised to break into the big time. The […]
Interview: Catching Up With John Butler
The John Butler Trio will tour New Zealand in February as part of the Summer Vineyard Tour that also features Aloe Blacc and Annabel Fay. The tour will play eight dates from Hawkes Bay to Whitford. The 13th Floor spoke to John Butler about the latest version of his trio and about some of […]
Captain Sensible’s Top 5
The Damned are due in town later this week and so it seemed only right to ask guitarist Captain Sensible about his five favourite tracks. His selections may surprise, or even possibly offend you. Listen here as Captain Sensible discusses his top 5 tracks:
Interview: Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls
The Dresden Dolls have reunited and are about to return to New Zealand for shows at the end of January. Lead singer and pianist Amanda Palmer is not a stranger to these shores, having toured here on her own just last year, narrowly missing the February Christchurch earthquake. The 13th Floor spoke to Amanda […]
Interview: Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall and John Oates will be performing in New Zealand for the first time in 30 years this month. The dates are: Saturday, January 28th at Church Road Winery, Napier and Sunday, January 29th at Villa Maria Estate, Auckland. As well as being one-half of the best selling duo in music history, Daryl […]
Interview: Anna Calvi’s Long-Distance Whisper
Anna Calvi is one of the 13th Floor’s most eagerly-anticipated artists to be performing at this month’s Laneway Festival in Auckland. Her self-titled debut album was one of the best of 2011. As evidence of that fact, Anna was in The Netherlands after receiving an award there for her album when The 13th Floor […]
Interview: Victoria Girling-Butcher Talks About Her First Solo Album Since Leaving Lucid 3
Summit Drive is the title of Victoria Girling-Butcher’s first solo album. The former Lucid 3 frontwoman has been through a lot since her band split up, most notably fighting a debilitating auto-immune disease. Victoria stopped by The 13th Floor to talk about her music and her life. Click here to listen to the interview: Click here […]
Interview: The Damned’s Captain Sensible Talks Punk, Politics & Psychedelia
In anticipation of The Damned’s upcoming show at Auckland’s Powerstation on January 25th, The 13th Floor gave guitarist & founding member Captian Sensible a call to see what he and his band of merry pranksters have been up to. Click here to listen to the interview: Click here to listen to The Damned’s first […]
Interview: Mulatu Astatke Talks To The 13th Floor
Ethiopian jazz/funk pioneer Mulatu Astatke is due to perform his first concert in New Zealand at Auckland’s Powerstation on Friday, November 25th. The 13th Floor called him at his home in Ethiopia just as he was about to depart for his tour. Listen in as Mulatu discusses his 50-year career as a groundbreaking musician. […]
Interview: Bic Runga – Just Like Starting Over
Bic Runga is just about to release her new album, Belle. It’s her first collection of new studio material since 2005’s Birds. Belle was produced by former Mint Chicks’ front man Kody Nielson and was recorded in Auckland and Los Angeles. The 13th Floor caught up with Bic at the Sony NZ offices, where […]
Interview: Funkommunity Comes To The 13th Floor
Isaac Aesili, one half of the soul/jazz/funk duo Funkommunity, with Rachel Fraser, popped by The 13th Floor to talk about their new album, Chequered Thoughts. The album was just released this week and they will be performing in Auckland this weekend to celebrate its release. Listen in to the conversation with Isaac: Click here […]
Interview: Lisa Crawley
She already has a Silver Scroll nomination, has opened for Jools Holland and Paul Weller and has released two E.P.s. Now Lisa Crawley is about to release her debut album. Everything That I Have Seen becomes available on Monday, October 17th. Lisa stopped by at The 13th Floor to tell us about the new album and her […]
Video Interview: We Are Augustines Direct From Brooklyn
We Are Augustines is the Brooklyn, New York-based band that rose from the ashes of Pela and features BillyMcCarthy and Eric Sanderson from that band. The duo recorded their debut album, Rise Ye Sunken Ships, and then recruited drummer Rob Allen to round out the group. The 13th Floor traveled to exotic Brooklyn to […]
Archival Interview: Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy Gives An Album-By-Album Rundown Of The Band’s Recorded History
We’re big Wilco fans at The 13th Floor and are very excited about the new album, The Whole Love. So, as a bonus, here is an interview with band leader Jeff Tweedy recorded on January 17, 2003, just before the band played Auckland’s Big Day Out. Click here to listen to the interview with […]
Interview: Mel Parsons Talks About Her New Album Red Grey Blue
Auckland-based singer-songwriter Mel Parsons has just released her second album. Titled Red Grey Blue, she co-produced it with the ubiquitous Jeremy Toy. Mel Has just set out to tour the country in support of the new album. Before hitting the road, she stopped by The 13th Floor to have a chat about her music, […]
Interview: Red Hot Chili Pipers Explain "Bag-Rock" & Why They Are Banned From The Rugby World Cup
Direct from Scotland, the Red Hot Chili Pipers begin their tour of NZ on Saturday September 30 at Auckland’s Vector Arena. Expect to hear tunes from anyone from The Who to Robbie Williams played on the bagpipes. The 13th Floor spoke to head Piper Kevin MacDonald about the upcoming tour and the group’s ban […]