This one’s hard to play, folks
The world premiere of composer Gary Kulesha’s Oboe Concerto takes place in Auckland this week. RICHARD BETTS caught up with the person who wrote
New Zealand has voices to go
The doyenne of New Zealand choral singing advises RICHARD BETTS to take opportunities when they arise, whether you think you’re ready or not.
Nadia Reid: the lost interview
In the latest instalment of Witchdoctor’s UNEXPURGATED series, RICHARD BETTS asks Nadia Reid the difficult questions.
NZTrio’s new star recruit interviewed
NZTrio is weathering Covid-19 Level 2 restrictions to perform in Auckland. RICHARD BETTS speaks with pianist Somi Kim.
ALL-STAR TOOT – RIP Toots Hibbert
To mark the passing of Toots Hibbert (of Toots & The Maytals) GARY STEEL whips out his 2004 interview with the reggae icon.
Michael Norris Q&A – Post-tonal Post-colonial Composition
RICHARD BETTS chats with award-winning NZ composer Michael Norris whose work uses electronics along with the sound of a whale vertebra.
Caitlin Smith – The Great Witchdoctor Q&A
Caitlin Smith is a singer sublime, celebrated vocal coach and an underrated songwriter. GARY STEEL quizzes her in the great Witchdoctor Q&A.
The Dalai Lama Makes An Album
The Dalai Lama has made his first album at the age of 85 with the help of a couple of enthusiastic New Zealanders. GARY
Come On Feel The Noise
RICHARD BETTS speaks with award-winning NZ composer Sarah Ballard who meditates her music into being.
Tiny Ruins: The Lost Interview
In the latest instalment of Witchdoctor's UNEXPURGATED series, we find RICHARD BETTS deep in conversation with Tiny Ruins singer/player Hollie Fullbrook.
Happy 87th, Willie Nelson!
GARY STEEL celebrates Willie Nelson's 87th birthday by reaching back to an interview he conducted with the legend in 1981.
Shona Laing – The Monster Witchdoctor Q&A
To honour Shona Laing winning the IMNZ Classic Record award for her album South, GARY STEEL digs up his complete and unexpurgated 1987 interview
Bill Rieflin’s Ministry Of Sound
Sometime in the early 1990s GARY STEEL picked up the phone expecting to chat to Ministry’s Paul Barker, and found himself talking to drummer
Interviews From Hell: Bob Geldof
GARY STEEL is celebrating 40 years of writing about music. In a life crammed with interviews, there are bound to have been a few
The Great Witchdoctor Q&A – Nathan Haines
Nathan Haines on Shift Left, his hi-fi, the Silver Scrolls and more…
The Day I Met Elton John
In this 1980 piece, GARY STEEL gets an unexpected interview with Elton ‘Rocketman’ John, and attends the formal press conference.
Nathan Haines’ Slick Fusion – 2003 Revisited
GARY STEEL is celebrating 40 years of music journalism by disintering and re-animating interviews and reviews from his fat archive. In this piece, he
Getting Carter
GARY STEEL is celebrating 40 years of music journalism by disintering and re-animating interviews and reviews from his fat archive. To honour the publication
Sphero Specdrums Let You Play Music With Colours
GARY STEEL meets Steven Dourmashkin, the young inventor behind the just-launched Specdrums children’s instrument.
Good Sport: Jan Hellriegel’s Sportsman Of The Year
Jan Hellriegel is about to release the best album of her career. As if that’s not enough, it’s a superb book as well. She
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