meredith_shayne

So, it's been a while, internets. Even longer than what's normal for me. That's mainly because life is kicking me in the metaphorical nuts right now, and has been since September. First it knocked me down, then it kicked me while I was down there a few times, and just when I thought I was going to be able to get up, it's kicking me again. So far my health is the only thing that has stayed relatively stable in recent weeks, and even that is only a matter of time, probably.

Anyway! When sucky things like the last few weeks happen, I generally take refuge in music. So I'm going to share with you some songs that have made me happy lately. They are all New Zealand bands/singers, and I encourage you to check them out, because they are fab.

First up, Shapeshifter. These guys are a Drum and Bass band, which is a genre--along with hip hop, soul, and funk--that heavily influences a lot of NZ music. I don't know what it is about this country, but the Kiwis love their beats. Shapeshifter love their epic, 7-minute, mostly instrumental songs, which depending on your taste can get a little tedious, but this song is a beautiful exception. Paora Apera's voice shines in this one. He's got a real yearning quality to his voice which I love.

Something to note, if you're at all sensitive to strobe-like, flashing lights, skip this video.



On the more rocky side, we have Six60. I have a real soft spot for these guys. They are great live. Singer Matiu Walters also has a yearning quality to his voice that can be really, really beautiful in their slower songs.



The Wyld are a relatively new Kiwi band putting out music that's a really intriguing mix of genres which took a while to grow on me, but now it has I think they're amazing. The singer has a certain quality to his voice, something that's not at all a theme of this post...hmm. But I could listen to 2:15-2:35 over and over again until the end of time.



Last but by no means least, Kimbra. The world knows her as the female voice in Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know, but her solo work is fantastic. Judging by how many YouTube videos I found of her doing American promotion, I guess at least some of the world knows that by now? This song is so beautiful I can hardly stand it.



So, there you go. Kiwi music. Not bad, not bad at all.

Recently, I've been writing a story set in and around this place:

( Mt Keith nickel mine )

Writing about such an Australian place has led me to listen to this band:

( Midnight Oil )

who are a band I used to love A LOT, so much so that I used this album cover:

( Diesel and Dust )

as the basis of a senior art project. In that I drew it. Using water colour pencils. Because I used to kid myself that I could actually draw.

Anyway. Turns out that I still love Midnight Oil quite a lot, which has led me to trawl You Tube for various videos. God bless the internet!

But here's where I confess to a tiny bit of an obsession with Midnight Oil's drummer - let's call him Rob Hirst, since that's his name - who really has the most divine arms known to man.

( Seriously )

I really loved that pink jumpsuit.

Now, that particular gig took place 25 years ago (sigh. I'm old, alas). Rob Hirst is now in his 50's, but frankly, he's still hot as hell, and his arms are still incredible. Observe him in a subsequent incarnation as part of the Ghostwriters.

( Can it be called a cover if it's the person who wrote it who's singing it? )

So. In conclusion, story set in Mt Keith = finished, pending an edit to cut 2,000 words out of the bloody thing to make it fit the word limit, and Rob Hirst = still hot. And yes, this is what I do when I'm procrastinating writing.