Interview by BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

NEW ZEALAND artist Jordan Reyne may go down as one of New Zealand’s most underrated musicians of the last decade. She has decided to give up releasing music – despite (and because of) her fifth and latest album How The Dead Live. Part-funded through the Department of Conservation and Creative New Zealand’s “Wild Creations” programme, Reyne spent time at Karamea on the West Coast. From her research there, Reyne conceived of a narrative based around an early settler to the area – Susannah Hawes who time and history have forgotten. The result is a highly idiosyncratic album, full of great songs and an ambition rarely seen in New Zealand music. It’s also highly listenable, beautiful melodies and Reyne’s lauded voice carrying through stories of New Zealand’s forgotten past.

On the eve of Niki Caro’s adaptation of The Vintner’s Luck (in cinemas Novemebr 12), its author, Elizabeth Knox, talks to CHRISTINE LINNELL about conceiving the sequel, The Angel’s Cut.

Metronomy front-man Joseph Mount talks making music, sci-movies, and other priorities. Interview by BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

Phoenix Foundation drummer Richie Singleton talks about becoming Rebel Peasant on his new solo album, The Walls of the Well. Interview by BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

From Wattie’s tomato sauce to Daniel Cartier via Tame Iti and Vichy Invercargill, the laughs keep coming in Dave Armstrong’s new play, Le Sud. He talks to ALEXANDER BISLEY about reimagining the South Island as a French colony.

One half of the Handsome Furs, Dan Boeckner, unbundles the Montreal band’s latest album Face Control on the eve of two shows in New Zealand this August. Interview by BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

Annabel Alpers, aka Bachelorette, discusses with BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM making the transition from the brilliant and solitary Isolation Loops, to her more collaborative and technophilic second album, My Electric Family.

Shayne Carter talks Dimmer’s latest album, the excellent and unpredictable Degrees of Existence, with BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

Vic Chesnutt (with Victoria Williams) tour New Zealand this July. He talks to BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM about recording his debut album Little, and being alive nearly twenty years later to tell the tale.

Phil Ormsby and Alex Ellis, founders of Flaxworks theatre company, and director Anna Marbrook are working together for the first time to bring Carol & Nev to the stage, premiering at The Basement theatre in Auckland, from June 15. RENEE LIANG talks to Alex and Phil about creative coupling.

ALEXANDER BISLEY speaks to Michelle Johansson and members of her Black Friars troupe ahead of bringing their acclaimed Othello Polynesia Shakespeare adaptation to Wellington this June.

Actor, writer, director and teacher Glen Pickering is staging a “Mocumentative play” called Kairoa Glory: A Top Town Story. RENEE LIANG talks to Glen about making plays from real-life childhood memories.

Conrad Keely chats to BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM about Trail of Dead’s latest album, The Century of Self, before the band touch down in New Zealand for two dates in early June.

Mel Parsons discusses her moving debut album, Over My Shoulder, with BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

RENEE LIANG chats to Lori Dungey, member of improvisor group ConArtists and co-creator of Austen Found, which presents the ‘undiscovered works of Jane Austen’ at the Comedy Festival this week.

Finn Andrews tells BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM about the making of The Veils’ third album, Sun Gangs.

The nomaic Jacob Perkins, hailing from Portland, currently in New Zealand, and about to move to Paris, talks to BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM about his EP, The Birds and the Beasties.

Six man vocal and percussion ensemble Lo Còr de la Plana, hailing from Marseille, featured at this year’s glorious WOMAD. CATHERINE BISLEY’s words and images captured their performance.

Delivering one of best live shows of 2008, Okkervil River return to New Zealand for two encore dates in May. BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM interviews the band’s frontman Will Sheff.

Philip Patston is an ex-gay, ex-disabled, ex-vegetarian, ex-comedian about to perform at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in May. RENEE LIANG speaks to him about how he invents himself.

Lumière’s Auckland Theatre Reviewer, Renee Liang, chats to ALEXANDER BISLEY about the fruition of her own play, ‘Lantern’, at BATS from April 21-May 2.

What was Lantern’s genesis?

I’d written a few short plays before then, and had some performed, but wanted to try my hand at long-form. I thought I’d start with a two-hander since I’ve really enjoyed the ones I’ve seen (Niu Sila, Bare) and they’re something of a tradition in New Zealand anyway – easy to put on, challenging for the actors, fun to watch. After I’d written a few scenes, I quickly realised that I needed some kind of unifying notion. It’s well known advice that you should ‘write what you know.’ So I hit on the idea of centering the action of my play around a family preparing for Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is to Chinese what Christmas is to Europeans. It’s a big fifteen-day celebration, and on Chinese New Year’s Eve everyone has to get together for a big family dinner. And traditionally you start the New Year off on a clean slate, so you have to have sorted the house, yourself and your family out, before the clock strikes midnight.

Ahead of four New Zealand dates this April, Sneaky Sound System’s co-founder Angus McDonald tells BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM about the ups and downs of success.

CATHERINE BISLEY’s third WOMAD as Lumière photographer. We present a selection of groups and some favourite moments that evoke the weekend in gallery format.

Sam Trubridge is producer and director of Auckland Festival show Sleep/Wake (March 7-10, Auckland Town Hall). He talked to RENEE LIANG about the concepts around the show.

BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM interviews punk/alt. country legend John Doe, in New Zealand next week to deliver three shows with Jim White.

Tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery chats to BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM about playing in one the Wellington Jazz Festival’s main drawcards, the Mingus Big Band.

Ahead of a performance at the Wellington Jazz Festival this week, Otis Taylor talks blues with BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

Ahead of an intriguing weekend of performances, MELODY NIXON caught up with Fleur Elise Noble and Erica Field of 2-Dimensional Life of Her, a combination of film, animation, and marionettes.

With the upcoming visit of one of popular music’s greats, David Byrne, and with another excellent WOMAD on the horizon, it seems as good a time as ever to look at the fraught nature of world music, writes BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

Worshipped internationally, inconspicuous locally, Campbell Kneale, formally Birchville Cat Motel, talks new work with BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

Ahead of shows in Auckland and Wellington, Stereolab’s Tim Gane chats to BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM via email.

Robert Scott’s vulnerable voice, beautifully crafted pop songs, thematically dark subjects remain intact within The Bats’ latest album, The Guilty Office, writes BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

ALEXANDER BISLEY and AMY BROWN don’t have the hubris to suggest they read anywhere near enough of the contenders for best books of 2008 released in New Zealand. They can happily recommend ten crackers though.

For The Lumière Reader, Music Editor BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM, and contributors GEOFF STAHL, JAMES ROBINSON and ALEXANDER BISLEY review the year in albums, singles, and memorable gigs.

Musician Warwick Blair discusses the Indian traditions behind his latest electronic work, Stars, with BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

“Toronto’s evil super group”, Holy Fuck, prey on Auckland and Wellington this December. The band’s founding member, Graham Walsh, chats with BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

Luke Buda’s second solo album, Vesuvius, finds the Phoenix Foundation member in high, idiosyncratic form. He talks about his sophomore effort to BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM.

Geneviève Castrée, aka WOELV, arrives in New Zealand late November for two shows. BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM finds out, via email, about risk-taking, the English language, and being a musical provocateur.

BRANNAVAN GNANALINGAM chats to LA-based Jeremy Jay, set to dreamweave his indie pop to audiences in Auckland and Wellington this week.

ALEXANDER BISLEY chats with trombonist Joe Lindsay and drummer Paul Hoskins of The Eggs, Wellington’s funk and boogaloo supergroup made up of members from a mix of bands, including Fat Freddy’s Drop, Twinset, The Recloose Live Band, and Phoenix Foundation.