Nu-Zealand Indie Pop, The Modernization of Lil Chief in the Second Decade of The 21st Century

Since it's first release in 2002, Lil' Chief Records has developed a reputation in New Zealand and to a certain extent across the globe for consistently releasing great pop albums.

Much like the Beach Boys best material, a lot of the Lil' Chief releases seem to have some kind of "Pop Mastermind" behind them, acting as a songwriter, arranger and producer all in one.

I think it would be safe to say that perhaps more than any other band, The Beach Boys recordings from the early 60s right through to the early 70s are of great influence to many of the artists on the label, as they are to pop songwriters and producers around the world.

However, somewhat overlooked I believe - are some of their later recordings.

During the 80s and early 90s the Beach Boys underwent a Bowie-esque transformation, ditching their tired old arrangements for a sleek and more modern sound. Their once dry and dare I say pathetic drum sound was replaced by a brighter, more bombastic and danceable sounding kit. Rather female sounding instruments like the celeste, harpsichord, and real strings (which should really only ever be used when making childrens music or homosexual music) were replaced with professional and digital sounding synthesizers, producing a more masculine and mature sound.

One of the first albums to be recorded, edited and mixed entirely on Pro Tools was the much underrated masterpiece 'Summer in Paradise' by The Beach Boys. Although it bankrupted their record label, their 27th studio album - the criminally out-of-print 'Summer in Paradise' established The Beach Boys as pioneers of digital recording, and takes it's place alongside Brian Eno's 'Another Green World', or Kraftwerk's 'Trans Europe Express' as a historical moment in the modernisation of pop music in the 20th century.

Although short-lived, Brian Wilson's foray into Hip Hop Music in the early 90s epitomises for me, the Beach Boys versatility and pioneering spirit. While rap music by nature should only be created / listened to by Black People, Brian Wilson, a middle aged white male, paved the way for future white hip hop artists, (notably Marshall Mathers) when he released 'Smart Girls', arguably one of his greatest lyrical achievements and what has been described by critics as 'the pinnacle of both hip hop and feminism'.




In keeping with the Beach Boys spirit of development and change, many of the later Lil' Chief releases are incorporating more electronic elements, capitalising on the benefits of the digital age (The Ruby Suns - Fight Softly, Little Pictures - Owl & Owl, Pikachunes - S/T). Inspired by the transformation of the Beach Boys from Melodically-Safe Surfer Dudes to Utterly Dangerous Synthesizer Bad-Boys - Lil' Chief Records and the artists on our roster hope to continue releasing forward thinking Nu-Pop and maintain our reputation as one of the best and most original pop labels in the world.

Pikachunes + Princess Chelsea + a cover

Chelsea and Miles have been hard at work together making a cover, and it's available for download now over at Einstein Music Journal.

Sexual Princess

Here's a much simpler way to listen to Sexual Angel by Golden Axe ft. Princess Chelsea. Phew.

Sexual Angel by GoldenAxe

Ryan McPhun of The Ruby Suns remixes The Sneaks

Here's a pretty cool remix that Ryan-Ruby-Suns made of Hey Sally by Auckland band The Sneaks (check 'em out here: http://thesneakssuck.bandcamp.com/).

The Sneaks - Hey Sally (Ruby Suns Remix) by therubysuns

James from The Sneaks and Ryan's new project Spring Break is also very cool - keep your ears peeled (?) for more from them...

Princess Chelsea + Golden Axe

Lil' Chief's favourite princess and local darlings of weirdness Golden Axe have just finished work on a track together for French label Beko, called SEXUAL ANGEL (capslock is important). Our friends at Cheese on Toast called it "a glorious slice of grimey-indie-punk-electro-weirdness". Neat. To check it out click here and then click on the pink album cover that looks like this to download the compilation it's on:



It's a tiny bit complicated, but still worth it.

Pikachunes supporting Zowie, twiiice in the same night.

Pikachunes is playing with Zowie this Saturday at Galatos in Auckland, ooh la la. Get your tickets from Real Groovy, www.ticketmaster.co.nz or www.undertheradar.co.nz.

Shaft live in Auckland this Friday

Lil' Chief's own lovable indie rockers, Shaft, are playing this Friday the 17th at the MUM Christmas special at Cassette 9. Playing with them is Marconi Receiver, aka label-mate Tamasin from the Nudie Suits and Pie Warmer. Fun fun fun.

Shaft + Marconi Receiver, 17th December, Cassette 9

Probing interview with Pikachunes AKA Miles

Not really that probing, but still quite nice to watch.



Cheese on Toast also reviewed the album here, have a read.

Brand new Pikachunes video!

Check out the dreamy (and clown-filled) new video for Pikachunes' Just A Boy (off his also new and also dreamy debut album):



Directed by Ben Spink.

Purchase the album digitally here, or in real-deal-honest-to-god CD form here.

Pikachunes Auckland Album Release Party feat. Princess Chelsea - December 10 @ Cassette 9

Show with Fabulous Diamonds

Hey,

We are playing a show with Fabulous Diamonds and Sam Hamilton this Friday the 10th at the Wine Cellar. Fabulous Diamonds are this great band from Australia, it's a girl (on drums) and a guy on keys, they both sing. Pitchfork describes it as "head spinny" maybe you can decide for yourself here. I heard their second CD in a record store when I was in Sydney and liked it so much I bought it on the spot.
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A Very Little Christmas

We have a song on the A Very Little Christmas, a Christmas compilation album with a whole bunch of songs from lots of different artists including Bearcat, Bannerman, the Crawley Christmas Singers, Timothy Blackman, the Artisan Guns, Cool Rainbows and heaps more. You can download it for free here from the 6th of December.

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There is an album release party for this at the Wine Cellar on Wednesday the 15th of December. We are playing along with Dear Times Waste, Chelsea Jade and James Duncan and whole bunch of other great bands. Info here

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Voom - live in Auckland December 10th

So much Lil Chief goodness in December! 'Soul rockers' Voom, the band responsible for one of NZ's "100 Essential Albums" (according to Nick Bollinger) are playing a show very very soon - don't miss out!



Click here for a (freely downloadable!) sample of the night.

Dec 10th - Dogs Bollix, Auckland (w/ Night Choir).

Pikachunes - out now!

Pikachunes' debut album is out now and available for purchase!

Initial reviews have been glowing, with local sites Cheese on Toast and Einstein Music Journal using language like "stunning", "charming", "nervously charismatic", "euphoric", and "awash with heavy club thuggery".

Get it here as an actual honest-to-god CD here, or in digital form here.


Or, come buy one in the flesh at a release show near you to experience the charm and thuggery for yourself (And the wonderful Princess Chelsea too). Chch - November 26, Wgtn - November 27, Akld - December 10

Ruby Suns - Two Humans

Here's a pretty video for the lovely Two Humans by The Ruby Suns. Nice and summery for those of us in the southern hemisphere!

Crash Party

Our very own Edmund Cake (of Edmund Cake/Pie Warmer fame) was recently involved in a rather nasty auto-mobile accident. To help him out a little, come to the Crash Fun-raiser, and hear some nice tunes from several fine bands including the legendary Cosbys (watch this space, ahem) and Teen Wolf, featuring the lovely (Princess) Chelsea. Hurrah.

The car crash bit is sad, but the show should be pretty great...


Nov. 20th, Minnie St. $10

Free Download 4 The Internet

Dear the internet, Paul, heirs to the Jackson fortune,

I have just uploaded a free download of my Beatles Cover for you.



Also I am now on twitter




So that's about all, not feeling too verbose tonight, so I'll wind it up with this youtube link

The Ruby Suns + laptop + boat

Ryan and his 'band' playing on a (very small) boat, complete with Spanish subtitles, lap-top serenading, weather-related banter and an idyllic holiday setting. Click here to have a look.

The Ruby Suns NZ mini-tour

That's right, The Ruby Suns are soon to be winging their way home from touring the wide world in support of their new album Fight Softly.

Sliding straight out of one summer and (hopefully) into the next, they'll be conjuring up some warm weather vibes in late November with just two North Island shows.

Catch up on their tour hijinks here: twitter.com/therubysuns.


Thursday 25th November, SFBH – Wellington
Friday 26th November, Kings Arms Tavern – Auckland

Tickets available now from www.undertheradar.co.nz

Pikachunes! Debut album out November 22nd

Lil' Chief Records is pleased to present our very newest signing - jazz student turned bedroom producer Pikachunes. Former Tiger Tones member Miles McDougall has been spending some serious one-on-one time with his laptop and a drum machine, and has emerged with a compelling blend of atypical disco beats, grooving synth lines and a strong pop sensibility. Pikachunes' self-titled debut album is out on Lil' Chief in just a few weeks, and to celebrate the occasion Miles will be bringing his one man synth pop party to venues around New Zealand (accompanied by our own Princess Chelsea). In the meantime, head over to the "Listen" section of our (shiny and new) website to stream the album in its entirety, or place a pre-order here. For the super greediest fans, there's even a free download of the first single from the album, "Nervous".




Pikachunes self-titled debut album out November 22nd on Lil' Chief Records

Friday 26th November - GBM. - Christchurch,
Saturday 27th November - Mighty Mighty.- Wellington,
Friday 10th December - Cassette #9 - Auckland

One Million Kisses music video

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Princess Chelsea Live

Hello I am playing live this weekend.

I have played live a few times in the last 2 years with a different lineup each time.

Camp Low Hum I forced the dudes from Brand New Math to learn some of my songs a couple hours before performing in the Renegade room. That was cute enough but cant say its on my youtube favourites list. In playing that show however, I managed to tie with Ryan McPhun in the biggest band whore of Camp Low Hum 2009 award. Or I could be thinking James Milne. Those two r like throwing a hotdog down a hallway. And dont get me started on the Hep factory that is Gareth Shute.

Played a couple parties after that..... which brings us to this weekend....



Live band features my three best friends. And special guests playing afterwards. Im going to say extremely special.

Also this Friday (10 September) at 10.20am (pacific time), a 95bfm live to air with Charlotte. If you are reading from overseas, you may stream here

Be seeing you
(AT 7.30, its early.)

the Gladeyes on bandcamp

So we have a bandcamp page now - http://thegladeyesband.bandcamp.com/ - It took ages but I've uploaded most of our old E.Ps here and now you can download them and make up your own if you like:



Here's the intro from our album the Gladeyes are Shit

Upcoming Voom Shows

After watching Voom's music video for 'We're So Lost' below featuring two magnificent hamsters / guinea pigs - no doubt you'll want to make it to one of their upcoming shows.

The Making of Expervier

I promised I'd put our movies on-line a few years ago and finally I've gotten around to it. This one, The Making of Expervier, is the third in a series of improvised movies that we made. It documents us and our friends, as we make a movie about the launch of our home-made raft Expervier. It's on youtube in 5 parts but you can watch them all below.

Part 1:



Part 2:



Part 3:



Part 4:



Part 5:

BAND NAME NEEDED

Hi.

I'm starting a new 3-piece pop band and I'm looking for a band name. Everyone says my band names are terrible, so I'm trying to 'workshop' the name this time.

The only idea I've come up with so far is FOODTOWN.

Please help.

ONE FOR PAUL

Hello Lil' Chief Blog,

So me and Wonderful Prince Winston decided to take a break from finishing the album (it's getting there) to pay homage to my favourite Beatle Sir Paul McCartney.

What I'm trying to say is that Paul McCartney is so cool, I'm willing to commit a musical heresy in his honour and have therefore risked covering 'And I Love Her'.

This coupled with a few other covers I have up my sleeve, will make up BONUS material upon release of first LP this year.

In the meantime please feel free to enjoy this zany video clip.



Wonderful Prince Winston felt the urge to clean himself during the outro which is nice.

Also, here is a clip of Paul McCartney teaching people how to make mashed potatoes.

Fight Softly

Gladeyes, Singsongs, Bearcat, Leigh Saw Mill, March 13

New Ruby Suns Album Out Today

'Fight Softly' is the third album for Lil' Chief by pop masters The Ruby Suns. Ryan McPhun (their prime mover) has the kind of voracious musical mind that cites as equal influences '80s New Jack Swing and modern Angolan kuduro, the Beach Boys, Britney Spears, Brazillian tropicalia and Argentinean cumbia. He's the kind of diligent, meticulous soul that spends days hunched over a laptop in a tiny rented studio in Auckland just to perfect a sequenced drum track (mission accomplished). And Fight Softly is the kind of head-spinning combination of big-picture vision and sumptuous detail that only comes from an artist with an urgent need to express all the stuff he's seen. And you can dance to it!

For the New Zealand winter months last year The Ruby Suns escaped to Seattle and began work on Fight Softly. "Mingus and Pike" is about their temporary Victorian abode and its happy-go-lucky pit bull mascot Mingus; “Cranberry” captures a day trip to Cranberry Lake, a dream of a swimming-hole 90 minutes from Seattle on Fidalgo Island. The former is beat-buzzed bedroom R&B swathed in reverb while the latter is part tequila-drunk marching band, part Eastern Bloc candy rave.

The Ruby Suns also took a whirlwind tour of Europe that included 10 days at a friend's spread outside Szeged, Hungary. McPhun and friends Bevan Smith (Signer, Aspen, Skallander) and Matthew Mitchell (Skallander, Muriel Tsains) spent their time devouring veggie pizzas and jamming, improv-style, in an old farmhouse. These sessions didn't make it to Fight Softly as-is but were a springboard into new ideas McPhun brought back to his Auckland studio.

Like "Closet Astrologer," a song that started in Hungary and concluded, vaporous and Vangelis-like, in New Zealand. Or "How Kids Fail," a multi-movement epic that sounds like a post-techno hymn and nods to How Children Fail, John Holt's groundbreaking book on the general out-of-touch-ness of the public education system. "Haunted House" bounces on a pitch-shifted vocal sample and bubbly synth line, simultaneously lush and minimal. "Cinco" and "Dusty Fruit" share a similar digital-tropical soul.

This is where Fight Softly veers from the path set by its predecessor. Thematically, it's not as wide-eyed or lighthearted, picking apart the relationships faced as we pass through the world—with our surroundings, each other, ourselves. Sonically, it remains as beat-centric, though these beats are deliciously artificial—stretched and compacted and distorted beyond recognition. Melodies are scuzzy and digital, not many guitars strummed or basses plucked. McPhun's soulful upper-register croon, swallowed into the mix, replaces group chants and full-throated singalongs. Rather than an album of clearly-drawn influences, Fight Softly is a unique, inscrutable synthesis, more itself than anything else.

If you'd like to purchase titles directly from Lil Chief, both our local and international online stores are open for business.

The Best Lil' Chief You Tube Link in History?

Leilani Heather

Leilani Heather is an Auckland based photographer who takes awesome photos. My friend Matthew showed me her website last year and then she contacted us to take some Gladeyes band photos.


















Check out her website www.leilaniheather.com