New Ruby Suns Album 'Christopher' Released Today!

Lil' Chief is happy to announce the release of The Ruby Suns fourth album, Christopher!

He'd always been a musical wayfarer, collecting sounds and styles from his travels around the globe, depositing influences and ephemera into the first three knockout Ruby Suns albums (2006’s The Ruby Suns, 2008's Sea Lion and 2010's Fight Softly). In Scandinavia—amidst its icy architecture and sky-high fjords, not to mention the indomitable gloss-pop that's the region's leading export—he discovered the inspiration for 'Christopher'.

First of all, who the hell is Christopher?

Funny you should ask. There is no Christopher. Or rather, the Christopher referred to in the album title
is part of an Auckland-based inside joke that we're on the outside of. To you and me, McPhun explains,
Christopher is an idea. A metaphor: He's that awkward, anxious, hormonal menace you used to be when you were young and foolish and eager for everything.


McPhun found himself embodying that careless youth when he toured Fight Softly with some of his best friends in the band. You hear this story on the bubbly, strutting, central tune "Boy" (which might've been the album title if it weren't already taken by an Irish bar band with delusions of grandeur). It continues in the filtered guitar-and-piano anthem "In Real Life" and the tense heartbreak of "Dramatikk," in the skittering disco pop of "Starlight" and the haunted arrested development of "Futon Fortress."

Beyond adolescent tension is resignation and release. The story of Christopher mirrors McPhun's own coming of age: After a childhood spent in nerdy isolation, hiding away in his bedroom with his guitar while his older sister hosted high school ragers in their parents' Ventura, CA home; after leaving home and becoming a citizen of the world; after disengaging from the relationship that defined most of his adult life, McPhun has stopped thinking so much and joined the party. "Rush" sets the process in motion, but of all the songs on the album, "Jump In" encapsulates a carpe diem MO: "When you reach the end of the world," McPhun sings in his tender falsetto, "don't wanna have no regrets and no penitence."


Christopher's opening song—written first chronologically, recorded at a friend's home studio in Oslo, floating on Nord modular synths and ecstatic dancefloor energy—details McPhun's inebriated encounter with musical crush Robyn backstage at a music festival in Cologne, Germany. "Flower among the leaves is what you are," he sings, his sheepish grin practically bursting out of your speakers "cold glass of water in the desert of pop."

Takes one to know one, Ryan.

Christopher is out now in stores and also available from the Lil Chief Store .  Christopher is available digitally on Itunes and direct from Lil Chief.

New Princess Chelsea 'Frack' Music Video!

Princess Chelsea has a new video out for her song 'Frack'.

Director: Simon Ward

VFX: Simon Ward, Kenny Smith, Richard Pilkington and Luke Rowell

Costume: Christina Hroch, Caroline Anderson and Rose Salmon

Hair and Make up: Fiona Sole

Props: Sandy Burton-Davis

Chelsea has hinted at the song having personal biblical themes, channeled through a Battlestar Galactica obsession.

So of course no better director to make the music video than Simon Ward (& Co) - self proclaimed Sci Fi and pop culture nut who has made some incredible videos already for the likes of Golden Axe, Disasteradio, & Fistful of Gems, not to mention Lawrence Arabia's latest clip.

Classic sci-fi like the Alien trilogy (minus Alien III), Planet of The Apes, Battlestar Galactica & Star Wars always seem to bring up important questions about Humanity, God & Science - and often have a strong biblical undercurrent.


(SPOILER ALERT)

The Ruby Suns - Kingfisher Call Me

We're super excited to tell you that on the 28th of January 2013 we will be releasing the Ruby Suns 4th album, Christopher. Ryan McPhun has always been something of a musical wayfarer, collecting sounds and styles from his travels around the globe, so that each album is a sort of musical passport, and Christopher is no exception. This time round Ryan's found inspiration in Scandinavia, where he has been living for much of the last two years. Here's the cover:

To give you a taste of what's to come here's the official video for the first single, "Kingfisher Call Me":



The video was filmed in Sweden and directed by photographer and filmmaker duo Frode & Marcus (Lykke Li, El Perro del Mar). It was shot over two days in sub zero celsius temperatures and involved burying a volkswagon and digging it up again. While finishing up with some shots of a lake a moose family happened by purely by chance to make it extra awesome.

Grab a copy of the single here.

The Eversons - The Christmas Suicide Song

It's the time of year for drunken office party interaction, awkward family encounters and if you're lonely a greater focus on your bland existence. It's a sad fact that more suicides occur now than at any other time of year...still a novel subject matter for a 2 minute pop hit if you ask me.

The Eversons have been tinkering away in the studio the past week coming up with this gem in time for the festive season. Unfortunately not in time for a live performance at Christmas In The Park but hey, maybe next year.

The track is available for free here!

The Lil' Chief Xmas Party 2012

Ever since we started the label we've been throwing these end of the year shindigs and they have provided some magic moments. NZ musicians blowing off steam, throwing rubbish bins, making out, strangling one another, red hot chili pepper only sing alongs over a bonfire of treated wood...this year should be prove equally as memorable.

This year we are going to host it at the Kings Arms. Fancy. This way all the bands will be able to play without fear of noise control shutting us down.

Bands are going to start at 8 so don't turn up at 11 and complain you missed someone fool.

No pre sales, just 5 dollars on the door. 

The Eversons - With A Little Help From Our Friends

Today we are releasing our first tribute album (well, EP). On it various artists showcase the brilliant songwriting of the Eversons fused with their own respective styles. Also it's a free download so make sure you check it out here.

The opening track features Lil' Chief chanteuse Princess Chelsea backed by the Eversons themselves. The result is a very Ronettes inspired rendition of "Kick Him Out"

Also on the EP, excellent local artists Street Chant and Matthew Crawley, Jonathan Bree of the Brunettes makes his first appearance flying solo, and Boa Constrictors a great band from the tough suburbs of Orange County.

Princess Chelsea UK Release

Today is a big day for Lil' Chief in that we are releasing our first internationally distributed title. 

We have teamed up with Cargo to release Princess Chelsea's Lil' Golden Book throughout the UK and Europe.  

In the past Lil' Chief has physically released in New Zealand only and big time kool indie big boi labels like Memphis Industries and Subpop have released our artists in their territories.

Early UK reviews have called the album a 'brilliant debut' and 'one of the most unusual and original albums you are likely to hear this year' while some kool UK celebs and not celebs have been singing her praises via twitter.

We are confident this is a very important step in the Lil' Chief brand reaching a global audience, ahem, overseas.