Apple Music Unveils its Local Songwriting Project For NZ Music Month

New Zealand Music Month may well be behind us but that doesn't mean all of a sudden our local acts need to be swept under the red carpet for another eleven months. Held in May to celebrate local artists, Apple Music's latest initiative is the gift that keeps on giving.

Last week, the music giant gave four independent artists the assignment of creating and recording a song from scratch. That may not sound like the biggest task for rising songwriters, but when the clock is ticking at Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios and the host is one of the biggest streaming services in the world, the pressure is knocking to write something more than a disposable jingle.

Fortunately NÏKA, TAPZ, Bobandii and Banyk were supplied with everything they need to produce the goods.

Nelson based singer/songwriter NÏKA, who comes from the same melting pot as Broods, was paired up with Mt Maunganui multi-instrumentalist and producer Alex Wildwood. The result is adventurous dance track, 'Real Fake Love'.

Auckland's Baynk, who has previously collaborated with NÏKA on electro banger 'What You Need', teamed up with NZ Music Award-winning musical director and producer Sam De Jong to create 'Someone'. The sample-heavy track gradually accelerates into a dance-floor melting beast.

Following his recently release single 'Run Don't Run', Wellington rapper artist TAPZ arrives with 'Shadow'. The dark, militant cut was created alongside Onehunga beat-maker Smokeygotbeats, whose CV boasts credits on tracks with the likes of Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar.

Auckland singer-songwriter, rapper and self-described 'master of many styles', Bobandii, was the only songwriter to take on production himself. Together with a live band he created the silky genre-mash, 'Nazarite', that blends everything from jazz to hip hop and R&B.

All four songs are streaming now on Apple Music.

Photo: Steve Dykes