Don McGlashan is a New Zealand musician and songwriter who has been a member of bands such as The Plague, From Scratch, The Whizz Kids, Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, and The Mutton Birds. He composed several pieces for the Limbs Dance Company. McGlashan won the 'Best Song' award in the 1982 New Zealand Music Awards, for the Blam Blam Blam song Don't Fight It Marsha, It's Bigger Than Both Of Us.
Tim Finn started as a member of New Zealand's art-rock pioneers, Split Enz, and eventually emerged as one of the band's chief songwriters and most recognizable voices. He has also released a number of solo albums, and was for a time a member of brother Neil Finn's band Crowded House. He and Neil have also released two albums to date as Finn Brothers.
Formed in 1998, Trinity Roots established themselves as a leading act in the New Zealand music scene. The band produced a contemporary sound with roots in the guitar/vocal melody and harmony of reggae, a rock-steady groove and the improvisation of jazz-schooled talented. New Zealand singer Hollie Smith sang and toured with Trinity Roots from 2003 onwards; she appears on their 2004 album Home, Land and Sea.
New Zealand producer Daimon Schwalger has released music under the name The Nomad for many years. The first album Movement was drum'n'bass, but subsequent releases have been downtempo releases with (obligatory in New Zealand) dub influences. Prior to his solo project he was performing drum'n'bass as part of trio Locust with Pearl Runga (sister of Bic Runga) and Ryan Smith (aka The Silversmith). They had no official releases.
There are at least three artists called The Bats: Approaching a quarter century of recording and performing, Christchurch, New Zealand's The Bats have survived seven albums and five world tours with the original line-up of Kaye Woodward, Malcolm Grant, Paul Kean and Robert Scott intact. With a sound at the jangle/indie end of the pop spectrum, the band made significant headway in the States in the 80s alongside Flying Nun label-mates The Chills and The Clean. The 90s saw tours of the US and Europe, supporting the likes of Radiohead, Belly, and R.
Tahuna Breaks are an uplifting reggae / funk / soul band based in Auckland. They formed following inspiring jams that stretched from a garage in Onehunga to the remoteness of Piha on Auckland’s west coast. With influences varying from the likes of Marvin Gaye, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, James Brown, UB40 and New Zealand’s very own dub and reggae movement, Tahuna Breaks are a fine tune roots blend of funk and reggae with that distinctive New Zealand summery sound.
Ladi6 is one of New Zealand's premier vocalists and MCs. Starting her musical career in Christchurch, Ladi6 was part of the all-girl hip-hop group Sheelahroc. Sheelahroc had the hit track "If I Gave You The Mic" and Ladi6 was nominated for Best Vocalist/MC at the 2003 bNet music awards. Ladi6 then moved to Auckland with her band Verse Two who quickly gained a reputation as a top New Zealand live soul/hip-hop group. They won the bNet best new act award in 2004, toured New Zealand with packed shows and supported international acts such as The Roots and De La Soul.