This month marks 25 years of celebrating Kiwi musicians and the music industry as part of New Zealand Music Month.
A big part of the month includes New Zealand Music T-Shirt Day - a day not just about supporting your favourite Kiwi band but highlighting the work of charity 'Music Helps'.
Several famed Kiwi musicians are involved with the charity, including award-winning producer and songwriter Joel Little.
"They do amazing work and I feel very lucky to be on the board and be able to help out in some way - hopefully."
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
This is Sundown by Leisure, currently Joel Little's favorite New
Zealand song. This month's marks twenty five years of celebrating
our musicians and music industry through New Zealand Music Month,
and a big part of the month is New Zealand
Music t Shirt Day, a day not just about supporting
your favorite kere We band, but highlighting the amazing work
of the charity Music Helps. A number of high profile
Hey New musicians are involved in Music Helps, and one
(00:35):
of those is producer and songwriter Joe Little, and he
joins me, now, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Joel, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Hi, I'm really good. Thank you. Hey, tell me a
little bit about why Music Helps. Why is it such
an important charity to you?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Well, I'm on the board of Music Helps.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
It was something that I got involved and after living
in LA and moving back to New Zealand and just
wanting to kind of reconnect a bit more with the
industry as a whole and start doing a few things
to give back. And Music Helps is just as like
the main New Zealand music charity that helped support hundreds
of other projects across New Zealand that all use music
to help change people's lives in all sorts of different ways.
(01:16):
So they do amazing work, and I feel very lucky
to be to be on the board and be able
to kind of help out in some way hopefully.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
And there's also the support for musicians in the industry itself.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah, yeah, so we have the we have the funding
side of things where we, like i say, fund programs
and projects all over the country. But then there's also
within the industry there's a side of it that helps
with a well being service for musicians and people just
in the industry as a whole who are going through
hardship and might need help in one way or another.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So very important work.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Did that kind of grow out of the pandemic when
just everything stopped and everyone lost their livelihoods.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
I mean that was crazy. Yeah it was. It existed
before that, but definitely during that time became I mean
the music industry was one of the industry which yeah,
completely ground to a hole basically at that time, especially
the live music industry. So that was when the Music
Helps work became more important than ever in terms of
being able to help and we offered a whole bunch
of grants and just and supported a lot of different
(02:18):
companies and different individuals at that time, just so that
they could just keep living.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Basically, it was it was. It was a tough time
for a lot of people. Unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Music is so powerful, isn't it. It's took me through
from your point of view why it's so powerful and
what it can do for someone. I mean hard to articulate, I.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Know, art I mean, it's just it's one of those
things that you can it just it affects people in
so many different ways. It brings it brings back memories,
like I mean, it's funny when you say that. The
initial thing that actually sprang to mind for me as
my mum who has Alzheimer's and can't really hold much
of a conversation anymore. But if you start singing a song,
(02:59):
she'll start singing it. So there's this, like there's this
crazy power to that that I obviously have a have
a a deep soft spot for. So that's part of
some of the programs that music helps with, things where
people go into restaurants or into palliative care and run
workshops and things, and it's just powerful work.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
This month, we're celebrating twenty five years of New Zealand
Music Month, bringing New Zealand music in the industry into
the spotlight. Where is the New Zealand music industry at?
Are you feeling good about where it's at and where
it's heading?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
I am, especially our Lord's back to Save the world.
You know. That's always nice when she's releasing new music.
But another music industry as a whole is yeah. People
are doing well.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Leisure who you played on the way in and their
friends of mine, and they're just they're onto their fifth
album and they're bigger than they've ever been. They're playing
usin City limits and just and doing all sorts.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Of like huge things overseas.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
So I think we're we're in a good place and
I think the quality of music here is is better
than ever.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
I wasn't going to mention it, but you brought it up.
But when an artist sort of announces they're going to
release new music, I often find myself going back and
listening to old albums, and I've been listening to Lord's
debut album. It really was remarkable.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Jrole, Well, thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
You're still really proud of it.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah, of course, of course I am.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
I mean that was such a such a special time,
changed all of our lives.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
It was really fun to make.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah, probably will be one of the one of the
best pieces of work that I that I make. I mean,
you know, I'm still trying to do good stuff and
still think I am, but I mean, that's that's always
going to be a special, a special thing for everyone.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Timeless, remarkable album. Hey, talking about giving back, you yourself do
a lot for the New Zealand music community through Big Fan.
You've been up and running for about two and a
half years now. I think, how's that going.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Yeah, it's going really good. Yeah, I'm very proud of that.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
So that's a venue in Morningsight and Auckland. Well, it's
a venue and all ages venue downstairs, and then we
have studio spaces upstairs, so we run a lot of
programs out of there as well for writing camps and
provide residencies so people can use the studios for free
and workshops and all sorts of different things there. So yeah,
that's kind of a way that I can just personally
(05:17):
do something. Yeah, that kind of have the I'm in
a position now I can do something that you know,
hopefully benefits the music community again, just because it's done
so much for me.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
And when you think back to when you were a
musician and starting out and things, and you look at
what's sort of available now, are there a lot more opportunities?
It feels like there are. There's a lot more you know,
opportunities to kind of participate and collaborate and things, even
as an upcoming young artist.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yeah, I think now.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
I think when when I was coming through, collaboration wasn't
really a thing. And that's I mean, it's something that
has become more and more common and I think has
benefited everybody and the music industry that it's now that
people will work together to make music and to and
to learn and grow. And I think that, Yeah, I mean,
back then it was it wasn't really cool to work
with other people to collaborate. You're supposed to just sit
(06:07):
there and you know, write your song yourself with your band,
And now I think it's, Yeah, it's great to see
that everybody is kind of there's a bit more of.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
A community aspect to it, which is really nice.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Music T shirt Day is a big fundraise. If your
music helps it's coming up on Friday, the thirtieth of May.
Whose shirt will you be wearing?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
That's a good question. I've got an alright collection. I
feel like I need to I need to get a
couple more.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I feel like sometimes I end up wheeling out the
same shit.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I'm wearing a Broods hoodie right now.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Oh nice, just if you want to picture that.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
But but no, I don't know. I might have to
go shopping this week. But yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
It's a great opportunity for people to just show their
support for New Zealand music and raise some money. A
lot of people will get a team together at their
work and everybody will wear their their favorite bands T
shirt and donate some money to Music Helps. And you
can do that by texting music to two four four
eight if you like that'll give. That's like an instant
three dollars donation. But a lot of people get involved
(07:05):
and compete against there, you know, their other officers or
or other people in their in their office. So it's
kind of it's a fun thing to do in a
great way to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Nice if you got teenagers, Joel, because you know that
when they be teenagers, you won't see that T shirt
collection ever again.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
They definitely definitely dip into it. Yeah, I do.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Oh look, thanks so much for your time. Really nice
to talk to you. That was Joel little there and
as he mentioned, there are a few ways to contribute
to Music Helps. You can buy a T shirt or
donate money at New Zealand Music t Shirt Day dot
org dot nz. You can also text two four four
eight for a three dollars donation. It is.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to news Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
This is Sundown by Leisure, currently Joel Little's favorite New
Zealand song. This month's marks twenty five years of celebrating
our musicians and music industry through New Zealand Music Month,
and a big part of the month is New Zealand
Music t Shirt Day, a day not just about supporting
your favorite kere We band, but highlighting the amazing work
of the charity Music Helps. A number of high profile
Hey New musicians are involved in Music Helps, and one
(00:35):
of those is producer and songwriter Joe Little, and he
joins me, now, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Joel, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Hi, I'm really good. Thank you. Hey, tell me a
little bit about why Music Helps. Why is it such
an important charity to you?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Well, I'm on the board of Music Helps.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
It was something that I got involved and after living
in LA and moving back to New Zealand and just
wanting to kind of reconnect a bit more with the
industry as a whole and start doing a few things
to give back. And Music Helps is just as like
the main New Zealand music charity that helped support hundreds
of other projects across New Zealand that all use music
to help change people's lives in all sorts of different ways.
(01:16):
So they do amazing work, and I feel very lucky
to be to be on the board and be able
to kind of help out in some way hopefully.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
And there's also the support for musicians in the industry itself.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah, yeah, so we have the we have the funding
side of things where we, like i say, fund programs
and projects all over the country. But then there's also
within the industry there's a side of it that helps
with a well being service for musicians and people just
in the industry as a whole who are going through
hardship and might need help in one way or another.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So very important work.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Did that kind of grow out of the pandemic when
just everything stopped and everyone lost their livelihoods.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
I mean that was crazy. Yeah it was. It existed
before that, but definitely during that time became I mean
the music industry was one of the industry which yeah,
completely ground to a hole basically at that time, especially
the live music industry. So that was when the Music
Helps work became more important than ever in terms of
being able to help and we offered a whole bunch
of grants and just and supported a lot of different
(02:18):
companies and different individuals at that time, just so that
they could just keep living.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Basically, it was it was. It was a tough time
for a lot of people. Unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Music is so powerful, isn't it. It's took me through
from your point of view why it's so powerful and
what it can do for someone. I mean hard to articulate, I.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Know, art I mean, it's just it's one of those
things that you can it just it affects people in
so many different ways. It brings it brings back memories,
like I mean, it's funny when you say that. The
initial thing that actually sprang to mind for me as
my mum who has Alzheimer's and can't really hold much
of a conversation anymore. But if you start singing a song,
(02:59):
she'll start singing it. So there's this, like there's this
crazy power to that that I obviously have a have
a a deep soft spot for. So that's part of
some of the programs that music helps with, things where
people go into restaurants or into palliative care and run
workshops and things, and it's just powerful work.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
This month, we're celebrating twenty five years of New Zealand
Music Month, bringing New Zealand music in the industry into
the spotlight. Where is the New Zealand music industry at?
Are you feeling good about where it's at and where
it's heading?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
I am, especially our Lord's back to Save the world.
You know. That's always nice when she's releasing new music.
But another music industry as a whole is yeah. People
are doing well.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Leisure who you played on the way in and their
friends of mine, and they're just they're onto their fifth
album and they're bigger than they've ever been. They're playing
usin City limits and just and doing all sorts.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Of like huge things overseas.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
So I think we're we're in a good place and
I think the quality of music here is is better
than ever.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
I wasn't going to mention it, but you brought it up.
But when an artist sort of announces they're going to
release new music, I often find myself going back and
listening to old albums, and I've been listening to Lord's
debut album. It really was remarkable.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Jrole, Well, thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
You're still really proud of it.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah, of course, of course I am.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
I mean that was such a such a special time,
changed all of our lives.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
It was really fun to make.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah, probably will be one of the one of the
best pieces of work that I that I make. I mean,
you know, I'm still trying to do good stuff and
still think I am, but I mean, that's that's always
going to be a special, a special thing for everyone.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Timeless, remarkable album. Hey, talking about giving back, you yourself do
a lot for the New Zealand music community through Big Fan.
You've been up and running for about two and a
half years now. I think, how's that going.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Yeah, it's going really good. Yeah, I'm very proud of that.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
So that's a venue in Morningsight and Auckland. Well, it's
a venue and all ages venue downstairs, and then we
have studio spaces upstairs, so we run a lot of
programs out of there as well for writing camps and
provide residencies so people can use the studios for free
and workshops and all sorts of different things there. So yeah,
that's kind of a way that I can just personally
(05:17):
do something. Yeah, that kind of have the I'm in
a position now I can do something that you know,
hopefully benefits the music community again, just because it's done
so much for me.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
And when you think back to when you were a
musician and starting out and things, and you look at
what's sort of available now, are there a lot more opportunities?
It feels like there are. There's a lot more you know,
opportunities to kind of participate and collaborate and things, even
as an upcoming young artist.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yeah, I think now.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
I think when when I was coming through, collaboration wasn't
really a thing. And that's I mean, it's something that
has become more and more common and I think has
benefited everybody and the music industry that it's now that
people will work together to make music and to and
to learn and grow. And I think that, Yeah, I mean,
back then it was it wasn't really cool to work
with other people to collaborate. You're supposed to just sit
(06:07):
there and you know, write your song yourself with your band,
And now I think it's, Yeah, it's great to see
that everybody is kind of there's a bit more of.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
A community aspect to it, which is really nice.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Music T shirt Day is a big fundraise. If your
music helps it's coming up on Friday, the thirtieth of May.
Whose shirt will you be wearing?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
That's a good question. I've got an alright collection. I
feel like I need to I need to get a
couple more.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I feel like sometimes I end up wheeling out the
same shit.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I'm wearing a Broods hoodie right now.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Oh nice, just if you want to picture that.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
But but no, I don't know. I might have to
go shopping this week. But yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
It's a great opportunity for people to just show their
support for New Zealand music and raise some money. A
lot of people will get a team together at their
work and everybody will wear their their favorite bands T
shirt and donate some money to Music Helps. And you
can do that by texting music to two four four
eight if you like that'll give. That's like an instant
three dollars donation. But a lot of people get involved
(07:05):
and compete against there, you know, their other officers or
or other people in their in their office. So it's
kind of it's a fun thing to do in a
great way to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Nice if you got teenagers, Joel, because you know that
when they be teenagers, you won't see that T shirt
collection ever again.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
They definitely definitely dip into it. Yeah, I do.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Oh look, thanks so much for your time. Really nice
to talk to you. That was Joel little there and
as he mentioned, there are a few ways to contribute
to Music Helps. You can buy a T shirt or
donate money at New Zealand Music t Shirt Day dot
org dot nz. You can also text two four four
eight for a three dollars donation. It is.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to news Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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