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May 7, 2004
NZ
Idol Spawning Original New Zealand Music Ahead of Schedule
Before New Zealand has even had the chance to vote for its ultimate Idol,
the competition has given rise to its first original song. Independent musician
and producer PDMJ of Auckland has released ‘Bone Idol’, a track responding
to the popular program. Available on his website at www.pdmj.muzic.net.nz/bone_idol.htm,
it rocks against the lack of creativity in the Idol approach to
star-making. PDMJ has been writing and recording music for five years, in his
home-built studio. Though he treats it as a hobby, his first release, ‘The
Storyteller’, gained airtime on Auckland’s bFM. Along with ‘The
Storyteller’ and ‘Bone Idol’, 9 other
original tracks – some written in collaboration with others – are available
for download on his website. His own musical influences include other DIY
musicians such as New Zealand’s Darcy Clay and the iconic Chris Knox, whose
influence is clear in ‘Bone Idol’. The song’s main target, Eddie Raynor, was a member of landmark New
Zealand band Split Enz, founded by with Phil Judd (later of The Swingers) and
the legendary Tim Finn. Like Idol contestants, Split Enz first came to
the nation’s attention on TV in 1973, competing on the talent show New
Faces. An adverse judging panel, more used to Idol-style performances
of popular music from America or Britain, gave them only cautious praise and a
third placing out of four. What they weren’t to know at the time was that
Split Enz would be an integral part of original New Zealand music’s fight for
due recognition, both within the industry and with fans here and overseas, for
years to come. After the band’s break-up in 1984, former members such as Judd,
Finn and Neil Finn continued releasing original music. Another Split Enz
original, Mike Chunn, went on to head the NZ arm of APRA. The band’s interest
in local creativity outlived the band itself. Raynor’s recent reincarnation as a significant figure in NZ Idol’s
quest to produce an instant star on the back of carbon-copy performances of
existing pop tracks struck PDMJ as something of a departure for a man from the
band that once livened up New Zealand living rooms on New Faces. Hence
the production of ‘Bone Idol’, the first original song to have resulted from
NZ Idol. -----Release ends----- ‘Bone Idol’: www.pdmj.muzic.net.nz/bone_idol.htm |
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