If you are a member of Soundcloud – a fantastic service for sharing music that you have created, you can currently download a free version of Ableton Live Lite.

Whilst this is a very stripped back version of the programme (offering only eight audio tracks, eight midi tracks, four VST effects etc), it would be a great tool to have on your home computer for writing songs and learning the basics of recording. If you do not have recording studio software such as Garageband, Cubase, Logic or ProTools, then snatch this offer up. Live is also great as a live instrument if you use loops and samples. There are free video tutorials to get you started.

Soundcloud users check your emails from Soundcould. The offer expires May 31st.

2004 Lion Foundation Songwriting Competition finalist Kimbra Johnson is featured on the new number one song in the United Kingdom. Gotye featuring Kimbra ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’  was also the top selling Australian song of 2011 and hit number one in Germany. The music video has had an incredible 71 million plus views on Youtube.

Congratulations Kimbra

Voting for your favourite song from the Top 10 songs in the ’Olympic Songwriting Competition’, phase 2 has closed.

From here the top five songs will go forward to join the five voted from the first (phase 1), ‘Anthem In Black’ album. Those ten will be voted on in March 2012  to yield the “Song Of The Games”.

Top five from Phase 2 will be announced on Wednesday 15th February.

Play It Strange hosted performances at the Fonterra SHOUT concerts and the Kiwi Day Out on Labour Day with more than 300 student singer/songwriters and performers.

Here is a link to the photo gallery from the KIWI DAY OUT! All photos by Jason Hailes.

PHOTO GALLERY: http://www.flickr.com/photos/playitstrange

Play It Strange have teamed up with Cheese On Toast to create the Cheese On Toast Award for Best Alternative Song.

Cheese on Toast is one of the leading alternative music news, information and reviews websites based in Auckland, New Zealand. It sits comfortably on the fringe of the music business and is always on the look out for the fresh new alternatives. Cheese on Toast turns eight years old this December, in dog years that is 56 years old, we don’t know what it is in ‘website years’.

ANNOUNCING THE INAUGARAL WINNER OF THE CHEESE ON TOAST AWARD FOR 2011:
Hugh Piesse

from Hauraki Plains College, Ngatea.

For his song: ‘Philosophers’.

Performed by Hugh’s band Tied On Teeth

Check it out!

“Hugh has been living on a lifestyle block on the Hauraki Plains all his life. After realising a few years ago …

Past Winners

2011 Winner

This year we are proud to announce three school of the year winners with the most students in the Top 50. Each winning school recieves $1000 credit from the New Zealand Rockshop.

CONGRATULATIONS

MANUREWA HIGH SCHOOL

 WELLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL

New Look Official New Zealand Music Chart Celebrates Homegrown Artists

The RIANZ Official NZ Top 40 Music Chart has a new look and a new online home.

Launched late last year, the all new Official NZ Chart website – www.nztop40.co.nz – has become an important new music portal for fans of chart music.

The weekly Top 40 singles and album charts are now complete with cover art and user-friendly chart facts, along with the ability to see, hear and buy individual tracks and albums. Music fans can also join the re-launched Official NZ Music Chart Facebook and Twitter pages for all the latest chart news and artists facts and stats.

And to recognise the huge popularity of our homegrown artists and bands, weekly New Zealand artist Top 20 singles and album charts have been introduced.

RIANZ chart manager Phil Matcham says the site has been …