Making Tracks with The MOST FM: Artist Interviews

RIIKI REID returns with new single ‘Pāinaina’, out now. Written entirely in Te Reo Māori, for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, Māori Language Week.Drawing from dance music spanning the 70’s, 90’s through to the 00’s, RIIKI and collaborators Pere Wihongi and Devin Abrams began researching the history of Māori-language dance and disco music, discovering Dalvanius Prime’s ‘Voodoo Lady’ - which is sampled in the song.The result is a colourful, bright and ambitious new era of RIIKI REID, this time putting Te Reo Māori right at home on the dancefloor.

Orangefarm is juiced to be back with a fresh crop of songs on the forthcoming new album Motoring for Beginners. Due for release on October 2, the sophomore effort by the Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington indie band follows and builds upon the group’s widely acclaimed 2023 debut Inheritance.The band follows their wistful first single Affectionate Friction with the upbeat and cheeky, ‘Your Sister’s Friends.’ With its catchy hooks and blistering guitar lead, this song asks more questions than it answers. Who are these friends? Whose sisters are they? Or you may just be tapping your foot and not asking any questions at all. Either way, this song is a banger. Orangefarm has been a fixture on the Wellington music scene for 20 years as a vehicle for Mitchell’s songs which have tapped the spirit of alternative South Island outfits of the 1980s – Mitchell originally hails from Christchurch and started his band career there – as well as British and Australian post-punk and indie touchstones.

Tāmaki Makaurau alt-soul artist Tiger Lotiss is back with another sultry cinematic number ‘Python’.Auckland Artist Tiger Lotiss gave us ‘Chameleon‘ back in February, and ‘Tiger in the Garden‘ in August, now get ready to smoulder with his new track ‘Python.’Sultry and slow-burning ‘Python’ is a soulful, hip-hop infused track about navigating his late-teen years in a world of promiscuity and empty desire. In collaboration with Hip Hop Artist AKIYA – Python is escapism, nostalgia, and melancholy, deliciously signed, sealed and delivered.Produced by Tiger Lotiss and engineered by Sebastian Judd (Chequered Patterns), Python represents the next chapter from his young adult love life. In a world where technology gives us access to meeting anyone and everyone, trust and commitment was and still is hard to find.

Born in Ukraine and seeking refuge in New Zealand post Chernobyl, VÏKÆ is no stranger to adversity. Her music openly talks about her struggles with bipolar, addiction and poor judgement. Honest and raw VÏKÆ describes her artistry as being “brassy to purposefully make the psyche uncomfortable”. In an attempt to steer clear of coming across disingenuous, her unique "DIY" approach to making music, costuming and directing and editing her own music videos allows her to have complete autonomy of the authenticity of her artistry and music.

Following their comeback single In the Clouds, eight piece Wellington hip-hop and funk outfit, Raw Collective, are back with another solid tune, Tables Turned, the second single from their upcoming fourth album.  Tables Turned evokes dreams of summer to come and features the vocals of multi-platinum reggae artist  Iharaira Starr (formally Israel Starr), a two-time recipient of Best Reggae Album at the Waiata Māori Music Awards and recipient of Best Roots Artist award at the Aotearoa Music Awards.