Laneway 2015

Belle and Sebastian

Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch on chasing the illusive muse from song to screen, and their 2015 album Girls in Peacetime Want To Dance.

St Vincent at Laneway 2015

St Vincent at Laneway 2015. RNZ/Diego Opatowski.

Annie Clark aka St. Vincent talks with Emma Smith about process and performance ahead of her 2015 Laneway performance.

Playlist

Artist: St Vincent
Song: Bring Me Your Loves, Rattlesnake
Composer: Clark
Album: St Vincent
Label: Loma Vista

Artist: Swans
Song: Screen Shot
Composer: Clark
Album: To Be Kind
Label: Young Gods

Little Dragon at Laneway 2015

Little Dragon's Yukimi Nagano at Laneway. RNZ Diego Opatowski.

Zac Arnold caught up with Yukimi Nagano and Erik Bodin of the Swedish quartet to talk about creating their latest album, Nabuma Rubberband.

FKA Twigs

FKA Twigs at Laneway 2015. Photo RNZ Diego Opatowski.

Taking her alias from the way her joints crack, experimental electronic artist Tahliah Barnett got her start as a loose limbed dancer in music videos from the likes of Kylie, Jessie J and Ed Sheeran.

Now, as FKA twigs, she's in total control of the presentation of her own music, self-directing her videos and choreography.

In New Zealand to play St Jerome's Laneway festival 2015, FKA twigs talked to Sam Wicks about maintaining total control of her music. First up, twigs relayed the events of her morning ahead of her headlining set.

FKA twigs in conversation with Sam Wicks / Photo by Olivia Young.

Connan Mockasin at home in Te Awanga

Connan Mockasin plays the Te Awanga Community Hall / Photo by Hayley Osterfield.

The adage “there’s no place like home” certainly rings true in the case of Connan Mockasin.

Having toured the furthermost reaches of the globe showcasing his sophomore album Caramel, Mockasin took to his family home in the small coastal village of Te Awanga for some much needed R’n’R.

After a sneaky pre-Laneway performance in his hometown, Zac Arnold caught up with Mockasin and met with some of the people who keep the home fires burning.

Royal Blood

Royal Blood's Ben Thatcher and Mike Kerr.

Over the course of just two years, bass-and-drums British rock duo Royal Blood have gone from performing their very first gig in a small local pub to being hailed as rock's new saviours.

Their debut album Royal Blood entered the UK charts at number one, was named the fastest-selling rock debut in the UK in three years, and went on to be nominated for the Mercury Prize.

Melody Thomas speaks with bassist and singer Mike Kerr ahead of the duo's performance at St Jerome's Laneway Festival in Auckland on Monday.

Royal Blood at Laneway. RNZ Diego Opatowski.

Jungle

Modern soul boys Jungle, led by childhood mates Tom McFarland and Josh Lloyd-Watson, took to Laneway's Mysterex mainstage in the late afternoon, attracting one of the festival's biggest crowds with their disco-infused take on soul music. Before their set, the West Londoners talked to Sam Wicks about expanding their ranks on stage.

Iceage at Laneway 2015

Danish four piece Iceage talk with Zac Arnold at St Jerome's Laneway Festival, Auckland 2015.

Courtney Barnett at Laneway 2015

Melbourne based songsmith Courtney Barnett talks with Zac Arnold at St Jerome's Laneway Festival 2015.

Jungle

Mid-way through last year, a music video featuring a super six year old break-dancer, went viral.

Known simply, and somewhat mysteriously as Jungle, the duo have only  recently confirmed their identities as childhood friends Joshua Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland.

Their self-titled debut has just dropped - Kirsten Johnstone speaks with Tom about the group’s beginnings.

Hear Tom talking about the making of their viral video 'Platoon', starring B-Girl Terra, here.

Playlist

Artist: Jungle
Songs: Platoon, Busy Earning, The Heat, Smoking Pixels, Lucky I Got What I Want
Composer: Lloyd-Watson / McFarland
Album: Jungle
Label: XL