Nearly 40 years after he first got on the decks, Kiwi hip-hop pioneer DJ Manuel Bundy (aka Manuel Matisi) shares the six songs closest to his heart.

Despite 50 years in the business, soul legend Chaka Khan's voice is as strong as ever, she says, and she has no plans to put up her performing shoes yet.

After a busy year performing a "half-hour of power" at international music festivals, Auckland indie band The Beths spent the summer back home mixing their upcoming album.

Staring into the void of Covid and lockdowns, musician Reb Fountain was scared. She started having crazy dreams that would wake her up, with a need to record the thing she was dreaming about.

Country music is here to stay to in Aotearoa, so saddle up and enjoy the ride.

A decade since its inception the Christchurch music festival stands as arguably the "biggest festival in Australasia".

Tony Stamp puts Laneway festival's youngest performer, American garage-rocker Benjamin Booker and Pōneke's Ripship under his musical microscope.

Deva Mahal on attending the Grammys, her upcoming show at Wellington's Fringe Festival and being inspired by WOW.

After exploding onto the world stage with their 2024 album Cartoon Darkness, big dreams are coming true for Melbourne punk band Amyl and The Sniffers.

Police blame alcohol and violence on a widespread crackdown. But organisers say that's "misinformation".

Fresh from winning three Grammys, Charli XCX captivated a 30,000-strong crowd at Auckland's Western Springs Stadium.

The Australian model and architect walked the red carpet at this year's Grammys in an outfit one tiny sheer body stocking away from being completely nude.

Tenor Pene Pati says it was such a far-fetched dream to be able to make this debut. He's proud to represent Samoa and Aotearoa New Zealand.

This month, the "elderly rockers" tour NZ. Their biggest problem is getting through all the hits, guitarist Ian Moss tells Summer Times.

American country singer Luke Combs makes a new fan of So'omalo Iteni Schwalger.

Local albums, international releases, docos and shows - what Tony Stamp is getting amped about in music.

Auckland finally has a post-New Year's party to be proud of. All it took was Australian music producer Fisher showing us how it's done.

You're ready to go the show, and check out your favourite band - but then it's called off. What do you do next?

Poet and songwriter Tucker Zimmerman, now 83, has had something of a cultural Forrest Gump of a career. In 2024 he shot to new-found fame.

Tony Stamp looks back at a year of musical offerings from the UK and North America - from industrial disco to affable country.

Buffalo was the album that lifted the profile of Wellington band The Phoenix Foundation both here and internationally. Nick Bollinger peels back its sonic layers with the group's three main songwriters.

Electronic musician Tiopira McDowell is challenging other creatives to make a distinctive local sound for Tāmaki Makaurau.

For 75 minutes on Monday night, Auckland's Spark Arena was transformed into a euphoric nightclub experience for the closing night of Troye Sivan's Something To Give Each Other Tour.

Hip-hop is a musical form invented by African Americans yet King Kapisi's 2000 debut could only have come from deep in the Pacific.

Want to forget yourself for a while? Listen to Bic Runga's often-overlooked third album, writes Nick Bollinger.

Secure your 3D moon googles and slip on a compostable plant-based LED wristband.

Hitting multiple festivals isn't practical for a lot of Kiwis, and picking the right one can feel intimidating. Here's RNZ's guide to help pick the perfect summer gig.

This was a night for celebration, and if this band needed a crowd coming together, they couldn't have asked for much more than this one.

The founding member of one of Aotearoa's best-loved bands speaks with Tony Stamp about longevity, influences, and their long-awaited sixth studio album.

I wasn't sure what kind of crowd would show up to see the American actor's rock band - would it be DC fans wanting to see Aquaman? Metalheads just there for the music? Or excitable aunties just hoping for a glimpse of a certified dreamboat?