Music 101

1.35  Joan as Police Woman: On writing songs to process big feelings

Ahead of her 'Joan As Police Woman' shows in New Zealand next May 2025, Joan Wasser jumps on the phone from her home in Brooklyn to talk about how songwriting helped make sense of falling in love on new album Lemons, Limes and Orchids.

'Joan As Police Woman' has collaborated with Lou Reed, Rufus Wainwright, Damon Albarn, John Cale, Laurie Anderson, Sufjan Stevens, Antony and the Johnsons, Sheryl Crow, Scissor Sisters, Sparklehorse, Placebo, and her ex-partner Jeff Buckley.

Joan As Police Woman - Aotearoa New Zealand Tour 2025

Friday 16th May - Ray Freedman Arts Centre (Epsom Girls Grammar), Auckland*
Saturday 17th May - Old St Paul’s, Wellington
Sunday 18th May - The Piano, Christchurch

2:15  Why Singing in the Shower is your Superpower

A new book offers a practical guide to singing in the shower. It plunges into questions ranging from ‘Why do I sound so good in my shower?’ to ‘How can singing in the shower help me overcome anxiety?

Florian jumps on the show to talk about a new book by Otto Moon The World’s First Practical Guide to Singing in the Shower!. He tells Charlotte Ryan why singing has helped get him through the year, and recommends a song for the judgement-free zone of the shower. 

2.30 Essential Albums: Goodshirt - Good  

Goodshirt combined classic pop influences with a D.I.Y sensibility learned from Chris Knox, to make one of the essential New Zealand albums of the early 2000s. Nick Bollinger discusses Goodshirt’s Good and all the reasons it lives up to its name.

3.40  Review: Small Changes Small Changes by Michael Kiwanuka

The fourth album by the British hitmaker continues his run of affable, occasionally poignant soul-rock jams.

4pm The Mixtape chats of 2024 you don't want to miss

The Music 101 team have gathered some of the wonderful chats of 2024 you don’t want to miss. You can find a link to the whole Mixtape for each guest below, or visit the RNZ Mixtape podcast to listen to the collection over summer. 

Our guests picking the tunes in this compilation are:

Rapper Tom Scott chats about his work with upcoming artists and the inspiration for his award winning album Run it Back.

Singer/songwriter Ebony Lamb on family road trips in her Dad’s Holden. 

Red Mole theatre troupe’s Jean McAlister shares a story about meeting Joni Mitchell on the streets of New York.

Katchafire frontman Logan Bell on the influence of “Uncle Bob” on his band and New Zealand’s musical identity.
The documentary ‘Legacy’ is available to watch on the RNZ website.  

Journalist and writer Mohamed Hassan talks about the influence of Yusef / Cat Stevens on his younger self.

And producer Lord Echo on embracing lockdown life by moving to a remote rural location and setting up his creative headquarters.

Songs played on the show
1-2
Pixie Williams - Best Wishes
Ladi6 - Alofa
Fat Freddys Drop - Stand Straight 
Brenda Lee - Noche Buena Y Navidad (Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree)
Anna Coddington - Kātuarehe
The Kinks - Father christmas
Joan As Police Woman - Long For Ruin
Marlon Williams, The Dhungala Children's Choir & Paul Kelly - Tapu te Pō (O Holy Night)
Bartees Strange, Anjimile & Kara Jackson - Wolf Like Me
Reb Fountain - Christmas In Wellington 

2-3
Khruangbin -Pon Pón
Erny Belle - Meri Kirihimete
Iron & Wine & Fiona Apple - All in Good Time
Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Vera Ellen - Lenny Says 
Look Blue Go Purple - Circumspect Penelope
Sufjan Stevens - That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
UB40 - Food For Thought (2024 re-recording)
Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here

3-4
Incredible Bongo Band  - Apache
Future Islands  - Last Christmas
Theres a Tuesday  - Water Baby
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Time Of The Season
The Polyphonic Spree - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers -Christmas All Over Again
There's a Tuesday  - Water Baby 
MA«star - Konked Out
MĀ - Pūhā me te Porohewa
MJ Lenderman - You Don't Know the Shape I'm In
The Beths - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas