maitreya's blog...

Hailing from Christchurch New Zealand maitreya is an MC with a mood and a message to renew the faith of Hip Hop heads worldwide. His soulful melodies punctuated by tight, head nodding beats and rhymes made him the first ever hip hop artist to crowd-source US$50,000 to record his debut solo album Close To Home.

The album is a journey through sound into the tragedies and victories of an everyday hero who has taken his craft from Christchurch, New Zealand to stages in New York, Hong Kong, London and Amsterdam.

So dig out your De La Soul, cue up your Lupe Fiasco, slap on some Streets and they will all be in good company... you'll recognize the emotional honesty and depth, but like all great artists... maitreya does it his way.
Wed Sep 23

Silver Scrolls

I just got back from the APRA Silver Scroll Awards held this year in my hometown of Christchurch!  It was a wicked night with performances and appearances by some of our most talented artists, including Bic Runga, Scribe, Demarnia Lloyd, Dave Dobbyn, Ray Columbus and The Bats!  Plus the Canterbury Lamb was incredible… props to the chef and the whole kitchen!  Many thanks and much respect to Abbie, Petrina, Rita, the whole crew at APRA and Oscar Kightley who MC’d the night, you guys rock and put on yet another night to remember!

Congratulations to all the winners!

APRA Silver Scroll Award
James Milne & Luke Buda: ‘Apple Pie Bed’

New Zealand Music Hall Of Fame Induction
Hirini Melbourne & Richard Nunns

SOUNZ Contemporary Award: recognising creative excellence by a classical composer.
Ross Harris: ‘Symphony III’

APRA Maioha Award: celebrating contemporary Maori music.
Rewi Spraggon & Riki Bennett (Te Aratoi): ‘Tapapakanga’

Most Performed Work in New Zealand
Midnight Youth:  ‘The Letter’

Most Performed Work Overseas
Neil Finn: ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’

I was a nominee for the APRA Maioha Award for WHAKAKOTAHI RANGATAHI which I recorded with KILOTONE.  Many congratulations go to Rewi, Riki, Kristal and Te Aratoi for winning with their beautiful waiata Tapapakanga!! Rewi and the crew have been writing and recording  in Te Reo (Maori Language) with Maori instrumentation for many years, they are leaders in their field and deserved winners!  CHCHur!  Also wanna shout out Maisey Rika who was nominated for Repeat Offender, another incredibly talented artist you gotta check out.

Cheers to Jeff Fulton, his Chart crew and Fat Eddies for throwing the After Party!  About 15 acts played and I got to rock CHur To The CHur and WAITAHA for my Christchurch peoples!!  Shot..!

Take care and have a great September!!

Love & Light, maitreya