Music 101 Interviews

Mokotron is a Ngāti Hine music producer based in Tāmaki Auckland, who is part of a Māori electronic music scene that has become a creative force. The man behind Mokotron is Tiopira McDowell - by day a lecturer in Māori Studies, and co-head of the Māori and Pacific Studies at Auckland Uni, and by night, an artist who has gained a reputation for getting the clubs heaving with a sound that’s distinctly Aotearoa.

Once Were Warriors celebrates its 30th anniversary this month and the legendary soundtrack has been re-released. Based on Alan Duff's novel and directed by Lee Tamahori, the film became the highest-grossing film of all-time in New Zealand and won numerous awards. Tim Moon, who was part of Tangata Records who released the soundtrack, joins Charlotte Ryan.

After receiving glowing reviews for her earlier releases including her debut album Morningside, Fazerdaze spent years touring throughout the world, resulting in burnout. After taking some time out, she has returned with a new album that represents coming out of the darkness, with a sound that is bigger, but still holds true to her distinctive dreamy guitar pop.

Moana & The Tribe have returned with a concept album project that starts in Aotearoa and travels around the world - encapsulating the voices, language, and culture of six indigenous wāhine. Moana spoke with Music101's Charlotte Ryan.

We revisit a 2021 interview with Grammy award-winning musician Moby when he opened up to Charlotte Ryan about his career, addiction and regret. And just a heads up - this interview discusses suicide and suicidal ideation

Salmonella Dub originator Andrew Penman aka DJ Rudeboy talks to Charlotte Ryan about how the community of Whakatu, writer Keri Hulme, and our cultural history, influenced the music.

Best known taonga pūoro practitioner Horomona Horo speaks to Charlotte the day after he was announced as an Arts Laureate about the struggle to be seen as an artist.

Prince is one of the few remaining 80s superstars whose story remains a mystery, yet their estate is preventing the release of a Netflix documentary. Author Matt Thorne joins Charlotte Ryan to discuss his life-long pursuit of documenting Prince, and why he sides with Prince’s estate over the Netflix controversy.

To celebrate the release M. Ward's 'best of' compilation, 'For Beginners', we revisit an interview from July 2023 where he discusses the supernatural occurrences when music reaches the listener's ear.

American singer and songwriter Remi Wolf is a headlining artist at Auckland’s Laneway Festival in January next year. Originally from Palo Alto, California, Remi Wolf has come to international attention as the opening act for Lorde, Paramore, Gorillaz, and more recently, Olivia Rodrigo. Charlotte Ryan catches up with Remi from a bathroom floor in Atlanta.

Seattle band Pearl Jam have recorded 11 studio albums, sold 85 million+ albums, played over 1000 shows and had 5 albums reach number one. But after over thirty years of success, biographer Ronen Givony asks: Why are Pearl Jam not thought of as fondly as other bands like Nirvana? Music 101 revisits this interview ahead of the band's New Zealand shows.

It's the album that promises to own the dance floor this summer. Jamie xx talks to Charlotte Ryan about collaborating with some incredible artists, and how time spent in New Zealand influenced his work.

This week we revisit an interview with Bret McKenzie, one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, to talk about coming out of solitude and writing songs that are not funny.

Chris White played saxophone with Dire Straits on the Brothers in Arms tour on some of the world's biggest stages. Chris shares his experience with Dire Straits with Charlotte Ryan.

Stuart Braithwaite of cult Scottish band Mogwai talks stargazing with his Dad, playing so loud the ceiling caved in, and the making of the band's new documentary.