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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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.

Kiwi singer Tami Neilson talks to Charlotte Ryan about meeting her country music hero Willie Nelson, and playing his songs in his Texas studio.

Bill Callahan tells Charlotte Ryan about the thrill of improvisation, the "little sparks" which become his songs and rediscovering the glory of Genesis.

In 1988 Rikki Morris was one of our biggest stars, and he's just released a new album. Charlotte asks Rikki why he waited so long, and catches up on Th' Dudes show last weekend. 

The Auckland musician speaks to Charlotte Ryan about her beautiful new album, along with Kiwi music icon Shayne Carter who lent a hand as “song doctor”.

After years of trying to throw their sound “50 miles down the road”, Irish post-punk rockers Fontaine's D.C. crash through a new sonic frontier on their fourth album Romance. Guitarist Conor Curley tells Charlotte Ryan how taking time off for the first time ever led the band into a more fluid and collaborative process.

Ahead of UB40's NZ tour in October we revisit an interview with Robin Campbell who speaks honestly about the departure of the former frontman - his brother Ali. 

Award winning local musician Troy Kingi has released a rock album, Leatherman & the Mojave Green. Troy talks to Charlotte about the spiritual and transformative experience of recording music in the desert.

David Lovering started playing drums for the Pixies in 1986. After the bands break up in 1993, he became a magician  - true story. Ahead of the Pixies return to New Zealand, we revisit David's 2022 conversation with Charlotte Ryan.    

Nathan Haines speaks to Charlotte Ryan about the experience of making his new album Notes - beating throat cancer, becoming a father and losing a great friend. 

As we head towards the US election, we revisit a 2020 interview with Run The Jewels' Killer Mike (Michael Render), and EL-P (Jaime Meline) who spoke to Charlotte Ryan about US politics and how their album 4 was the soundtrack for a political uprising.

Gary Hustwit, director of the new Eno documentary, tells Charlotte how he managed to fit over 500 hours of Brian Eno's personal video footage into a film that explores his relentless creativity. 

After his death earlier this week, we revisit a special 2021 interview with The Chills' Martin Phillipps, where the artist reflects on life's lessons and faces up to not being around forever. 

Charlotte talks with Barnaby Weir about starting new musical project TRiPS midlife and the meanings behind the name; psychedelic sound and having an adventure.  

Veteran US singer-songerwriter Rickie Lee Jones spoke to Charlotte Ryan in 2023 about how her neurodiversity feeds her imagination and her music.  

Following the release of Glasgow Eyes, Charlotte Ryan speaks to The Jesus and Mary Chain founder Jim Reid about the band's infamous 90s shows and mid-career break up, and what got them back together. 

In high anticipation of the new Fountains D.C album out in August, Charlotte Ryan revisits her 2023 interview with the band's frontman Grian Chatten...and wonders if he is in love?

Despite some serious challenges, Anna Coddington has created a bilingual album for the dancefloor. She celebrates with Charlotte Ryan.  

Florence Welch talks to Charlotte Ryan in 2023 about her struggle with perfectionism and the liberation of live music. 

She may be Lorde's little sister but Indy Yelich is making music, and living life on her own terms.

Charlotte Ryan revisits a 2021 chat with Alison Krauss and Robert Plant about the joy and friendship of recording their new album.

Talented local musicians Tiki Taane and Arli Liberman have composed the score for a new feature film Ka Whawhai (fa fai) Tonu - Struggle Without End, directed by Michael Jonathan. They share their unique approach to working together, and Tiki's powerful connection to the film.

Ahead of their January 2025 NZ show, we're revisiting a conversation with Idle's frontman Joe Talbot. He's lived through more grief than most of us, yet in his conversation with Charlotte Ryan he's focused on finding love and joy. 

84-year-old DJ Vika is a star of Warsaw nightclubs - she is a hit with young people and also DJs at a weekly senior citizens club. A new documentary follows Vika on her mission to age on her own terms. Director Agnieszka Zwiefka speaks to Charlotte Ryan.

We're going back to 2019 when Charlotte Ryan interviewed The 1975 frontman, Matty Healy. The band has blown up since then… due to a famous ex-girlfriend and a lot of good music. 

C. Zukey is a Canadian-born New Zealand alternative musician from Auckland with an incredible, heartbreaking story. His new album Stonefruut is inspired by some intense family experiences over the last few years which he shares with Charlotte Ryan. 

Neil Finn shares stories with his old friend Charlotte Ryan about family, lyrics and the new Crowded House album. 

Shapeshifter founding members Sam Trevethick and Nick Robinson reflect on the highs and lows of the band's 25 year career.