Ngaiire

Ngaiire

August, 2015
Background information
Genres Future soul
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2005–present
Labels Wantok
Associated acts Blue King Brown, Paul Mac, Barefoot Divas

Ngaire Joseph, better known by her stage name Ngaiire (pronounced ny-ree or /naɪəriː/), is a Papua New Guinea-born singer based in Sydney.[1] She is a former backing vocalist for Blue King Brown, Paul Mac and Chet Faker, and has sung on tracks by The Tongue, Thundamentals, Bluejuice, Kilter, Lancelot and Jordan Rakei. She has toured nationally, has played at Glastonbury festival,[2] sang at the opening ceremony for the 2015 Pacific Games[3] and was in the top 30 of the second season of Australian Idol.[4] She is widely recognised as one of Australia's best live performers,[5][6] and was called one of the greatest living people on earth by Monster Children magazine.[7] Her debut album, Lamentations was released in 2013 and her second album Blastoma was released in June 2016.

Early life

Ngaiire was born in Lae, Papua New Guinea in 1984 as Ngaire Laun Joseph, and is the eldest of three siblings. She is bilingual, growing up speaking both English and Tok Pisin. Her parents moved to Palmerston North in New Zealand when she was one year old to study, and returned to Papua New Guinea six years later.[8] Ngaiire was living in Rabaul until Mt Tarvurvur erupted in 1994 and buried the town (including her house) under a deep layer of volcanic ash.[9] Ngaiire's parents divorced some time after returning to the country, both subsequently remarrying. She claimed learning at an early age that music was something she could use to make her life more stable. "When I was about 11 or 12 and I was living in PNG and singing was just one of those things I did. I listened to a lot of music. Life there has loads of craziness and so many unexpected things happen. Music gave me the ability to talk about and feel all the things that were going on in my world,"[10] "I always viewed songs as a form of poetry that didn't necessarily need to make sense to anyone else".[11]

Ngaiire spent a large part of her time in New Zealand after being diagnosed with cancer in her adrenal glands at the age of three.[12][13] This later influenced the video for "Dirty Hercules", as Ngaiire said "My body is not conventional. I have a rather prominent scar across my stomach from cancer. I struggled a lot with my body after I beat cancer and this clip also represents that journey to acceptance."[14] She later titled her sophomore album Blastoma and wrote the lead single about life's uncertainty and taking risks.

Ngaiire moved to Lismore, Australia with her mother and stepfather in 2000. She attended Kadina High School, entered the local Accelerator music competition in 2002 and recorded her first song, "I Remember" for the Accelerator 2002: The Winners CD.[15][16] She then moved to Mackay in Central Queensland to undertake a Bachelor of Jazz Studies in 2003. She was recognised at CQU as an outstanding vocalist by many of Australia's leading jazz performers and fronted a number of local jazz bands.[17]

Ngaiire achieved moderate success in the 2004 season of Australian Idol, reaching the top 13 before being voted off. She was brought back as a wild card before being voted off a second time, and was again brought back to perform solo as part of the grand final night. Despite never making the top 12, Ngaiire's rendition of "Back to the Middle" was ranked in the 'all time' top 10 Australian Idol performances,[18] and season three included a formal 'Top 13'. Ngaiire subsequently returned to her studies and attempted to avoid the perceived stigma associated with appearing on the show,[19] turning down offers from American recording industry professionals in order to remain independent.[20]

Early career

Ngaiire's second recording was a four-track single called "Luv Sa Giaman",[21] which translates as Love Tells Lies. She recorded the single with Lismore-based band The Rent in 2005 and released it in Australia through the now-defunct WindSong Records label, and in Papua New Guinea through Chin H Min Music. Ngaiire and The Rent toured in Papua New Guinea in support of the single, her first tour.[22]

Ngaiire recorded her debut EP Song for No One in 2008 with Sydney-based producer Tony Buchen (aka Buchman). The EP features the single "Song for No One" and the 1920s-style "Glorious". "Glorious" was the most successful song on the EP, with Triple J and NIDA supporting the production of a music video, produced by Karla Conway. Triple J also listed Ngaiire on the 2010 'Next Crop' artist list[23] and played several of her songs on Triple J Unearthed.

Blue King Brown

Ngaiire joined Blue King Brown as a backing vocalist in 2004 following the success of their debut single "Water". She toured extensively with them for the next four years in support of the band's self-titled debut EP and first album Stand Up, visiting the UK, Japan, Europe and Canada as well as a large part of regional Australia in the process. Ngaiire credits this period as being a time during which she matured as a musician and gained a first-hand knowledge of what being a successful independent artist requires.[24] Ngaiire 'retired' from full-time touring with BKB in 2008 in order to focus on the release of her own debut EP, but continued to perform with them occasionally up until her 2013 release of Lamentations.[24]

Paul Mac

Ngaiire recorded the single "It's Not Me, It's You" with Paul Mac in 2005 after Paul tracked her down following her elimination from Australian Idol. Paul subsequently enlisted Ngaiire as a regular feature vocalist during his live performances in support of the 2005 release Panic Room, describing her as a "diminutive bomb of goodness".[25] "It's Not Me, It's You" was the start of a friendship between the pair, with Paul becoming a mentor to Ngaiire.[26] Ngaiire and Paul continue to collaborate, with Ngaiire providing guest vocals on Paul's 2015 album Holiday From Me[27] and with Paul co-writing and co-producing Ngaiire's second album Blastoma.[28][29]

Collaborations, styles and influences

Ngaiire is recognised as one of Australia's leading future soul artists and has been described as "the beating heart of the contemporary live music scene in Australia".[5] She is often compared to artists such as Jeff Buckley, Hiatus Kaiyote, Kimbra, and Angie Stone.[30][31][32] She appeared at the 2014 Glastonbury, the 2015 Culture Collide (Los Angeles) and 2015 CMJ Music Marathon (New York) festivals, contributed to increasing international attention being paid to the resurgence of soul music in Australia.[33][34]

Ngaiire's musical style is typified by strong, clear vocals that are frequently accompanied by layered harmonies and rhythms, and her sound is sometimes described as a combination of Mary J. Blige and Erykah Badu's voices mixed with M.I.A.'s genre-bending sensibility.[35] Her lyrics often express complex emotional and social issues, her performances are notable for her flamboyant costumes, and her music videos have been described as more typical of art films than standard music videos.[36]

One comment often made of Ngaiire is that she both expands and transcends musical boundaries.[37][38] The styles and influences she presents have coalesced into very diverse range of collaborations that include names such as John Butler, Alicia Keys, John Legend and Chet Faker. John Butler first noticed Ngaiire during her Blue King Brown days, describing her voice as "a soulful massage for (the) eardrums" and having "beautiful harmonies, great songs, sass, sincerity and soul to spare".[39] John hand-picked Ngaiire to precede his set at the 2009 East Coast Blues and Roots Festival[39] and then went on to support her professional development through management training[40] and funding (the JB Seed Fund).[41] Ngaiire then went on to support Ruthie Foster's Australian tour in 2009, Alicia Keys, John Legend and Cody Chesnutt in 2013, Chet Faker in 2015 and Sufjan Stevens in 2016.[42][43][44][45][46] Additional collaborations and musical styles include:

Recognition

Discography

Lamentations

Lamentations is Ngaiire's debut album, and was released in 2013 to critical acclaim. It was written in a small bar in Ekoda (Tokyo) called Bar Noah with jazz pianist and producer Aaron Cholai, and has been described as "electronic but soulful, innovative but accessible, and a timeless mating of genres".[37][63] Lamentations was inspired by a combination of classical literature (Dido's Lament & the Book of Lamentations), fantasy and personal experience. Its major themes include hope, love and loss. It was called "poignant" and "melancholic", as well as invoking a sense of empathy and understanding. Musical styles were stripped back for the release and the album was intended as a concept album in terms of both lyrical content and soundscape, mixing elements of soul, funk, folk, jazz, gospel and electro as well as hip hop and blues with beats, synth and glitch.[24][63][64][65] Lamentations was also noted as having a timeless sound.[37]

Blastoma

Blastoma is Ngaiire's second album, and was produced by Paul Mac and Jack Grace. Blastoma was recorded over a period of two years, primarily in Paul's studio in Erskineville, Sydney and was released in June 2016. Ngaiire collaborated more widely than on previous works, as she was more used to writing alone.[66] Depth of story and the power of Ngaiire's voice on the album are two consistent themes from reviewers. Blastoma is reported as a carefully considered, cohesive and dynamic album,[67][68] forming a happy marriage of old soul, experimentation and futuristic vision.[67][69]

The title Blastoma refers to the form of cancer—a reference to Ngaiire's childhood encounter with the disease, as well as a "reminder that sometimes life just explodes in your face and you just have to get out there and live it".[70] During the making of the album, Ngaiire returned from performing at the 2014 Glastonbury Festival to the news that her partner of five years (and the producer of Lamentations) had ended their relationship, leaving her questioning her ability to complete the album.[71]

The first single from the album, "Once", was released in July 2015 to early critical success. The accompanying music video was styled in the form of an interview and biographical dream, with a live recording also being produced in the Triple J Like a Version studio. "Once" polled 73rd on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2015[60] and was noted for appearing on the list despite being released on an independent label by an unsigned artist. "Once" resulted in Ngaiire's first solo appearance on the list and is the first instance of a Papua New Guinean-born artist making it into the Hottest 100.[72]

The second single, "Diggin'" was released in February 2016, and debuted at number 16 on the Carlton Dry Independent Music Charts.[57] The music video is heavy in its use of shadows and gold with lithe, provocative dance moves. "Diggin'" is a track that speaks of "being found before you find yourself in a permanent state of no return", and was called a "triumphant celebration of life".[73][74]

House on a Rock, the third single, was released in May 2016. It was described as being more electronic and dance-able than previous singles, and was quickly described as 'the most innovative soul music Australia has seen'.[75] The accompanying music video was shot in Tel Aviv[76] and gives a 'behind closed doors' look at the playing out of a failed relationship.[77]

Early reports of the album suggested a return to Ngaiire's use of glitch and danceable, funky beats. It is reportedly an evolution on prior works, with a more mature and refined sound than on Lamentations,[71][78] also being described as "soulful", "fierce" and "spellbinding".[61]

On 18 June 2016, the album debuted at number 41 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart, marking her first entry on the ARIA Charts.[55] It peaked at number 7 on the ARIA Urban Albums Chart.[56]

EPs

Singles

References

  1. ↑ Puddy, Rebecca (3 January 2014), "Ngaiire leaves 'bizarre' Idol behind", The Australian
  2. ↑ aparks (24 July 2014), "Ngaiire spreads her wings", The Northern Star
  3. ↑ Encalada, Javier (10 July 2015), "Former Lismore singer Ngaiire hitting high notes", Northern Rivers Echo
  4. ↑ "Papua New Guinean Idol!", PNG Post Courier, 10 September 2004
  5. 1 2 3 "AU Live Music Awards Announced in Sydney, Gang of Youths, Meg Mac Amongst Winners – the AU review". the AU review. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  6. 1 2 "The results are in… here are your winners of the inaugural National Live Music Awards! – National Live Music Awards". www.nlmas.com.au. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  7. 1 2 "Issue 50". shop.monsterchildren.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  8. 1 2 http://www.ngaiire.com.au/about/#bio/ Artist Website Accessed 8 October 2015
  9. ↑ "Fit Chick: Ngaiire Joseph". www.guysofficial.com. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  10. ↑ Busch, Paul. "Ngaiire Talks Growing Up In PNG, Her Debut Album, & Music As An Outlet". ToneDeaf. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "Ngaiire | Beat Magazine". www.beat.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
  12. ↑ http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/apn-unsung-hero-returns-to-centre/19592/ Unsung Hero Returns to Centre Stage Accessed 8 October 2015
  13. ↑ http://www.southsydneyherald.com.au/bold-and-beautiful-artist-profile-ngaiire/#.VhzSUJd321I Bold and Beautiful - Artist Profile: Ngaire; Accessed 13 October 2015
  14. ↑ http://theorangepress.net/2013/03/ngaiire-dirty-hercules-ft-nai-palm-2/, Ngaiire – Dirty Hercules ft. Nai Palm Accessed October 2015
  15. ↑ http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/passion-for-sound-and-fashion/2699503/ Former Lismore singer Ngaiire hitting high notes, Accessed 8 October 2015
  16. ↑ http://trove.nla.gov.au /work/22348811?selectedversion=NBD24410058, Accelerator 2002 the winners, Accessed 8 October 2015
  17. ↑ CQU's Australian Idol singer still jazzed-up. Accessed 8 October 2015
  18. ↑ Nicholson, Mikey. "The Definitive Ranking Of Australian Idol Performances". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  19. ↑ http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/ngaiire-lismore/691204/ Ngaiire to perform at fundraiser, Accessed 8 October 2015
  20. ↑ http://www.wantokmusik.org/#!ngaiire/cqu5 Ngaiire, Accessed 8 October 2015
  21. ↑ Scollay, Rachel. "Ambitious Ngaiire refuses to be Idol". Northern Star. APN. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  22. ↑ Asia Pacific Breweries. "Annual Report 2005". Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Ngaiire". JPlay. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  24. 1 2 3 Freeman, Miranda. "Ngaiire: Quite Contrary". Rip it Up. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  25. ↑ lloyd bradford (brad) syke, lloyd bradford (brad) (28 April 2009). "Sydney » Reviews » Ruthie Foster". Australian Stage. Retrieved 2015-10-27.
  26. ↑ William Spencer, William. "Ngaiire Delves Into Her New Single, the New Album and a New Attitude". SpeakerTV. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  27. ↑ McCabe, Kathy. "Paul Mac launches Holiday From Me record with mystery train ride party". News.com.au. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  28. ↑ Sosefina Fuamoli, Sosefina. "Single of the Day: Ngaiire "Once" (2015)". The AU Review. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  29. ↑ Liza Moscatelli, Liza. "NGAIIRE's latest single 'Once' and live shows". Mosca Media. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  30. ↑ "NGAIIRE | AWME". www.awme.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  31. 1 2 "Ngaiire announces summer tour dates". FasterLouder. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  32. ↑ "2012 Project Outcomes". www.theseedfund.org. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  33. ↑ "How Our Aussies Killed It At Glastonbury 2014". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  34. ↑ "Australia's Got Soul". Australian neo soul, jazz and funk News. Neo Soul. 26 October 2015. Retrieved Nov 11, 2015.
  35. ↑ "BIGSOUND Live 2015 Official Closing Party - The Triffid, Brisbane 11/09/15 - Music Feeds". Music Feeds. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  36. ↑ "Features Ngaiire BMA Magazine Canberra Streetpress". www.bmamag.com. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  37. 1 2 3 Reid, Lorin. "Ngaiire - Lamentations". The Music. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  38. ↑ Jones, Emma. "BIGSOUND Interview: NGAIIRE". Bigsound. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  39. 1 2 "Ngaiire's Biography — Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at Last.fm". www.last.fm. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  40. ↑ "2012 Project Outcomes". www.theseedfund.org. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  41. ↑ "2009 Project Outcomes". www.theseedfund.org. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  42. ↑ "Live Review: Cody ChesnuTT + NGAIIRE - Metro Theatre, Sydney (19.10.13) | the AU review". the AU review. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  43. ↑ "Ruthie Foster". www.australianstage.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  44. ↑ "Ngaiire Announces Australian Summer Tour - Music Feeds". Music Feeds. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  45. ↑ "Ngaiire | Beat Magazine". www.beat.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  46. ↑ "Watch Ngaiire Jump Up On Stage With Sufjan Stevens For 'Chicago' - Music Feeds". Music Feeds. 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  47. ↑ "Artists - AAO". Australian Art Orchestra. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  48. ↑ "Australian Art Orchestra celebrates 20 years". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  49. ↑ "Famous Blue Cheese". Leonard Cohen files. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  50. ↑ Brittany Meale, Brittany. "The Strides: One For One". Scene. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  51. ↑ "The Divas". Barefoot Divas. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  52. ↑ "Marcello". Marcello Maio. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  53. ↑ "IMDb". Mr. Pip (2012) Soundtracks. IMDb. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  54. ↑ "Ngaiire, Violent Soho, more of your faves win big in National Live Music Awards | Music News | triple j". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  55. 1 2 "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  56. 1 2 "ARIA URBAN ALBUMS CHART". 18 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  57. 1 2 "Ngaiire Claims Sole Top 20 Debut On Aussie Indie Albums & Singles Charts". theMusic. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  58. ↑ "APRA Announce Professional Development Award Winners For 2015". theMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  59. ↑ "Gang of Youths and Meg Mac lead the nominations for the 2nd Annual AU Live Music Awards | the AU review". the AU review. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  60. 1 2 "Triple J Hottest 100 2015: Live Updates & Winners - Music Feeds". Music Feeds. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  61. 1 2 "It's My Kind of Scene: Top 115 Songs of 2015, #10 - 1". www.itsmykindofscene.com. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  62. ↑ "The Coopers Amp - 10th Australian Music Prize". www.thecoopersamp.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  63. 1 2 ADAMS, CAMERON (July 24, 2013). "Album of the week and latest releases". Daily Telegraph.
  64. ↑ "CD Reviews Ngaiire BMA Magazine Canberra Streetpress". www.bmamag.com. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  65. ↑ "Ngaiire - Lamentations". Notey. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  66. ↑ "Ngaiire". Forte. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  67. 1 2 "Review: Ngaiire, "Blastoma" • Howl & Echoes". Howl & Echoes. 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2016-06-13.
  68. ↑ "Ngaiire: Blastoma | Brag Magazine". www.thebrag.com. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  69. ↑ "Review: Ngaiire - 'Blastoma'". the interns. 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  70. ↑ "Ngaiire Delves Into Her New Single, the New Album and a New Attitude". speakertv. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  71. 1 2 "NGAIIRE (Sydney) on the "Once" effect & flourishing from Lamentations to Blastoma | the AU review". the AU review. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  72. ↑ "Ngaiire hits Hottest 100 glory for Once". Northern Rivers Echo. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  73. ↑ "Ngaiire is back with Diggin'". Northern Star. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  74. ↑ Koniw, Taylor Anne Koniw (May 4, 2016). "I Like That|Ngaiire - Diggin music Video". 04 May, 2016. adamNOTeve. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  75. ↑ "Ngaiire's 'House On A Rock' Is The Most Innovative Soul Music Australia Has Seen". the interns. 2016-05-25. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  76. ↑ Dow, Steve (2016-06-07). "Australian singer Ngaiire on surviving bullying, volcanoes and childhood cancer". the Guardian. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  77. ↑ "Ngaiire ~ House On A Rock - Wild n Free". 2016-07-14. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
  78. ↑ "Ngaiire | Beat Magazine". www.beat.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-09.

External links

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