Shayne P Carter

Last day recording Louisa Nicklin's new album - "The Big Sulk" ! - with Emily Wheatcroft-Snape today, completing 18 months of gestation and putting in the yards. Louisa, amongst other things, is a member of Dimmer but having her sophomore album in the can is today's big news. I first came across Louisa in 2019 when I was a judge for the Silver Scrolls and after dutifully wading through 200 plus songs it was her's that stood out for her voice and it's heart. It's only the second album I've produced, after "Promises Promises" by Die! Die! Die!, and though very different I like this just as much. Props to the band - Mason, Eamon, and Durham and to Steven Marr for chipping in along the way. Expect "The Big Sulk" later in the year.

Brooklyn Vegan props for "Live At The Hollywood" via James from The Clientele. Cheers James and thank you for supporting Crystalator Records ! The Clientele have been class for yonks..

The Clientele's James Hornsey tells us about his Top 10 albums of 2023 The Clientele released their wonderful eighth album I Am Not There Anymore earlier this year

"Live At The Hollywood" tipped in the Guardian. thanks Elaine : )

The Guide #118: Our readers on their best films, books, music, TV shows and more of 2023 In this week’s newsletter: We asked our discerning subscribers what you couldn’t get enough of this year, and they didn’t let us down

"Dimmer : Live At The Hollywood" in the Listener's Top 20 Albums of 2023.

Now available from these Sydney stockists..

Beatdisc Records
Crosstalk Records
The Vintage Record
RPM - Records Posters Memorabilia
DADDYRICHRecords
Egg Records
Repressed Records

And from these mates in Aotearoa..

Relics Music Dunedin
Slow Boat Records Wellington
Flying Out Auckland
Vine St Vinyl Whangārei
My Music Taupo
JB Hi-Fi NZ - Music nationwide

And of course via shaynepcarter.com

Thanks to everyone who came out for the gigs. Dimmer band represented, and sweet to air some fresh material. Next plan, a new album with this band ..

My old man, bless his soul, gave me this Gibson SG years ago, one of several I own. It’s bogan as, turned upside down and made left handed, spray painted black, the serial number dodgily sanded off… it’s too narrow at the bottom of the neck, so my fingers don’t quite fit and it kerplunks on a couple of strings whenever I go to my default setting of A minor. The tuning has always been naff as well. I ripped the guts out of a newer sg and replaced it with the pick ups from this, because I thought that was the secret to its Awesome tone, but nup, rocked old faithful at rehearsal on the weekend and despite ignoring it for a couple of years, it’s still the leader of the pack. Tone ! as the guitar nerds would have it. It’s all in the wood baby. This is a long way of saying that I will be rocking my battered black SG at the Dimmer shows this week - at Old St Pauls in Wellington Thurs and Fri, and the Powerstation on Auckland. Tickets at humantix ! Come pay homage to this fabulous block of wood. Thanks to Greta Anderson for the pic...

Sorry South Island Dimmer fans - because of Circumstances Beyond Our Control we’ve had to cancel next week’s Christchurch show and shift our Dunedin show - to the Port Chalmers Town Hall with new dates (Dec 14/15). Christchurch ticket holders will be contacted and fully refunded. Wellington (Old St Pauls Nov 30+ Dec 1) and Auckland (Powerstation Dec 2) remain as planned. Tix and info for Wgtn and the rejigged Dun gig https://events.humanitix.com/tours/dimmer2023 Powerstation tix https://www.aaaticketing.co.nz/ Christchurch - we’re very disappointed, but hopefully see you in the new year..

Today is release day for the first issue on my own record label. Dimmer “Live At The Hollywood” on Crystalator Records. Live performance has always been it for me so I’m super stoked to finally have a live recording out especially one played by such a hot band. I way prefer several of these performances to the recorded versions. This is my nephew Akira, last seen being exploited in merch advertising for our tour, now slaving for a pittance at Crystalator Records’ South Island HQ in Port Chalmers. Show biz son, it’s tough. Order “ “Live At The Hollywood” on vinyl and c.d at www.shaynepcarter.com . Digital versions at https://dimmer-new-zealand.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-hollywood

Ah thanks to whomever for plastering these all around central Wellington but...ah... . Some good people are though so go vote for them. ; )

Chuffed with the quality of acts sharing the stage with Dimmer on our tour in Nov and Dec. (Clockwise from bottom left) Avant pop/classical artist Calla joins us for two nights at the Hanover Hall in Dunedin. The frankly damn excellent Ben Woods flies in from Melbourne for his only NZ show of the year at the James Hay in Christchurch. My beautiful friend Te Kaahu will bring her beautiful waiata to the Powerstation in Auckland. In Wellington ambi electronic tone explorers and all round cool kids Oghum will do sonorous things at Old St Pauls in Wellington. Yeah ! Class all ‘round. Tix info at link in bio..

New preview track "Searching Time" from the album "Dimmer Live At The Hollywood" released next month... https://dimmer-new-zealand.bandcamp.com/track/searching-time-live-at-the-hollywood

DIMMER Live At The Hollywood
A Crystalator Records release (CRY-001)
Double (coloured) vinyl lp - limited edition
Recorded and produced by Radio NZ
Released 27th October 2023

Pre-orders available now exclusively from
www.shaynepcarter.com

"Dimmer Live At The Hollywood" coming soon on - ta-da - Crystalator Records. On spiffing double vinyl what's more. Check out "Pendulum" ..https://dimmer-new-zealand.bandcamp.com/track/pendulum-live-at-the-hollywood

Over the next few weekends I’m performing with the Royal New Zealand Ballet providing live music, along with Ariana Tikao, for Moss Patterson’s work "Te Ao Marama". It’s one of four pieces in a show called “Lightscapes”. We’ve been rehearsing at the RNZB studios in Wellington and a few days ago I was privileged to witness a full show run through at the studio, sitting close up, right in the thick of it. How illuminating it was to see the grunt, the bandages, the trembling exertion behind scenes of apparent etherealness and beauty. The old showbiz illusion of making the difficult look easy, or trying real hard not to be tryhard. Close up, the effort of that made the whole show even more compelling . Ballet newbies, I’d really recommend this.
(Pic RNZB performing Balanchine’s “Serenade” in 1975. Serenade also opens “Lightscapes”)

Plug Of The Week (No.3) : This autographed jar of jelly is being auctioned off to raise funds for a visitors centre at the historic old family home of possibly our greatest writer, Janet Frame. I’m scrumming down here with a heavyweight front row to help spread the quince. The jelly is made from the fruit that has always grown in the back yard at 56 Eden Street, Oamaru and was stewed in the old Frame kitchen for extra authenticity. Support the Janet Frame House ! Go there and feel the wairua ! Bid for this well infused jelly! https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/antiques-collectables/new-zealand-maori/listing/4218294137?bof=KkYj8VJI, More on the project here. https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/build-janet-frame-visitor-centre

Amidst all the revisionism of the old school “Flying Nun” thing this is the one that really nails it for me - the sound, the feel, the smell of that era and that place. It’s the whiff of Xerox machines, alcohol infused hall ways, the soggy carpets of Arctic practice rooms and the inconsequential burble of six people at the Empire Hotel and the band they happen to be watching. It also reminds me of the various humiliations of my youth, but what’s that Oscar Wilde quote about viewing that youth with a “tender contempt” ? Richard was the quiet, astute observer who never got in the way, who let the subjects and subject speak for itself. What a valuable collection this is. Bravo Richard. You were right to do this thing..

The Dimmer band back on board Nov-Dec. Also look out for forthcoming double album on vinyl, "Dimmer Live At The Hollywood" all the hit pix from the tour last year cherry picked over 3 nights, fabulously recorded !
Tix
Dunedin https://events.humanitix.com/tours/dimmer2023
Chch https://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=DIMMER23
Wgtn https://events.humanitix.com/tours/dimmer2023
Ak via www.aaaticketing.co.nz

Not sure if those kids should be reading that book ; )

To round out the KVC week let's return to our awesome library. Before George and Josh kick into their weekend they're catching up on the escapades of one of our many famous and illustrious alumni!

This month's North And South magazine is running a story I wrote about rocking it with the NZSO. I did a reading of the piece, wading through two and a half thousand words, for the Detail podcast here..

The Detail's Long Read: Immortal Bangers and Me Immortal Bangers and Me by Shayne Carter: The legendary musician recounts his experience playing with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Organist Joseph Nolan burning it up with some epic Messiaen at dress rehearsal for Bright Sparks, my collab with the NZSO, at the Christchurch Town Hall tonight. 7.30 kick off..

Been rehearsing in Wellington the past few days with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for our Bright Sparks show together in Christchurch and Dunedin, the next two Saturdays. What a buzz ! I was honoured to be asked to curate a set of classical favourites for the orchestra, and then we’re doing half a dozen of my tunes which sound orchestral, committed and tops ! Because you can write as many words as you like on Facebook here’s a rundown of the programme. I tried to keep all the selections short to cover as much ground as possible and to keep things ticking along. Tickets are as cheap as 25 bucks so if you’re at all curious about the classical buzz come check this stuff OUT. I’ve been fanboying out at rehearsal hearing all this material. Come do the same..

GERARD GRISEY : Les Espaces Acoustiques III (excerpt): This is heavy, discordant and bangs like a Slayer riff. Yes, go for it obsessive French dude. Rather a ‘far out’ start to the concert.

PROKOFIEV ; Amoroso : Juxtaposition here with this gorgeous love theme from the ballet “Cinderella” ‘Swoonsome’

BERNARD HERMANN ; Prelude and Rooftop : This is the main theme from Hitchcock’s “Vertigo”. Captures perfectly the shifting realities and dream state of the film.

SCHUBERT ; Der Doppelgänger : Schubert at his best is one of my favourite songwriters and this is one of his best songs. Orchestral arrangement by Lizst. Heart broken lover stands outside his former flame’s old house every night and one evening meets himself. Spooky ! Sung by Robert Tucker.

STRAVINSKY : Scenes de ballet : 11. Apotheoses : Just a small sampler of Stravinsky and his on going avoidance of cheap, or tacky, melody !

LISZT: 5 Kleine Klavierstucke, S192/R60:no 2 : Small, modest and delectable late Lizst piano piece where he’d forsaken the florid flash of his earlier days for something more knowing and wise. Performed by NZSO pianist Kirsten Robertson.

SIBELIUS : Symphony 5 3rd movement : Justifiably iconic epic landscape music from the Finnish composer. I see the Otago Peninsula every time I hear this.

MESSIAEN: Offrande au saint sacrement/ Livre d’orgue: Les yeux dans les roues : Man I can’t wait to hear Messiaen’s heavy, ecstatic, weird and utterly committed organ music toning out big time around the town hall walls ! Featuring one of the world's finest organists, Joseph Nolan.

MOZART ; Maurische Trauermusik K477 : My favourite Mozart is his Sinfonia Concertante but for reasons of length there’s this reasonably brief Masonic funeral march which still contains the dark hues and depth that this genius often isn't credited for.

SCELSI : 4 pezzi (su una nota sola) : Like Grisey this is music from the Spectralist movement where a single note and it’s myriad overtones is ruthlessly explored. The universal pulse. Relate to this a lot with my own minimalist and weirder inclinations.

HANDEL : Ombra Mai Fu : Alex Ross wrote about this song..”There is nothing in music more unstoppably beautiful than a Handel aria moving in slow, regal splendor. It is like a godly machine, crushing all ugliness and plainness in its path.” Truth.

MAHLER ; Symphony No 5 iV : Adagietto : I originally selected the last movement of Mahler's 3rd but it requires an orchestra the size of an army. Still there's no denying the celestial beauty of this, one of his most famous pieces.

And ahh, SHAYNE P CARTER : Drop You Off / I Know Not Where I Stand / If I Were You / Crystalator / Randolphs Going Home / Waiting Game. (Kick ass arrangements by Tane Upjohn Beatson with a small nudge from Carter)

BRIGHT SPARKS ;
Christchurch Town Hall SAT OCT 8th
Dunedin Town Hall SAT OCT 15

Here’s a pic from the Michael Fowler Centre of rehearsal the other day.

Thanks to Roslyn Nijenhuis for this audience vid of the last song of our tour - yes Crystalator - from Dunedin's grand ole Regent Theatre on Saturday. Man - what a gig ! We had a blast doing this tour and it meant a lot to realise that the tunes connect with so many. Yeee-aah ! Keen as to carry on in some form or another with this Dimmer band as it's too good, and too much fun, to plonk back in the fridge. Thank you Aotearoa for your support! Well Bloody Done !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGRE72z6NL0&ab_channel=RoslynNijenhuis

Last show of what's been a stupendous tour - the homecoming at the Regent Theatre ! Tickets still available here https://nz.patronbase.com/_RegentTheatre/Productions/SCD/Performances Doors 7pm / Proteins of Magic 8.00 / Dimmer 9.00..

Set times tonight (Sunday)..Proteins of Magic 8pm Dimmer 9pm..

Dimmer band laying it down in Chch on Saturday night. Auckland this weekend. Friday and Sat sold out but some tix left for Sunday..
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/sep/dimmer-hollywood

First stage of tour - FINALLY - done and dusted. Bloody great. Band repped hard. Tunes repped hard - and sometimes soft. Audiences - lovely - listened and boogied then listened and then boogied again. Right on ! Auckland next weekend..Dunedin the one after..

Awesome to FINALLY kick off our tour in Wellington last night. Thank you lovely audience for being with us all the way ! A handful of tix have been late released for tonight's 2nd show..

Wellington! If you missed out on tickets for Dimmer at San Fran tonight, here’s your chance - we were able to release a few more tickets for you, available here:
https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/gig/76048/Dimmer.utr

(Also note early doors 7:30pm)

Yes, still banging on about this, but Yadana Saw did a lovely job putting this together and so good to get Gazza Sullivan's take on events..

Oral history: The making of Dimmer's 'I Believe You Are A Star' On the 21st anniversary of Dimmer’s I Believe You are a Star, Dimmer frontman Shayne Carter, and drummer Gary Sullivan take us through the circumstances that saw them make a record entirely different from the rock n roll glory of the Straitjacket Fits And the new sounds they made influenced by amb...