Long-awaited return to Australia coincides with new label’s launch
The first wave of quarantine-free transTasman flights this week has prompted long-awaited reunions and the return of tourists to destinations crying out for overseas visitors. But for Nelson singersongwriter Aly Cook, a flight across the ditch has allowed her to get back on song with her musical connections.
Cook joined the hundreds of passengers making use of the transTasman bubble this week, flying to Sydney for the first time in over a year.
Life has been challenging as an artist, promoter and publicist for Cook, who works on both sides of the Tasman.
‘‘I’ve got a lot of friends over there who I’ve missed and, for a while, wasn’t sure when I’d see them again,’’ she said.
Cook has travelled to Australia several times a year to perform and organise concerts and events, including the Kiwi segment of the international showcase at the famous Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Under her own Artist2Key banner, Cook has run marketing and PR from her Tasman home for 15 years on behalf of many New Zealand and international artists.
While her opportunities to travel to and perform in Australia have been curtailed by Covid-19, she said the promotion aspect of her work had spiked significantly.
‘‘Initially, it was like, ‘We’re screwed, the music industry is going to be so badly hit’ – but what happened was my work doubled because nobody could play live any more, and all they could do was release music.’’
The increased workload has also led to the establishment of a boutique record label run from Cook’s home at Tasman township, near Motueka.
The aptly-named Tasman Records was formed in partnership with Christchurch businessman Martin Brennan. It began when Brennan was in the audience as Cook performed with veteran Kiwi singer Sharon O’Neill in Christchurch.
‘‘Martin rang me up and said, ‘I’d really like someone like you, because there’s people I know in the music industry and I’d like to run some tours,’’ said Cook, the label’s managing director.
Getting straight to work, Cook and Brennan began scheduling a tour by Canadian singer Andy Kim, of Rock Me Gently fame. Then 2020 happened.
‘‘I had to cancel the whole tour run, like many other promoters. Luckily, I didn’t have it on sale by then, so the effects weren’t as dramatic.
‘‘So we just waited for a while and thought, ‘It’ll all be over soon’ – and then it became clear it wasn’t going away any time soon, and Martin said, ‘Well, I know Gerry – why don’t we licence his album and start a record label?’. I thought that sounded great.’’
Promoting music in both New Zealand and Australia, Tasman Records will be bringing both local and imported titles to music fans.
In a coup for the fledgling label, its first release is a licensed album by Gerry Beckley of the group America. Keeping the Light On – The Best of Gerry Beckley will be released on April 30.
‘‘I cut my teeth on that sort of stuff,’’ Cook said. ‘‘Songs like I Need You, Don’t Cross The River – they were some of my favourites growing up, so to be working with that person whose music has meant a lot to me personally is wonderful.’’
While in Australia, Cook will be organising numerous promotional engagements for Beckley to promote his album. Her own new single, Prize Ribbons, from the album Caught in the Middle, will also be released this week.
Beckley said it was a pleasure to work with Tasman Records in distributing his latest work. ‘‘I’m happy to have them on board.’’