Songs of solace

Soothing tunes for troubled times

MARLON WILLIAMS

The music I’m turning to ... Nga waiata ō te motu! My current favourites are The Maniapoto Voices and the Mauriora Entertainers (both available on Spotify etc.). At times the idea that there’s “nothing new under the sun” can be comforting. Many of these are old songs of yearning; there is a deep sense of loss. It’s nice to feel part of the continuum of history sometimes, forever at the mercy of the human condition. A song that puts me in a good headspace right now . . . E Wawata by the Mauriora Entertainers — check it out.

ELIZABETH STOKES, The Beths

The music I’m turning to . . . Phoebe Bridgers’ new song Garden Song — I love her lyrics and songwriting, and there is something about her vocal tone and phrasing that just short circuits the whole of my thinking brain and cuts directly into my emotional lizard brain. I wouldn’t call it comforting (it makes me feel deeply sad) but it’s a full on distraction, which I appreciate.

A song that puts me in a good headspace right now . . . Chelsea Jade’s new song Superfan. Chelsea is such an incredible songwriter. Every lyric is a zinger and when I listen to this song I hear another piece of wit so sharp I don’t know how she can fit so many in one song without it bursting open. I’ve known Chelsea since we were 13 or 14, in the same guitar lesson group at school, and I miss her dearly and worry like a parent about her being in the US right now. Hearing the fruits of her labour makes me so proud.

HOLLIE SMITH

The music I’m turning to . . . All the livestream music that our New Zealand music industry is doing, Anna Coddington, Louis Baker, and Anika Moa has been doing her Songs for Bubbas concerts, which are often inappropriately adult friendly. It’s an awesome way to support our small and fragile industry at this time and it’s a nice intimate way to get to know artists you love.

A song that puts me in a good headspace right now . . . It’s maybe not one song but my John Lee Hooker record has been a fantastic puzzle and wine accompaniment.

JORDAN ARTS, High Hoops

The music I’m turning to . . . I’ve found myself listening to a lot of classic and modern soul records. I feel it’s finally time for slow music to take a front seat as we settle into these new rhythms of life, and I’m personally totally cool with that. It’s a big reset button for all of us. A song that puts me in a good headspace right now . . . The Supreme Jubilees — It’ll All Be Over remains as my comforting and hopeful lockdown anthem. Lyrically literal too! “One of these days, it’ll all be over” the song sympathises. Open up all the windows, put the kettle on, burn some Nag Champa and let the Jubilees soundtrack your next blue-skied afternoon.

TAMI NEILSON

The music I’m turning to . . . Gospel music like Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Aretha’s Amazing Grace album, Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, the Staples Singers . . . all of those songs were written to give hope and lift up your head in the midst of struggle and hardship. I have been listening to Mavis Staples’ You Are Not Alone (a Grammy award-winning album produced by Jeff Tweedy, that is one of my all-time favourites) on repeat. I also grew up singing in a family band and we started out travelling across North America singing gospel music in churches so the music is also wrapped up in those memories of childhood, which adds to that feeling of comfort.

A song that puts me in a good headspace right now . . . The song I find myself singing throughout the day since this all started is the last song my dad wrote in the hospital before he passed away. It’s one I recorded, called Don’t Be Afraid. “Don’t be afraid for I am with you/ I’m gonna see you through another day/ and don’t you dare be discouraged/ I’m gonna help you on your way.” Singing his words is like having him here with me, it really gives me peace.

FINN ANDREWS

The music I’m turning to . . . Nothing sounds better than a great song at a bad time — I’m finding this to be very true at the moment. I’ve found myself listening to a lot of Billie Holiday, Antony & The Johnsons, Nina Simone. People with voices that conjure entire landscapes along with them. Perhaps that’s what appeals while I’m missing the world outdoors. I would also heartily recommend Emahoy TsegueMaryam Guebrou’s otherworldly The Song of the Sea. I’m becoming increasingly sentimental during this time, and it seems to be taking less and less for a song to bring me close to tears — especially if it makes me think of my friends. My dad is in the UK, and I don’t know when I’ll see him next . . . this has opened up a whole host of other songs I should probably avoid.

A song that puts me in a good headspace right now . . . The last show I went to before the lockdown began was the Weyes Blood/ Aldous show at the Auckland Town Hall — as a result both these artists seem to be shepherding me through this time. The Weyes Blood song Andromeda is constantly floating around in the back of my mind. I’m ever so glad to have them with me.

LUKE WALKER, Flamingo Pier

The music I’m turning to . . . P-Funk, the new Childish Gambino album, Jonathan Wilson’s record Gentle Spirit and the recording of our last DJ set at 121 Festival. People seem to be sharing more pensive music at the moment (the Jonathan Wilson record ticks that box for me) but personally I’d rather be shaken out of any iso-related downers, so mostly I’m listening to joyful music that reminds me of dancing with my friends.

A song that puts me in a good headspace right now . . . Childish Gambino — 19.10. Most American artists have a Prince-inspired moment and this one is as funky as they come.