“I believe that God is the Musician of all Musicians and that He created music as a language that can be spoken in any tongue to any creature.”
- Tami Neilson, singer-songwriter

AMMP are a Christian rock band from Wellington, New Zealand. AMMP's single releases include "All I Wanted" (2006), "Ironman" (2007), "Go" (2008), "Always" (2008), "Dirty Rock and Roll" (2009), "Let The Sunlight In" (2010), and "Don't Leave Me Here" (2010). AMMP's music and lyrics are about light and life, and contain metaphors for faith, hope, love, and new beginnings. AMMP's debut album is due for release during 2010. MySpace: www.myspace.com/ammpnz and Website: www.ammp.co.nz
Interview: April 9th 2010 Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Photo: AMMP / AMMP.co.nz

“I believe music can move you. If music is honest and can relate with a listener then that could be spiritually significant.” - Andy Masseurs, vocalist in AMMP

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MIKE FREW is a singer-songwriter and worship leader from Tauranga, New Zealand. His latest album "Defining Moments: Mike Frew And Friends" (2009) is available from Tauranga City Elim Church, and Christian stores throughout New Zealand. MySpace: www.myspace.com/mikefrew
Interview: September 26th 2009 Tauranga, New Zealand
Photo: Mike Frew

“Music used in genuine worship has a critical part to play in our spiritual connection with God.” - Mike Frew, singer-songwriter

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TAMI NEILSON is a Canadian-born musician, singer-songwriter and vocalist based in Auckland, New Zealand. Her albums "Red Dirt Angel" (2009), and "The Kitchen Table Sessions" (2010) are both available online and in stores. Tami is the winner of the New Zealand Music Award (Tui) for Best Country Album 2009 for her debut solo album, "Red Dirt Angel", which includes a duet with Joanne Cash on the single “Sister Cash”. Her music style is a bridge between bluegrass and country with an alternative twist. She grew up performing professionally throughout Canada in her family band, The Neilsons, sharing the stage with the likes of Johnny Cash, and releasing 2 top 40 singles on the Canadian country music charts. MySpace: www.myspace.com/tamineilson and Website: www.tamineilson.com
Interview: April 8th 2010 Auckland, New Zealand
Photo: Nic Staveley

“I believe that God is the Musician of all Musicians and that He created music as a language that can be spoken in any tongue to any creature.” - Tami Neilson, singer-songwriter

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LUKE ORAM is a music writer, musician, and singer-songwriter from Auckland, New Zealand. The Black Dahlias' single "Do You Wanna" is available via MySpace, and Edge Kingsland's "Edge | Vol 1: Here's My Home [CD & Book]" is available from CD Baby, iTunes, and online. Luke Oram is an active collaborator in many music projects, with key influences on his band The Black Dahlias being Eagles of Death Metal, The Hives, and L.A. Guns. The Black Dahlias successfully received funding from NZ On Air with a New Artist Grant and their debut EP is due for release during 2010. MySpace: www.myspace.com/theblackdahliasband and Websites: www.lukeoram.co.nz and www.heresmyhome.co.nz
Interview: April 15th 2010 Auckland, New Zealand
Photo: Luke Oram / The Black Dahlias

“We can sing along; adding our voices and intention to the sound, creating what C. S. Lewis called the “few golden moments” - the supernatural and natural all fused into unity.” - Luke Oram, singer-songwriter

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CHRIS MASON-BATTLEY is a composer and saxophonist from Auckland, New Zealand. The Chris Mason-Battley Group's "Karakia" (2000), "Unspoken [2CD]" (2002), and "Two Tides" (2006) are available from Amplifier.co.nz and CDBaby.com. Chris Mason-Battley is one of New Zealand’s leading contemporary jazz composers, and his group's music has featured in compilation albums, multimedia projects, and short films. Their debut album "Karakia" was a finalist in the Jazz Album category of the 2000 New Zealand Music Awards. Their songs have received over a million downloads to date, achieving international success as one of the Top 25 downloaded artists on the pioneer music website MP3.com. Their latest album, "Two Tides", released by Rattle Records, is a collaboration with Richard Nunns, New Zealand's foremost proponent of Taonga Puoro, traditional Maori instrumentation. Website: www.chrismb.co.nz
Interview: April 16th 2010 Auckland, New Zealand
Photo: Kelvin Teixeira / LookPhotography.co.nz

“Music holds a mirror up to our culture and worldview. It can challenge us to look at how we live, at how we treat others – showing us the world from a different point of view.” - Chris Mason-Battley, composer and saxophonist

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KIP MAZUY is a composer and musician from Auckland, New Zealand. His albums "Elements Of Ecstasy" (1999), "Beautiful Sound" (2000), "Now Is Forever" (2000), "The Sweet Nectar of Silence" (2001), "Nurturance" (2003), "The Calling" (2006), "Ocean Euphoric" (2008), and "Shakti Silence" (2009) are all available from Bliss Music. Kip's goal in music is to have listeners awaken to their natural state of peace and bliss. After a profound spiritual awakening, Kip Mazuy created "Ocean Euphoric", a meditation CD with a unique sound technology that induces deep states of relaxation and meditation in the listener. Website: www.bliss-music.com
Interview: March 21st 2010 Auckland, New Zealand
Photo: Kip Mazuy / Bliss Music

“My love is to create the most enlightened sounds and turn them into music. So that when you listen to the music, you are washed in unconditional peace.” - Kip Mazuy, composer and musician

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SAMBODHI PREM is an artist, composer, guitarist, meditator, and musician from Auckland, New Zealand. His album's "Mirror Of The Sun" (1991), "Rose Water Moon" (1992), "Sunlight Rain River" (1999), "NatureSpace" (2000), "Heart Music" (2004), "Lake Of Restfulness" (2007), "One Hour Long Bird Song" (2007), and "Seven Waves Of Knowing" (2008) are all available from Global Suitcase. Sambodhi Prem's music is dedicated to his spiritual master Osho, who shows him what meditation is: the art of listening, and a journey into love and awareness. Website: www.globalsuitcase.com
Interview: March 2nd 2010 Auckland, New Zealand
Photo: Sambodhi Prem / GlobalSuitcase.com

“Music is a deeply mysterious enigma for me... after being involved with music for more than thirty years I have more questions than answers.” - Sambodhi Prem, composer and guitarist

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MONIQUE RHODES is a singer-songwriter from New Zealand, currently based in the south of France. Her debut album "Awakening" (2006) is available online from her website. She has supported music legend Chuck Berry on two European tours, has written and recorded with members of Peter Gabriel's band in London, has written music for the producers of the film "The Secret", and has also been part of a performance for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the French president's wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Monique Rhodes' "Forever Strong" features on "Merry Christmas Baby" (2009) available from the Royal Plunket Society of New Zealand, a charity album which Monique produced of new and classic Christmas songs with all proceeds going to support Plunket. Monique was nominated for New Zealander of the Year 2010. MySpace: www.myspace.com/moniquerhodes and Websites: www.moniquerhodes.com and www.merrychristmasbaby.co.nz
Interview: October 16th 2009 France
Photo: Monique Rhodes / MoniqueRhodes.com

“Music has the ability to transcend our conscious mind and reach parts of us that have lain dormant or untouched.” - Monique Rhodes, singer-songwriter

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RHYTHM INTERACTIVE is an innovative and interactive entertainment show based in Auckland, New Zealand. John Boone is the Founder of Rhythm Interactive, key percussionist, and workshop leader for his percussion team serving corporate conferences, entertainment events, and team building functions throughout New Zealand. Rhythm Interactive has successfully performed over four-hundred shows, and has connected over sixty-thousand people through rhythm. John Boone's adventures in South Africa during 2002 included an inspiring African drum show which introduced the concept of group drumming, and sparked the creation of Rhythm Interactive and its entertainment shows aimed at the corporate market. Websites: www.rhythminteractive.co.nz and www.connectingpeoplethroughrhythm.com
Interview: August 2nd 2009 Auckland, New Zealand
Photo: John Boone / RhythmInteractive.co.nz

“Music can connect with our inner consciousness in a way words cannot fully describe, it is a spiritual experience that can be discovered, explored or realised individually or shared simultaneously with others.” - John Boone, Founder of Rhythm Interactive

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