Gold standard

Singer-songwriter Ayla Gold recently broke into the Bay’s indie music scene with her first EP Nuance. Her vintage rock style has been influenced by an eclectic mix of artists over the years. Here, she tells UNO about her artistic process and where she sees Tauranga’s music scene headed in the future.

Twenty-five-year-old acoustic engineer Ayla Gold was raised listening to everything from Hayley Westenra to Evermore. Kiwi music was always being played on Dad’s stereo or on the family car’s CD player – tapes in her pre-school years. And it’s still Kiwi artists who are her biggest inspiration. 

UNO: How did you get into music?
Ayla: I started piano and guitar lessons in primary school and loved to sing along to anything that was playing, and still do. You will often catch
me singing along or harmonising to whatever’s playing in the supermarket. The teachers I had right through school played a huge part in encouraging me to get up and sing on stage. The support from my high school music teacher, Matt Bodman at Ōtūmoetai College, was huge. He would get me involved with school assembly performances, songwriting competitions, Smoke-free Rockquest, and just playing and writing well in general. We’re still in contact today and he’s always quick to give great feedback on my releases.

How would you describe your music?
My vocals are always quite strong as I feel it’s the way I can truly express myself. I believe that what you listen to is what your own music becomes, so I would say my music is indie singer/songwriter, if I were to put it in a box. Hamish Berkers from Mish Studio based in Kirikiriroa is always enthusiastic when we are in the studio recording, as is my video director and producer Finn Lloyd (Mount Maunganui). Both of these lads are legends in their fields and push me to make my music and visuals the best it can be while keeping all my own flair.

What and who inspires you musically?
I love artists who aren’t afraid to be themselves and be genuine and vulnerable in their lyrics. This inspires me to write the way that I do. In terms of sound, I mostly listen to alternate/indie rock and more solo artists than bands. I love lots of washy guitar and drums and finger-picking style electric. I feel most inspired when my emotions or environments feel intense, good or bad. I’m definitely someone who can see through the pain in things and enjoy the creativity of art that flows when things are tough for someone, or how the skill of the artist can portray this. In terms of specific artists, this is always changing as I’m always discovering new music. I’m also someone who loves to be outside – open spaces help me to develop the ideas that come to mind.

In the last few years, my biggest influences have been Molly Payton, Julia Jacklyn, The Beths, Angie McMahon and Sam Fender. Again, these artists are not afraid to put their lyrics and sound into a raw form that transports you straight into their shoes, or you find their lyrics apply to some struggle of your own. A common theme in music I like is the greater hope that an artist can talk about, or almost talk you through, a form of empathising and knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel. They show you’re not the only one who has gone through whatever it is you are experiencing.

What instruments do you play and do you write your own lyrics?
I play rhythm electric and acoustic guitar as well as piano. I write all my own lyrics. All through school I wasn’t much of a reader so I found it hard to write songs. It wasn’t until late high school that my writing started and during my engineering degree, I got right into reading which took my writing to a whole new level. My notes app on my phone is often growing with lyrics or lines that pop into my head in everyday situations. I’ve actually found catching the bus is a great place to write for me.

How do you find the Bay music scene? How do you see it developing in the coming years?
The scene here is growing and there are a few people that have really invested in their music. The Jam Factory in the historic village and Palace Tavern at the Mount have been great to help support this. I would love to see more small-scale gig venues similar to what you find on Karangahape Road in Auckland, as it would really help to support up-and-coming artists and just bring more of a scene here. We need more of a culture that people can hook into, knowing there is always something on a particular night. I think Tauranga schools have a great arts scene, as well as churches, which are often the catalyst for producing great musicians.

What are your plans for the future?
I want to release more regularly and do a tour of New Zealand at some stage. I’ve had a job in acoustic engineering for three months now with Marshall Day Acoustics. Many of us are musicians, which encourages me to keep at my music and be inspired and supported. I love playing and recording with friends, and I’m excited to meet more people through my music, to see where it takes me. All the creative outlets involved have a chance to develop their skills through me bringing my projects to them and vice versa. 

 aylagoldmusic

Beyond the waves

He’s signed to pop star Benee’s record label and counts Elton John as a fan. Now Raglan musician Muroki has released his third EP, the emotion-filled Timezones, and made a major move.

words Karl Puschmann

UNO’s first question to Muroki leaves him stumped. He scratches his dreadlocked hair, which is pulled back behind his studio-grade headphones, and says, “Um…”.

Thinking for a moment, the singer-songwriter sensation from Raglan eventually says, “Good question,” then looks around his room and wonders aloud, “What am I doing here?”

He’s stayed up late for our interview – it’s approaching midnight when he Zooms in. Just nine days ago, he flew out of Auckland, where he’d been living, to set up shop in Berlin.

“I didn’t really have a huge plan. I just kind of came over here,” he says in answer to the question of what he’s doing in Germany. “I wanted to switch it up, in life and with music, and expand my horizons. I was getting over what I was doing in Auckland. I enjoyed my time there but felt I needed to move on and do something else for a bit.” Then he grins and says, “I’ve never lived in another country before, so I’m just giving it a go.”

He’s certainly jumped right into the deep end. He has few contacts in the city and doesn’t speak the langauge. Aside from his German partner, the person he’s spoken to the most so far is an old Turkish fellow who lives in the same building.

“This old dude’s always outside,” he says. “He doesn't speak very good German and doesn't speak a word of English. I don't think he knows that I don’t speak German! We have these weird interactions every single morning. It's pretty funny.”

By chance, we’ve caught Muroki on the cusp of beginning a new life chapter, one in which the future is uncertain. “I’ve been battling with it a little bit,” he admits. “It’s kind of weird not knowing exactly what’s happening next. It’s a strange period. I think it’s really good, but sometimes you’re like, ‘Is this the right decision?’” He pauses for a second, then says, “I think it is.”

The move has been on Muroki’s mind for a while, with his plane tickets purchased nine months ago. The shift also helps decode and add extra depth to Timezones, his newest EP that has just been released and is the reason for our chat.

The seven-track EP pushes him into deeper emotional territory than previously and expands his genre-hopping sound while losing none of its characteristic smooth flavour, synth-funk grooves and feel-good vibes. Fans of his platinum-selling single, Wavy, will find a lot to love here.

Timezones’ seven songs were recorded quickly, with Muroki writing, recording and laying down the tracks in a blisteringly fast 11 days. “It happened swiftly,” he says. “I’m really happy with how it all came out, and in the process of making it, I learned a lot in terms of how I want to go about creating things in the future.”

He says the sudden success of his 2020 debut, Dawn, led to feeling intense pressure while creating his 2022 follow-up, Heading East. He burdened himself with expectations and on reflection says he didn’t particularly enjoy the process. The fast turnaround of Timezones was a successful attempt to rediscover the joy.

“I didn’t let it consume me,” he says. “I’m really happy with how the third one’s come out.”

He’s described the EP as “an emotional awakening”. This, it turns out, was another benefit of working quickly. He didn’t have time to second-guess or edit himself.

“I tapped deeper, man,” he says. “I was trying to be more authentic with how I was feeling and the experiences I was having. It came out by not overthinking. I didn't go into the record thinking, ‘I’m going to open up.” I just let it happen and let it all come out naturally.”

Muroki may be new to Berlin, but the similarities with his hometown of Raglan are already apparent. Size discrepancies aside, it’s the city’s huge support for the arts and music scenes that reminds him of home.

“I love Raglan. It’s cool, man. There’s a nice sense of community – everybody knows everybody and everybody's supportive of each other. Everyone was really supportive of what I was doing from a pretty young age. It’s got an artsy scene there. Some good stuff comes out of it. But it’s the sense of community that makes it. A lot of people there support and come to the shows.

“When I started out, everyone would come down to the gig,” he continues. “I’d have a sold-out gig and I hadn't even released a single yet! There’s a confidence boost.”

Then he smiles and says, “I don’t think I’d be where I am without the people from Raglan.”

Muoki’s new EP Timezones is out now.