Fly My Pretties

Last updated

Fly My Pretties
Fly My Pretties 2013.jpg
Fly My Pretties on their Homeland Tour in 2013
Background information
Origin Wellington, New Zealand
GenresFolk Rock / Acoustic / Roots [1]
Years active2004–present
LabelsLoop
Websiteflymypretties.com

Fly My Pretties is a collaboration of musicians originally from Wellington, New Zealand who are known for coming together to record live albums, in various locations in New Zealand. The different musical backgrounds of the members make for an eclectic mix of songs on their releases. Fly My Pretties was the brainchild of Barnaby Weir, front man of the Black Seeds and Mikee Tucker of Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa. The objective: To meet, exchange ideas, and then perform and record the results in front of a live audience.

Contents

History

Founded in Wellington in 2004, the Fly My Pretties cast includes musicians from the Black Seeds, Fat Freddy's Drop, The Phoenix Foundation, Cairo Knife Fight and Paseload to achieve a unique blend of musical styles. The group is not a band as such, rather a collection of contemporary musicians who come together to collaborate on songs written by different members of the band. The first album featured songs written by Weir, Age Pryor and Samuel Flynn Scott. [2]

Fly My Pretties performed their first season at Wellington's Bats Theatre over five nights. Their first album 'Fly My Pretties Live at Bats' achieved platinum-status and was released internationally in the UK. The album received six nominations (Best Pop Release, Best Album, Best Producer, Best Cover Art, Best Female Vocalist, Best DVD) [3] and won Best Pop Release at the 2005 bNet New Zealand Music Awards. [4]

In 2006, Fly My Pretties performed, recorded, and then released a second album, 'The Return of... Fly My Pretties' which focused on the state of contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand. The 2006 shows sold-out nationwide and the second album reached platinum-status. 'The Return of... Fly My Pretties' won Best Aotearoa, Roots album at the 2007 New Zealand Music Awards. [5]

Fly My Pretties toured and recorded a new album in 2009 titled 'Fly My Pretties – A Story'. The show was a conceptual extension of the previous two Fly My Pretties outings, expressed via a narrative that connects music, illustration, animation, charity and a message of change into one audiovisual experience. The Fly My Pretties story attempts to entertain and reflect on innocence, and the solving of complex problems which might enable a sustainable future. With this in mind, the cast put together their songs in just eight rehearsals before taking the show on the road. [6] The album reached #1 on the top 40 RIANZ album charts. [7] The third album was nominated for Best Aotearoa, Roots Album at the 2010 Vodafone new Zealand Music Awards. [8]

The collective released 'Fly My Pretties IV' in 2011. The 16 new songs were performed, filmed and recorded live across nine shows during the eponymously named "Fly My Pretties IV" tour, – which included the collective's first international appearance – one sold-out Melbourne date. The new Fly My Pretties show saw 16 musicians unite with an exciting new concept, re-inspired style and re-invigorated sound. Via a collaboration with street artist Flox, 16 original and dedicated pieces of art were created and brought to life through projection, animation and visual trickery throughout the show. [9]

In 2013 Fly My Pretties embarked on the 'Homeland Tour' – a journey from the tip to the tail of New Zealand, seeing them travel to 18 towns to perform 23 shows. The tour saw Fly My Pretties hark back to their musical roots with a sound stepped in folk, roots, soul & rock. For the tour the collective forged partnerships with Archives New Zealand and the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand – both content partners providing precious historical footage from the regions toured, which were visually woven into each song's performance to craft a unique story about New Zealand. The result of the tour was the collective's fifth album, 'The Homeland Recordings' – 13 tracks spanning country, folk, rock, R&B, and soul – all captured live. [10] [11]

Over the years, Fly My Pretties have only ever performed a small selection of shows outside of their tours including the prestigious WOMAD 2013 and Queenstown Blues & Roots Festival. [12] [13]

Members

Discography

YearTitleLabelChart peak
[14]
2004Live at BatsLoop—
2006The Return of Fly My Pretties14
2009A Story (Part 1)1
2012Fly My Pretties IV3
2013The Homeland Recordings9
2016String Theory4
[15]
2019The Studio Recordings Pt. 114
[16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Black Seeds</span> Band

The Black Seeds are a reggae inspired musical group from Wellington, New Zealand. Their rocksteady song "One by One" became an international hit when it was played in top ranked TV series Breaking Bad. Their music is a mixture of big beat funk, dub, afro music, pop, rock, soul, and roots reggae/ragga.

Upper Hutt Posse (UHP) are a New Zealand hip hop group formed in Upper Hutt, Wellington, in 1985. Upper Hutt Posse are one of the earliest New Zealand hip hop groups, known for their fusion of rap and reggae in both English and Māori. Prominent members include DLT, Dean "Te Kupu" Hapeta and Teremoana Rapley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbs (band)</span> New Zealand reggae group

Herbs are a New Zealand reggae group founded in 1979 and led by singer-guitarist Dilworth Karaka, the only constant member. Since its foundation Herbs has been multi-ethnic in membership and featured Samoans, Tongans, Cook Islanders, New Zealand Europeans and Maori members. The 11th inductees into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame, were once described as "New Zealand's most soulful, heartfelt and consistent contemporary musical voice". It has been said their debut EP What's Be Happen? "set a standard for Pacific reggae which has arguably never been surpassed".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Feelers</span> New Zealand pop rock band

The Feelers are a New Zealand pop rock band formed in the early 1990s in Christchurch by James Reid (singer/guitarist) and Hamish Gee (drums/guitar).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Straitjacket Fits</span>

Straitjacket Fits were a four-piece alternative indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1986 and broke up in 1994. They released three studio albums, Hail (1988), Melt (1990), and Blow (1993), and several EPs. Their line-up for their first two albums consisted of Shayne Carter, John Collie (drums), David Wood (bass), and Andrew Brough. Brough departed the band in 1991 and was replaced for the band's final album by Mark Petersen.

Shapeshifter are a live drum and bass act from New Zealand. They are known for their live shows and blend of heavy soul with drum and bass. They have made appearances at Glastonbury, The Big Chill, Big Day Out, Parklife plus sold-out performances across Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Te Vaka is an Oceanic music group that performs original contemporary Pacific music or "South Pacific Fusion". The group was founded in 1995 by singer and songwriter Opetaia Foaʻi in New Zealand. They have toured the world consistently since 1997 and have won a number of awards including the "Best Pacific Music Album" award from the New Zealand Music Awards for their albums Tutuki (2004) and Olatia (2007) and "Best Pacific Group" in the 2008 Pacific Music Awards According to the BBC, they are "the world's most successful band playing original contemporary Pacific music."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimmer (band)</span> New Zealand musical group

Dimmer was the name under which New Zealand musician Shayne Carter recorded and played music from 1994. It began as an umbrella name for jam sessions and short-lived band line-ups, then home recordings, then an ensemble with various members and guests. This evolution led to more settled four-piece rock band. At least 41 musicians have been acknowledged as playing a part in Dimmer over 18 years, with Carter the only permanent fixture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katchafire</span> New Zealand Roots reggae band

Katchafire are an all Māori New Zealand roots reggae band from Hamilton, New Zealand.

Dam Native is a New Zealand hip hop group formed in 1992.

Adi Dick is a singer, songwriter and producer who has been involved in many projects within the New Zealand music scene.

<i>Our Place</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Adi Dick

Our Place is the debut album from acclaimed Fly My Pretties band member, Adi Dick. It was recorded in his bedroom and released by Loop Recordings Aotearoa in 2007.

<i>Past, Present, Future</i> (Tiki Taane album) 2007 studio album by Tiki Taane

Past, Present, Future is New Zealand based musician Tiki Taane's platinum selling debut solo album. It features a fusion of Taane’s trademark bass-heavy production with traditional Māori instrumentation, a style which Taane describes as “punk dub meets tangatawhenua”.

The Lads are a New Zealand Christian rock/pop group that was formed in 1993. In 2005, after releasing five studio albums, The Lads relocated from New Zealand to Nashville, Tennessee. In 2017, The band started a kids worship series titled Big Big Worship and have relocated back to New Zealand as of August 2018.

<i>Beastwars</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Beastwars

Beastwars is the eponymous debut studio album of the New Zealand-based heavy metal band Beastwars. The album was released on 9 May 2011 through New Zealand independent label Destroy Records, and was distributed by Universal Music. Beastwars received general critical acclaim from New Zealand publications, and reached an RIANZ album chart placing of #15. The album enjoyed further success at the 2011 New Zealand Music Awards, receiving a nomination for best New Zealand rock album and winning the award for best album artwork or packaging. It was also shortlisted for the 2012 Taite Music Prize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cairo Knife Fight</span> New Zealand rock band

Cairo Knife Fight (CKF) is a rock band originating from New Zealand, founded in 2007 by musical artist Nick Gaffaney, featuring a drum and guitar duo incorporating real-time layered loops.

Millicent Ellen Lovelock is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from New Zealand who performs as Repulsive Woman. She was a member of Dunedin bands, Astro Children and Trick Mammoth (2013–2015). As Repulsive Woman she released her debut album, Relief, in June 2019. Late that year Lovelock relocated to Manchester. Relief won the Taite Music Prize for Best Independent Debut in May 2020.

<i>L.A.B. II</i> 2018 album by L.A.B.

L.A.B. II is the second studio album by New Zealand band L.A.B., released in December 2018.

<i>Noon</i> (EP) 2018 extended play by Drax Project

Noon is an extended play by New Zealand band Drax Project, released in June 2018. The EP was released after their single "Woke Up Late" (2017) became a hit in New Zealand, and during the band's tour of Europe with Camila Cabello, on her Never Be the Same Tour.

<i>Chickaboom!</i> 2020 album by Tami Neilson

Chickaboom! is the seventh studio album by Canadian-New Zealand country singer Tami Neilson, released on 14 February 2020, by Neilson Records and Outside Music. A country album inspired by rockabilly, Chickaboom! was nominated for the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and Aotearoa Music Award for Album of the Year at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards. The album debuted at number eight on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.

References

  1. ↑ "Fly My Pretties". Flymypretties.com. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  2. ↑ "Fly My Pretties | NZ Artist Directory | NZ Music Commission". Nzmusic.org.nz. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  3. ↑ "2005 bNet NZ Music Awards Nominees Announced | NZ Musician | New Zealand Music Magazine". Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "Undertheradar » Music News". Undertheradar.co.nz. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "2007 Winners « Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards". Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  6. ↑ "Fly My Pretties – A Story". Loop.co.nz. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "RIANZ". Archived from the original on 9 March 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  8. ↑ "KIWIFM Best Aotearoa Roots Album « Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards". Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "Fly My Pretties IV". Loop.co.nz. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "FMP Homeland Cast". Loop.co.nz. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "The Homeland Recordings". Loop.co.nz. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "Queenstown Blues & Roots Festival - Artist DetailFly My Pretties". Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "WOMAD | the official website for Womad in Taranaki | New Zealand | Fly My Pretties". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "charts.nz – Discography Fly My Pretties". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  15. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.