Kirsten Johnstone

Music commentator Kirsten Johnstone walks us through what to expect from the Wellington Jazz Festival (June 5 - 9), including some unjazzy jazz tunes from Rafiq Bhatia and Ghost-Note Audio

Milly Olykan is a New Zealander who's job is to take Nashville - more specifically country music - to the world. For the RNZ Music Mixtape Milly shares some of the songs that have accompanied her… Audio

In this week's Pocket Edition, Kirsten Johnstone talks to Grammy winning country pop star Kacey Musgraves and Trevor Reekie explores an album of psychedelic music from Wellington that hasn't been… Audio

Taranaki born soul singer Bailey Wiley is becoming stronger and more resolutely herself with each release. Kirsten Johnstone finds out more about her evolution. Video, Audio

SJD, aka Sean James Donnelly, is about to release a collection of miniature synth-pop songs. He joins Kirsten Johnstone to preview some of these alongside some of the synth greats. Audio

On this week's Pocket Edition we talk to Aldous Harding about her beguiling new album Designer, and Troy Kingi tells us about his first te reo Māori song. Audio

Auckland rapper Tom Scott's collaborative project Avantdale Bowling Club has taken out the 2019 Taite Music Prize, which recognises outstanding creativity in an album. He joined Kirsten Johnstone to… Video, Audio

Nashville based songwriters Brandy Clark and Devin Dawson were here in New Zealand recently, and sat down with Kirsten Johnstone to talk about the art of writing country music hits. Audio

Soldiers Without Guns is a documentary about how the NZ Defence Force helped bring peace to Bougainville at the end of a bloody decade long civil war, armed with guitars, waiata, and wahine. Video, Audio

Soldiers without Guns is a documentary about how the NZ Defence Force helped bring peace to Bougainville at the end of their bloody civil war in the 90s, armed with guitars, waiata, and women. Audio

Californian pop prodigy Billie Eilish has just released her debut LP, When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go? 11-13 year olds Tahu, Sophie, Honey and Grace take a first listen. Audio

Pop prodigy Billie Eilish's long awaited debut LP is out, and who better to give it a first listen than a group of 11-13 year old young women? Plus we have new music from Flume, Lafawndah, SOAK and… Video, Audio

Young immigrants are making some of the most vital and important music in New Zealand right now. RNZ Music’s Kirsten Johnstone highlights four of the best. Video, Audio

Kiwi expat and music industry professional Milly Olykan on her role in bringing country music to the world, and why women in country are often writing more interesting songs than their male… Video, Audio

WOMAD 2019 is one of a handful of large scale events that opted not to cancel in the wake of the Christchurch Mosque shootings. It is after all a festival about inclusiveness and celebrating… Audio

On this week's Pocket Edition: a performance from local up-and-comer Emily Muli, plus chats with Aussie teen star Kian and Canada's Rhye. Audio

The music of Rhye is seductive soul, an exploration of long-term love that feels almost voyeuristic to listen to. Ahead of their Auckland Festival show, Kirsten Johnstone speaks to the man behind it… Video, Audio

In this week's Pocket Edition we talk to Jason Williamson from acerbic Brit duo Sleaford Mods, Tiny Ruins' Hollie Fullbrook, and Neko Case. Audio

A Greyhound bus full of released prisoners; the trouble with sparklers; and a scooter crash in Zanzibar. Just some of the things that inspired lyrics on Tiny Ruins' new album Olympic Girls. Hollie… Video, Audio