The first single from much anticipated fourth album Love In Motion is an Anika Moa not heard before. Running Through The Fire (Storm) is a tribute to her late father and showcases the Auckland-based chanteuse’s new musical direction – electric rock guitars meets soulful pop melody. Captured on tape at Roundhead Studios with old school engineer/producer Andre Upston, Anika is joined by Nick Gaffaney (drums) Chip Matthews (bass) Geoff Maddock (guitar) and Godfrey de Grut (keys). The 10-tracker Love In Motion is set for release in April through Anika’s label Flightless Birds, with distribution through EMI Music.

Kids Of 88 create an electronic synth party with their second single Just A Little Bit. When their first single My House (Kiwi Hit Disc 116) opened doors in the UK and the US, the Kids knew they were onto something good. My House stayed in the NZ Airplay Charts for 25 weeks, as well as a receiving an NZ Music Awards nomination. Kids Of 88 are Sam McCarthy and Jordan Arts, and when not adding production spruce to their own songs, they surround themselves in others, including a 500,000+ downloaded remix of Ke$ha’s Tik Tok featured on her myspace.

Inspired by a night of debauchery in central London, Underground captures the fading memory of the night. As well as impressing over 500,000 concert-goers in Europe as support for pop-shock princess Pink, Evermore are gearing up for the release of their international self-titled debut. The album entitled Evermore is jam-packed with hits including Light Surrounding You, Running and last year’s Hey Boys and Girls. Underground, their monstrous new single is one of three new tracks written for the release that ensures a hectic gig diary for the three-piece until the end of April.

The ever-busy songstress/patron/creative Boh Runga channels pure pop essence on her latest single Would You Give Your Heart, her smooth vocals ensuring airplay attention on single #5 from solo debut Right Here. Selected to support her sister Bic reuniting with Dave Dobbyn and Tim Finn, Boh has been wooing the crowds attending this year’s nationwide More FM Winery Tour. When not behind the mic, Boh is adding designs to her jewellery collection, garnering plenty of attention from fashionistas both at home and abroad. To keep your eyes and ears on songs, concert and jewels check out Boh’s online store: bohrunga.bigcartel.com

The timeless soul-injected pop group Opensouls return with fourth single Blind To See taken from sophomore recording Standing In The Rain. Co-written by producer/guitarist Jeremy Toy and lead singer Tyra Hammond, it was a friend of Tyra’s that inspired the lyrics. “It's funny I usually tend to write for my mates, they will tell me their stories and that will help create the characters for the song”. For a full-throttle live sound, the Opensouls are eight on stage, with Tyra teaming up with vocalist MC Bjorn Peterson. For a full complement of Opensouls ringtones, mp3s and album tracks visit iTunes, Amplifier, Vodafone and Digirama.

This pop-jazzy-rock’n’roll mash-up is a fine introduction to the fearless Hanna Grace, who slips into her party dress for debut single Red Lips. Co-written and produced with Auckland musician Phil Stoodley, Hanna Grace has been recording this song and many more for the past 18-months. Despite the air of confidence, Hanna confesses “I find it very daunting to bare my soul in this way; to leave myself open to the analytical judgement of the crowd”. Her twist of jazz and blues stems from childhood listening sessions with Dad on guitar, playing 50s and 60s standards for hours on end. Hanna Grace’s debut will be released later this year.

Releasing his fourth studio album Everything in April, producer P-Money is giving us another glimpse of his new musical direction with Say Yeah. Pairing David Dallas and Aaradhna to complement the beats, Say Yeah is 40% pop and 60% dance, creating the perfect summer cocktail. Spending his holidays fronting various festivals, including a crowd-pleasing Rhythm & Vines set on New Year’s Eve, P-Money is block-booking the tour diary to coincide with his new release. With singles Everything (Kiwi Hit Disc 108) and Love Alone (Kiwi Hit Disc 121) getting spins on Radio One in London, Say Yeah will be set to follow suit.

Entering their 13th year together, what started as a Hamilton reggae covers band has grown into an original live force to be reckoned with. Keeping true to their Aotearoa roots of reggae, r’n’b and all things Bob Marley, the seven–piece have created a sound in demand at home and abroad. “We’ve done the math and I think last year we might have been out on the road and with each other more than we’ve been with our families”, says guitarist Logan Bell. J Dubb Remix is a rework from their 2008 studio album Say What You’re Thinking. Next chapter? More songs, more shows, stay tuned. Remixed by C Trax & Jordan Bell.

Calling on Move The Crowd buddies Ethical and Young Sid, latest signing Derty Sesh (Nathan King to his Mum) debuts with Really Don’t Care (Remix). Derty Sesh is described as having a uniquely focused work ethic, his eye for detail has seen him self produce his debut album Sic Love, even designing the album artwork. Joining the hard-working team at Move The Crowd this year, they will release his debut in two months time. Sharing the stage with Smashproof last year, Derty Sesh is no stranger to live performance, coupled with the assurance from local hip hop heavy weights, Derty Sesh is brushing off rumours of the Next Big Thing.

Rated by Mike Skinner of The Streets for his collaboration on their two latest albums, UK musician Kevin Mark Trail adds his gourmet vocal style to Nathan Haines single, Pathway. "I had heard about Kevin for some years”, says Nathan, “And we had even exchanged contacts through myspace, but it wasn't until we actually met that we both knew we could do something special". The chance came at Roundhead Studios last year, with Nathan self-producing his seventh studio album Heaven & Earth. Kevin Mark Trail is back in the country this month and will perform with Nathan Haines and band at Splore 2010.

Presenting their second New Recording Artist-funded track Neon Sunrise to radio this month, the two parts Kiwi and two parts Brit four-piece I Am Giant headline their first tour of NZ this month. London ex-pats Paul Matthews and Shelton Woolright, joined Ed Martin and Max O’Donnell in 2008 and became creating their brand of melodic rock. Having toured with Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Metallica between them, I Am Giant bring an air of confidence to both their songwriting and performance. First single City Limits has already proven this band have staying power, shooting to #1 spot on The Rock’s Top 30.

Nameless Sons are the perfect example of band determined to steer clear of studio trickery. Fronted by Paul McLaney (Gramsci, SJD), and joining him, bassist Andrew Park, and drummer Malcolm Blake, Nameless Sons was created to capture the sonic moment. They have done so with first single Forgive/Forget, tracking the song in one-take directly to tape. Forgive/Forget, the music video, has been directed by Underbellies’ Marc Swadel (All Tomorrow’s Parties, Liam Finn), and is waiting in the wings for it’s TV debut. Forgive/Forget is rock at its most raw and honest. Gearing up for a big year of singles, Nameless Sons is released through Liberation Music.

The solid singles from North Shore rockers These Four Walls keep coming, with Lay It Out being the fifth from debut long-player Down Falls An Empire. The band hired studio specialists and Tui Award-winning engineers/producers Chris van de Geer (Stellar, Revolver) and Andrew Buckton (Midnight Youth) to create their masterpiece. Releasing the album in mid-September through Isaac Promotions, it was followed up by crowd-pleaser Sweet December (Kiwi Hit Disc 119) clocking over 22 weeks in the NZ Airplay Chart. These Four Walls will be joining Ivy Lies on stage for the cheekily-titled Boys Day Out at Mystery Creek, Hamilton this month.

Unlike their bad boy image, three-piece punksters The Rabble are quite the gentleman, “We wanted to make an album that makes people take notice of their surroundings and help The Rabble put punk rock back on the map!”. With relentless touring both at home and abroad, plus numerous single and album releases, The Rabble are becoming quite the export brand. Playing Berlin’s Punk & Disorderly’s Festival next month, The Rabble will be armed with the video for their fresh-off-the-press single Blood & Whiskey. Written by brothers Chazz and Rupe Rabble, and recorded and self-produced by the band, Blood & Whiskey is The Rabble at their creative peak.

Considering their third album to be their “alternative debut”, a return to form for the pure adrenaline rock band Deja Voodoo, The Shape Of Grunge To Come is the band’s proudest musical release. “Sure, the lyrics are still a bit sh*t”, but the songs are honest … and loud – the perfect Deja Voodoo fan experience. Using their music to drive the hugely successful Back Of The Y TV vehicle, and vice versa, Deja Voodoo are never ones to rest on their laurels. The Shape Of Grunge was toured last October, with the video for latest single Girls With Guitars currently rotating on music TV.