Posts tagged Eddie Numbers

This week  we have been Keeping Up With Auckland based Hip Hop group Eddie Numbers.We have been fans ever since seeing them live in February, which we wrote about here. Ingrid spoke to Eddie Mohan, MC, ahead of their video release party on the 28 July for the track Never Rap Again.

Photo credit Oscar The Grouch

So what can you tell us about your new video?

” I can tell you that it wouldn’t have happened without the help of Andy Day , The Cut Press and Jack Riddell. Just like all our videos it was without any funding help so thank you to the people I just mentioned for making it happen. In terms of the storyline I don’t want to give to much away so come to the release party 28 July and be the first to see it.”

Is this the first single from your album?

“I guess so but I wouldn’t really call it a single, we just wanted to make a music video for this particular song. I have a lot of respect for the DJ’s and stations that play our music they don’t need to be told which song to play. Also we were intent on people respecting this record as an album so when talking to stations we gave them the album and basically said play what fits.”

What inspires you to write music?

“My surroundings are what inspire me and my life is where I get my lyrics from.”

If there is any poor souls out there who don’t know Eddie Numbers can you tell our readers who are Eddie Numbers and what are they about?

“Eddie Numbers are a 5 piece Alternative Hip Hop band, members being myself Eddie or Edgar to my mum , Tyla Pere , Regal , Baz and Ben Healey on Guitar. We are five totally different people from totally different backgrounds I can only speak for myself so perhaps the below video would answer this question best.”

To read the full interview go to our site Keeping Up With NZ!!

Aucklands own Eddie Numbers has announced the release date of their debut album ‘Another Day In Paradise’.

I reviewed Eddie Numbers right here on this blog, when they performed at Ponsonby Social Club  in February, so I am so pleased to hear about their album release on the 14th May 2012.

Tracks from the album have already received radio play on George Fm, Bfm and Radio Active. Base Fm are making Another day in Paradise  album of the week during the release week in May. The band has described ‘Another Day In Paradise’ as an ‘alternative Hip Hop recording.’

This album was recorded in New Zealand but mixed and mastered by Mike Nielsen at Moda Sound Studios, Istanbul.  Neilson has worked with international artists including Jamiriqui, Underworld and KRS ONE. 

Over the past two years Eddie Numbers has worked hard honing their live performance at big festivals and countless clubs and bars across the country, while gathering themselves a loyal fan base. 

The group were adamant they wanted to portray the energy of their live performance on their debut record. Eddie Numbers describe themselves as a band as opposed to being an M.C or rap group with a band.

The band are drummer, musical director and producer, Regal Norris, bass and guitar from Ben Healey, talented MC Edgar Mahon and soulful  vocals provided by Tyla Pere. These guys, plus the Bands DJ Baz, make up Eddie Numbers.

Another Day In Paradise also features guest musicians including jazz/keyboard legend, Alan Brown, the supremely talented Marika Hodgeson and horns duo Tim Baker and Jonny McClean.

The album features 9 tracks but here is the video for ‘You Don’t Know’ as a taster. 

You can follow the band on Facebook or @EddieNumbersNZ

There will be a album release party on May 19th at Ponsonby Social Club, Auckland and I look forward to hearing about a tour too!

This weekend I went to see my first live gig in Auckland of 2012.

Ponsonby Social Club is located around half way down the ‘strip’ of Ponsonby Road and was heaving on Saturday night when I went down to watch Eddie Numbers. 

The venue has a large courtyard area where the bar begins and continues inside around two thirds of the way down until the last section of the venue, which was reserved for the perfomers of the evening.

This is a chilled and relaxed funky bar which is reflected in the punters. It has an excellent reputation for is choice of live music and DJ’s so it’s not hard to see why this bar is continuously on the ‘top bars’ and ‘must visit’ list of Auckland.  Although packed, I never waited long for a drink and there was a good friendly vibe.

However enough about the venue, I came to see Eddie Numbers, a 5 peice Hip Hop band from Auckland, consisting of MC Eddie, Tyla Pere providing Voacals, Regal Drums, Ben Healey Bass/Guitar and Baz DJing.

Baz warms up the crowd with a few classic tunes before the drums kick in to introduce the whole band. 

This is a laid back band and the lack of stage meant that they are just playing amongst the crowd, so lots of glass clinking throughout.

Eddie is a truely talented rapper and following his opening Christchurch tribute they go straight into thier first track Numbers Game.

Its a funky sound with soulful vocals from Tyla. Like many alternative hip hop groups they are eclectic and you can hear influences which are wide and far reaching in their tracks.

The rhymes are fast and full of personal reference and humour, which fill the songs with personality, not forgetting to hype the crowd by dropping in some classic rap lines like ’99 problems’. The tune ‘Friends Basket’ talked about guys ending up in the friends zone with girls, which was introduced with funny banter and prooved to be a crowd pleasing track.

The banter and positivity of the groups vibe reminded me of alternative Hip Hop group Ugly Duckling’s live performances. 

The use of the bass adds to the funky sound. The crowd jumped and danced along to each track throughout the gig and seemed to enjoy and respond to the bands close interaction and feed off their energy. The band are definitely amougst friends and admirers, there was no shortage of front row females at the gig either.

They finished the gig on ‘Never Rap Again’ which talks about the struggle of today’s artists trying to succeed. It’s their most recent track, which has personal, mature lyrics and a traditional Hip Hop sound.

Have a listen here

http://soundcloud.com/eddie-numbers/never-rap-again

Despite a few technical issues, which probably bothered the band more than the crowd, the gig was great and I will definitely be talking about and listen to Eddie Numbers and you should too. New Zealand is lucky to have a group like this so see them now before they start touring further afield.