Music 101 for Saturday 14 March 2026
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MC Tali on new album Empress Era
1:05 PM.Award-winning drum & bass MC, vocalist, and songwriter Tali released her brand new album Empress Era yesterday. She joins Kara to discuss the collection's themes of transformation and resilience. Audio
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Imani-J, the up-and-comer performing at Homegrown
2:10 PM.This year as part of Homegrown festival six breakthrough acts were announced, culled from over 150 entries. Haitian-New Zealand artist Imani-J is a 17-year old singer, songwriter and dancer who made… Read more Audio
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Musical Chairs: Dilworth Karaka of Herbs
3:15 PM.One band that helped define, legitimise and popularise Māori and Polynesian fusion music in New Zealand is Herbs. Growing out of Ponsonby's back yard in 1980, Herbs went on to record and perform some… Read more Audio
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The Mixtape: Bret McKenzie
4:00 PM.Bret McKenzie first won the world over as one half of musical-comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, turning deadpan humour and deceptively sharp songwriting into an international phenomenon. Alongside… Read more Audio
13:15 MC Tali
Award-winning drum & bass MC, vocalist, and songwriter Tali released her brand new album Empress Era yesterday. She joins Kara to discuss the collection's themes of transformation and resilience.
Photo: Supplied
14:15 Imani-J
This year as part of Homegrown festival six breakthrough acts were announced, culled from over 150 entries. Haitian-New Zealand artist Imani-J is a 17-year old singer, songwriter and dancer who made the cut. She speaks with Kara about her journey so far.
Photo: Supplied
14:40 Rei live @ Homegrown
Taking place at Claudelands Oval in Hamilton, Homegrown purports to be the country's biggest ever local music festival. Joining us live from the event is musician Rei, fresh from his 1pm slot.
15:10 Musical Chairs: Dilworth Karaka of Herbs
To mark the passing of Dilworth Karaka, founding member of beloved Aotearoa roots-fusion outfit Herbs, we're replaying this episode of Musical Chairs from 2002, in which he narrates the story of the band.
Herbs in Mascot Studios, circa 1980. Left to right: Dilworth Karaka, Spencer Fusimalohi, Fred Faleauto, Phil Toms, Toni Fonoti. Photo: Simon Grigg
15:40 The Sampler: Hen's Teeth by Iron and Wine
The latest in Sam Beam's 20+ year discography is typically lovely, full of hushed vocal harmonies and lush orchestration.
16:10 The Mixtape: Bret McKenzie
Bret McKenzie first won the world over as one half of musical‑comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, turning deadpan humour and deceptively sharp songwriting into an international phenomenon.
Alongside Jemaine Clement, Bret went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, and took home the Best Original Song Oscar for his work on 2011's The Muppets.
He’s just released his second solo album, Freak Out City, and joins Kara to share six favourite songs.
Photo: Heidi Ettema
Songs Played:
1pm - 2pm
- Sola Rosa - Losing Time feat. Muroki
- Mel Parsons - Caravan
- Tali - Life On the Line, Spell, Young Daylight
- Arlo Parks - Get Go
- Junny - Kumara Suite
- Dragon - Rain
2pm - 3pm
- Stellar* - Violent
- Hina - Coucou!
- Imani-J - Expectations, Something Special
- Caitlin - Guardrails
- Rei - Nuku te Āio
- Vera Ellen - When It’s Over (ft Hemi Hemingway)
- Reb Fountain - Smoke Signals
- Gnarls Barkley - Pictures
- Jordan Rakei - Easy to Love ft Tom McFarland
- Yebba - Yellow Eyes
3pm - 4pm
- Tom Scott - Crazy Love
- Mim Jensen - The Mask
- Iron and Wine - Paper and Stone, Defiance, Ohio
- Ebo Taylor - My Love and Music
4pm - 5pm
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Tennessee Ernie Ford - 16 Tons
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The Front Lawn - Tomorrow Night
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Stevie Wonder - Don't you Worry 'Bout a Thing
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The J.B.s - Doing it to Death
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Nina Simone - Here Comes the Sun
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The Beths - Mother Pray for Me
