'I’m So Excited for More Kiwi Artists to Share in This Experience': A New Zealand Artist Tells Us About Playing The Great Escape

Thanks to a landmark partnership between the New Zealand Music Commission and Live Nation New Zealand, a talented contingent of Aotearoa New Zealand acts headed to English festival The Great Escape last month. 

The 10-strong NZ delegation featured the likes of Ringlets, Office Dog, Jude Kelly, Muroki, Vera Ellen, and Hemi Hemingway. 

For our sister site Rolling Stone AU/NZ, the latter artist, who recently released his second album Wings of Desire, wrote down some thoughts on the experience, reflecting on what such an opportunity means for local artists like himself. 

Read what he had to say below. 

Hemi Hemingway's Wings of Desire is out now. 

“I used to think that being in Aotearoa was a disadvantage, being so far away from the rest of the world. But the world feels so much more connected now, and people are constantly looking to us and Australia for our art because our voices are so interesting and unique; we’re world-class.”

“The Great Escape, and just this whole experience, has really highlighted to me just how much NZ music belongs on the world stage.”

“This really feels like a huge opportunity that we have been given over many, many others that are equally as deserving. I have to remind myself that I’m not an imposter, that the NZ Music Commission and The Great Escape see something great in all of the artists here, and I’m so excited for more Kiwi artists to share in this experience in coming years.”

“The Great Escape changes things for artists who attend and perform. Someone in the industry reads that you have TGE under your belt and it’s an immediate advantage”.

“The crowds understand how much hard work goes into getting to The Great Escape, and then you mention that you’re from New Zealand, and they seem to be even more thankful that you’ve made it all this way.”

“I’ve come to realise that community — both friends & family AND musical community — is so, so important for the progression of musical careers; especially somewhere as small as Aotearoa. There shouldn’t be any gatekeeping. I sometimes get the impression that people in NZ might feel that there’s limited space on the world stage for us, so they try to keep their knowledge and connections close; but that just isn’t true. Sharing and support within our community is nothing but a positive for the expansion and diversification of an inclusive creative culture in Aotearoa, which in turn leads to a stronger representation of our art in the rest of the world.”