Ngaiire

Ngaiire
A 31 year-old woman is shown in upper body and left profile. She is singing into a microphone while raising her left arm in front of herself. She wears a khaki cloth top with pink and white woolly sleeves. Another person is blurred in the background.
Newtown Social Club, August 2015
Background information
Birth name Ngaire Laun J Joseph
Born 1984 (age 33–34)
Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea
Origin Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2002–present
Labels
  • Windsong
  • Wantok
  • MGM
Associated acts
Website ngaiire.com.au

Ngaire Laun Segal (born 1984, Lae), known by her stage name Ngaiire (pronounced ny-ree or /naɪəriː/), is a Papua New Guinea-born Australian-based R&B and future soul singer-songwriter. She was a backing vocalist for Blue King Brown (2004–07) and a guest singer on Paul Mac's material since 2005. She finished in the top 30 of the second season (2004) of Australian Idol, she performed at Glastonbury festival in 2014 and sang at the opening ceremony for the 2015 Pacific Games. Her debut solo album, Lamentations, was released in July 2013 and her second album, Blastoma, appeared in June 2016, which peaked in the ARIA Albums Chart top 50. She is currently working on her Third Album.

Biography

Ngaire is married to Daniel Segal and has one son.

Ngaiire was born, as Ngaire Laun J Joseph,[1] in 1984 in Lae, Papua New Guinea, and is the eldest of three siblings. Her Grandfather was a pastor.[2] She is bilingual: being fluent in English and Tok Pisin. Her parents moved to Palmerston North, New Zealand when she was one year old to study and the family returned to Papua New Guinea (PNG) six years later.[3]

While in New Zealand Ngaiire was diagnosed with ganglioneuroblastoma, which manifested as a cancer of her adrenal glands at the age of three.[4][5][6] This later influenced the music video for her single, "Dirty Hercules" (March 2013), as she explained, "My body is not conventional. I have a rather prominent scar across my stomach from cancer. I struggled a lot with my body after I beat cancer and this clip also represents that journey to acceptance."[7] She titled her second album, Blastoma (June 2016), for her childhood disease,[4] and co-wrote its lead single, "Once" (July 2015), about life's uncertainty and taking risks.

Ngaiire and her family were living in Rabaul until the Mt Tarvurvur volcano erupted in September 1994 and covered most of the town (including their home) with volcanic ash.[8] She attended Sacred Heart International Primary School, Rabaul before going to Lae Christian Academy.[8] Her parents had divorced after returning to PNG, both subsequently remarried. She learnt that music could make her life more stable, "When I was about 11 or 12 and I was living in PNG and singing was just one of those things I did. I listened to a lot of music. Life there has loads of craziness and so many unexpected things happen. Music gave me the ability to talk about and feel all the things that were going on in my world."[9] She explained, "I always viewed songs as a form of poetry that didn't necessarily need to make sense to anyone else."[10]

Ngaiire moved to Lismore, New South Wales, with her mother, Miriam Murphy,[5] and stepfather in 2000, where she attended Kadina High School until 2003.[11] She entered the local Accelerator music competition in 2002 and recorded her first song, "I Remember", for the Accelerator 2002: The Winners CD at Top Cat Recording Studios, Alstonville for Windsong Records.[11][12] She moved to Mackay, Queensland in 2003 to start her Bachelor of Jazz Studies at Central Queensland University (CQU).[13] While at university she fronted local jazz bands.[13]

Early career

Ngaiire's tertiary studies were interrupted when she entered the second season of TV talent quest, Australian Idol (2004), before being voted off while in the top 30.[14][15] She was brought back as a wild card and voted off a second time in the (unofficial) top 13 and, along with other top 12 contestants, guested on the grand final night.[5] Despite not making the top 12,[5] Ngaiire's rendition of India Arie's "Back to the Middle" was ranked in the top 10 of all time Australian Idol performances compiled by Buzzfeed's Mikey Nicholson in August 2014.[16] Season three included a formal Top 13.

Ngaiire returned to her jazz studies and attempted to reduce the perceived stigma associated with appearing on the talent show.[17] She turned down offers from American recording industry professionals and remained independent by signing with Wantok Musik Foundation.[18] Her second solo recording was a four-track single, "Luv Sa Giaman",[19] which translates as "Love Tells Lies". She recorded it with a Lismore-based band, the Rent, in 2005 and released it in Australia through the now-defunct WindSong Records label, and in PNG through Chin H Min Music. Ngaiire and the Rent toured PNG in support of the single, her first tour.[20]

Ngaiire recorded her debut EP, Song for No One, in 2008 with Sydney-based producer, Tony Buchen (aka Buchman). The EP provided the single, "Song for No One", and the 1920s-style "Glorious". "Glorious" was a popular track with Triple J and National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) supporting the creation of a music video, produced by Karla Conway. Triple J also listed Ngaiire on the 2010 Next Crop artist list[21] and played her tracks on Triple J Unearthed.

Blue King Brown

Ngaiire joined Blue King Brown as a backing vocalist in 2004 following their debut single, "Water". She toured with them for the next four years in support of the band's self-titled debut EP and first album, Stand Up (October 2006). With Ngaiire they toured the United Kingdom, Japan, Europe and Canada as well as regional Australia. She explained to Miranda Freeman of Rip It Up! that during this period she matured as a musician and learned how to be a successful independent artist.[22] John Butler asked Ngaiire to precede his set at the 2009 East Coast Blues and Roots Festival and supported her professional development with management training and funding via his JB Seed Fund.[23][24][25] Ngaiire stopped full-time touring with Blue King Brown in 2008 to focus on her own debut EP, but occasionally performed with them until her first solo album, Lamentations (July 2013).[22]

Paul Mac

Ngaiire was the featured vocalist on Paul Mac's single, "It's Not Me, It's You", in December 2005. Mac had seen her Australian Idol performances and contacted her. The song reached No. 8 on the ARIA Club Tracks chart and stayed in the top 50 for 14 weeks.[26] She was a vocalist on his Australian tour in support of his second studio album, Panic Room (October 2005). He described her as a "diminutive bomb of goodness" to AustralianStage's Lloyd Bradford Syke.[27] During their long-term collaboration, Mac started as her mentor.[28] Ngaiire provided guest vocals on Mac's third album, Holiday from Me (April 2015).[29] They co-wrote tracks, he co-produced her second solo album, Blastoma[30][31] and appeared in the video single for "Once".

Solo work

Lamentations

Lamentations is Ngaiire's debut solo album, which was released in July 2013 to critical acclaim. It was written in Ekoda (Tokyo) at Bar Noah with jazz pianist and producer Aaron Choulai.[2] It was described as "electronic but soulful, innovative but accessible, and a timeless mating of genres".[32][33] She had contacted Choulai via email, starting with, "Hey, man, I just really love what you do. Can I come over to Japan and hang out with you a bit and write some music?'"[2] They spent two weeks working together,[34] which she described to Kate Kingsmill of theMusic.com.au as, "you just had to keep cracking and keep cracking until it burst open. And once you got there it was the best feeling. Nothing could really replace the feeling of having completed a song."[2]

The title was inspired by a combination of Henry Purcell's Dido's Lament and the Book of Lamentations, together with fantasy and personal experience.[2] Prior to finishing the album Ngaiire damaged her spine in a car accident and experienced the death of two close relatives.[34] Its major themes include hope, love and loss. It was called "poignant" and "melancholic", as well as invoking a sense of empathy and understanding. Musical styles were stripped back for the concept album with both lyrical content and soundscape, mixing elements of soul, funk, folk, jazz, gospel and electro as well as hip hop and blues with beats, synth and glitch.[22][33][35] BMA Magazine's Chris Downton rated the album at four-out-of-five stars and explained, "an impressive introduction to Joseph's powerful and beguiling vocals, which smoothly shift throughout retro chanteuse and more contemporary R&B, but as the title suggests, there's an undercurrent of melancholy lurking beneath much of this album."[36] Lamentations had a timeless sound according to theMusic.com.au's Lorin Reid.[32] For recording sessions she returned to Sydney where she used Tim Curnick on bass guitar and as another co-producer.[34]

Blastoma

Blastoma is Ngaiire's second studio album and was produced by Choulai, Mac and Jack Grace (p.k.a. Jack Britten). She collaborated more widely than on previous works and recorded it over two years, primarily at Mac's studio in Erskineville.[37] Blastoma was released in June 2016, and depth of story and the power of Ngaiire's voice on the album are two consistent themes from reviewers. Itis reported as a carefully considered, cohesive and dynamic album,[38][39] forming a happy marriage of old soul, experimentation and futuristic vision.[38][40]

The title Blastoma refers to the form of cancer—a reference to Ngaiire's childhood encounter with the disease, as well as a "reminder that sometimes life just explodes in your face and you just have to get out there and live it".[41] During the making of the album, Ngaiire returned from performing at the 2014 Glastonbury Festival to the news that her partner of five years (and the producer of Lamentations) had ended their relationship, leaving her questioning her ability to complete the album.[42]

The first single from the album, "Once", was released in July 2015 to early critical success. The accompanying music video was styled in the form of an interview and biographical dream, with a live recording also being produced in the Triple J Like a Version studio. "Once" polled 73rd on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2015[43] and was noted for appearing on the list despite being released on an independent label by an unsigned artist. "Once" resulted in Ngaiire's first solo appearance on the list and is the first instance of a Papua New Guinean-born artist making it into the Hottest 100.[44]

The second single, "Diggin'" was released in February 2016, and debuted at number 16 on the Carlton Dry Independent Music Charts.[45] The music video is heavy in its use of shadows and gold with lithe, provocative dance moves. "Diggin'" is a track that speaks of "being found before you find yourself in a permanent state of no return", and was called a "triumphant celebration of life".[46][47]

"House on a Rock", the third single, was released in May 2016. It was described as being more electronic and dance-able than previous singles, and was also called "the most innovative soul music Australia has seen".[48] The accompanying music video was shot in Tel Aviv[49] and gives a "behind closed doors" look at a failed relationship.[50]

Critics noted a return to Ngaiire's use of glitch and danceable, funky beats, and a critic for Beat Magazine said it was an evolution on prior works, with a more mature and refined sound than on Lamentations.[42][51]

On 18 June 2016, the album debuted at number 41 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart.[52] It peaked at number 7 on the ARIA Urban Albums Chart.[53]

Collaborations, styles and influences

Ngaiire was listed as one of Australia's leading live R&B and soul artists in December 2015 by The [AU] Review website and described as "the beating heart of the contemporary live music scene in Australia."[54][55][56] She has been compared to the artists, Jeff Buckley, Hiatus Kaiyote, Kimbra, and Angie Stone.[57][58][59]

Ngaiire's musical style includes pronounced vocals, which are accompanied by layered harmonies and rhythms. Her sound was described by Jordan Hirst of Music Feeds, as a combination of Mary J. Blige and Erykah Badu's voices mixed with M.I.A.'s genre-bending sensibility.[60] According to Tedi Bills of BMA Magazine, her lyrics express complex emotional and social issues, her performances are notable for her flamboyant costumes, and her music videos have been described as more typical of art films than a 'normal' music video.[34]

Ngaiire's music both expands and transcends musical boundaries.[32] Her collaborations span genres, including experimental jazz, contemporary synth and electro-pop, Melanesian string band, roots, blues and world music as well as hip hop and future bass.[61][62][63][64][65]

Recognition

  • Ngaiire swept the inaugural Australian National Live Music Awards, winning State and National Live voice of the year as well as National R&B/Soul Live act of the year.[55][66]
  • The third annual AU Awards from the website, the [AU] review, had Ngaiire listed as best 'Female Artist of the Year'.[56]
  • Blastoma debuted in the ARIA top 50 albums chart, peaked at number 7 on the ARIA urban chart and was rated Double J's 7th best album of 2016.[52][53][67]
  • "Diggin'" debuted at number 16 on the Carlton Dry Independent Music Charts.[45]
  • Ngaiire won in the Popular Contemporary category of the APRA 2015 Professional Development Awards[68]
  • Ngaiire won Best R&B or Soul Live Act as well as NSW Voice of the Year at the 2nd Annual AU Live Music Awards (2015).[54][69]
  • "Once" ranked 73rd in Triple J's 2015 Hottest 100.[43]
  • Lamentations was nominated for the 9th Coopers Australian Music Prize for the Most Highly Regarded Album in 2013[70]
  • Lamentations was ranked by Faster Louder as number 27 on the 2013 Critics list and number 25 on the Readers List. The single "Around" ranked in their 2013 - top 50 Countdown[58]
  • Triple J's 2015 CD release Like a Version 11 includes the tracks "End of the Road" (performed with Bluejuice) and "Ice Cream" (performed with Kilter). The album contains the best Like a Version performances of 2015.

Discography

Albums

  • Lamentations (12 July 2013) – production credits: Tim Curnick, Aaron Choulai, Chris Townend. Wantok Musik (W0010)[71]
  • Blastoma (10 June 2016) – self-released, production credits: Aaron Choulai, Paul Mac, Jack Grace

Extended plays

  • Song for No One (August 2008, independent)
  • Two Minds (March 2010, independent)

Singles

  • "Luv Sa Giaman" (translation: "Love Tells Lies") (2005, Wind Song Records, Chin H Min)
  • "Song for No One" (4 August 2008) independent/MGM Distribution (NGAIIRE001)
  • "Filthy" (November 2011, independent)
  • "Dirty Hercules" (March 2013, independent)
  • "Around" (May 2013, independent)
  • "Once" (July 2015, independent)
  • "Love Is a Battlefield" (January 2016, BBC First)
  • "Diggin'" (February 2016, independent) ARIA Urban Singles Chart: No. 23[72]
  • "House on a Rock" (May 2016, independent)

References

  1. ↑ "'Finger to the Bone' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 7 August 2018. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Kingsmill, Kate (18 September 2013). "Ngaiire". theMusic.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "About". Ngaiire Official Website. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  4. 1 2 Piri (28 March 2013). "Beyond Blastoma: An Interview with Ngaiire". Best Before. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Turnbull, Samantha (20 November 2004). "Unsung Hero Returns to Centre Stage". The Northern Star. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  6. ↑ Robinson, Heather (8 August 2013). "Bold and Beautiful – Artist Profile: Ngaire". The South Sydney Herald. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  7. ↑ Piri (28 March 2013). "Ngaiire – 'Dirty Hercules' ft. Nai Palm". The Orange Press. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  8. 1 2 "Fit Chick: Ngaiire Joseph". Guys Official: The Man's Domain. November 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  9. ↑ Busch, Paul. "Ngaiire Talks Growing Up In PNG, Her Debut Album, & Music As an Outlet". ToneDeaf. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Rogers, Natalie. "Ngaiire". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  11. 1 2 Encalada, Javier (10 July 2015). "Former Lismore singer Ngaiire hitting high notes". The Northern Star. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  12. ↑ Accelerator 2002: The Winners, Lismore, NSW: WindSong Records, 2002, retrieved 7 August 2018
  13. 1 2 CQU's Australian Idol singer still jazzed-up. Accessed 8 October 2015
  14. ↑ Puddy, Rebecca (3 January 2014). "Ngaiire leaves 'bizarre' Idol behind". The Australian.
  15. ↑ "Papua New Guinean Idol!". PNG Post Courier. 10 September 2004.
  16. ↑ Nicholson, Mikey (14 August 2014). "The Definitive Ranking of Australian Idol Performances". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  17. ↑ Tobin, Cassandra (6 November 2010). "Ngaiire to perform at fundraiser". The Northern Star. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  18. ↑ "Ngaiire". Wantok Musik Foundation. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  19. ↑ Scollay, Rachel (3 November 2005). "Ambitious Ngaiire refuses to be Idol". The Northern Star. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  20. ↑ Yeo, Nigel (3 January 2006). "Business Review: Established markets — Papua New Guinea". From Strength to Strength: Annual Report 2005 (PDF). Asia Pacific Breweries. p. 45. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  21. ↑ "Ngaiire". JPlay. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  22. 1 2 3 Freeman, Miranda. "Ngaiire: Quite Contrary". Rip it Up!. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Ngaiire's Biography — Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at Last.fm". www.last.fm. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  24. ↑ "2012 Project Outcomes". www.theseedfund.org. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  25. ↑ "2009 Project Outcomes". www.theseedfund.org. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  26. ↑ Wallace, Ian (6 March 2006). "Week Commencing ~ 6th March 2006 ~ Issue #835" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (835): 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  27. ↑ Syke, Lloyd Bradford (28 April 2009). "Sydney Reviews » Ruthie Foster". AustralianStage. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  28. ↑ Spencer, William. "Ngaiire Delves into Her New Single, the New Album and a New Attitude". SpeakerTV. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  29. ↑ McCabe, Kathy. "Paul Mac launches Holiday from Me record with mystery train ride party". News.com.au. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  30. ↑ Fuamoli, Sosefina. "Single of the Day: Ngaiire 'Once' (2015)". The [AU] Review. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  31. ↑ Moscatelli, Liza. "Ngaiire's latest single 'Once' and live shows". Mosca Media. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  32. 1 2 3 Reid, Lorin. "Ngaiire – Lamentations". The Music. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  33. 1 2 ADAMS, CAMERON (24 July 2013). "Album of the week and latest releases". Daily Telegraph.
  34. 1 2 3 4 "Features Ngaiire". BMA Magazine. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  35. ↑ "Ngaiire - Lamentations". Notey. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  36. ↑ Downton, Chris (13 August 2013). "CD Reviews Ngaiire". BMA Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  37. ↑ "Ngaiire". Forte. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  38. 1 2 "Review: Ngaiire, "Blastoma" • Howl & Echoes". Howl & Echoes. 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2016-06-13.
  39. ↑ "Ngaiire: Blastoma | Brag Magazine". www.thebrag.com. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  40. ↑ "Review: Ngaiire - 'Blastoma'". the interns. 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  41. ↑ "Ngaiire Delves Into Her New Single, the New Album and a New Attitude". speakertv. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  42. 1 2 "NGAIIRE (Sydney) on the "Once" effect & flourishing from Lamentations to Blastoma | the AU review". the AU review. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  43. 1 2 "Triple J Hottest 100 2015: Live Updates & Winners - Music Feeds". Music Feeds. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  44. ↑ "Ngaiire hits Hottest 100 glory for Once". Northern Rivers Echo. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  45. 1 2 "Ngaiire Claims Sole Top 20 Debut On Aussie Indie Albums & Singles Charts". theMusic. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  46. ↑ "Ngaiire is back with Diggin'". Northern Star. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  47. ↑ Koniw, Taylor Anne Koniw (4 May 2016). "I Like That|Ngaiire - Diggin music Video". 4 May, 2016. adamNOTeve. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  48. ↑ "Ngaiire's 'House On A Rock' Is The Most Innovative Soul Music Australia Has Seen". the interns. 2016-05-25. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  49. ↑ Dow, Steve (2016-06-07). "Australian singer Ngaiire on surviving bullying, volcanoes and childhood cancer". the Guardian. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  50. ↑ "Ngaiire ~ House On A Rock - Wild n Free". 2016-07-14. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
  51. ↑ "Ngaiire | Beat Magazine". www.beat.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  52. 1 2 "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  53. 1 2 "ARIA URBAN ALBUMS CHART". 18 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  54. 1 2 Woollams, Renee (9 December 2015). "AU Live Music Awards Announced in Sydney, Gang of Youths, Meg Mac Amongst Winners". The [AU] Review. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  55. 1 2 "The results are in… here are your winners of the inaugural National Live Music Awards!". National Live Music Awards. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  56. 1 2 "3rd Annual AU Award Winners Revealed: A.B. Original, Remi, NGAIIRE, Colin Lillie & more come out on top". The [AU] Review. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  57. ↑ "NGAIIRE | AWME". www.awme.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  58. 1 2 "Ngaiire announces summer tour dates". FasterLouder. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  59. ↑ "2012 Project Outcomes". www.theseedfund.org. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  60. ↑ Hirst, Jordan. "BIGSOUND Live 2015 Official Closing Party – The Triffid, Brisbane 11/09/15". Music Feeds. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  61. ↑ "Love Is A Battle Field". david barber. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  62. ↑ "Artists - AAO". Australian Art Orchestra. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  63. ↑ Brittany Meale, Brittany. "The Strides: One For One". Scene. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  64. ↑ "The Divas". Barefoot Divas. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  65. ↑ "Flume, Ngaiire, Vince Staples and Kučka Go Deep For 'Like A Version'". Huffington Post Australia. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  66. ↑ "Ngaiire, Violent Soho, more of your faves win big in National Live Music Awards | Music News". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  67. ↑ "The 50 best albums of 2016 | Double J". Double J. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  68. ↑ "APRA Announce Professional Development Award Winners For 2015". theMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  69. ↑ "Gang of Youths and Meg Mac lead the nominations for the 2nd Annual AU Live Music Awards | the AU review". the AU review. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  70. ↑ "The Coopers Amp - 10th Australian Music Prize". www.thecoopersamp.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  71. ↑ Ngairre (12 July 2013), Lamentations, Clifton Hill, Vic: Wantok Musik, retrieved 7 August 2018
  72. ↑ Wallace, Ian (2 May 2016). "Week Commencing ~ 2nd May 2016 ~ Issue #1366" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (1366): 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
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