Rob Smith - Good Memories Are Made To Last (Mp3 Single)

Rob Smith - Good Memories Are Made To Last (Mp3 Single)
(Released 1st July 2009)
Released by Polar Music New Zealand

Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand

1. Good Memories Are Made To Last (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
- released in memory of Michael Jackson, with deepest respect

Notes by Richard Anderson:
Originally this song was written for the "GONE WILD II" album (as with "On Common Ground" also from "Never A Dull Moment" Rob Smith's 3rd solo album) but we felt that it was probably too mellow compared to the other songs on the album, so rather than waste what was a good recording, Rob chose to complete the track and put it on "Never A Dull Moment".

Late one night we discussed writing a tribute to Michael Jackson, when Rob pointed out that everytime he listened to "Good Memories Are Made To Last" that his mind wandered to Michael Jackson (who had only just died around the time of the release of the "Never A Dull Moment" album), so we released this as an mp3 single for free download. Meanwhile we did co-write another Michael Jackson tribute called "One Lonely Life", which is yet to be released.

Rob Smith & Nils-Ole Finbak - Atmospheres (2009)

Rob Smith & Nils-Ole Finbak - Atmospheres
(Released June 2009)
Released by Polar Music New Zealand
Piano Recorded @ Finbak Music Studio's, Bobo, Norway
Vocals & Guitars Recorded @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand

- Rob Smith
- Vocals, Guitars

- Nils-Ole Finbak
- Piano, Programming - "Mother Love" & "...And I Think (Song For Freddie)"

1. Intro + Our Love Will Always Shine (R.Smith, N.Finbak)
2. Sometimes (C.Bosley, R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
3. New Zealand Bound (R.Smith, N.Finbak)
4. It Won't Be Long (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
5. I Wish I Didn't Have To Say Goodbye (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
6. We Will Live (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
7. Michigan (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
8. ...And I Think (Song For Freddie) (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
9. Mother Love (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
10. Winter (R.Smith, N.Finbak)
11. Goodbye (Richard Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
12. Seascape (Instrumental) (R.Smith, N.Finbak)


Notes by Richard Anderson:
This collection has been 2 and a half years in the making (although technically it was only really worked on between other projects). Rob had always wanted to make a stripped back collection of songs with the vocals and piano being the main focus, so it was something special when Nils-Ole (aka Nilsy) came onboard and said he was up for it.

Rob and I had both seperately at different times had visions of working on projects that featured just vocals and piano - stripped back songs in essence, where the vocals and the words did all the talking, and the music sat back and just took the mind to different places. This was what lead to us working on this album with Nilsy, also we wanted to showcase what a remarkable piano player Nilsy is. I am personally rather touched by several of the songs on this album, I think they have shown a whole other side to our abilities as songwriters, working with the likes of Rob and Nilsy is something I never take for granted, so to have been so wonderfully represented here is a blessing.

GONE WILD - Ditto II (Unreleased Track) (2008)

Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand

- Rob Smith (Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Programming)
- Nils-Ole Finbak (WILD Guitars)

1. Ditto II (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith, Nils-Ole Finbak)


Notes by Richard Anderson:
Initially recorded during "GONE WILD II" sessions, this song wasn't something that suited where we were as a band at that particular time. But Rob rose to the challenge (after I bet him a bottle of bourbon that he couldn't turn Nilsys guitar track into a legitimate song), and I was then challenged to write a lyric to suit. The finished recording has grown on me.

Hayley Oliver, Rob Smith & Richard Anderson - Something To Remember

Hayley Oliver, Rob Smith & Richard Anderson - Something To Remember
Released April 2009
Released by Polar Music New Zealand
Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand

- Hayley Oliver (Vocals)
- Rob Smith (Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Programming)
- Robin Wellaway (Sax - "How Many Ways")

1. Drifting Away (Rob Smith)
2. I Can't Help But Feel The Way I Do (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
3. Something To Remember (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
4. The Silence Of It All (Rob Smith)
5. Let's Get To The Heart Of The Matter (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
6. Love You Forever (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
7. Through The Heart (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
8. How Many Ways (Rob Smith)
9. I Believe In Angels (Rob Smith)
10. The Simple Things In Life (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
11. You Might Think (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
12. Days Gone By (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)

Rob Smith teamed up with English country singer Hayley Oliver on this wonderful collection of ballads, this marking Rob's first complete collaboration album outside of New Zealand.

Notes by Richard Anderson:
Working with Rob and Hayley on this project was a priviledge, all of the songs are packed with lots of emotional content and every song is a gem. It was an interesting experience working on songs of a different nature, gelling the pop-rock with country was something that we found both challenging and appealing. Rob and I both liked how we were able to show we were versatile as songwriters, and working with a vocalist of Hayley's calibre was certainly a blessing.

Rick Bone & Friends - MS Blues

Rick Bone & Friends - MS Blues

Released January 2007
Aching Bone Music
Produced by Scott Rose & Rick Bone

1. MS Blues (Rick Bone)
2. Positive Light (Rick Bone, Scott Rose)
3. Help Me (Rick Bone, Scott Rose)
4. Surfin' Monkey (Rick Bone)
5. We Look Good (Rick Bone)
6. Don't Be Afraid To Love (Rick Bone)
7. Cry Through The Pain (Richard Anderson, Rick Bone)
8. Flying Free (Debbie Kelson, Rick Bone)
9. Pity Party (Debbie Kelson, Rick Bone)
10. The Cavern Monkeys Song (Rick Bone)
11. Payin' For The Rich Man (Rick Bone)
12. Cryin' Out (Rick Bone)

Proceeds from this release were and are donated to MS Research.

Notes by Richard Anderson:
Rick Bone is a friend of Scott Rose, he suffers from MS. "Cry Through The Pain" was my lyrical tribute to Rick, I was amazed at how he would power through his illness to pick up the guitar and play even though all the time he would be in pain. My good friend and co-writer Chris Szkup leant his talents to the cause and played lead guitar on that track too. Chris and I were only too happy to lend our time and efforts to this project, especially given the fact that proceeds were being (and still are) donated to help aid MS research in the US. Since the release of this album, Rick has forged ahead with the Broken Feather collaboration with Debbie Kelson, keeping the MS Awareness vibe flowing.



- Review by Lin Sarnecki-
www.nytedancer.com/MSChat/monster
A professional musician during the '70s and '80s, Rick initially gave up his music career back in 1983 to raise a family. Before that job was done (is it ever,really?) he was diagnosed with MS in 1999, which progressed to the point he was forced on disability in 2001.

Rick became very depressed over the loss of many things, as we all do, but especially over his inability to create and sing his music. For anyone with a passion, to lose it is tantamount to losing a huge part of oneself. We also must compensate for changes in our methodologies as well as adapt to changes forced by MS.

For a long time, Rick was convinced he could never sing or play again - especially at the level he did before MS. He couldn't feel his guitar strings because of the numbness in his fingers, he couldn't be in his studio long due to MS fatigue, he wasn't able to write songs and music due to MS cognitive loss, and he felt his voice quality was forever impaired. I am one of his friends with MS who knows we can do far more than we sometimes believe if we just try. I also knew how beautiful his voice was and is, and have urged him, scolded him, begged him, and even at times yelled at him to get back into his music! At long last, he has.


You can purchase this album here

Quadraphonic - Live In The Marquee - The Official Bootleg

Quadraphonic - Live In The Marquee - The Official Bootleg

Released in 2006
Released by Polar Music New Zealand
Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand

- Rob Smith (Vocals, Guitars)
- Matt Sturgess (Bass)
- Hayden Okey (Drums, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals - "Mustang Sally")
- Robin Wellaway (Sax)

1. Flip, Flop & Fly (Big Joe Turner)
2. Little Sister (Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman)
3. Sweet Home Chicago (Robert Johnson)
4. Rock This Town (Brian Setzer)
5. Move It On Over (Hank Williams JR)
6. Freebird (Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant)
7. Things Have Changed (Bob Dylan)
8. Do Ya Feel Like We Do ? (Peter Frampton)
9. Mustang Sally (Wilson Pickett)
10. Hey Baby (Bruce Channel, Margaret Cobb)
11. Moving Up In The World (Rob Smith)
12. In The Midnight Hour (Wilson Pickett)
13. Ratapiko Blues (Rob Smith, Richard Anderson, Carol Smith)
14. Wish (Rob Smith)

Notes by Richard Anderson:
Rob had been playing with The Hiway Blues Band, but after bass player Ryland Sheard (also a member of Rob's other former band Snapdragon) had gotten ill, he was replaced by Matt Sturgess (who had previously played bass with The Candles after Rob's brother Phil had left that band), a new name was conjured up - Quadraphonic. This live album stems from a gig that Quadraphonic performed at Pukekura Park under a marquee.

It's great that some original songs were used on this recording, and I was pretty stoked to have had our collaboration with Carol Smith featured on this collection - Quadraphonic have continued to play that song at all of their gigs since 2004.
"Moving Up In The World" has a long history as far as Rob's live and recording experiences is concerned, so it was good to see that one included here, alongside of course a favourite of many of Rob's fans over the years (including myself), the soul stirring "Wish".

Now onto their third drummer, there have been talks of putting together an updated live album...so that's something to look forward to there.

Rob Smith - Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Rob Smith - Actions Speak Louder Than Words


Released in 2006
Released by Polar Music New Zealand
Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Michael Hill @ Killermoa Music Studio's, Waitara, Taranaki, New Zealand

- Rob Smith (Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Programming)
- Catherine Smith (Backing Vocals - "An Angel Flies")
- Laura Smith (Backing Vocals - "An Angel Flies")

1. My Sanity (Rob Smith)
2. Why Did We Fall So Far (Rob Smith)
3. Actions Speak Louder Than Words (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
4. An Angel Flies (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
5. What Don't Kill Me Will Just Make Me Strong (Dawn Sinclair, Rob Smith)
6. What I Would Do For You (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
7. Let's Get To The Heart Of The Matter (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
8. In The Bottom Of A Bottle (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
9. I'm Gonna Miss You Baby (Rob Smith)
10. Forget Yesterday (Dawn Sinclair, Rob Smith)
11. Can't Stop Loving You (Rob Smith)
12. Inside Me (Rob Smith)
13. How Do You Feel? (Rob Smith)
14. The Woman I Never Knew (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
15. When The Wind Blows (Rob Smith)

Rob's second official solo album.

Notes by Richard Anderson:
After the release of "Be Careful What You Wish For", it was easy to see that there were still other tracks there left over from the same sessions that could be used for a second solo album. So we put aside some of those tracks and also co-wrote some new material specifically for what was to become "Actions Speak Louder Than Words".

Another lyricist was brought into the fold, English lyricist/poet Dawn Sinclair, who had been writing a fair bit with other artists, but took an instant liking to Rob's writing and recording style. As a thanks for her support, Rob included 2 Dawn Sinclair co-writes on "Actions Speak Louder Than Words".

I liked the fact that Rob was able to progress musically into rockier places where need be on this album - whilst it still sounding like a Rob Smith album, there was indeed some progression rather than just getting caught into repeating an exact formula, something we wanted with this label's releases was to always keep mixing it up. Thankfully Rob is inspired by a lot of different types of music and artists (and life experiences too), and as those things are all thrown into the pot with his own experiences the Rob Smith sound is always going to be varied.

It was an interesting experience seeing this project come together, as we had written some things that we both felt rated up there (and still do) as some of the best and most heartfelt things either of us had written, I take great pride in knowing that we were able to follow-up a great album that is "Be Careful..." with something equally as brilliant.

Rob Smith - Be Careful What You Wish For

Rob Smith - Be Careful What You Wish For

Released 2005
Released by Polar Music New Zealand
Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Michael Hill @ Killermoa Music Studio's, Waitara, Taranaki, New Zealand

- Rob Smith (Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Programming)
- Otto Beesling (Bass - "Le Merci" & "Wish")
- Robin Wellaway (Sax - "Wish")
- Catherine Smith (Backing Vocals - "Wish")
- Laura Smith (Backing Vocals - "Wish")

1. One Heart (Rob Smith)
2. Emerald Isle (Rob Smith)
3. It's Over (Rob Smith)
4. Mary Doesn't Need Tomorrow (Rob Smith)
5. Le Merci (Rob Smith)
6. Lost Without Your Love (Rob Smith)
7. The Memory Of Us (Rob Smith)
8. Nobody's (Rob Smith)
9. Wish (Rob Smith)
10. Lately (Rob Smith)
11. The Time Of Your Life (Rob Smith)
12. In The Beginning (Rob Smith)
13. Without You (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
14. We Won't Be Forgotten(Rob Smith)
15. Toddyar (Rob Smith)

Polar Music New Zealand was formed especially to release Rob Smith related recordings, "Be Careful What You Wish For" having the distinction of being the first release from the label, as well as being Rob's first official album.

Notes by Richard Anderson:
I met Rob at Music Services in New Plymouth early in 2004, at the time I had been doing some online promotion for the Tim P Hall Band, Rob had heard about what I had been doing for them and wondered if I might be able to help him do the same. It quickly became apparent to me that Rob really did have a gift way beyond his humble saying "I dabble a bit", so I discussed with him some goals and how he should really set about releasing his material to the world, so we put together the independent label Polar Music New Zealand.

My intial role was to help manage Rob and to also take care of online promotional actitivies. We also co-wrote a few things together, "Without You" being the first official release, but "Tears Of The Sun" was in fact the first song we co-wrote, Rob also gave me some titles to write lyrics to with the plan being that he would set those lyrics to music and we'd release them on various projects we had planned on putting together over the next few years (we have actually sat down and wrote a few ditties in person too...more on those later)...needless to say this album itself is very special to the Polar Music New Zealand family as a standalone entity, but also in the grand scheme of things it helped create a vision.

Pleasingly, 5 years after this albums release we still get people commenting on the songs favourably, new people have taken an interest and it continues to sell (thats right folks you too can own a copy if you want to contact me about purchasing a copy that'd be great!)

Annan - I Wish You Love

Annan - I Wish You Love

Released in 2003 Japan (Out Of Print)
Desert Lake Label / Southern Air Records

Producer: Annan
Executive Producer: Akira Minamino

Annan: Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Percussion etc.
UK Kurita: Percussion and Chorus

Guest Musicians:
Tetsuji Ogawa - Guitars
Toshiaki Furihata - Drums, Guitars and Chorus
Takeo Konishi - Drums
Nok "Yuichiro" Koshila - Computer Programming

1. I Wish You Love (Parrish Coppedge, Annan, Rosei Kobayashi)
2. Cheers! (Annan)
3. My Guardian Angel (Richard Anderson, Yohei Eto)
4. The One (Annan)
5. Freedom (Annan)
6. Maze (Annan)
7. YOKOHAMA (Annan)
8. ごめんね～ひとつの心残り (Annan)
9. 砂の仮面 (Annan)
10. 日常 (Annan)

Notes by Richard Anderson:
After having worked together on the last of the Kween EP's, it was nice that Yohei had asked me to come onboard to collaborate on his solo endeavour (under the name of Annan), in fact he rang me from Japan about 3 years before this album was released to ask me if he could use my lyric and put it to music and use it, which I thought was particularly nice of him. "My Guardian Angel" was written as a tribute to Kara Graff, a lady from the US (and another Queen fan, who Tim Davis used to visit), sadly she passed away much too young but was a wonderful support to me in our brief friendship, in fact she was the one person who managed to persuade me to let the world in on my lyrical meanderings.

Sadly this album is now out of print, I had hoped that perhaps the label might have picked it up for a bigger release. Annan did make a couple of quite good videos for the album.

Several times since we have discussed working together on something new - which is something that I hope we can bring to fruition here at some point.

003 - Not For Sale

003 - Not For Sale

Released in 2001 in Japan

Produced by 003

Shun'ei - Vocals, Keyboards
Luigi - Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals
Roman - Drums, Backing Vocals

1. Chasing The Sun (Richard Anderson, Luigi Yamagata)
2. Welcome Song (Luigi Yamagata)
3. Morning (Luigi Yamagata)
4. Birthday (Luigi Yamagata)
5. Horizon (Luigi Yamagata)
6. Sakaba no Taishou (Luigi Yamagata)
7. Afternoon (Luigi Yamagata)
8. Angel (Luigi Yamagata)
9. Tadeima (Luigi Yamagata)
10. Mitsukenikui Sagashimono (Luigi Yamagata)
11. Ashita no Hako (Luigi Yamagata)
12. Sorahe (Luigi Yamagata)
13. Yamato Daikon
14. Sakaba-Daikon (Live Take) (Luigi Yamagata)

Notes by Richard Anderson:
From memory I think this collection served as a kind of "Best Of" collection, so was rather pleased that 003 would deem our little ditty worthy of inclusion alongside some of their own material.

003 - Chasing The Sun

003 - Chasing The Sun

Released in Japan in 2001
Produced by 003

Shun'ei - Vocals, Keyboards
Luigi - Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals
Roman - Drums, Backing Vocals

1. Afternoon (Luigi Yamagata)
2. Tadeima (Luigi Yamagata)
3. Ashita no Hako (Luigi Yamagata)
4. Chasing The Sun (Richard Anderson, Luigi Yamagata)
5. Mitsukenikui Sagashimono (Luigi Yamagata)
6. Sorahe (Luigi Yamagata)
7. Yamato Daikon (Luigi Yamagata)

Notes by Richard Anderson:
I came across 003 online, and whilst all their music was in Japanese (which I couldn't understand a word of) I appreciated their efforts and their great ear for melody, so I sent the lead vocalist/guitarist Luigi Yamagata a note to ask him if he would be interested in co-writing a song in English, thankfully he was up for it.

"Chasing The Sun" was inspired by a conversation I had on a bus trip with a chap named Terry Blake in 2000, he had seemed like an inspirational type of gent, often wandering off on his jaunts for weeks at a time. It struck me as to what his family might be thinking while he was off wandering - he said to me "I am chasing the sun",which I thought would make a great song title...in the end I used our whole meeting as inspiration for this tune.

003 even wound up having a picture of a car with the number plate reading "003" on the front cover of this collection, which I thought was rather cool.

Later, 003 performed "Chasing The Sun" live in a reggae kind of format, thankfully I was able to obtain an mp3 of this performance (I once had the video footage too, but thats since seemingly been lost unfortunately), it really worked quite well in this style, I was stoked to have had a co-write performed so far away live for the first time.

Unfortunately this was the only song that we collaborated on, 003 have since seemingly split up.

David Austin - A Changing Sky

David Austin - A Changing Sky


(Released 2001 - New Zealand)
(Re-Released 2003 - New Zealand)
(Re-Released 2009 - New Zealand)

Produced by David Austin

1. Unfamiliar Town (David Austin)
2. Ghostsong (David Austin)
3. Mr X (David Austin)
4. More Than Anything (David Austin)
5. A Changing Sky (David Austin)
6. The Chamber (David Austin)
7. Snapshot (David Austin)
8. Mr X (Faceup Mix) (David Austin)
9. Take Your Place (David Austin)
10. Forever Yours (Richard Anderson, David Austin)

All Music & Vocals by David Austin

Notes by Richard Anderson:
I first corresponded with David on the Mayniac's online mailing list (a fan group set up for fans of Queen guitarist Brian May). He had told me he was working on an album and needed some help with the lyric for a ballad he was working on. I wrote pretty much the first thing that came to mind at the time - miraculously it worked. David and I proceeded to pool our efforts with Chris Szkup under the moniker ASA (or A-S-A), meaning either Anderson, Szkup, Austin or Austin, Szkup, Anderson. David remastered this album firstly in 2003 and again in 2009.

Note that the 2009 re-mastering (accompanied by the next solo album "The Face Wall") doesn't feature "Forever Yours" - that track is now being included in another collection of remastered and new material, something to look forward to.

Now Is Now

Hopefully I can help to inspire others in their endeavours in some way - as many people have done so with me over the years.

Why the term The Mongrel Breed ? well thats a bit of a kiwi (New Zealander) saying for someone of mixed blood, or otherwise known as a "bitsa" (bits a this, bits a that).

I'm into my genealogy research in a big way (there are loads of personal reasons for this), and also being that I am a songwriter/recording artist, it's a moniker I had set aside for my first solo endeavour - whenever I'll get around to putting it together is beyond me, because quite frankly I am not really in any rush to go down the road to solo album status just yet - I am having far too much fun working with other people.

I have previously encorporated the genealogy theme into my musical endeavours (its nice when one's passions can collide like that) having co-written a song with a distant cousin of mine, which wound up on his and his 2 son's album (which reminds me - where's my copy ??? LOL) - additionally I am currently working with my niece on some material as she is quite the talent and has taken to singing like a duck to water, which makes me proud as it means should I decide to hang my boots up at least I still have someone close to whom I can impart some knowledge and hopefully help out in the longterm.

So what have I been up to???

The last few years I have spent working with a remarkable songwriter, musician and producer named Rob Smith ( www.myspace.com/robsmithmuso/ ), I've learnt a lot about myself through working with Rob, he's always been professional, patient and open to ideas from someone who admittedly is less of a musician than he is (and never could I hope to be as accomplished as he is!) but I am also as passionate about his work as what he is. We make a good team and thats precisely what it's all about - being part of a team, no drama queen antics required thanks :-)

It was at Rob and his lovely wife's suggestion that I get off my own ass and put some of my own material together and do something with it - gee I hadn't thought of that! LOL, I had been so busy concentrating on writing for and with other people that I hadn't any thoughts of stepping behind the mic - actually I didn't really think I would have the confidence - but again a good friend can help you to achieve anything I reckon.

It was quite a blessing to then have had the time and inclination to work with Rob in our band GONE WILD ( www.myspace.com/gonewildnz ) thus releasing our debut album "GONE WILD" in 2007, and then the follow-up (a double album nonetheless) "GONE WILD II" in 2009.

One thing I have learnt through working with Rob is that it is okay to put real and just thoughts and feelings into one's own music weither you think it is something people will relate to or not - if you have something you feel is valid to put out there that you know you can live with in 20 years time - then go for it!!! - at the end of the day it is rather surprising as to what people will be able to relate to - usually it is the things that you're most unsure of that people seem to be attracted to, which is kind of weird really. But all in all the biggest thing I have learnt is to enjoy the experiences of writing and recording and all the other stuff that goes along with running one's own label (we have our own independent label, Polar Music New Zealand - which keeps us rather busy).

Whilst Rob is a solo artist, he has also worked with not only myself but with several other writers and recording artists on collaborative projects in the last few years (and indeed has more in the pipeline as I type this) - which again has offered up allsorts of learning curves, mostly ones without pain ! LOL. I think we can justifiably look back on what we have achieved so far from an artistic perspective and know we have done some cool things, both as co-horts, bandmates and individuals as well.

Another chap that I have had an equal amount of pleasure of working with for a number of years is Chris Szkup ( www.myspace.com/eatpopslop ) or ( http://www.cs-songs.com/ )- Chris is an amazing guitarist, but not only that a superb arranger - and he's become not too shabby in the vocal department either. Chris we would have had as a fulltime member of GONE WILD from the start, but he had a solo album that he was working on, which was his dream - so far be it for us to step on the creation of that masterpiece. But ever the gent, Chris made cameo appearances on both GONE WILD albums - adding something really special to every song that he played on too I might add. Recently his debut album "Pieces Of Eternity" was released and it is everything that Chris (and me too!) had hoped it would be - he's been getting great feedback from people and thankfully it's selling too.

Chris and I are currently hard at work (he's working on his 2nd solo album, which it seems Rob and I may be helping out with on a song or two, sorry Chris, the cats out of the bag LOL) writing and recording with some our friends the world over for our collaborative project The Feckers, essentially how this project came about was that we had previously written and recorded a number of tunes - and testament to Chris' belief in our friendship and our songs, he suggested we get these into ship-shape and record an album. So with that we have got some of our friends and family aboard to help out with some cameo's in both the music and vocal department (although we're pegged to sing some stuff ourselves, we wanted to make this a true team affair and not an ego-driven exercise as for us it is all about the music). Once again working on something like this has brought us some real pleasure - and also into some contact with some amazingly talented individuals - some known, most seemingly unknown - for now, trust me there's some amazing performances already in the can!

I look forward to the continued work with both Rob and Chris in the future - I am sure whatever the future holds our paths will continue to cross (we are as yet undecided as to weither there will be a 3rd GONE WILD album or not - if the timings right and the muse is kind then it shall happen), my ears are always open for their work, weither it's something I have had a hand in or not matters not one iota to me really. It is just an absolute pleasure to know that people blessed with their talents are sharing their gifts with others, hopefully all these proverbial kicks in the right direction all these years have been fully worth it :-)

Aside from these projects, I am also branching out and working with various other artists on solo projects that are in the works, some of them completely different to what people might think I would align myself to - but then again Polar Music New Zealand has never been about pigeon-holing ourselves into one set vibe - hopefully 2010 will be a good year and some of these other people's dreams will become their realities too!

I shall use this blog as a means to keep people posted as to what is going on with the different people that I work with, and also to make some shout outs to some friends - hopefully getting them some people interested in their activities as well. Of course it shall also be a place where I may vent - afterall some good stuff comes out of unleashing ones thoughts and not bottling them up (that is how I came into the realm of writing in the first place...)

Anyway thanks for reading and I hope this has been an okay kick-off !

cheers
Richard