Aaradhna to Open for Paul Simon

For immediate release: Monday 11th March

AARADHNA TO OPEN FOR
PAUL SIMON IN DUNEDIN

Coast and Chugg Entertainment in association with Bolton Promotions are pleased to announce the addition of stunning NZ singer-songwriter
AARADHNA to Dunedin's PAUL SIMON concert next month.

Straight off the back of the nationwide More FM Summer Vineyard Tour, Taite Music Award 2013 finalist Aaradhna is now set to open for Paul Simon
and Rufus Wainwright when they take to the stage at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday 6th April.

Following on from the release of her critically acclaimed album Treble & Reverb late last year, the soulful songstress has recently signed a multi-album
deal with Republic Records in the US - the same label as one of her inspirations, the late Amy Winehouse. In addition Aaradhna has now achieved
platinum status for her fun and catchy single “Wake Up”.

The last six months have seen Aaradhna’s music take a genuine and clear trajectory to the stars and being added to a concert with Paul Simon and
Rufus Wainwright, two of the music industry’s most highly-esteemed musicians, is a clear indication that her talent and music is a worthy and welcome addition. "I'm really excited about opening for such renowned musical legends, it is such a privilege. I look forward to it!"

Paul Simon’s Dunedin audience can expect to experience an incredible evening of beautiful vocals, soaring melodies and amazing rhythms from a
line-up such as this.

Don’t miss your chance to see this outstanding show! Tickets are on sale now.

PAUL SIMON
With RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

And special guest AARADHNA* (Dunedin only)

*Saturday 6 April, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Buy Tickets – www.ticketdirect.co.nz ph 0800 224 224

PAUL SIMON
With RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

Monday 8 April, Vector Arena, Auckland
Buy Tickets – www.ticketmaster.co.nz ph 0800 111 999

www.paulsimon.com,
www.chuggentertainment.com
www.facebook.com/chuggentertainment

Paul Simon
Rufus Wainwright

EDITOR NOTES:

In the wake of the 25th anniversary of his musical landmark, Graceland, Paul Simon will bring fans a performance spanning all eras of his illustrious career: from beginnings in the folk clubs of early 1960s Greenwich Village, to the warm and anthemic fruits of his celebrated partnership with Art Garfunkel, and his acclaimed solo career.

Widely regarded as one of the most successful and prolific songwriters of the latter half of the 20th century, Simon has consistently penned songs that are mature and literate, but also melodically engaging. Lyrically, with an astute political and social conscience, he has at times spoken to the concerns and uncertainties of a generation, yet also focused on the personal sentiment. In the early 1960s, the folk revival swept New York City, and a new breed of singers and songwriters introduced a new approach to the craft of creating tunes – at the forefront was Paul Simon. As the '60s gave way to the '70s and '80s, Simon expanded his musical palette and helped introduce many rock and pop fans to world music with his outstanding release, Graceland.

A fusion of South African styles and Simon’s ear for a melody and memorable lyric, his ambition to work with Soweto street musicians resulted in a controversy surrounding the potential violation of the international cultural boycott of Apartheid-era South Africa, which is looked at in the award-winning documentary, Under African Skies, released earlier this year.

However his tenacity also resulted in an album that would later become his most career-defining work. A work which is widely spoken to have helped hasten the end of Apartheid by presenting black South Africans as more than faceless victims, creating a trans-Atlantic bridge that neither pandered to nor patronized either culture which he so seamlessly fused.

Although Paul Simon's unique, carefully constructed contributions to music could be called innovative, he insists that the process has a lot to do with discovery. "I'm more interested in what I discover than what I invent. You don't possess it. You can't control it or dictate to it. You're just waiting. Waiting... for the show to begin." With that credo, he brings his critically acclaimed most recent album to showcase in New Zealand: So Beautiful or So What. Taking more than a year to perfect, Simon has revealed that So Beautiful or So What reminds him of his very first solo release, his acclaimed 1972 album, Paul Simon. It has been getting rave reviews, not least from his contemporaries.

“This remarkable, thoughtful, often joyful record deserves to be recognised as Paul Simon’s very finest achievement.” – Elvis Costello

Joining Paul Simon on his New Zealand dates is the enigmatic Rufus Wainwright, undoubtedly one of the world’s true original contemporary artists. Recently in New Zealand for an astounding performance at Auckland’s Civic Theatre, Wainwright once again wooed audiences with his staggering live performance off the back of his latest offering, the acclaimed Mark Ronson-produced album Out Of The Game.

With grace and humour, craft and confidence, the album is a remarkable return to the pop world of Rufus Wainwright – showing his scope of sounds and styles, unified by both his incomparable voice and the lucidity of his vision. This time around the magnificent Rufus will be performing solo.

Following the platinum single presentation for her number one song “Wake Up”, leading Kiwi songstress Aaradhna has signed a muti-album deal with Republic Records in the USA. She has been signed to the same label as one of her inspirations – the late Amy Winehouse – as well as other leading acts including Florence + The Machine, Gotye and Nicki Minaj.

Aaradhna returned to the music scene with the release of her critically acclaimed album Treble & Reverb in November last year, and has been enjoying rave reviews and international artist props alongside her wordly successes.

US soul singer Aloe Blacc described the album as “solid” and “great work from an accomplished sould voice”, while Mike Alexander from the Sunday Star Times not only landed the album with a cool five stars, but also said he would “happily lead the Aaradhna chorus and predict Treble & Reverb will reverb around the world.”

It’s a prediction that’s coming true – with a US deal, activity in Europe and an international tour in the works, Aaradhna is set to take centre stage as one of New Zealand’s hottest exports.

Finally, to add to her list of accolades, Aaradhna has just been announced as one of the finalists for the esteemed and most valued prizes for NZ musicians – the Taite Music Prize 2013*. The winner will be announced on April 17th and all bets are on that Aaradhna will be the one to watch out for this year!

Now in it’s fourth year the Taite Music Prize is awarded by musical peers and industry experts and is based purely on musical merit, not sales.

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