The NZ Music Month Daily Playlist Challenge
27th May, 2018
Compiled by Martina Brito / “BadReligionTina”.
When we first came up with the idea to do these Music Month Playlists I knew one of the people I most wanted to do one was Martina “BadReligionTina” Brito. As quite possibly the biggest champion of #NZMusic outside New Zealand, as well as being one of the biggest Kiwi music superfans I know of, I knew Martina would provide something eclectic, interesting and quite frankly stunning! In her own words:
Kia Ora mates I’m BadReligionTina! I’ve been supporting New Zealand music for eight years. It is my honor and pleasure to help musicians any way I can from my native state of Southern California. I’ve been asked by countless Kiwi homies how I fell in love with my beloved scene. By chance I met my Welly brother Steve in a discussion about another artist via social media. He introduced me to Die! Die! Die!’s “Sideways Here We Come.” I remember thinking how I could have missed this completely. I fell in love instantly and I haven’t looked back since. I bought “Promises, Promises” digitally. The rest of their catalogue followed. I remember being stoked when I found “Form” on vinyl at my favorite record store Amoeba Music in Hollywood.
Die! Die! Die! were familiar to me from the start of my obsession. On first listen I felt like I’d known them for ages. Irrefutably due to my steady diet of SoCal punk from age ten onwards. “Sideways Here We Come” and the whole of “Promises, Promises” is that “fuck yeah” record that makes you want to get front and center to the pit and vibe out in time with everyone. I am fortunate to say I’ve done so ever so gently seven months after serious retina surgery in March 2013. Respective disabilities have not prevented me from attending gigs or anything else in life for that matter. Andrew Wilson, you and everyone who have made up this fine band or ever will in the future are my first loves (Plague Vendor please don’t be jealous. I love you too Brandon Blaine). Dr. Steve from Welly and the Die! guys are the first OG’s of my #KIWIBROCREW! I’ve added so many more since then. Andrew I’m sorry I didn’t get you signed to Epitaph Records that one time. You already know: Whittier, CA X Wellington, NZ forever!
Thank you Ambient Light for allowing me to create this playlist for New Zealand Music Month 2018. May everyone enjoy listening to these 18 badass songs as much as I loved choosing them. Perfect time to reflect on eight years supporting some of the cool bands I’ve gotten the honor and pleasure to see live. Never forgetting every single one of you I am waiting to meet. Shout out to Hex for picking me up to have a feed at Denny’s in my hometown. Thank you everyone who submitted recommendations. The first four songs I put in order are from bands I’ve seen in LA. Die! Die! Die! being first. Followed by The Bats, The Shifting Sands (twice) and finally David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights. Some are a nod to the people I affectionately call the ChCh Crew—Ipswich I will always love you! You were the first band introducing me to ChCh bands and labels. Jamie Larson and Brian Feary I love you guys for being awesome people and musicians. I’m a hard out fan por vida and beyond the grave. Down as fuck, loyal rock chica like I tell Frazer from Church of Goya/ Mother’s Dearest. Thank you for reading my love letter to New Zealand music. Cheers for somehow thinking of me as a legend who needs to get over to NZ as soon as possible. This playlist is dedicated to my late brother Efrain P. Brito Jr, who we lost to gun violence at age 16 and my other little sister I didn’t get to meet (17) who was taken too soon last October in Mexico; to Steve Botica and Louise Payne who supported NZ music. We miss you both. Thank you to the countless people I am proud to call lifelong friends more like family. “I can never forget you if I tried.”
Arohanui,
Martina “BadReligionTina” Brito
For more info on Martina Brito you can follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Martina Brito’s Playlist: (Click to play)
This content is a part of our NZ Music Month coverage, celebrating old, new and upcoming Kiwi artists. For more information on NZ Music Month you can visit their website.
