Kirsten Johnstone
Festival Music
Music 101's Kirsten Johnston plays music from the Milk and Honey, and Auckland Arts festivals. Audio
Auckland Festival puts Waiata Māori at the heart of their program
Two Auckland Festival shows in March put waiata Māori front and centre - a free sing-along event in Aotea Square called Tira, and another called Tōku Reo Waiata. The brains behind the shows, Tama… Video, Audio
Lydia Cole's live session will break your heart
Singer-songwriter Lydia Cole is back from two years living in Berlin. She's currently touring NZ before heading back to tour Europe in March. Kirsten Johnstone caught up with her for a chat and a live… Video, Audio
Song Crush - EP 4: The Grammys, Kacey Musgraves, Nakhane
The Song Crush team this week debrief on the Grammy Awards, country/pop artist Jamie McDell explains why Kacey Musgraves won album of the year, and there's new music from Jessica Pratt, Nakhane and… Video, Audio
Song Crush - EP 2: James Blake, Julia Jacklin
Kirsten Johnstone talks about hot new music with Radio Active's Breakfast host Maggie Tweedie, RNZ music producer Tony Stamp and Jana Whitta from Girls Rock! Aotearoa, among other things. Video, Audio
Song crush with Kirsten Johnstone
Music 101's Kirsten Johnstone wonders: have you got a song crush? She plays the songs she loves right now, including Sharon van Etten and Tiny Ruins, and tells us about her brand new podcast. Audio
Song Crush - Ep 1: Sharon Van Etten/Lawrence Arabia
The Sampler's Nick Bollinger is on hiatus for six months while he writes a book, so RNZ Music has a brand new music podcast. Song Crush, hosted by audio obsessive Kirsten Johnstone, brings you the… Audio
Song Crush - Ep 1: Sharon Van Etten/Lawrence Arabia
The Sampler's Nick Bollinger is on hiatus for six months while he writes a book, so RNZ Music has a brand new music podcast. Song Crush, hosted by audio obsessive Kirsten Johnstone, brings you the…
AudioLIVE SESSION: Opal Ocean
Opal Ocean are an acoustic guitar duo who met in Melbourne, but who both have roots in New Zealand. Kirsten Johnstone got them in the studio to play a couple of songs and tell their story of going… Video, Audio
Song Crush - Ep 1: Sharon Van Etten/Lawrence Arabia
Host Kirsten Johnstone is joined by RNZ music producers Tony Stamp, and Yadana Saw, The Sampler’s Nick Bollinger (who is off writing a book for the next six months) and Sharon Van Etten super-fan John… Video, Audio
RNZ Music's favourite international songs of 2018
The RNZ Music crew (Kirsten Johnstone, Tony Stamp, Nick Bollinger, Alex Behan, and Yadana Saw) make their music picks from 2018's crop of international releases and give their opinions on the… Video, Audio
Kiwi Christmas Carols
RNZ's Kirsten Johnstone is very excited to share some kiwi Christmas tunes. She'll be playing music by The Beths, Moniker and Terrible Sons. Audio
The Sampler 4 December 2018
Elliott Childs reviews the new album from genre bending Canadian hardcore-punk band F'd Up, Kirsten Johnstone reviews I Need To Start A Garden by Portland-based songwriter Haley Heynderickx and… Audio
The Sampler: Voyager by Yoko Zuna
Elliot Childs and Kirsten Johnstone discuss the dystopian second album from Auckland electro-hip-hop quartet Yoko-Zuna. Audio
The Sampler: Voyager by Yoko Zuna
Elliot Childs and Kirsten Johnstone discuss the dystopian second album from Auckland electro-hip-hop quartet Yoko-Zuna.
AudioThe Mixtape: Jonathan Lemalu
Opera singer Jonathan Fa'afetai Lemalu joins Kirsten Johnstone for an hour of chat and some of his favourite songs. Audio
What are the cool kids listening to?
RNZ's Kirsten Johnstone reviews some new music podcasts. Audio
Music 101 Pocket Edition 213: Fanau Spa/Congress of Animals
In this week's Pocket Edition, Jana Whitta gets in the Fanau Spa with Big Fat Raro and Brown Boy Magic; Kirsten Johnstone speaks with producers Sylvia Massy, Gil Norton and Clint Murphy about their… Audio
REVIEW: David Byrne at Wellington's TSB Arena
RNZ Music’s Kirsten Johnstone is overwhelmed by the incredible display of musicianship, movement, and joy on stage at the Talking Heads frontman's TSB Arena show in Wellington last night.
Rising star of Māori music celebrates Rātana
Shine Your Light is the literal translation of Kia Kaaterama Pou’s name. It’s also the title of her debut EP, which is out today to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Rātana movement. Video, Audio