NiceUp New Zealand is a collaborative organisation that was formed in April 2005. It is based in Wellington and is dedicated to the promotion and forward movement of the New Zealand reggae and dancehall community - the music, people and activity that surrounds this strong and vibrant culture throughout New Zealand. It has a focus on promotion within New Zealand, and also on exposure and promotion of Aotearoa reggae internationally.
Link Up!
For all questions, comments, enquiries and ideas, please contact us at : info@niceup.org.nz
NiceUp Crew
ART OFFICIAL - Art Official is a crucial player in the NZ Reggae, Dancehall and Hip-Hop scenes. He runs Newtown Sound, is a founding member of the Yardwise Crew, and is an experienced DJ, musician, producer, promoter and interviewer.
PAPA P - Papa P is the site designer and programmer extraordinaire, works at and is co-owner of the award-winning company Springload.
VENUS HI-FI - Venus is the website editor and also writes for the site. She manages and promotes events and artists and coordinates NiceUp related projects.
NiceUp Family
ANTOINE - Antoine is a member of Wellington crew - Yardwise - and a selector on the Radio Active 89FM Roots and Culture show. He specialises in new Roots and Dancehall from the Caribbean Islands, Africa and France. He is currently the NiceUp correspondent in Europe.
DUBHEAD - Dubhead is based in Auckland and is a renowned producer, writer, selector, events manager and record retailer (Beat Merchants). He has been responsible for promoting and securing airplay for countless artists and he also hosts a weekly specialist radio show - The Rhythm Selection, Mondays, 9-11pm - on 95bFM, which has broadcast continuously since 1990. He is currently co-authoring a book documenting the history and growth of reggae and its culture in New Zealand.
GRAFTA - Grafta is an Auckland based producer, DJ and sometimes promoter. He is responsible for the club night Sure Fyah and can be found bringing proper Dancehall business, exclusive tunes and his own brand of refix madness to various nights. He also drops the Yard Graft Mix Sessions on a regular basis which is released on CD and online and is dedicated to runnin the hottest riddims straight outta JA & beyond.
JESSE I - Jesse is a foundation member of the Melbourne Reggae and Dancehall scenes. He DJ's, writes, interviews, coordinates, sells and distributes music at Higher Level Records and runs one of the country's premier crews - Chant Down Sound. You can also catch him on his weekly radio show - Chant Down Babylon - 5-7pm, Saturdays on 106.7 PBS FM, which he has been running for the past ten years.
MARTYN PEPPERELL - Martyn is a freelance music writer for Back2Basics, Rip It Up, Groove
Guide, Pulp Magazine, New Zealand Musician and NiceUp. His writing
is also syndicated on the internet via bassdrop.co.nz, obscure.co.nz, getfrank.co.nz and biggie.co.nz.
Martyn
also works in artist/event publicity. He is a founding member of
Ruffneck Souljah, DJ's regularly on Radio Active 89FM and at various
nightclubs around New Zealand and Australia.
MISS K - Miss K is a Dancehall Reggae enthusiast based in Auckland who has found a way to combine her passion for photography with her interest in NZ's Reggae music scene by photographing the gigs she gets to around NZ. Check out some of her images in the NiceUp gallery and stay tuned for her selections in and around AK city.
MISTEEK - Misteek is a primary member of Wellington crew - Yardwise and plays regularly throughout the city and New Zealand. She is also a selector on the Radio Active 89FM Roots and Culture show. She specialises in contemporary and conscious Roots and Dancehall and fully represents and showcases women in Reggae.
MOLLY POP - Molly Pop is an artist and designer and also contributes writing and photography for the site. She is currently based in and is the NiceUp correspondent inna London town.
NARAM - Naram is an aspiring young Wellington based writer and music producer. He has a passion for Dub Roots and a deep respect for any music that refuses to conform to Babylon.
PO-CHA RANKS - Po-cha Ranks is stationed to Capital City as the Aotearoa outpost for Cultural Digital Sound, sporting Dancehall digital Roots selections, compiled and gifted from the mighty collection of London based DJ: General Spectikal.
RAS TWIG - Ras Twig is part of the Sounds Almighty Crew, works at Radio Active 89FM & Base Two and is coordinator for the Radio Active Roots and Culture Show. He also produces numerous other radio shows, including Uncharted and Upload and selects at top events around Wellington.
SOLE - Sole is a stencil/screen-print artist & designer, grounded in a classic Punk DIY aesthetic and possessing a deep appreciation of the natural beauty of the South Pacific. He transfers design and stencil art into the realm of product and event promotion, working with diverse groups, including the Parihaka International Peace Festival, Cornerstone Roots and Loop Recordings. He is focused on delivering designs, packaging concepts, and artworks that escape the bombardment of commercial sterilisation.
SPIN ZERO - Spin Zero is a founding member of Wellington crew, Yardwise, a producer and soundman. He is also a selector on the Radio Active 89FM Roots and Culture Show. He is widely known around New Zealand for his classic Dancehall, Reggae and Jungle selections.
TOPKNOT - Topknot is a long-time player in the Wellington scene and is part of Sounds
Almighty, Vital Sounds and the Yardwise Crew. He has organised events such as
the infamous Whopper Chopper and Roots and Culture parties and is known for his
mix of Roots, Dancehall, Funk and Latin beats. Having taken a year off from coordinating the Roots and Culture Show to travel and see Reggae abroad, Topknot is currently based in
Vancouver, Canada.