Talkbox Sessions

In this episode of, I sat down with Sherrie and Chloe, the duo Moemoeā, for a conversation about music, friendship, and community. From meeting at their local theatre to juggling farm life with late-night gigs, they share the path that led them to become each other’s vocal sisters - their “vistas”. It’s a story about finding your people, making music where you are, and the simple magic of creative connection.  

During a special trip home from Los Angeles, Ny Oh joined us beneath the illuminated trees of Pukekura Park for a live Talkbox Session at the TSB Festival of Lights. The LA-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist performed to an audience gathered on the grass, surrounded by light and summer air - a beautiful homecoming moment captured in real time.

A live performance of 'No Reason to Love' written and performed by Scott Armstrong (guitar, vocals) with Juliet McLean (keys, backing vocals) as part of a Talkbox Session. Recorded and engineered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio. Made with support from New Plymouth District Council Creative Community Grants. Show links https://www.facebook.com/theSlacksNZ/ https://linktr.ee/julietmclean  https://www.rhythmacestudio.com/  

A live performance of 'Night Road Out' written and performed by Scott Armstrong (guitar, vocals) with Juliet McLean (keys, backing vocals) as part of a Talkbox Session. Recorded and engineered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio. Made with support from New Plymouth District Council Creative Community Grants. Show links https://www.facebook.com/theSlacksNZ/ https://linktr.ee/julietmclean  https://www.rhythmacestudio.com/  

Scott Armstrong, along with his brother Mark is the writer and  frontman of folk-rock-pop band The Slacks.  Their music is a blend of humour, protest, and playfulness . We talk paradox, social commentary, and enjoy a jam on two of my favorite Slacks anthems Night Road and No Reason to Love.  

A live performance of 'Kākano' written and performed by Huia (guitar, vocals) with Juliet McLean (keys, backing vocals) as part of a Talkbox Session. Recorded and engineered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio. Made with support from New Plymouth District Council Creative Community Grants. Show links https://www.iamhuia.com/  https://linktr.ee/julietmclean  https://www.rhythmacestudio.com/  

In this episode of Talkbox Sessions, I sit down with the soulful and innovative artist Huia. Known for her rich bilingual songwriting and boundary-pushing production, Huia shares insights into her creative process, cultural grounding, and the evolution of her sound. We talk about navigating the music industry as an independent artist and the importance of legacy and community. We also jam on an acoustic version of her latest single 'He Kākano'.   Recorded and engineered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio. Produced by Juliet McLean and Sam Johnson Made with support from New Plymouth District Council Creative Community Grants. Show Links: https://www.iamhuia.com/  https://linktr.ee/julietmclean  https://www.rhythmacestudio.com/ 

A live performance of 'Blood' written and performed by Hemi Coates (guitar, vocals) with Juliet McLean (keys, backing vocals) as part of a Talkbox Session. Recorded and engineered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio. Produced by Juliet McLean and Sam Johnson Made with support from New Plymouth District Council Creative Community Grants. Show Links

A live performance of 'Won't Let You Go' written and performed by Hemi Coates (guitar, vocals) with Juliet McLean (keys, backing vocals) as part of a Talkbox Session. Recorded and engineered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio. Produced by Juliet McLean and Sam Johnson   Made with support from New Plymouth District Council Creative Community Grants.   Show Links https://linktr.ee/themonswhaler  https://linktr.ee/julietmclean https://www.rhythmacestudio.com/         

Join Talkbox Sessions for a rich and reflective conversation with Hemi Coates, lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for The Mons Whaler—a swampy, alt-rock blues outfit hailing from Taranaki, Aotearoa.   In this episode, Hemi shares insights into his latest creative projects, the craft behind his songwriting, and how he balances music-making with a busy life. We talk about discipline, navigating the music industry, and the role of authenticity in art. We also found time to jam on a couple of his soulful tunes, “Won’t Let You Go” and “Blood.”   Recorded and engineered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio. Produced by Juliet McLean and Sam Johnson Made with support from New Plymouth District Council Creative Community Grants. Show Links https://www.instagram.com/hemicoatesmusic/  https://linktr.ee/themonswhaler  https://linktr.ee/julietmclean  https://www.rhythmacestudio.com/