Loneliness

Loneliness is one of the universal themes of popular song. But do New Zealanders have their own variety of loneliness? This episode compares a 19th century waiata aroha – addressed to an absent whaler – to a Dave Dobbyn hit. Featuring Tiny Ruins, Princess Chelsea and Don McGlashan expressing their own varieties of loneliness. Chelsea Nikkel talks about how loneliness informs her songwriting, and we hear archival recordings of Paeroa Wineera. By Nick Bollinger.

Podcast made with the support of APRA NZ, celebrating a century of NZ songwriting.

Episode thumbnail credit: Princess Chelsea photographed by Myriam Semaani, 2018

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details