You do it in the shower, while alone and sometimes in the company of friends. No, we’re not talking about wanking…we mean singing!
The both of us love a good sing song sesh and will find any excuse to hold an editors meeting in a coin booth karaoke whenever possible. Pictured is actually us on a very casual Tuesday night, candidly serenading you the reader.
To us, coming into the month of May means getting out of the cold and getting inside a Karaoke booth. It means getting warm on booze and letting your stress out into a microphone. From wailing Blur to assigning each other parts in Toxic we know music can be healing, restorative and a great mood lifter.
May also marks the beginning of Aotearoa Music Month. These upcoming four weeks are expected to be full of live shows, album releases and exciting acts to fill your chilly Autumn nights.
Not sure who to listen to first? Well we present the lay of the land here in the long white cloud with our ‘Live Laugh Love Live Music’ spread. We’ll introduce you to local acts and present the reality of being a musician in the country. What we found was that in actuality it’s pretty shit out there. In need of support, our small music scene is begging for people like you to go get out there!
So our advice this month? Listen local and sing internationally!
If the small stage is more your thing then you’re probably familiar with the humid, sticky arena of a Karaoke bar. Whether you think it’s a great way to socialise or avoid it like your overbearing aunty, there will come a time when the spotlight lands on you and a mic will be passed your way. Now the option is yours; freeze, faun or fucking body that shit.
Save yourself some embarrassment and take some tips from our many late, soju filled nights at Luxury Karaoke.
1. Karaoke Bars aren’t the slay you think they are
Everyone’s screaming into the mic, people are too drunk to stay on tune and you’re sick of the constant carouseling of Mr Brightside, Sweet Home Alabama and/or Dancing Queen. The wait alone leaves enough time to talk yourself out of the song and that’s never a good sign. The introvert in us just gives this a big no, so just go somewhere else we reckon.
2. Spend the extra coin on a private room or booth
Private rooms come with the luxury of more space, more time and no waiting for pitchy patrick to finish his poor rendition of Creep. (You can actually cut your mates off in a private room!) Pay by the hour and get a whole room for you and the bros to scream Party in the U.S.A together.
On a smaller scale, coin operated booths are great for impromptu scream sessions or intimate duets. If you’re brave enough, it’s a great first date location. You can tell a lot by someone’s music taste. They’re really into Mac DeMarco? It’s not looking good! Careful!
3. Come prepared
It’s so awkward waiting in the dead air as your mate catastrophizes over a song choice. Keep the good vibes going and make sure to queue your songs with the help of a pre-made curated playlist. Bonus points if you know how to work the Karaoke remote without the assisted subtitles.
4. Read the goddamn room
Are you queuing Adele again babes? Is the night morphing into your break-up playlist?
Play songs that everyone can sing to and be sure to keep it above 90 bpm.
5. Tall poppy syndrome ain’t a thing here
Now is your time to show off. We’re not saying go sing over your friend during the duet but now is your chance to queue that solo. You’ve only sung it in the shower a million times. Go ahead and put that practice to good use! Your friends will appreciate the effort and might even foster some competition. Try not to take the scores too seriously though, we think they’re rigged personally.
Happy singing songbirds!
Off bopping,
Mairātea & George
