iHeartCountry NZ Essential Interviews

iHeartCountry NZ
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From Nashville to New Zealand, iHeartCountry NZ brings you closer to the biggest names in country music. Hear exclusive interviews with global superstars and rising artists about the stories behind their songs, New Zealand tour news, new music, and life on the road. These are the conversations every Kiwi country fan needs to hear!

  1. 22h ago

    Michael Marcagi on touring with Noah Kahan and finding fans in New Zealand

    Michael Marcagi joins us as he returns to New Zealand to open for Noah Kahan. The singer-songwriter talks about writing Scared to Start during Covid, seeing fans sing along on the other side of the world, the songs connecting most with crowds, life on tour, and why a potential New Zealand bungee jump has him slightly nervous. Timestamps:00:00 - Welcome to New Zealand & Australian tour experiences01:30 - Auckland recommendations and Waiheke Island02:05 - The possibility of a New Zealand bungee jump03:29 - Touring with Noah Kahan04:25 - Crowd reactions to Scared to Start05:38 - Testing new music during shows06:24 - Seeing fans connect with his music overseas06:51 - Writing songs during Covid in Ohio07:41 - Staying grounded while touring10:00 - Why talking makes him more nervous than singing11:21 - What fans can expect from a Michael Marcagi show Follow iHeartCountry NZ on: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. 1d ago

    Kaylee Bell says CMC Rocks fans are ‘the best we've ever played to’

    Kiwi country star Kaylee Bell is gearing up for another massive CMC Rocks appearance as the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary. Kaylee reflects on her first performance, how the festival helped shape country music across Australasia, her favourite CMC memories, camping with fans, and what audiences can expect from her 2027 festival set. Timestamps:00:00 - CMC Rocks' 20th anniversary and Kaylee's connection to the festival00:58 - Realising this will be her eighth appearance02:24 - Memories of her first CMC Rocks performance03:20 - How CMC helped grow country music in Australasia04:04 - Christchurch stadium performance and live-show discussion04:44 - What fans can expect from her festival set05:16 - Kaylee's experience camping at CMC Rocks06:38 - Why CMC fans are the best in country music Follow iHeartCountry NZ on: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. 4d ago

    Brooks & Dunn on CMC Rocks, the All Blacks and country music's biggest honour

    Country music icons Brooks & Dunn are heading back to Australia for the 20th anniversary of CMC Rocks. We caught up with them to chat about the journey that brought them there. The duo reflect on receiving a major CMA honour, share stories from the road, talk about their loyal fanbase, and reveal what Kiwi and Aussie country fans can expect when they hit the CMC Rocks stage. Timestamps:00:00 Receiving the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award00:33 Why the honour feels surreal00:58 "Country music cockroaches"01:31 Turning social media into merch ideas01:42 The fans who've supported them for decades02:19 Joining the 20th anniversary of CMC Rocks02:38 Returning Down Under and dealing with jet lag03:18 Talking New Zealand and Auckland03:49 Memories of New Zealand and the All Blacks04:33 Why they love watching rugby05:19 Looking forward to returning to Australasia05:37 The Perth travel saga07:30 Mick Jagger's three-song Perth story08:31 Why CMC Rocks has become a country music institution09:15 What fans can expect from a Brooks & Dunn show09:32 Why performing is more fun after 35 years10:16 Playing London and hearing fans sing every word10:58 When crowds sing louder than the artists11:20 The magic of live music never gets old Follow iHeartCountry NZ on: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. Sep 21

    Drew Baldridge on his new album 'Farm Faith Family'

    Drew Baldridge joins iHeartCountry NZ to talk about his new album 'Farm Faith Family', the independent journey that turned She's Somebody's Daughter into a career-changing hit, and why New Zealand holds a special place in his heart. Drew also reflects on the night his Auckland debut was cancelled, performing a surprise set at Jolene Bar, joining Kaylee Bell on stage, working with Tyler Hubbard and Luke Combs, touring with Luke Bryan, and his plans to bring a headline show to Kiwi fans. Timestamps:00:00 - Remembering the cancelled Auckland show01:02 - Joining Kaylee Bell on stage in Auckland02:10 - Plans for a future New Zealand headline tour02:48 - Losing his label and starting over independently04:32 - The success of She's Somebody's Daughter04:50 - Why the album is called 'Farm Faith Family'06:03 - Life with wife Katherine and sons Lyric and Ronen06:15 - Building a cabin on the family farm07:23 - Working with Tyler Hubbard and Luke Combs09:07 - Dove hunting with Luke Bryan10:24 - The Baldridge & Bonfire hometown festival11:50 - Final message for New Zealand fans Follow iHeartCountry NZ on: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. Sep 9

    Tami Neilson on Nashville, the Opry, and Country Music's Biggest Night - the CMA Awards

    Kiwi country star Tami Neilson joins iHeartCountry NZ after landing a nomination for the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award at the CMA Awards in Nashville. Tami opens up about the emotional moment she received the news, growing up watching the CMAs from a tiny TV in her family's touring motorhome, and why she never thought a CMA nomination would happen after moving to New Zealand more than 20 years ago. She also talks about returning to the Grand Ole Opry, touring with Ashley McBryde, and what this recognition means for Kiwi country music. Timestamps: 00:00 - Tami reacts to her CMA Awards nomination00:42 - Growing up watching the CMAs in her family's touring motorhome01:12 - Why she thought her CMA dreams were over after moving to New Zealand02:15 - "New Zealand is the reason for the success I have today"03:45 - How Kiwi creativity helped shape her career05:10 - Heading back to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry06:15 - Touring with Ashley McBryde07:20 - Why her kids convinced her to stay for the CMA Awards08:15 - Why the CMAs are Country Music's biggest honour09:10 - "I've already won" and what the nomination means to her10:00 - Looking ahead to Nashville Hear Tami Neilson and more of your fave Kiwi country stars on iHeartCountry NZ! Follow iHeartCountry NZ on: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. Sep 1

    Vincent Mason on Stella Lefty, the Grand Ole Opry & coming to New Zealand

    Vincent Mason joins iHeartCountry NZ to talk about his whirlwind rise from university student to touring alongside some of the biggest names in country music. Vincent opens up about his relationship with Stella Lefty, why performing at the Grand Ole Opry means so much, life on the road with Parker McCollum, and whether a New Zealand trip could be on the cards. Timestamps00:34 - Seeing his music reach audiences around the world01:11 - Discovering songwriting later than most artists02:15 - Growing up with an iPod and playlist obsession03:20 - Talking about Stella Lefty and Something to Lose04:08 - How their travelling relationship works04:41 - What the Grand Ole Opry means to him06:22 - Supporting Parker McCollum on tour07:06 - The possibility of visiting New Zealand Follow iHeartCountry NZ on: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. May 6

    Cameron Whitcomb on weird pants, hippo skulls & bringing chaos to New Zealand

    We caught up with Cameron Whitcomb backstage before his sold-out Auckland show! We chatted about his first trip to New Zealand, collecting strange souvenirs, and the similarities between Kiwi and Canadians. Timestamps: 00:00 - Cameron's first few days in New Zealand 00:12 - Gaming on tour and surviving bad hotel WiFi 01:00 - Buying a hippo skull in Auckland 01:47 - His expensive collection of weird pants 02:25 - The similarities between Canadians and Kiwi 03:37 - Growing up in Alberta and country culture 04:07 - New music and fan reactions to Kingdom of Fear 04:43 - Why he quit social media 05:53 - Making a best friend through gaming 06:19 - Why the people around him matter most 06:50 - What Stagecoach was really like 07:38 - What fans can expect from his live show 08:06 - Backflips, stage antics and performance nerves 08:42 - Why he's definitely not a gym guy 09:11 - Cameron's favourite sayings explained 10:05 - Performing Cool About It live 10:56 - Touring with Dani Josie 11:29 - Plans to return to New Zealand soon Hear Cameron Whitcomb and more of your fave country stars on iHeartCountry NZ! Follow iHeartCountry NZ on: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. May 5

    Gin Wigmore on Country Diamond, starting over & telling the truth through music

    Gin Wigmore is back, and if her latest track is anything to go by, she’s diving deeper than ever before. We popped into Gin Wigmore's newly opened Wigmore Deli and studio space to chat about about creativity, reinvention, and the deeply personal journey behind her upcoming album. Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome to the newly opened Wigmore Deli00:42 - How an impulsive purchase became a new business02:13 - Building a space the local community needed04:22 - Why creativity extends beyond music06:04 - Finding roots in New Zealand for her children07:11 - Revisiting old career memories and unreleased work08:22 - Growing out of self-doubt and perfectionism10:23 - A new era and a new album11:01 - The inspiration behind Country Diamond12:18 - The story that opens the album13:48 - Why listeners will interpret the song differently15:02 - The album's "beautiful" and "messy" sides16:22 - Living openly and embracing vulnerability18:19 - The lost album that almost never surfaced19:26 - Stepping away from music and finding her way back20:28 - Recovering Country Diamond and giving it new life22:07 - The songs that survived from the original project22:59 - Why artists should tell the truth, no matter what24:29 - The women who inspired her storytelling25:09 - Looking ahead to the album release and live shows Follow iHeartCountry NZ on: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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From Nashville to New Zealand, iHeartCountry NZ brings you closer to the biggest names in country music. Hear exclusive interviews with global superstars and rising artists about the stories behind their songs, New Zealand tour news, new music, and life on the road. These are the conversations every Kiwi country fan needs to hear!

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