Marley Sola was a member of X Factor boyband Moorhouse. Photo/Supplied
Marley Sola was a member of X Factor boyband Moorhouse. Photo/Supplied
Christchurch's Marley Sola has released a self-titled debut EP.
The four-tracker features two previous singles On My Own and Fill Me Up, as well as new single Believe.
Sola, whose uncle is in Salmonella Dub, was an X Factor NZ star in 2013, coming fourth as a member of theboy band Moorhouse.
He said Believe aims to encourage listeners to find their destiny. "Believe represents a certain time in everyone's life, where they learn to really step into their purpose of living."
Another set of reality show stars have been in the recording studio as well. The Koi Boys - a trio of Gold Coast-based Kiwis who appeared on The Voice Australia - will release their debut album this month.
Nuz Ngatai, Danny Faifai and Kevin Keepa proved a hit on the show, and when they were knocked out before the finals it caused a social media storm.
The album Meant To Be will feature three original songs, one written by each member, and nine covers, including lead single Cry To Me, originally recorded by Solomon Burke, a cabaret-style cover of The Weeknd's The Hills and a Latin-style version of Drake's Hotline Bling.
This isn't the first time group member Ngatai has made headlines. The former Rotorua man starred in the controversial fly-on-the-wall TV show The GC.
The song he penned for the album, a reggae number called Angels Have To Fly, was written about a cousin who died.
Princess Chelsea is also set to release an album of covers.
Aftertouch is a collection of songs recorded between 2010 and now, and will be released on October 14.
Princess Chelsea adds her own genius touch to works by the likes of Elvis Presley, Nirvana and Lucinda Williams.
First single Morning Sun, above, is a Marianne Faithfull cover, though maybe not a faithful cover - she's transformed the song's arrangement into what's described as something out of Stranger Things series 2 versus Twin Peaks. Intriguing.
Revisit a classic
As Van Morrison releases his 36th (!) studio album Keep Me Singing, why not take the time to give Astral Weeks another spin.
As Morrison's second album, released in 1968, it moved away from the pop stylings of Brown Eyed Girl, and wasn't an immediate hit.
But its reputation grew quickly, and it's considered one of rock's greatest albums.
It is said to have influenced Springsteen and U2, and Scorsese said the first 15 minutes of Taxi Driver was based on the album.
Considered a concept album, only one of its tracks - Sweet Thing - appears on Morrison's greatest hits album, the best-selling 1990 compilation The Best of Van Morrison.
