Singer-songwriter Ella Pollett is featured on the Hawke’s Bay vinyl compilation Under the Sun Volume 5, launching in May. Photo / Maisie Burt Photography
Singer-songwriter Ella Pollett is featured on the Hawke’s Bay vinyl compilation Under the Sun Volume 5, launching in May. Photo / Maisie Burt Photography
A snapshot of Hawke’s Bay music scene will be pressed to vinyl in May, as a new compilation brings together emerging talents and established artists from across the region.
The Backline Charitable Trust’s latest record, Under the Sun Volume 5, features 11 tracks and will be launched at Church RoadWinery on May 14 at 6pm.
The project aims to highlight the musical talent in Hawke’s Bay, with artists selected from more than 30 submissions this year.
Among those featured is rising young singer-songwriter Ella Pollett.
“It’s really special to be part of something that celebrates Hawke’s Bay artists. Having it pressed on vinyl makes it feel even more meaningful,” she said.
Her single Losing My Mind, featured on the album, reached No 1 on the New Zealand Hot 20 Singles Chart in November last year.
Pollett is now preparing to release a new track, A Name I Knew.
“It’s about holding onto someone who has already started to feel like a stranger. It captures that in-between stage where nothing has fully ended, but everything has changed.”
She will perform the song live for the first time at a pre-release show on April 24 at Paisley Stage in Napier.
“Building a music career in Hawke’s Bay is really rewarding,” she said. “There’s such a supportive community here, and people genuinely want to see local artists succeed.”
The Hawke’s Bay album also includes voices such as Molly Pawson.
It offers emerging musicians a platform to reach wider audiences.
“It’s a very good reminder to me of how lucky I am to be part of such a tight-knit community who help each other grow,” Pawson said.
“Getting yourself out there with new songs can be quite challenging.”
Her single, Stranger Danger, leans into a darker, moodier sound.
“It’s a bit more dark in comparison to my other songs which have been released, but I’ve always loved a good bassline, and this song definitely brings that to the table.”
Molly Pawson is an emerging artist making her mark in Hawke’s Bay’s music scene.
The full tracklist for Under the Sun Volume 5 is:
Swimming – Nick Herbison
Buzz – Danica Bryant
Aotearoa – Joe Cole
Big Mana – Te KuraHuia
One – JAKE
Lust & Temptation – Ben Liley
Losing My Mind – Ella Pollett
Midnight Chicago – Thomas Oliver
Stranger Danger – Molly Pawson
The Story of Jan – Ollie Burns featuring Tiaki McArdle
The vinyl project, launched in 2021, produces a limited run of 300 copies, with a portion distributed to national music industry figures as a way of promoting Hawke’s Bay talent to a wider audience.
This year’s album artwork was created by Hawke’s Bay artist Michael Hawksworth, featuring a black-and-white theme.
Backline Charitable Trust chairman Kevin Murphy said the initiative was about creating opportunities for artists at all stages of their careers.
“This year’s record features some of our hardest-working local artists, some new and some that are now getting pretty experienced in creating new music and releasing songs.
“Let’s hope they can continue to step up in the music industry.”
The trust also runs mentoring sessions with industry professionals and is developing initiatives, including a scholarship programme to help musicians record and produce original music, as well as partnerships with Toitoi and EIT to support emerging talent.
The launch event is free and will feature live performances from several of the artists on the record.
The album is dedicated to mentor Lorraine Barry, who supported Hawke’s Bay musicians for more than a decade and died last year.
