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441 days ago

Howick lad recording in LA, story on East FM, Saturday from midday

Phil from Farm Cove

NZ EXCLUSIVE: Justin Deveraux is an adventurous Kiwi working in the Los Angeles film industry, and releasing his music to the world for the first time – recording with big-name session musicians and producer, and we’re excited to be the first radio station in Aotearoa to play his tracks and talk with him live on tomorrow’s She’ll Be Right on Saturday’s Show with PJ Taylor, EARLIER time of midday to 4pm (NZ time, September 2) on East FM.

We’ll be chatting with Justin Deveraux at 1pm / 6pm in California, where he’ll be, to hear his journey to the release of his new single, Cotton Wool, out September 1. Then, for the first time on New Zealand radio, we’ll play Cotton Wool.

Recorded at Studio City Sound in LA by Grammy Award-winning producer Tom Weir, Cotton Wool was played by highly-credentialed – keyboardist Jeff Babko (Jimmy Kimmel Live), drummer Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr, David Lee Roth), guitarist Laurence Juber (Sir Paul McCartney’s Wings, Cleo Laine, Charles Aznavour), bassist Lance Morrison (Alanis Morissette), Luanne Homzy on violin, and even a tap-dancing percussionist Stevie Lekaszewski.

Justin Deveraux is from Howick, Auckland, and moved from NZ to California with his family over the past year, to, as he says, “follow dreams”. There are more singles coming soon and an album due for release in the new year.

I know Justin because he was an enthusiastic AUT journalist intern at East Auckland’s Times Media and Newspapers in 2012, when I was editor. He later moved into producing advertising content and working on film productions such as The Meg (2016), Ash vs Evil Dead, and Amazon Prime’s record-breaking budget and Emmy-award winning, Lord of the Rings (The Ring of Power, 2022).

The Covid era gave him time to “reassess and regret missed opportunities”, choosing to “jump-in and chase down” his goal of being a singer-songwriter. “What started off as a box to tick-off suddenly started to sound good,” says Deveraux.

“Cotton Wool is a song about a child losing their innocence and the struggles associated with knowing too much. When you’re young and innocent, hopefully you get a chance to grow up in a safe and ‘Disney-like world’.
“But when you grow up and lose your innocence, you can’t return to that bubble, even though you wish you could.

“The chorus lyric comes from the term ‘wrapping someone in cotton wool’, referring to that protection layer parents often create for their children, and by softening the blow with cotton wool.
“Cotton wool is a plea to return to your parents’ arms even as they grow old,” says Deveraux.

As well as putting the spotlight on Justin Deveraux, it’ll be a regular early-arvo She’ll Be Right set – concert news and tour of a few musical neighbourhoods.

East FM is East Auckland’s fair-dinkum community-powered public service radio station, on 88.1FM and 107.1FM on local frequencies, nationally and globally at www.eastfm.nz... and on app iHeart Radio.

She’ll Be Right - it’s all about the vibe; it’s all about the groove. And this Saturday we celebrate an exciting time for a Howick lad abroad – Justin Deveraux. – PJ

More messages from your neighbours
3 days ago

Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.

This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.

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Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
  • 84.6% Yes
    84.6% Complete
  • 14% No
    14% Complete
  • 1.4% Other - I'll share below
    1.4% Complete
1566 votes
2 hours ago

Stunning Outdoor Transformation – Before & After"

Sanjeev Kumar from Bob Jones

Check out this incredible project where we tackled everything from agapantha removal and walkway cleanup to concrete installation and fresh garden beds! Our team also added some beautiful timber edging, riverstone accents, and gave the fence a brand-new look with fresh paint. We love seeing the difference a well-planned makeover can make!

#Landscaping #GardenMakeover #BeforeAndAfter #OutdoorLiving #PropertyEnhancement #ConcreteInstallation #TimberEdging #FencePainting #GardenTransformation #BobJonesLandscaping

P
4 hours ago

I recommend Chunli's Table Tennis Club & Coaching - Panmure

Peter from Mellons Bay

Join the Chunli’s Table Tennis Club Training Program and embark on the road to becoming a champion! Experience the power of elite training!

This year, Coach Li Chunli made history by winning her 10th New Zealand Women’s Singles Championship, over 20 years after her last title! This unprecedented achievement showcases her extraordinary talent and incredible endurance. As a World Cup bronze medalist, Commonwealth Games Women’s Singles Champion, and five-time Oceania Champion, she is a legend in New Zealand table tennis. Now, she is focused on training New Zealand’s young players and developing an Olympic-level training program. Don’t miss the chance to train under a champion coach and quickly elevate your table tennis skills!


Coach Li Chunli not only has a stellar career but also extensive coaching experience and a unique teaching style. Whether you’re a beginner or a player preparing for competitions, she can create a personalized training plan tailored to your needs and provide forward-thinking technical guidance to help you achieve rapid improvement. Training face-to-face with a champion coach is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss!

Training Times:
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
• Saturday, Sunday: 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Whether your goal is to improve your skills, boost your fitness, or prepare for competitions, the Chunli’s Table Tennis Club training program is the platform to achieve your goals. Train with a champion and experience table tennis like never before!

Sign up now, limited spots available!
Phone: 021-1534129
Address: 44 Domain Road, Panmure, AKL