FEATURES ADVERTORIAL: NEW ZEAL, NEW TALENT.

New Zealand's twin islands are cultivating a music scene destined to make a global splash. Here we look at the Kiwi talent on the verge of big things and set to appear at Brighton's Great Escape festival

The international profile of new ZEALAND's music continues to grow, thanks to a wealth of emerging young artists. In the US, rap sensation Savage's 2m-selling single Swing ranks as the top Kiwi export, while elsewhere it is Pip Brown aka Ladyhawke who has been attracting attention.

With the support of two proactive government agencies, New Zealand enjoyed a big presence at March's South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. The Kiwi barbeque was a roaring success with RSVPs outnumbering capacity tenfold, thanks to the lure of free NZ Sauvignon Blanc and the onstage presence of Ladyhawke alongside art-poppers Cut Off Your Hands.

The New Zealanders next turn their attentions to Brighton, where a handful of acts are heading to The Great Escape festival this month.

Bang Bang Eche made significant industry inroads at SxSW with their brand of carefree electro underpinned by dirty basslines. Their anthemic Four To The Floor is one of the most attention-grabbing songs of a genre that shows no sign of giving up its grip on those who simply want to dress up to get down.

With five years of globetrotting under their belts, Die! Die! Die! have become streamlined and increasingly impressive performers; once abrasive and often more bratty than brilliant, they are now impressively powerful. Eager to build on the inroads made with their Shayne Carter-produced second album Promises Promises, the trio could well be onto something special when they head into the studio later this year.

Connan Mockasin first appeared on Music Week's radar a couple of years back when he and his blues-drenched trio Connan & The Mockasins arrived in the UK with a single on Regal. He is no stranger to Brighton, having contributed his seemingly helium-powered vocals to a track on Norman Cook's recent BPA album I Think We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat. Recently seen on tour with Late of the Pier and with a European jaunt with The Veils on the horizon, Connan's quirky psychedelia continues to progress in ever-more wonderful directions.