
Zen Mantra
Zen Mantra is a Christchurch-based project by Sam Perry (Yumi Zouma), releasing atmospheric recordings across underground labels before signing to Flying Nun Records for a self-titled vinyl album in 2016.

Zen Mantra is a Christchurch-based project by Sam Perry (Yumi Zouma), releasing atmospheric recordings across underground labels before signing to Flying Nun Records for a self-titled vinyl album in 2016.

Flashback to July 20th, 2012 with a smashing show at (then new) Dux Live featuring Aucklanders Sherpa supported by 3 of Christchurch’s best young groups at the time – Zen Mantra, The Dance Asthmatics and Bang! Bang! Eche!
#nzmusic #livemusic #duxlive #sherpa #bangbangeche #thedanceasthmatics #zenmantra

Auckland-based independent label formed by Martin Phillips and Benjii Jackson in 2009, with Michael McClelland (previously a writer for The Corner, but that site appears to be AI generated spam now) and Maeve Munro, completing the team.

A former plastic manufacturing business located in industrial Philipstown, All Plastics was originally leased by Nick O’Keefe of The Undercurrents some time in the 2000’s. O’Keefe, along with his band members (which included local sound-men Marcus Winstanley and Mikey Summerfield, plus Phantom Billstickers’ Jamey Holloway) began using the site as a recording studio and practice space.
Several house-party type shows were put on both inside and outside the studio space, before the last occupant (Rhett Copland of Doctors etc) left around 2013.

The independent label that put New Zealand Music on the map. From Roger Shephard’s formation of the label in 1980 through to now, Flying Nun has been a mark of creative, quirky, inventive music with a distinct kiwi flavor.