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Shute, Gareth
Author photo: Mieko Edwards
Writer's File

Gareth Shute

Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau
Shute, Gareth
Author photo: Mieko Edwards
In brief
Gareth Shute is a writer and musician. He has published a number of non-fiction books about the arts in New Zealand, particularly local music. He has toured the UK, Europe, US, and Australia as a member of bands such as the Brunettes and the Ruby Suns, hands-on experience which shapes the scope of his writing. Shute’s books focus on the history of New Zealand popular music.
Bio

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shute, Gareth (1973-) was born in Canada and now lives in Auckland.

A writer and a musician, Shute has written five nonfiction books about the arts in New Zealand: Hip Hop Music in Aotearoa (2004), published by Reed Publishing, and Making Music in New Zealand (2005), Insights: New Zealand Artists Talk About Creativity (2006), NZ Rock: 1987-2007 (2008) published by Random House, and Songs From the Shaky Isles: A Short History of Popular Music in New Zealand (2025).

Hip Hop Music in Aotearoa describes the journey of hip hop music from the fringe into the mainstream of popular culture. Gareth Shute was introduced to hip hop culture as an adolescent living in Singapore and when he returned to Auckland, he was surprised to find that rap music hadn't yet had the same impact on the North Shore as it had elsewhere in the world. The book follows the development of hip hop music in New Zealand from the old to the new, featuring in-depth interviews and photographs throughout. The book received the Montana Award for Lifestyle and Contemporary Culture at the 2005 Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

Making Music In New Zealand uses quotes from a wide range of local musicians to show what it is like making music in this country and what it takes to tour overseas. It is an informative work both for musicians and those who are interested in the local scene.

Insights is a more wide-ranging book that has one-pages interviews and photographs of 52 different artists who work in varying disciplines - from fine art painters to graffiti artists; from those dancers who choreograph contemporary art to breakdancers; from classical composers to rock musicians.

NZ Rock: 1987-2007 covers the last twenty years of rock music in New Zealand – showing its progression from being hardly played on local commercial radio to becoming a major force, both locally and on the international stage.

Songs from the Shaky Isles is a fast-paced, big-picture account of how popular music arose in our far-flung island nation. It shows how wider society influenced, and was itself impacted by the country's musical culture, but with plenty of room for outrageous anecdotes and insightful analysis. It's a treat for music fans and history buffs alike.

He has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Mathematics, and a BA(Hons) in Philosophy and English from the University of Auckland. He works as a freelance writer and for the label Lil' Chief Records. He is also a musician and has toured the UK, Europe, US, and Australia as a member of the Brunettes and the Ruby Suns. He is currently a member of Thee Golden Geese.


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