All from the heart

RIDING A WAVE: From left, Ben Trinick, Jade Pritchard and Abe Pai are on the cusp of big things. Photo / Supplied

Jade Pritchard emits the energy of a man on the cusp of big things, and rightly so. His band Coast is being touted as "the band to watch" during New Zealand Music Month, now on.

Coincidently, as the annual celebration of Kiwi music kicks off, the three-piece (Pritchard, Ben Trinick and Abe Pai) is also releasing its debut album, a self-titled, six-track EP with promises of a full-length album to come this year.

"We are pouring everything into this album. We want it to be really groundbreaking. There are no limits for the boys. We just want to be the best band in the country," Pritchard says.

Coast is the newest member of the Loop stable, which has also housed the likes of Fly My Pretties, The Black Seeds and TrinityRoots. And while Pritchard cites his new label mates as sources of musical inspiration, he attributes the trio's chilled-out mix of dub, funk and reggae to where it all began - the East Coast, from where they hail.

"It's all from the heart, man, it's all from there. There's something about the coastal area, the beaches, the surfing. It's my first love."

Pritchard, who at 33 is like the big brother of the group, writes and sings the songs, while Trinick and Pai, both 21, bring what he describes as pure, edgy talent.

"The cool thing is that I write with a bit of age and a bit of experience. I've been through some real, real lows and some hard times. And it's good that I get to come from a deeper place and that they've got the musical talent to match. It's the perfect combination."

Pritchard's thrilled to be launching Coast's debut as New Zealand Music Month celebrates its 10th birthday.

"New Zealand music is so rare. You come across so many people from overseas that have heard our music all over the place and they're like `Man we love your guys' sound'."

Coast's debut EP is in shops today. For more information about NZ Music Month visit www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz