Music Industry News

Kirsten Morrell, best known for her sparkling career as lead vocalist of Aotearoa’s household name Goldenhorse, has today released ‘Hoping & Wishing’ – a loving tribute to a dear friend. The track is off her forthcoming second solo album Morrellium – set to release early next year.

Morrell has racked up a long list of achievements throughout the years alongside being the lead vocalist of Goldenhorse. She’s been involved in the NZ Opera, sung on stages such as the Royal Festival Hall and O2 Arena, worked on pieces for artists such as Andrea Bocelli and Elton John, and recorded at large level studios like Abbey Road and BBC Studios.

Goldenhorse’s success is nothing short of impressive – achieving triple platinum sales in New Zealand with their debut album Riverhead (over 50,000 copies sold) and double-platinum sales with follow-up Out of The Moon before signing an international record deal and touring around the world, most notably in Canada and three times in Germany. The band’s hit single ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ became a kiwi staple and earned them an APRA Silver Scroll and New Zealand Music Award – and they’ve received kudos from kiwi trailblazers Lorde and Harper Finn. With over 15 years touring and musical experience, Kirsten Morrell of Goldenhorse is nothing short of talented. Her debut solo album Ultraviolet came in 2010, featuring the effortless vocal charm that became her trademark and revealed more of her pop writing and production abilities – powerfully shown again through today’s single release.

‘Hoping & Wishing’ came to be as Kirsten was making the decision to leave London due to the neighbouring war in Ukraine. Things were heating up locally, she had been threatened in the street, she felt she wasn’t safe protesting or joining in, in the same political rallies she does on this side of the world. During this time, she had had a handful of music mentoring sessions with a gentleman in CEFChorus called Robin White – who had an extensive music background of his own – a composer, a conductor and classical festival inventor. Following the sad news of his passing earlier this year, ‘Hoping & Wishing’ (also called ‘Robin’s Song’) came to be. It’s a peace song, she says: “An anti-hate song’… when the world was in chaos and I felt crippled and unable to help others. Writing freed me of that feeling”.

‘Hoping & Wishing’ is the next single released from Kirsten’s upcoming album Morrellium. Still holding a strong entrepreneurial spirit, the album will be released through an independent, kiwi distributor. Kirsten simultaneously continues her singing career in the Classical music world – and is a conscious eco-warrior implementing and utilising industry recognised standards through her work.

Fans of Kirsten’s work can get amongst the magic live this November 26th at Big Fan, where she will be playing her first gig with a brand new band. Kirsten is super keen for her audience, old and new, to be a part of her epic comeback and hear ‘Hoping & Wishing’, some well-known GoldenHorse songs, and some unreleased tracks from Morellium, live from one of New Zealand’s most respected music venues.

Stream the single here.

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