Soundtrack to your studies - 2012

The main orientation concert took place in the John Hood Plaza, behind the Business School. The line-up was Naked and Famous, Ruby Frost, Artisan Guns and Princess Chelsea. Here is some footage of the event - can you spot yourself in the crowd?

Artisan Guns included guitarist Jonathan Pearce who went on to international fame as a member of The Beths. However the most exciting new act at the time was Ruby Frost, who would become a judge on X Factor a few years later. Here is her breakthrough song ‘Water To Ice.’

The biggest international success that year was by Kimbra. She’d been living in Australia when her sound engineer brought Gotye around to her house so he could record her singing a part for his new song, ‘Somebody That I Used To Know.’  It not only spent eight weeks at No.1 in the US, but it also saw Kimbra and Gotye receive a Grammy Award - presented to them by Prince! The video now has over two billion views on YouTube.

Kimbra wasn’t the only kiwi musician winning awards. Bret McKenzie won at the Academy Awards for his song ‘Man or Muppet’ (he already had a Grammy too - Flight of the Conchords won Best Comedy Album for The Distant Future in 2007). 

One of the surprise viral hits of the year was ‘Lonely Boy’ by two-piece garage rock band, The Black Keys, who played Vector Arena as part of their world tour.

What was on your turntable while you were on campus? Suggest songs to add to our 2010s playlist, and you could win $100 Flying Out voucher.