Music Nation was a mid 90s television show devoted to Aotearoa New Zealand music. Modelled loosely on iconic Sunday night music show Radio With Pictures (RWP), it was produced by RWP alumni Karyn Hay and Richard Driver. The show was hosted by Ian Hughes (aka Hugh Sundae) and Bic Runga - shortly before the release of Runga’s debut album ‘Drive’ (1997) shot her to stardom. The show mixed video clips, news and interviews, and ran for two seasons of 13 episodes each.
This episode begins with the concept video ‘Static (Part 1)’ from Joint Force, a collaboration between Mark Williams (Rhythm Slave), Otis Frizzell (MC OJ) and Darryl Thomson (DLT).
Bic Runga then introduces the video for a new single from Maree Sheehan, ‘What Have You Done To Me?’.
A short news segment follows, including details of Supergroove’s tour of Asia; the announcement of Dead Flowers’ new bass player Aaron Carson; Moana and the Moa Hunters’ tour of Canada and Hawai’i along with their search for a replacement for Teremoana Rapley; and the release of Jan Hellriegel’s second album ‘Tremble’.
Runga then talks about band Second Child and introduces the video for their current single ‘Crumble’.
In the next segment, Ian Hughes visits the Waikato Polytechnic School of Rock, based in Hamilton. Hughes interviews Course Coordinator Liam Ryan and talks to students Glenn Peoples, Jayson Norris, Ashley Knox, Porina McLeod and Barry Thatcher.
The video for ‘Faster Hooves’ by Head Like A Hole is shown, as a special request from VW [Mateycakes] of Whanganui. This is followed by the debut video from Igelesse [sic], for the song ‘Groovalation’, and ‘Bitter’ by Shihad, from their new album ‘Killjoy’.