Bill Morris (15)

Bill Morris is a songwriter, filmmaker and writer from southern New Zealand. He grew up in remote South Island mountain country and is now based in the coastal city of Dunedin. As well as writing and performing original songs he also makes documentaries and has recently completed an award-winning feature length film about fellow New Zealand songwriter Donna Dean. Not many New Zealand musicians could pull a quote about themselves from the influential American magaine No Depression, and certainly not one as glowing as that about Bill Morris. “He’s thousands of miles from Nashville, " wrote John Apice, "but even those songwriters would not want to get into the ring with a heavyweight like Bill Morris. If they did, they’d have to bring their best songs and arrangements and they better not blink.” Yes, Morris has fans in the crucible of alt.country and at home too. The title track from his album Hinterland was nominated as country song of the year, there were glowing reviews for his previous album Mud, and he's been likened to New Zealand's Paul Kelly for his thoughtful, often hard-edged storytelling. [By Graham Reid of, https://www.elsewhere.co.nz]