Only a few of days now until New Year's Eve. And, as is traditional, a bunch of folk will be making New Year's resolutions.
In the spirit of democracy – not to mention post-Christmas laziness – I'm turning over this week's column to a random selection of local musicians who were good enough to offer their resolutions.

As for me? Dunno. I gave up smoking a few months ago (for good this time), so that one's out. I'd like to play the mandolin better, and to perfect my recipe for Chongqing chicken. Nothing earth-shattering really. Mostly, I'd like to thank you all for reading the column in 2013 and wish you a happy New Year and a great 2014.

Marion Arts
(Music educator, singer/songwriter, guitarist, soloist and Bonjour Swing member):
To honour the validity of my own music and to work towards two goals – achieving a recording and release of my new guitar composition project, a guitar suite based on titles of an old Chinese pippa suite; and achieving completion and publication of my first novel, now nearing completion.

Sonia Bullot
(Trumpeter with Kokomo): To spend more time hanging out with my gorgeous family out in the great outdoors and also squeeze in a bit of ME time; to do yoga, read a book, go for a walk etc. It's all about finding balance this year. Oh, and of course, playing lots of music and enjoying promoting Kokomo's fabulous new album.

Graham Clark
(Singer, songwriter, harp player, Brilleaux frontman): REALISTIC: Get Brilleaux to another international blues festival, be it Australia, Britain, Europe or the United States. Start a new studio album. Begin work on a Brilleaux documentary. Publish my book. UNREALISTIC: Get local radio airplay for Brilleaux.

Tim Julian
(Owner/operator Colourfield Studio, keyboard player): Since I left school last century I've been working on an album a friend and I wrote in the mid 1980s. Last year, my New Year's resolution was to get it finished. This year, my New Year's resolution is to finish last year's New Year's Resolution.

Richard O'Brien
(Star of stage and screen, writer of ‘The Rocky Horror Show'): To stop getting depressed about global politics and get my head polished.

Santi Rabagliati
(Guitarist, singer, solo and Mucho Mungo member): I don't think I have many. I hardly ever do something I don't like; I enjoy my life, I spend lots of time with my family, I don't intend to quit drinking, I drink as much mate as I want, I'm far from wanting to become a fitness freak. I'd like to play trombone, but I don't have much faith in that one.

Aaron Saxon
(Head honcho at the Mauao Performing Arts Centre, guitarist): To provide more employment opportunities for new tutors and new tuition offerings for the community through MauaoPAC. Personally, I'll be back into doing what I love doing the most – practising, writing, recording, performing and touring. Bring on 2014! Yeow!

Rob Smith
(Saxophonist, singer, bandleader with the Bay Blues Company): I find the excitement the future promises does not actually get any less as one grows older – there's always something to look forward to and obviously different things will rouse the sense of anticipation for different people. If I was to be thinking about New Year's resolutions then I'd have to promise to remember that every day in my life is a good day – and that some are even better than others.

Derek Toner
(Guitarist, singer with Nine Mile Stone): RELEASE MY ALBUM! It's so nearly finished and just assembling the finances to get it over the finish line is proving difficult with family/Christmas etc. As soon as it's out, I hope to do a few solo gigs with an official launch for the album. After that it's a deep breath and time to devote to other projects that have been brooding.

If I have one resolution it will be that by the time next Christmas comes around, I'll have tried to be more flexible and more open to new ideas.