SOUNZ and APRA's songwriting and composition finalists, from top left, clockwise; Maioha Award finalists Em-Haley Walker, also known as Theia, Ria Hall, Aja Ropata, Byllie-Jean, Chris Wethey, and SOUNZ Contemporary Award finalists Neville Hall, Philip Brownlee and Ariana Tikao, and Reuben Jelleyman. Photo: Supplied
Finalists for the country's top awards recognising songwriters and composers have been announced.
The APRA Maioha Award recognises songwriters who are telling their stories in te reo Māori with contemporary music while the SOUNZ Contemporary Award celebrates excellence in contemporary composition.
Writer and producer Em-Haley Walker, also known as Theia (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Tīpa), has made the shortlist for her waiata E Hine Ē - the second single to emerge from reo Māori project TE KAAHU and the second track on debut album Te Kaahu O Rangi.
Performer and writer Ria Hall (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tuwharetoa) has been selected for her waiata Rangatira - a translated version of political anthem Owner.
Te Iho also makes the shortlist. It was written by Aja Ropata (Te Atiawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Raukawa), Byllie-Jean (Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngāti Whatuiapiti, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga), and songwriter/producer Chris Wethey.
Neville Hall - a second-time finalist for the SOUNZ Contemporary Award - has been nominated for his work 'more full of flames and voices'. It was written for the Slovenian ensemble Trio Tempestoso - which incorporates clarinet, accordion and cello.
Reuben Jelleyman's orchestral work Catalogue written for Multilatérale has been nominated too. It formed part of his masters at the Paris Conservatory.
Philip Brownlee and Ariana Tikao's composition collaboration on Manaaki has landed them a nomination for the first time.
Dana Lund and Horo Horomona (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Porou, Taranaki) nabbed a nomination in the APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film category for their score in the film retelling the legacy of Dame Whina Cooper, which included taonga puoro. It is Lund's second time getting a shot at the award.
Karl Steven is also up for the award, which he has won in four years. This year, he returns for his work on The Justice of Bunny King - the story of a mother of two fighting the system to reunite with her children.
Samuel Flynn Scott, Lukasz Buda, and Conrad Wedde - also known as Moniker - are finalists in both screen categories this year for compositions in dystopian film Night Raiders and horror comedy series Wellington Paranormal.
Jonathan Crayford, Joel Tashkoff (choicevaughan), Troy Kingi (P Smith) and Stephen Atutolu (Diggy Dupé) are finalists for their work on The Panthers, a mini-series recounting the work of the Polynesian Panthers amid the Dawn Raids.
Claire Cowan's work on One Lane Bridge, a series which follows a young Māori detective through a spiritual awakening, is also a contender for the Best Original Music in a Series Award.
The awards will be presented alongside the APRA Silver Scroll Awards at Spark Arena in Auckland on 18 October.
The finalists
APRA Maioha Award:
- 'E Hine Ē' written by Em-Haley Walker, performed by TE KAAHU
- 'Rangatira/Owner' written and performed by Ria Hall translated by Teraania Ormsby (published by LOOP Publishing Limited/Kobalt Music Publishing)
- 'Te Iho' written by Aja Ropata, Byllie-Jean Zeta, Chris Wethey, performed by AJA & Byllie-Jean
SOUNZ Contemporary Award:
- 'more full of flames' and voices by Neville Hall
- 'Manaaki' by Phil Brownlee, Liane Taikao (Ariana Tikao)
- 'Catalogue' by Reuben Jelleyman
APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award:
- Dana Lund and Horomona Horo for Whina
- Karl Steven for The Justice of Bunny King
- Conrad Wedde, Samuel Scott, Luke Buda (Moniker) for Night Raiders
APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award:
- Conrad Wedde, Samuel Scott, Luke Buda (Moniker) for Wellington Paranormal
- Jonathan Crayford, Joel Tashkoff, Troy Kingi, Stephen Atutolu for The Panthers
- Claire Cowan for One Lane Bridge