Widely considered the most prestigious accolade in New Zealand music, the APRA Silver Scroll Award recognises outstanding achievement in the craft of songwriting, with winners voted by fellow songwriters and APRA members.
Past winners include Benee, Lorde, Marlon Williams, Dave Dobbyn, and Bic Runga.
“These lists are a wonderful reflection of the incredible music being written all across Aotearoa - songs that tell our stories, lead us to contemplate issues or questions, and make us feel something” says APRA Head of NZ Operations Anthony Healey.
Congratulations to this years’ finalists.
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APRA Silver Scroll Awards 2021 Photo: supplied
APRA Silver Scroll Top 5 2021
All Your Ships Have Sailed by Troy Kingi
The funk-laden 'All Your Ships Have Sailed' comes from Troy Kingi's deeply personal and nostalgia-filled record The Ghost of Freddie Cesar, the fourth album from his 10 10 10 series (10 albums in 10 years in 10 genres). Pulling from retro 70's-funk, Troy brings to life a character inspired by his missing father and a mysterious cassette tape. Being such a prolific artist, Troy is also a co-writer and vocalist on a second finalist song, ‘Tūrangawaewae’.
Hiwa-i-te-rangi by Maisey Rika and Rei
Maisey Rika brings waiata reo Māori to the spotlight this year with three finalist nominations, co-writing both 'Hiwa-i-te-rangi' and ‘Turangawaewae’ for the Silver Scroll Award, and 'Waitī Waitā' for the Maioha Award. 'Hiwa-i-te-rangi', co-written with Chris Chetland and hip-hop artist Rei, celebrates the youngest star in the cluster of Matariki. With the guidance of a Māori astronomer, Maisey Rika, a recent Laureate Award recipient, created the album Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea turning ancient stories of Matariki into waiata.
Jump Rope Gazers by The Beths
Tāmaki Makaurau indie-rockers, The Beths return to the Top 5 this year with ‘‘Jump Rope Gazers’ – the title track from their second LP of the same name.This is a soaring centrepiece of the record, which maintains their hook-laden, self-deprecating vibe, but turns up the pop power.
Leave Love Out Of This by Anthonie Tonnon
Co-written with Jonathan Pearce of The Beths, 'Leave Love Out Of This' is an expansive piano-driven political ballad, which brings Anthonie Tonnon back to the Top 5 this year, on this title track from his recently released album.
Tūrangawaewae by Tipene (feat Maisky Rika and Troy Kingi)
Representing the East Coast is Flaxmere-born rapper Tipene Harmer with his waiata reo rua 'Tūrangawaewae', co-written with Maisey Rika, Troy Kingi, and Tenei Kesha. Tipene celebrates his culture and tipuna, welcoming us to celebrate Te Ao Māori. Featuring vocals from Maisey and Troy, 'Tūrangawaewae' epitomises bilingual excellence with the message to stay true to yourself.
You can read about the history of the APRA Silver Scroll Award here.
All awards will be presented on Thursday 14th October at Spark Arena in Tāmaki Makaurau.
The awards are proudly supported by NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho