Princess Chelsea, also known as Chelsea Nikkel. Photo: Supplied
A 'hopeful and cathartic' album from an Auckland musician has won New Zealand's top recorded music prize.
Everything Is Going To Be Alright by Princess Chelsea won the Taite Music Prize in front of a glittering crowd of Aotearoa's music royalty gathered at Auckland's Q Theatre on Tuesday night.
The Taite Music Prize, named after the late music journalist Dylan Taite, highlights outstanding New Zealand albums released in the previous calendar year.
Princess Chelsea, also known as Chelsea Nikkel, is an Auckland-based singer, songwriter, classically trained pianist and producer.
Everything Is Going To Be Alright, released by Lil Chief Records, is her fifth album.
In 2022, RNZ's Tony Stamp said the album's songs were the best Princess Chelsea had written.
Nikkel has a global following; The Cigarette Duet, her 2011 song with collaborator Jonathan Bree, has received more than 90 million views on YouTube.
Nikkel receives a $12,500 cash prize as part of the award and joins a line-up of previous winners that includes Antonie Tonnon, Lorde, Troy Kingi and Ladi6, among others.
Theia Te Kaahu, right, won Best Independent Debut for her album. Photo: TIM COLLINS
Te Kaahu O Rangi, an album of nine waiata sung in te reo Māori by TE KAAHU (singer-songwriter Theia) won Best Independent Debut at the awards evening.
Paul Huggins, an active supporter of New Zealand musicians for more than two decades, was given the Independent Spirit Award in recognition of his contributions to the local music community.
Namnita Kumar and Nadia Freeman, who create the Eastern Sound Stories Podcast, received the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism award.