Overview
The eight best local albums released in the last year have been revealed as part of the Taite Music Prize 2016.
Now in its seventh year, the prize takes its lead from successful international awards such as the Mercury Prize in the UK and the Australian Music Prize, recognising outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained on one album, regardless of sales figures or genre. It is named after the late Dylan Taite, one of the country’s most highly respected music journalists.
The eight albums in contention for the 2016 prize were selected from a lengthy list of 52 nominations submitted across the country.
This year's finalist group includes fresh meat and well-established homegrown talent alike. Previous Taite Music Prize winners Unknown Mortal Orchestra and SJD both return with respective new albums Multi-Love and Saint John Divine, and previous nominees The Phoenix Foundation are back to give it another nudge with their sixth full length release, Give Up Your Dreams.
First time finalists include Lyttelton alt-country singer Marlon Williams for his self-titled album; otherworldly folk singer Nadia Reid with Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs; space-pop musician Princess Chelsea with The Great Cybernetic Depression; offbeat indie-pop songwriter Anthonie Tonnon with his debut solo album Successor and psychedelic electronic act Silicon for Personal Computer.
The overall award winner will be announced on Wednesday 20 April at an invitation-only event in Auckland. As well as a trophy etching alongside previous winners Lawrence Arabia, Ladi6, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, SJD, Lorde and Jakob, this year's Taite recipient will receive a cash prize of $10,000, free recording time at Red Bull Studio Auckland and a year’s supply of Red Bull product.
The ceremony will also include the presentation of this year’s Independent Music NZ Classic Record award, acknowledging a defining NZ record from our yesteryear. Last year’s recipient was Herbs’ What’s Be Happen?.
See the full list of finalists below:
SJD / Saint John Divine
Nadia Reid / Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs
Unknown Mortal Orchestra / Multi-Love
Princess Chelsea / The Great Cybernetic Depression
The Phoenix Foundation / Give Up Your Dreams
Anthonie Tonnon / Successor
Marlon Williams / Marlon Williams
Silicon / Personal Computer