Independent Music NZ Announce Finalists for 2020  Taite Music Prize

Independent Music NZ (IMNZ) confirms the astounding lineup of finalists for the Taite Music Prize 2020. IMNZ general manager, Dylan Pellett, shares his excitement for the 11th year of the Taite Music Prize, “It’s another sterling year of music represented here – what a talented collection of artists! It shows the extraordinary musical and artistic expression to be found in New Zealand, through the recognition of these great albums – I wish all the finalists every success.“

Named after the late Dylan Taite, one of New Zealand’s most respected music journalists, the award recognises outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained on one recording. The prize-winner will receive a cash prize of NZ$12,500 to be spent as they wish, thanks to Taite Music Prize founding partner Recorded Music NZ; recording time at Red Bull Studios Auckland; and a year’s supply of Red Bull product. This year’s ten finalists, from a list of 54 nominations submitted by record labels both independent and major from across the country, are:

Aldous Harding – Designer (Flying Nun Records/4AD)
Beastwars – IV (Destroy Records)
JessB – New Views (JessB/The Orchard)
L.A.B. – L.A.B. III (Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa)
Lawrence Arabia – Lawrence Arabia’s Singles Club (Honorary Bedouin Records)
Louis Baker – Open (Louis Baker Music/Ditto Music)
Mermaidens – Look Me In The Eye (Flying Nun Records)
Miss June – Bad Luck Party (Miss June/Frenchkiss Records/The Orchard)
Tiny Ruins – Olympic Girls (Ursa Minor)
Troy Kingi – Holy Colony Burning Acres (Triple A Records)

The three finalists for the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut are:

Tom Ludvigson & Trevor Reekie – Roto (Jazzscore)
Repulsive Woman – Relief (Independent)
Mousey – Lemon Law (Independent)
Winners will be announced at the 11th Taite Music Prize award ceremony April 20th at Auckland’s Q Theatre.

Previous Taite Music Prize finalists returning with their latest albums include; Lawrence Arabia (three-time finalist and winner of the first-ever Taite Music Prize in 2010 for Chant Darling), Aldous Harding (two-time finalist and winner of the Taite Music Prize 2018 for Party), Beastwars (twice nominated for their self titled debut in 2012 and Blood Becomes Fire in 2014), Tiny Ruins (Taite finalist in 2012 for Some Were Meant For Sea and in 2015 for Brightly Painted Ones).

Alongside the main prize, three additional awards will be presented at the ceremony: the Independent Music NZ Classic Record Award, the newly created Independent Spirit Award, awarded to a New Zealand person who assists our NZ musicians to grow and find their own unique pathways, and the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award, celebrating the freshest talent of Aotearoa. The winner receives a $2,000 cash prize with thanks to Auckland Live.

Taite Music 2020 finalists online
https://www.aldousharding.com/
https://beastwars.bandcamp.com/
https://ogjessb.bandcamp.com/
https://labmusic.bandcamp.com/
http://www.lawrencearabia.com/
https://www.louisbaker.co.nz/
https://mermaidens.co.nz/
http://ihatemissjune.com/
https://www.tinyruins.com/
https://www.troykingi.com/

Previous winners of The Taite Prize:
2010 – Lawrence Arabia Chant Darling (Honorary Bedouin Records)
2011 – Ladi6 – The Liberation Of (What? Music)
2012 – Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Seeing Records)
2013 – SJD – Elastic Wasteland (Round Trip Mars)
2014 – Lorde – Pure Heroine (Universal Music NZ)
2015 – Jakob – Sines (Shoot The Freak)
2016 – Silicon – Personal Computer (Weird World/Domino Recordings)
2017 – Street Chant – Hauora (Arch Hill Recordings)
2018 – Aldous Harding – Party (Flying Nun Records / 4AD)
2019 – Avantdale Bowling Club – Avantdale Bowling Club (Years Gone By)

Previous Winners of the  Independent Music NZ Classic Record:
2013 – Gordons – Gordons (Flying Nun)
2014 – Various Artists – AK79 (Ripper Records)
2015 – Herbs – What’s Be Happen? (Warrior Records)
2016 – Upper Hutt Posse – E Tū (Jayrem Records)
2017 – The Clean – Boodle Boodle Boodle (Flying Nun)
2018 – Headless Chickens – Stunt Clown (Flying Nun)
2019 – Moana and the Moahunters – Tahi (Southside Records)

Previous Winners of the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut:
2017 – Merk – Swordfish  (self released)
2018 – The Miltones – The Miltones (Self-released)
2019 – Alien Weaponry – Tū (Napalm Records)

Previous Winners of the Independent Spirit Award:
2019 – Bernie Griffin

Listen to the Taite Music Prize 2020 playlist

The Taite Music Prize
Presented by: Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ)
Founding Partner: Recorded Music NZ
Official Partners: NZ On Air / The Taite Family
Award Partners: Auckland Live
Event Partners: Q Theatre
Supporting Partners: Panhead Breweries / NZ Music Commission / APRA AMCOS / Media Arts Lawyers / Red Bull Studios Auckland / Commotion Ltd. / McCarthy Design / Loop / College Hill Productions / Tone Deaf Productions
Media Partners: RNZ Music / 95bFM
Charity Partners: MusicHelps