Marlon Williams has been named the winner of the 2018 APRA Silver Scroll Award for his poignant and very personal ballad Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore.

Marlon was a second-time finalist for the award – Dark Child, which featured on his self-titled debut solo album, also made it to the final five in 2015. Along with some amusing stories and self-deprecating asides he was clearly thrilled to win his first scroll for a song that has such a personal story, including, as it does, the vocals of former partner Aldous Harding.

Ria Hall, along with co-writers Tiki Taane and Te Ori Paki claimed the APRA Maioha Award (recognising exceptional waiata featuring te reo Māori) for Te Ahi Kai Pō, another heartfelt ballad. The song which draws on Ria’s own family history is about finding resolution in tragic circumstances, and healing after the tragedy of war, while raising awareness of inter-generational cultural disenfranchisement. Ria’s acceptance speech included a powerful call for further embracing of te reo in NZ society and musical culture.

In an evening of poignancy and power, the induction of Jenny Morris into the NZ Music Hall of Fame  combined a wonderful tribute from long-time fan/Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and a heart-warming acceptance speech read for Jenny (who suffers spasmodic dysphonia) by Victoria Kelly, followed by a performance of 1991 hit single Break In The Weather by Ladyhawke.

Bic Runga was the musical director of this 53rd APRA Silver Scrolls ceremony which was hosted by Anika Moa.

Wellington composer Michael Norris won the SOUNZ Contemporary Award for the second time (his previous win was in 2014 for Inner Phases), with his composition Sygyt for throat singer, chamber ensemble, and live electronics. Sygyt was commissioned by contemporary ensemble Stroma to explore the interesting textures and harmonics of throat singing.

Conrad Wedde, Lukasz Buda, and Samuel Scott of The Phoenix Foundation fame received the Best Original Music in a Series Award for their soundtrack to Australian TV series Cleverman, a futuristic drama with roots in Aboriginal mythology.

David Long (The Muttonbirds, Teeth) won the Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award for his dramatic score for McLaren – a documentary about famed NZ racing driver Bruce McLaren.

The winners were:

APRA Silver Scroll

Marlon Williams – Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore

APRA Maioha Award

Ria Hall, Tiki Taane, Te Ori Paki – Te Ahi Kai Pō

SOUNZ Contemporary Award

Michael Norris – Sygyt

APRA Best Original Music in a Series

Conrad Wedde, Lukasz Buda, Samuel Scott – Cleverman

APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film

David Long – McLaren