The top 20 shortlisted songs in the running for NZ’s 2019 Silver Scroll songwriting award were announced today.

This year’s pool of finalist nominees includes a strong representation of hip hop, including formerly-nominated SWIDT, newcomers Church & AP, and Chaii. Another notable feature of the shortlist is the number of previously un-featured artists, illustrating the strength of songwriting among NZ’s music future.

2019 APRA Silver Scroll Award nominees…

• Alien Weaponry: Ahi Kā
• Anika Moa: Buttercup
• Foley: Can’t Help The Way
• Ladi6: Diagonals
• Chaii: Digebasse (Enough) 
• Broods: Dust
• Miloux: Enough
• Mousey: Extreme Highs
• The Beths: Happy Unhappy
• Mel Parsons: Just ‘Cause You Don’t Want Me
• SORRENTO: Look Up
• SWIDT: No Emotions In The Wild
• Anthonie Tonnon: Old Images 
• Tiny Ruins: Olympic Girls
• Church & AP: Ready Or Not
• Benee: Soaked
• Aldous Harding: The Barrel
• Lydia Cole: The Sacred 
• Ha The Unclear: Where Were You When I Was All You Needed
• Avantdale Bowling Club: Years Gone By 

APRA members will vote to determine the five finalists and overall winner of this year’s Silver Scroll Award. 

The nominated songs were selected from over 200 entries by a judging panel that included; Amanda Cheng (Wax Chattels), Anna Coddington, Chris Mac (Six60), Godfrey de Grut, Jordan Arts (Leisure/High Hoops), Mark Williams (Slave/Fat Freddy’s Drop), Nick Atkinson (Hopetoun Brown), Ria Hall and Tyra Hammond.

The 2018 winner was Marlon Williams, while other previous winners include revered Kiwi songwriters like Dave Dobbyn, Neil Finn and Bic Runga, and (then) newcomer likes of Ella Yelich-O’Connor (Lorde) & Joel Little, Ruban and Kody Nielson (Unknown Mortal Orchestra). 

The 2019 edition of the awards takes place on October 2 at Auckland’s Spark Arena. The evening will also see the induction of a Kiwi songwriter (or songwriters) into theNZ Music Hall of Fame.

Other awards being presented on the night:

• APRA Maioha Award – celebrating exceptional waiata featuring Te Reo
• Contemporary Award, Te Tohu Auaha – celebrating excellence in contemporary composition
• APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award
• APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award.