95bFM at the Taite Music Prize 2024

Words by Stella Huggins

The fifteenth annual Taite Prize Award ceremony celebrated the talent and commitment of Aotearoa’s music industry at Q Theatre on a Tuesday evening. Nominees rolling into Tamaki’s Q Theatre were greeted with Penelope Noir’s Black Carpet, sharing their items of flair with the cameras. 

Tony Stamp admitted to nerves at being nominated in the same category for a second time for NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award, “but I guess I feel relaxed that I’m probably not going to win.” Fellow RNZ journalist So’omālō Iteni Schwalger, nominated for his work on The Sampler, was swarmed as he walked in the door, and potentially overwhelmed at being on the receiving end of such attention rather than the reverse- “I’m just blown away that I even made it that far.” The recipients of the prize, Cushla Dillon and Andrew Moore, directors of King Loser, were pleased about the nomination coming from the industry.

Already-announced recipients of the IMNZ Classic Record Award, three fifths of Look Blue Go Purple, were entirely overwhelmed and humbled as they entered the hallowed halls and spoke to journalists and fans about their record. 

DC Maxwell and Soft Plastics, nominees for Auckland Live Best Independent Debut were both entirely stoked to be there on the evening. For Soft Plastics, even a cancelled and re-booked flight the morning of the ceremony couldn’t dampen the mood. DC’s pre-show ritual included swathes of shoe glue- and on the topic of feelings about the nomination, he was adamant he’d “remember this night for the rest of my life.”

Winner of the Best Independent Debut award, Jujulipps for her EP Get That Shot, was ecstatic with the nomination, and even more so with the win. She acknowledged her entire team at Bigpop, as well as her manager Helena Bakker, crediting them with the organisation of her trajectory and aiding her with the procurement of her sound. Juju also acknowledged her fellow nominees, “Soft Plastics are fucking amazing, DC Maxwell I’ve seen so many times… I’ve been in such awe of his artistry.”

The nominees for the Taite Prize had similar feelings for one another; Gussie Larkin of Mermaidens (nominated for their self-titled record) was stoked to be nominated alongside “such an amazing list of albums.” In true Taite style, Abe Hollingsworth told 95bFM, “[we put] so much work into this album and did it all ourselves- and here we are being recognised for it. It feels really good.”

Teremoana Rapley received the Independent Spirit Award, presented by Brown Boy Magik, in recognition of her career-long support of Pacific musicians. 

Taite nominees were also not quite finished with working on new projects, despite celebrating 2023 releases. Ebony Lamb told 95bFM on the Penelope Noir Black Carpet she was up in Tāmaki Makaurau working in an APRA producer suite on a new record. Tom Lark released a new single, Dumb Luck just days after the ceremony. 

Vera Ellen (winner of the Taite Prize 2024) told Rachel on 95bFM Breakfast she has a new EP arriving soon, an announcement with little fanfare but much to look forward to. Ellen’s speech during the ceremony urged the community to get behind the budding E tū Musicians Union, as well as acknowledging her Polish and Welsh heritage, and the shoulders of female artists she “stood on the shoulders of.” She closed her speech with, “free Palestine.” and was met with raucous applause.

Full list of nominees for the 2024 Taite Prize:

Dick Move - Wet (1:12 Records)

Ebony Lamb - Ebony Lamb (Slow Time Records)

Erny Belle - Not Your Cupid (Flying Nun Records)

Home Brew - Run It Back (Years Gone By)

Mermaidens - Mermaidens (Independent)

Shepherd's Reign - Ala Mai (Golden Robot Records)

Tiny Ruins - Ceremony (Ursa Minor)

Tom Lark - Brave Star (Winegum Records)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - V (Jagjaguwar Records)

Vera Ellen - Ideal Home Noise (Flying Nun Records) [winner]