Music News - Reb Fountain wins 2021 Taite Music Prize
21 April 2021 - 0 Comments
Tonight, the winner of the 2021 Taite Music Prize which highlights outstanding New Zealand albums released in the past year was awarded to Reb Fountain for her critically praised self-titled album released on Flying Nun Records.
The Auckland Live Best Independent Debut went to Na Noise for their debut album Waiting For You released on the independent Tamaki Makaurau label 1:12 Records.
The Independent Music NZ Classic Record award was presented to Patea Maori Club for their groundbreaking single Poi E released in 1983 on Maui Records.
The Independent Spirit Award was granted to Pete Rainey and Glenn Common of Smokefree Rockquest for their contribution to music through 33 years of motivating young musicians and helping them to develop their talent and creativity, musicianship, and performance skills.
Dylan Pellett, General Manager Independent Music New Zealand says, "It’s astounding to me that we can celebrate together tonight and show off the talented artists that live and create in Aotearoa. What a privilege to present this event on behalf of our membership and the wider music community. Top work everyone!"
The 2021Taite Music Prize was held at Q Theatre in Tamaki Makaurau and featured performances by Troy Kingi, Patea Maori Club and Na Noise performing Reb Fountain’s song Faster from the prize-winning album.
The prestigious ceremony was hosted by 95bFM's Sarah Thomson with awards presented by Julia Deans and Anna Coddington. The event was attended by 400 industry, media, and artists from across the country and was a spectacular celebration of outstanding creative works made in Aotearoa.
Reb Fountain
Photo Credit: Frances Carter
2021 Taite Music Prize - Reb Fountain
Reb Fountain is an award-winning songwriter, consummate recording artist, and performer; spell-bounding audiences with her music and artistry alike. In May 2020, Reb Fountain released her self-titled album to critical and popular acclaim through iconic New Zealand label, Flying Nun Records. Reb Fountain's self-titled quickly sold out worldwide garnering favourable reviews and new fans both at home and abroad.
Says Sarah Illingworth on the 2021 winner "Reb Fountain sees its eponymous creator at the top of her game – or perhaps preparing to climb to new and headier peaks. The album and Reb’s path to releasing it captures the independent spirit championed by the Taite Music Prize while sparkling with the high caliber of production and performance that makes an artist a star."
Named after the late Dylan Taite, one of New Zealand’s most respected music journalists, the Taite Music Prize recognises outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained in one recording. Reb Fountain also received a cash prize of $12,500, thanks to founding partner Recorded Music NZ and supporting partner NZ Music Commission.
Na Noise
Photo Credit Annamarie Ott
2021 Auckland Live Best Independent Debut - Na Noise
Na Noise are the Thelma and Louise of modern DIY guitar-based music. They released their debut album Waiting For You on 1:12 Records in November 2020. The long-time collaborators Hariet Ellis and Yolanda Fagan (both having worked together on BOZO, Vincent H.L, The Echo Ohs and Thee Crockettes) have a rascally take on traditional song — with their new-old songs, the band introduce a new-old sound. Joined by multi-instrumentalist Christopher Varnham who provides organ, drums, and various other percussive elements, the three have cultivated a dark sound that is more carnivalesque than it is psychedelic.
Radio New Zealand's Charlotte Ryan comments "Na Noise captured me with their psychedelic, hypnotizing guitars and vocals. Their sound and vibe remind me of bands from the past, singing cool pop songs with warped vocals and dark sonic undertones. Their debut was impressive, I'm excited to see what they do next."
The Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award celebrates the freshest talent of Aotearoa. Tonight, Na Noise took home a $2000 cash prize plus a performance or technical upskilling opportunity thanks to Auckland Live.
Rockquest Promotions, Pete Rainey and Glenn Common
Photo Supplied
2021 Independent Spirit Award - Pete Rainey and Glenn Common of Smokefree Rockquest
The two founders of Rockquest Promotions, Pete Rainey and Glenn Common, first met while working as high school teachers in Christchurch. In 1988 they entered some bands from their school into a performance competition that a local radio station was putting on. They saw the kids really responding to the opportunity to play contemporary music.
The following year the radio station was unable to put the event on again, so Pete and Glenn decided to run it themselves. They saw the benefit in a platform for high school students to play live on a professionally equipped stage, expressing their talent and creativity all while developing their musicianship and performance skills.
In 1990 the competition went nationwide. Pete and Glenn applied for funding from the Government, which allowed them to roll out the competition out in 5 locations around the country - adding Auckland, Dunedin, Wellington, and Rotorua. The schools in the four new regions caught on really quickly, and it was at this moment they realised the competition could be big and sustainable in the long term.
Now with 40 gigs every year across the country, Smokefreerockquest has become New Zealand’s only nationwide, live, original music, youth event to give young musicians the opportunity to perform live in a professional setting, in venues from Whangarei to Invercargill. It has been a stepping stone for many of the country's most well-known and successful artists, contributing massively to the music community throughout Aotearoa.
Dylan Pellett, General Manager Independent Music New Zealand says “this award was a real blast for me - as I was performing in one of those Rockquest bands back in 1989!! So it felt really special to give something back to Pete and Glenn and acknowledge their contribution to the NZ music tapestry. And stoked that super-talented Julia Deans and Anna Coddington were on hand to present the award to them - amazing mahi!"
The Independent Spirit Award recognises and celebrates a New Zealander: someone who is passionate about NZ music; who's ahead of the game in creativity, diversity, and imagination; and has dedicated themself to helping artists and the wider music community to grow and find their own unique pathways. The annual recipient is determined by the IMNZ Board.
Patea Maori Club
Photo Credit Gil Hanly
2021 Independent Music NZ Classic Record - Patea Maori Club
The Independent Music NZ Classic Record Award acknowledges one New Zealand record released over 20 years ago on an independent label. These records, whether a 12”, a compilation, EP, or full-length album have become quintessential gold nuggets of our musical history.
The 2021 award was granted to Patea Maori Club for their groundbreaking single Poi E.
Patea Maori Club’s Poi E lyrics were written by te reo advocate, linguist, and composer, Ngoi Pewhairangi (QSM) and music by Dalvanius Prime in 1983, to encourage rangatahi to be proud of being Maori. A simple song with a catchy beat sung entirely in te reo Maori Poi E has become Aotearoa’s unofficial national anthem, giving pride to generations of New Zealanders.
Recorded and released in late 1983, the single spent four weeks at number one and a further 22 weeks in the music charts, which was unprecedented for a song in te reo Maori. As well as being a sensation in Aotearoa, the Patea Māori Club received international recognition - touring the United Kingdom in 1984, playing at the London Palladium, the Edinburgh Festival, and giving a Royal Command Performance. Top British contemporary music magazine of the time, New Musical Express (NME), named Poi E its Single of the Week.
In 2010 Poi E was used in Taika Waititi's hit movie, Boy. This saw the song back in the New Zealand music charts. A documentary on the song was released in 2016, and in 2021 - 38 years after its release - Poi E is officially being acknowledged as an important part of our rich musical tapestry as the recipient of the 2021 IMNZ Classic Record.
Jeremy Taylor from Slow Boat Records says "Poi E single; an undisputed, stone-cold classic receives recognition for its genre-busting styles, its irrepressible spirit, and its huge contribution to a strong, independent musical voice"
The Taite Music Prize highlights outstanding New Zealand albums released in the past year. The award is open to all genres of music and judged on artistic merit regardless of genre, sales, or record label.
The ten albums in contention for the 2021 prize included some of Aotearoa's finest musicians:
Anna Coddington - Beams (Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa)
L.A.B - L.A.B IV (Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa)
Nadia Reid - Out Of My Province (Slow Time Records)
Reb Fountain - Reb Fountain (Flying Nun Records)
Ria Hall - Manawa Wera (Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa)
Tami Neilson - Chickaboom! (Neilson Records)
The Beths - Jump Rope Gazers (Carpark Records)
The Phoenix Foundation - Friend Ship (The Phoenix Foundation Ltd. / Universal NZ)
Troy Kingi - The Ghost of Freddie Cesar (AAA Records)
Wax Chattels - Clot (Flying Nun Records)
The three albums nominated for the 2021 Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award were:
Amamelia - WOW! (Sunreturn)
Dick Move - Chop! (1:12 Records)
Na Noise - Waiting For You (1:12 Records)
Any New Zealand album released during the calendar year of 2020 was eligible for nomination for the Taite Music Prize 2021.
A voting academy of all current members of IMNZ, musicians, and music industry personnel voted to produce the shortlisted finalist albums. An independent panel debates and scrutinised the shortlisted albums to decide the winner. That panel comprises musicians, journalists, and music industry professionals with a wide variety of different professional backgrounds and personal tastes.
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 Partner: Auckland Live
Event Partners: Q Theatre / ACOM
Supporting Partners: NZ Music Commission / APRA AMCOS / Te Mangai Paho / College Hill Productions / Tone Deaf / Media Arts Lawyers / Red Bull Studios Auckland / Commotion Ltd. / McCarthy Design / Merlin / Panhead Breweries
Media Partners: RNZ Music / 95bFM
Charity Partner: MusicHelps
The 2021 Judging panel:
Nick Bollinger, Savina Fountain, Sarah Illingworth, Karl Lock, Nadia Marsh, Rebekah Ngatae, Hamish Pinkham, Charlotte Ryan, Pip Ryan-Kidd, Jeremy Taylor, Sarah Thomson, Mikee Tucker.
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)
2020 – Troy Kingi – Holy Colony Burning Acres (Triple A Records)
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 Tu (Jayrem Records)
2017 - The Clean - Boodle Boodle Boodle (Flying Nun)
2018 - The Headless Chickens - Stunt Clown (Flying Nun)
2019 - Moana and the Moahunters - Tahi (Southside)
2020 – Shona Laing – South (Pagan 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 - Tu (self-released)
2020 – Repulsive Woman – Relief (independent)
Independent Spirit Award
2019 - Bernie Griffin
2020 - Murray Cammick
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