Taite Music Prize Finalists Announced For 2016

The eight finalists for this year's Taite Music Prize have been announced and are a impressive bunch of albums conjured up by New Zealand's top musical talent. The annual event, which is now in its seventh year, is named after the late music journalist Dylan Taite and aims to recognise outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained on one album. The winner of receives a cash prize of $10,000 to spend as they wish alongside free recording time at Red Bull Studios. Last year's winner was Jakob for Sines. Other previous winners are Lorde, Lawrence Arabia, Ladi6, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and SJD.

Here are the finalists voted from a list of 52 albums nominated...

SJD - Saint John Divine
Nadia Reid - Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Multi-Love
Princess Chelsea - The Great Cybernetic Depression
The Phoenix Foundation - Give Up Your Dreams
Anthonie Tonnon - Successor
Marlon Williams - Marlon Williams
Silicon - Personal Computer

The winner of the 2016 prize is decided by a voting panel and will be announced at a invite-only ceremony in Auckland on Wednesday 20th April. The ceremony will also include the presentation of this year's Independent Music NZ Classic Record award, acknowledging a defining NZ record from our yesteryear. Last years recipient was Herbs’ ‘What’s Be Happen?’.