Lorde Wins 2017 APRA Silver Scroll Award With 'Green Light'

Congratulations to Ella Yelich-O’Connor aka Lorde for winning this year's APRA Silver Scroll Award with her pop anthem 'Green Light'! This was the first year to have five female artists in the running for the coveted award, the other nominees were Nadia Reid, Aldous Harding, Chelsea Jade, and Bic Runga.

Held in Dunedin's Town Hall, the glitzy evening featured heroic ad-libs from host Jesse Mulligan while bands set up in the background. Sunglasses-wearing poet David Merritt greeted the crowd with “Hello aliens!” and presented The Clean with their New Zealand Hall Of Fame award. Among the evening's many highlights was Moana Maniapoto and Jacinda Ardern's presentation of the Maioha Award to Waipu thrash metallers Alien Weaponry. Nominated songs were covered by a diverse selection of artists expertly curated by Shayne Carter. 

Ron Gallipoli's white-suited cover of winning song 'Green Light' was brilliantly intense, threatening and creepy.

Death and the Maiden's rendition of' 'Richard' was a moody blend of southern fried guitar and synthetic beat worship.

KVKA and Stuss' gorgeous electronic rework of 'Horizon' built upon the song's minimal piano construction.

Tiny Ruins reinterpreted 'Life of the Party' with an emotionally expressive, full band alt-country arrangement.

Virtuoso Auckland drums/organ duo Drorgan mutated 'Close Your Eyes' into a psychedelic instrumental freakout.

Astro Children, Lucy Hunter, and Billy TK performed a splendid version of  'Getting Older'.