The Beths Win 2023 APRA Silver Scroll Award

The red carpet was rolled out at Tāmaki Makaurau's Spark Arena last night for the 2023 APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka presentation ceremony. The Beths won this year's prestigious main prize for the title track to their third album Expert In A Dying Field, gracefully accepted accepted by the group via (somewhat "gotcha" style) prerecorded video while on tour in the US — with director Frances Carter and video co-star / technical mentor Larry Killip accepting the award in-person.

More winners last night included Mohi Allen and Hēmi Kelly who took away the 2023 APRA Maioha Award for their waiata ‘Me Pēhea Rā’, Victoria Kelly recipient of the SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha for ‘Requiem’, composer Karl Sölve Steven won the APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award | Tohu Pūmanawa for his original soundtrack to The Subtle Art of Not Giving a #@%!, and Tom McLeod  received the APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award | Tohu Paerangi for Blood, Sex and Royalty.

Along with the main prize, the evening very much revolved around Aotearoa songwriting legend Don McGlashan's (The Mutton Birds, Blam! Blam! Blam!, The Front Lawn, From Scratch) induction into the NZ Music Hall of Fame | Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa. This much-deserved achievement was celebrated with a video tribute (watch below), a speech by musical collaborator Shayne P. Carter absolutely ripping into lazy songwriting clichés, and powerful live rendition of The Front Lawn's classic 'Andy', performed by the The Exploding Rainbow Orchestra sprawling across the stage with Vera Ellen an inspired choice as lead vocalist.

Hosted by Bella Kalolo and Mātai Smith, with Steph Brown and Fen Ikner of LIPS this year sharing Music Directorial duties, more highlights included Samara Alofa and band's transcendent, lyrically pointed version of 'Expert In A Dying Field', sonic spellbinders Half Hexagon's take on 'The Crab / Waterbaby' by Tiny Ruins, rising star Jujulipps' energising cover of Avantdale Bowling Club's 'Friday Night @ the Liquor Store', Maioha Award co-winner Hēmi Kelly's off the cuff description of the "podium for babies", and DYNAMOTION's imaginative dance interpretation of McGlashan's 'The Heater'. Here's the full list of award recipients from last night...

APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka
'Expert in a Dying Field' written by Elizabeth Stokes, Jonathan Pearce, Benjamin Sinclair, Tristan Deck performed by The Beths (Carpark Music Publishing via Gaga Music)

APRA Maioha Award | Tohu Maioha
'Me Pēhea Rā' written by Mohi Allen, Hēmi Kelly, Amy Boroevich, Noema Te Hau III, performed by MOHI

SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha
'Requiem' by Victoria Kelly based on poetry by Bill Manhire, Sam Hunt, Ian Wedde, Chloe Honum & James K Baxter - for Soprano, Tenor, Choir and Orchestra

APRA Best Original Music In A Series Award | Tohu Paerangi
Tom McLeod for Blood, Sex, & Royalty

APRA Best Original Music In A Film Award | Tohu Pūmanawa
Karl Sölve Steven for The Subtle Art of Not Giving a #@%!

NZ Music Hall of Fame | Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa inductee
Don McGlashan

Watch the video for 2023 APRA Silver Scroll Award winning 'Expert In A Dying Field' written by Elizabeth Stokes, Jonathan Pearce, Benjamin Sinclair, and Tristan Deck performed by The Beths (Carpark Music Publishing via Gaga Music PTY LTD)...