2023 APRA Silver Scroll and Maioha Award Shortlists Announced

The top 20 shortlist has been announced for Aotearoa's prestigious songwriting accolade, the APRA Silver Scroll Award Kaitito Kaiaka, along with the five finalists for the 2023 APRA Maioha Award. Whittled down by panels of judges, the final winners will decided by APRA members who can vote for their favourite waiata in each category HERE — have a listen to the handy Spotify playlist below featuring all nominees.

The winners will be revealed at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards Kaitito Kaiaka on Wednesday 4th October at Tāmaki Makaurau's Spark Arena, along with the recipients of the SOUNZ Contemporary Award Te Tohu Auaha, APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award, APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award and the NZ Music Hall of Fame Induction Te Whare Taonga Puoro O Aotearoa.

The Silver Scroll Top 20 list was decided this year by APRA members / judging panelists: Alex Freer, Chelsea Jade, Dianne Swann, Ladi6, Mara TK, Marika Hodgson, Mark Vanilau, Nadia Reid, Rizván Tu’itahi, Sam Taylor. The Maioha Top 5 list was decided by "a panel of judges selected for their knowledge and understanding of waiata reo Māori/waiata reo rua and the current landscape of Māori composition and songwriting": Hēmi Kelly, Maisey Rika, Nadia Marsh, Ruth Smith.

“New Zealand has long been confident in its capacity to create world-class songwriters and the shortlist of APRA Silver Scroll and Maioha Award nominees continues to grow increasingly competitive each year.

Voting for Aotearoa's best songs is a difficult task for APRA members - a song's power is subjective, its magic impossible to measure. But there's no doubting the aroha, lyricism, and musical skill that has gone into each one of these high-quality works. This is a fantastic shortlist of masterpieces and future classics that demonstrate the vibrancy and good health of songwriting in New Zealand today.” — Bic Runga, APRA NZ’s Writer Director and former Silver Scroll winner.

APRA Silver Scroll Award Kaitito Kaiaka Top 20:

• Aroā written by Emily Rice*, Charles Looker*, Te Kuru Dewes performed by Aro (*Songbroker Limited)
• Can’t Fake It written by Jessica Bourke*, Maarten Bokma**, Max Oude Weernink^, Bart Possemis~ performed by JessB (*Concord Music Publishing, **Warner Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd, ^Origin Music Publishing Pty Ltd, ~Sony Music Publishing (Australia) P/L)
• Desert Dove written and performed by Holly Arrowsmith
• Don't Go Back written by Marlon Williams*, Mark Perkins* performed by Marlon Williams (*Concord Music Publishing)
• 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 PTY LTD)
• foolish thinking written by Kimbra Johnson*, Ryan Lott performed by Kimbra ft. Ryan Lott (*Warner Chappell Music Australia PTY LTD)
• Friday Night @ The Liquor Store written by Tom Scott, Christopher James performed by Avantdale Bowling Club
 • Green Honda written by Stella Bennett*, Luka Kloser**, Elvira Anderfjard** performed by BENEE (*Sony Music Publishing, **Kobalt Music Publishing Australia)
• i just can’t wait written by Sean James Donnelly performed by SJD (Concord Music Publishing)
• Kingmaker written and performed by Tami Neilson
• Layla written by Ruban Nielson, Kody Nielson performed by Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Mushroom Music PTY LTD)
• Live Wires written by Shannon Fowler performed by Tom Lark (Concord Music Publishing)
• My Baby’s Like A Hurricane written by Whaanga arahi Main-Baillie performed by Arahi
 • Smooth It Over written by Ash Wallace, Gabriel Everett, Sophie Mashlan, Anton Rundberg*, Julia Karlsson* performed by Foley (*The Very Good Music Publishing obo Sony Music Publishing Scandinavia AB)
• Something written by Oscar Mein, Henry Francis, Conor Feehly, Max Holmes, Tom Healy performed by Soaked Oats
• Take My Hands At Night written and performed by Ebony Lamb
• Te Atarau written by Mohi Allen, Daniel Martin, Rukuwai Allen performed by Mohi
 • The Crab / Waterbaby written by Hollie Fullbrook performed by Tiny Ruins (Kobalt Music Publishing)
• Travel With Me written by Deva Mahal, Marika Hodgson performed by Deva Mahal
 • You Are written by Naomi Ludlow performed by Ny Oh

APRA Maioha Award Top 5:

• Don’t Rush written by Te Kuru Dewes, Anna Coddington, Jordyn Rapana, Daniel Martin, performed by Te Kuru Dewes, Anna Coddington, Jordyn with a Why
• E tama written by Hamiora Tuari, Ani Piki Tuari, Tame Tuari, Tatana Tuari and Matt Sadgrove performed by Tuari Brothers
• Me Pēhea Rā written by Mohi Allen, Hēmi Kelly, Amy Boroevich, Noema Te Hau III performed by MOHI
• Nui te Aroha written by Eugene Temara performed by O.R.A (Origin Roots Aotearoa)
• Raumati written by Jordyn Rapana translated by Te Kuru Dewes, performed by Jordyn with a Why