Former Dunedin woman wins Taite Music Prize
ALDOUS Harding won the coveted Taite Music Prize for her ‘‘bewitching sophomore album’’ Party, at an awards ceremony in Auckland last night.
The Taite prize recognises the outstanding creativity of an entire collection of music contained on one New Zealand album released in the past year.
The 28yearold former Dunedin resident was one of eight finalists in the competition, which included fellow Dunedin musicians Nadia Reid (Preservation)
and Kane Strang (Two Hearts and No Brain).
From her base in London, Harding said by video link she was delighted.
She thanked everyone involved in the making of the album, ‘‘not just the music itself but the air around it, things around it and the people supporting the future of Party’’.
Harding planned to record a new album in London in the next few days, and with a wry smile, said: ‘‘I’ll put the [$10,000 prize] money towards making the same mistake’’.
The judging panel paid homage to the high calibre of the other finalists — Reid, Strang, The Bads, Grayson Gilmour, Mermaidens, Teeks and Fazerdaze — but said their decision to award Harding the prize was unanimous.
Independent Music New Zealand chairman Matthew Davis said it was no surprise, looking at the calibre of the nominees, that international attention on New Zealand music continued to grow.
The Taite is open to all genres of music from any record label, and is judged on artistic merit alone.
As well as the cash prize, Harding will receive recording time at an Auckland studio.
The best independent debut award was won by West Auckland bayoublues folk quintet The Miltones, for their selftitled album.
The Headless Chickens won the classic record award for their landmark 1988 album