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APRA Nominees Announced
Thursday, June 04, 2009
APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) have announced details of the nominees for the 2009 APRA Music Awards, which will be held at the Peninsula in Melbourne on Tuesday June 23rd. These nominees, across 8 categories including the peer voted APRA SONG OF THE YEAR, represent the songwriters behind the most successful works of 2008.
Featuring a record number of first time nominees (45 songwriters across 21 artists and their performed works) covering rock, pop, jazz, dance, urban, blues & roots and country music, the Class of 2009 showcases the depth of writing talent of high profile Australian songwriters such as Chris Cheney from THE Living End, Adam Harvey, The Veronicas, Jessica Mauboy, Kate Miller-Heidke, Luke Steele, Nick Littlemore and Jonathan Sloan from Empire Of The Sun, Bliss N Eso and The Potbelleez.
In what is arguably the most eclectic collection of nominees for the coveted APRA SONG OF THE YEAR, this peer-voted category features compositions by songwriters who run the musical gamut. Elder statesman and songwriter extraordinaire Nick Cave has received a nomination for Dig! Lazarus Dig!, the title track from the Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds 14th studio album, while Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson have been nominated for Rattlin’ Bones, the highly acclaimed title track of their first musical collaboration together. Receiving her first ever APRA nomination is songbird Kate Miller-Heidke, with co-writer Keir Nuttall for the song 'Can’t Shake It,' alongside Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore from Empire Of The Sun with 'Walking On A Dream.' And nominated for the first time in his 15 year career is The Living End’s Chris Cheney who penned 'White Noise.' With a 30,000 strong membership of eligible voters, the APRA SONG OF THE YEAR is the single, biggest peer voted music award in Australia.
In the BLUES AND ROOTS WORK OF THE YEAR category is first time nominee 8 Ball Aitken who is nominated for his composition Cowboy Movie while LIOR (along with co-writer Francois Tetaz) is included for Heal Me. The Waifs appear twice in this category with Stay (with co-writer Brett Canning) and sundirtwater. And Old Man River (aka Ohad Rein) is nominated along with co-writers Edo Kahn and Nadav Kahn for the joyous Sunshine.
The COUNTRY WORK OF THE YEAR category features a collection of new and established songwriters including Adam Brand (with co-writer Sam Hawksley and Don Walker for Khe Sanh) for 'Coming From.' First time nominee Amber Lawrence appears with her song 'Good Girls' and previous APRA Winner SARA STORER (with co-writer Boh Runga) is nominated for 'Long Live The Girls.' Adam Harvey with co-writer PHIL BUCKLE is nominated for 'I’m Doin’ Alright.' And making their 2nd appearance on the 2009 nominees list is Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson for 'Rattlin’ Bones.' This brings Kasey Chambers’ overall tally for the APRA Music Awards to an astonishing 20 nominations.
The category of JAZZ WORK OF THE YEAR features nominations by Australian jazz legend and accomplished screen composer Paul Grabowsky ('Raindrop'), and APRA debuts from Elissa Goodrich ('Beyond Both Worlds'), Clare Shannon ('Sailing Day') and Joe Chindamo ('Moments and Eternities' and 'Something Will Come To Light').
The APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors decide the celebrated Songwriter of the Year award and the Ted Albert Award For Outstanding Services to Australian Music. Previous recipients of these prestigious awards include Daniel Johns (2008 APRA Music Award Songwriter of the Year recipients), Bernard Fanning and Neil Finn and Roger Davies (2008 APRA Music Award recipient of Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music), Michael Chugg, Michael McMartin, Don Burrows, and Angus and Malcolm Young.
The APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors also decide the Breakthrough Songwriter Award, which recognises emerging songwriter talent.
The 2009 APRA Music Awards will be hosted by Jonathan Biggins and will feature live performances and special guest presenters. The event will also be captured by subscription television partner MAX for a special that will be broadcast exclusively on MAX, on Sunday 5th July at 8.30pm. MAX is available on FOXTEL and AUSTAR.
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