exclusive: the winners of the srn awards (leaked 2023)(spoilers!!)
is it illegal to hack a radio stations computer network? asking for a friend.
(first) praise
This Saturday is the Student Radio Network Awards 2023 - a celebration by, and for, the alternative music community of New Zealand.
If you’re reading this you likely know about both the amount of artists here in Aotearoa whose impressive creative talents are hidden behind layers of cultural and institutional obscurity - and the SRN’s (95bFM, RadioActive, RDU, R1, Radio Control) whose thrive as champions of the local scene.
The SRN awards - a fairly new but successful addition to awards season - follow in the footsteps of the stations by taking local music seriously and giving our alternative artists the recognition they may find hard to come by in more commercial areas of the music industry.
(second) pain
I do have one small criticism - and I acknowledge its very much a ‘me' problem - the ‘favourite’ thing.
'Favourite Single’ ‘Favourite EP / Mixtape’. I hate it. It makes me cringe. Just call it best. The ‘Best Single’. Please.
I feel it plays into this lack of expectations thing we have for art here in Aotearoa. We are reticent to (publicly) judge the quality of art which contributes to the aimlessness of our culture - the lack of seriousness that art is given starts with ourselves.
I find New Zealanders are obsessed with what other people think and I wonder if that anxiety of stepping out of line (tall poppy syndrome) keeps us creatively boxed in.
Do we need to return to the bad old days of snark-era Pitchfork & The Corner single reviews? No - its a much nicer place now (publicly anyway) and encouragement is a good thing.
But I do think It’s a symbol of a rather deep problem within our culture that is holding us back from building on the amount of great work we are doing - there’s only one ‘favourite’ in each category in the end & it’s ok to acknowledge that.
With that out of the way I’m gonna share who I think should (not will) win come this Saturday!
(third) predictions
Te Tōtahi Toa (Favourite Single), i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ):
AJA - Feel It
Erny Belle - Island Time
Geneva AM - IHO
jam henderson - New Walls
Jujulipps - Airplane Mode
K M T P - 2:45 (Getting Old)
Model Home - Midnight Dragon, Garden
MOKOMOKAI - KUPE
Office Dog - Big Air
Yurt Party - Hypervigilante
It’s no surprise that I love the Office Dog record so its no surprise guitar loving white boy thinks the guitar song should win but honestly ‘Spiel’ is an addition to the modern pantheon of its genre imo.
This album is an amazing record of the Dunedin guitar scene from the last 15 years (one of the best scenes in guitar music across that time) and presents an offensively raw and energetic sounding sonic package lead by engineer and producer De Stevens (Marlins Dreaming).
I do think ‘Gleam’ was the stronger single (and video to boot) but ‘Big Air’ could be the start of a long night of acceptance speeches for the socially anxious threesome.
Te Tohu Hopunga Puoro Mariu (Favourite EP / Mixtape), i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Recorded Music NZ:
Babe Martin - The Versoix EP
Big Fresh Collective - Footmahi 2023
Estère - Mākara Peak
GTKB - Spin
Haz & Miloux - Brunette
morris street network - felt cute might delete
Neil Macleod - We Have Known Lost Days (Remixed)
Sofia Machray - Language of Flowers
T.G. Shand - Cinnamon
Welcomer - Welcomer
Shout out to Logan ‘Goose Garden’ McAllister (Macho Macho / Sleeping Village / Blunt Dog) for sending GTKB my way because it’s been a lowkey sleeper in my library the whole year.
Its relaxed melodic take on emo and indie garage with naturalistic recording and progressive arrangements makes it a cornerstone for what I deem a developing musical identity within Aotearoa guitar music. It’s patient, evocative and understated all at once - the little EP that could.
Shout-outs also due for Welcomer who fit a lot of the same vibes as GTKB and Footmahi 2023 for its fantastic and unhinged capital F for FUN.
Te Tohu Kohinga Mariu (Favourite Album), i kawea mai ki a koutou nā APRA AMCOS NZ:
Alphabethead & Young Gho$t - Bad Taste 2
Clementine Valentine - The Coin That Broke the Fountain Floor
deepState - Dreams
i.e. crazy - Country Justice
Office Dog - Spiel
Ripship - Fearsome Engine
Soft Plastics - Saturn Return
Vera Ellen - Ideal Home Noise
Violet Hirst - Donegal
Womb - Dreaming of the Future Again
I know I’ve picked two albums, but its my newsletter & I’ll do what I want. My heart thinks ‘Spiel’ for all the reasons I covered above - Office Dog make the music that I have, and always will, love the most.
My head however says ‘Country Justice’ by i.e. crazy. This record is unique, enchanting and uncomfortable - a masterful weaving together of textures, field recordings and moods with mature songwriting and just the right amount of melody sprinkled throughout.
It’s an achievement in mood-crafting applied to storytelling and a definite must listen from me.
Shout-out to Violet Hirst who made a beguiling record with an incredible amount of depth throughout, & to both the Softies and Vera Ellen for making records that I can play on a road trip with my family without them complaining.
Te Tohu Kaipuoro Toa (Favourite Solo Act), i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Irirangi Te Motu (NZ On Air):
deepState
Erny Belle
Hybrid Rose
Jujulipps
K M T P
Pickle Darling
Sofia Machray
T.G. Shand
Vera Ellen
WET MOUTH
In many ways its been Vera Ellens year - a universally loved album in ‘Ideal Home Noise’ out on a beloved record label (Flying Nun) with equal recognition from both the alternative and commercial communities. Vera is a star for our modern age, vulnerable, honest and brave musically and publicly.
A Night With Vera Ellen was a highlight of my year and hearing the songs from ‘IHN’ in that stripped back context only cemented how accomplished Vera has become at songwriting.
It will be interesting how they react to the ‘next big thing’ pressure that can complicate the career of so many but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Vera Ellen star rise on its own unique trajectory.
Te Rōpū Mariu (Favourite Group), i kawea mai ki a koutou nā The Tuning Fork & San Fran:
Clementine Valentine
Grecco Romank
Half/Time
Model Home
Office Dog
Revulva
Ringlets
RIOT GULL
Soft Plastics
Wellness
This was the hardest category for me. Office Dog & Ringlets are personal favourites and so incredibly up my alley its awkwardly intimate. Revulva put on one of the best party sets I’ve seen and should be playing at sundown for every festival in Aotearoa this year. Soft Plastics are an international market-ready band and should be touring EU / USA already.
But the best group has to be Grecco Romank because no one does it quite like Grecco Romank.
They’ve been a mercurial force of nature for some time now - I’ve watched friends and strangers alike go from completely ignorant to enraptured and obsessed within a couple of songs. Their shows are SHOWS. Their music is a heady mix of aesthetics and animalistic groove. It’s a tightrope of pretension and authenticity that I find unbelievably satisfying.
shout-out to the snubbed
I’ll be conducting my own little end-of-year lists / awards where no doubt a few different names will being popping up but I thought it also important to do some shout-outs here as well.
The Big Pharma record ‘Gone Phishing’ has gone criminally under the radar. No ‘Sever’ by Ringlets in ‘Favourite Single’ must be an admin mistake - the same goes for ‘My Greatest Achievement’ by Salt Water Criminals.
I cant believe there is no Guardian Singles, they put out a great indie guitar record called ‘Feed Me To The Doves’ and toured it across the country. I thought the latest Dictaphone Blues EP was great and I’m still waiting for Eddie Castelow to get the recognition he deserves.
Watch this space I guess . . . .