Country music award finalists announced

Country music is in the spotlight as NZ Music Month gets underway with the announcement of the finalists for the RIANZ Best Country Music Album of 2009 and the APRA Best Country Song of the year.

Both awards are to be presented at the New Zealand Country Music Awards on May 29 in Gore.

Finalists for the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) Best Country Music Album Tui are Annette & Kim for “Something Between Us”, Kylie Austin for “When It Rains” and Tami Neilson for “Red Dirt Angel”.

Tami Neilson is also a finalist for the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Best Country Song Award for “Cry Myself To Sleep”, the first single from her debut album released in February 2009.

The other two finalists vying for the best song are Kayla Mahon, Taylor Cairns and Andrea Cruickshank for “Facing The World” and Jess Chambers for “Stringing Me Along”.

The former is from “The Heartleys” album performed by The Heartleys (Kayla and Taylor). “Stringing Me Along” is performed by Jess Chambers and other artists at The Woolshed Sessions from the album of the same name.

Annette (Hawkins) and Kim (Copedo) are solo artists in their own right who began singing together in 2000. While both have solo albums to their credit, “Something Between Us” is their 2008 debut recorded collaboration.

The title track is an original composition written by Kim while “Wake Up and Smell the Whiskey” from the album reached number 12 on the European Country Music Association Country Music Radio Chart Pan-European Top 100.

“When It Rains” is the debut album by Auckland-based Kylie Austin. Kylie has been performing for around 16 years and has had many successes in New Zealand, Australia and Norfolk Island. In 2004 She won the Gympie Muster Talent Search in Australia, in 2005 she graduated from the College of Country Music and in 2007 Kylie was named the Trans Tasman Entertainer of the Year on Norfolk Island.

Born in Canada and domiciled in Auckland, Tami Neilson tours New Zealand regularly and performs frequently around the Auckland area. TV appearances include three on Good Morning, as well as in an episode of Stars In Their Eyes and in TV advertising. She has featured regularly on radio and in the press.

The Heartleys are born and bred country musicians. Kayla and Taylor grew up together in small town Gore and in 2008 they won the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards. Andrea Cruickshank is a singer, songwriter, musician and artist based in Queenstown and worked with Kayla and Taylor to create, “Facing The World”, a song that signifies their music journey together.

Wellington’s Jess Chambers is a solo artist whose song “Stringing Me Along” features on The Woolshed Sessions recorded in a Takaka woolshed with a unique collection of NZ musicians and songwriters.

The Woolshed Sessions music, featuring fresh songs written by various members of the collective, was captured on an improvised recording set-up with everyone singing and playing together.

New Zealand Music Awards spokesperson Campbell Smith says once again the finalists list demonstrates the incredible depth and talent of the New Zealand Country Music scene.

“It’s a great scene in Gore and we love being part of it and presenting the Country Album of the Year Tui in the presence of the nation’s biggest country fans.”

Ant Healey, Director of New Zealand Operations for APRA says: “Like all great country music, these songs are full of heart and soul. During the week-long celebration, Gore becomes the centre of country music in New Zealand and APRA is pleased to be able to pay tribute to New Zealand's top songwriting talent at the awards.”

Attracting more than 5,000 country music fans during the festival, Gore’s Gold Guitar week is in its 36th year. For more information visit: www.goldguitars.co.nz  

About RIANZ: The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Inc (RIANZ) is a non-profit organisation representing major and independent record producers, distributors and recording artists throughout New Zealand. RIANZ works to protect the rights and promote the interests of creative people involved in the New Zealand recording industry. www.rianz.org.nz  

About APRA: The Australasian Performing Right Association Limited is a non-profit service organisation, established in 1926, administering the rights of the world’s songwriters, composers and publishers in New Zealand and Australia. APRA represents more than 50,000 Australasian members and more than two million writers and publishers throughout the world under reciprocal, bilateral contracts with similar overseas service organisations. APRA administers the Performing Rights in music: that is, the right of performance in public and communication to the public. www.apra.co.nz