Flume, Sia, D.D. Dumbo: APRA Awards reward out-of-the-box songwriters

Image: D.D. Dumbo (photo by Kristi Miller)

At a time when songwriters are pushed into the darkness – they are seldom credited on digital music services – last night’s winners at the APRA awards in Sydney showed why they should have been celebrated.

Much of their music is out-of-the-box, yet most managed to create a cult of fame and personality. Sia was the shining example of an Australian-bred songwriter creating for herself as well as global artists, while Grammy-winning Flume was one whose collaborations with global voices have come home to roost.

Flume won three awards, including Songwriter of the Year, having certainly proved his worth when his world tour last year proved a sell-out. 

D.D. Dumbo, from central Victoria, took out Song of the Year for Satan, from his Utopia Defeated album whose critical accolades included winning the J Award for Australian Album of the Year.

Troye Sivan, Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, was another who became a superstar through the might of YouTube. His channel has over 4 million subscribers, and his debut album Blue Neighbourhood exploded in charts around the world.

A quiet achiever worldwide success was Grammy winning multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Sam Dixon. He received the Overseas Recognition Award for production and songwriting credits including Adele, Sia, Christina Aguilera, Carly Rae Jepsen, Paloma Faith and Jack Savoretti. Dixon is also a Golden Globe nominee and his compositions have featured on multiple Grammy, BRIT, APRA and ARIA award winning albums.

The most poignant moment at the International Convention Centre Grand Ballroom last night was a tribute to Archie Roach who was the recipient of the Ted Albert Award For Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

Roach’s body of work has successfully managed to be both painfully personal and exhilaratingly universal in its themes. Last night, a tribute to Took The Children Away with Paul Kelly, Dan Sultan and A.B. Original flew up to the heavens and lead to a well-deserved standing ovation.

The APRA awards have long stood out for the imaginative interpretations of the song of the year nominees.

Kate Miller-Heidke gave the lyrical undertow of Tim Minchin’s Come Home (Cardinal Pell) with a fine-honed sense of theatre.

Busby Marou mixed a blues flavour to Amy Shark’s Adore; Brisbane singer-songwriter Cloves had an interesting take on D.D. Dumbo’s Satan; Julia Jacklin’s interpretation of Nick Cave’s Skeleton Key received a special cheer from the audience, while Holy Holy performed her song Pool Party.

Tkay Maidza opened the show with Simulation.

These interpretations, along with red carpet interviews and backstage interviews with Song of the Year nominees, will be transmitted on MAX in coming days.

2017 APRA Music Awards Winners: 

Song of the Year

Title: Satan

Artist: D.D Dumbo  

Writer: Oliver Perry          

Publisher: Mushroom Music

Songwriter of the Year

Harley Streten aka Flume

Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

Troye Sivan

Overseas Recognition Award

Sam Dixon

Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music

Archie Roach

Licensee of the Year Award

The Gov, aka The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, Adelaide

Most Played Australian Work

Title: Never Be Like You

Artist: Flume feat. Kai      

Writers: Harley Streten / Kai* / Geoffrey Earley^

Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic / Native Tongue Music Publishing obo Songs of SMP* / Warner/Chappell Music obo Artist 101^

Most Played Australian Work Overseas

Title: Riptide

Artist: Vance Joy

Writer: James Keogh

Publishers: Mushroom Music and WAU Publishing / Warner/Chappell Music

International Work of the Year

Title: Hello

Artist: Adele

Writers: Adele Adkins / Gregory Kurstin*

Publishers: Universal Music Publishing obo Melted Stone / Sony/ATV Music Publishing obo Kurstin Music*

Country Work of the Year

Title: Greatest Companion

Artist: Aleyce Simmonds  

Writer: Aleyce Simmonds      

Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Checked Label Services  

Blues & Roots Work of the Year

Title: The Pain

Artist: Robbie Miller  

Writers: Robbie Miller / Nathan Morrison  

Dance Work of the Year

Title: Never Be Like You

Artist: Flume feat. Kai      

Writers: Harley Streten / Kai* / Geoffrey Earley^

Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic / Native Tongue Music Publishing obo Songs of SMP* / Warner/Chappell Music obo Artist 101^

Rock Work of the Year

Title: I’d Go With You Anywhere

Artist: Birds of Tokyo  

Writers: Ian Berney / Ian Kenny / Glenn Sarangapany / Adam Spark / Adam Weston

Publishers: Mushroom Music

Pop Work of the Year

Title: Cheap Thrills  

Artist: Sia

Writers: Sia Furler / Gregory Kurstin*

Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Sony/ATV Music Publishing obo Kurstin Music*

Urban Work of the Year

Title: Papercuts

Artist: Illy feat. Vera Blue

Writers: Alasdair Murray / Mark Landon pka M-Phazes * / Thomas Macken^ / Celia Pavey~

Publishers: Mushroom Music obo WAU Publishing / Universal Music Publishing* / Native Tongue Music Publishing^ / Universal Music Publishing obo Canal Music~