Homegrown talent lights up London’s APRA Music Awards

Jed Kurzel, Cloves, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis were among those Aussies honoured at the inaugural London Global APRA Music Awards, on a night where Jordain Rakei won Songwriter of the Year.

The night celebrated UK and Europe-based Australian talent at the Ham Yard Hotel Soho, with the night hosted by Georgia Mooney of All Our Exes Live In Texas.

“For decades, our members have been heading to London and all over the UK as their first overseas destination when taking the big leap into an international career, and that’s expanded to Berlin, Amsterdam and all of Europe as Australian and New Zealand songwriters achieve unprecedented global success,” said APRA AMCOS chief executive Dean Ormston on the night.

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year was presented by London-based APRA AMCOS Ambassadors Juanita Stein and Alexander Burnett, and went to singer-songwriter Cloves (aka Kaity Dunstan).

Cloves released her debut album One Big Nothing last year and toured through Europe off the back of the release.

Jed Kurzel, former frontman of Sydney blues-rock band The Mess Hall, was presented the Overseas Recognition Award for his work on music and scores for Snowtown, Assasin’s Creed, Alien: Covenant, and True History of the Kelly Gang. The gong was presented by Josef Salvat.

Jed Kurzel / by Norman Peltier

Legends of Australian songwriter Nick Cave & Warren Ellis took home the gong for Distinguished Services, presented by Georgie Vjestica of The Bad Seeds, who accepted the award on their behalf.

“I want to thank you, Warren, for opening up the idea of songwriting for me,” said Cave in an acceptance video.

“When you step into a song with Warren Ellis, you really don’t know where it’s going to lead, and for me that’s been enormously helpful.”

Ellis added; “You’ve always pushed me to go as far as I wanted to. No one has ever said ‘no’ – and you in particular never said ‘no’ – and I think it’s just allowed us to keep exploring everything, whether it’s songs, whether it’s scores, whether it’s whatever.”

As mentioned, the big one for Songwriter of the Year went to London resident Joran Rakei who was born in New Zealand and raised Down Under, with the award presented by Loyle Carner.

It was a special moment of the pair, with Rakei having co-writes and a feature on Carner’s #3 UK album Not Waving, But Drowning.

Rakei also released his debut album Origin and was nominated for Best Independent Album at the AIM Independent Music Awards.

“This event is about celebrating our members living and working in the UK and Europe, and also about going back home and sharing the stories of all your achievements,” said Ormston on the night.

Performers across the evening included Chiara Hunter and Mali-Koa, who performed ‘Mad World,’ co-written by Rakei, Kwabena Adjepong and Christopher Taylor.

The London awards were the final step of a whirlwind trip by APRA AMCOS, following ceremonies in Los Angeles and Nashville recently.