Lorde, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Swingers, win at NZ’s Silver Scrolls

Lorde, Ruban and Kody Nielson of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Swingers and Stan Walker were among the winners at the 2015 APRA Silver Scroll awards at Auckland’s Vector Arena.

Ruban and Kody Nielson scored the major Silver Scroll for their co-penned psychedelic-pop song Multi-Love which was recorded by Ruban's band Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

Kody accepted the award as Ruban and UMO were away on tour in the UK. This was the first Silver Scroll win by the Nielsons (who played together in The Mint Chicks) although they have been nominated five times before.

The prestigious award was voted on by 10,000 APRA New Zealand members. Finalists in the award were Lorde’s Yellow Flicker Beat, Marlon Williams’ Dark Child, Mel Parsons’ Get Out Alive and Anthonie Tonnon’s Water Underground.

Also winning “the Lost Scroll” for 1981 went to The Swingers’ Counting The Beat, written by Phil Judd, Wayne Stevens and Mark Hough (Buster Stiggs). For some reason the Scroll was never announced in 1981. Counting The Beat was performed last night by Shayne Carter with an 18-piece orchestra. Hough admitted the band were surprised the song even became a hit. He quipped, "Just as well we didn't put a used by date on it," adding, "Counting The Beat is a NZ song, it belongs to you guys."

Both the 2015 and 1981 wins were published through Mushroom Music.

Lorde’s Royals, co-written with her producer Joel Little, took out Most Performed New Zealand Work Internationally. The pair were office so the trophy was picked up by her father Vic O'Connor.

Other wins were:

APRA Maioha Award: Stan Walker, Vince Harder and Troy Kingi for Aotearoa.

SOUNZ Contemporary Award: Chris Watson for Sing Songs Self.

APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film: Grayson Gilmour for Consent.

APRA Best Original Music in a Series: Tom McLeod for Girl vs. Boy (Season 3).

Most Performed New Zealand Work in New Zealand: Marlon Gerbes, Matiu Walters and Priese Board of Six60 for Special.

Veteran lap steel guitarist and songwriter Bill Sevesi was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. He received a standing ovation. He told the audience about the special place music had in his life. "Now I am 92 years old, legs are getting weak, eyes are getting dim, but I've still got my mind to put me on an ocean of music."

The Exponents’ Jordan Luck also paid tribute to the late Hello Sailor Graham Brazier, after which Delaney Davidson did a rendition of his solo hit Billy Bold.