APRA Award Nominations Announced

The nominations are in for this year’s Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Awards, and it looks like newcomers could take home many of this year’s gongs.

The Temper Trap, Lisa Mitchell, and the lads from Empire of the Sun will be hoping to snare their first awards at the ceremony on June 21.

Here are all the nominations, and my fearless and probably completely incorrect predictions!

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

• Temper Trap
• Empire of the Sun
• Jessica Mauboy
• Daniel Merriweather
• Lisa Mitchell

Prediction: I’m picking Lisa Mitchell purely out of sentimentality. She’s shown such promise at such an early age, and I’d love to see it rewarded.

Most Played Australian Work

• “Been Waiting” – Jessica Mauboy (Jessica Mauboy/Israel Cruz/Craig Hardy)
• “Foreign Land” – Eskimo Joe (Stuart MacLeod/Joel Quartermain/Steve Parkin/Kav Temperley)
• “Hey Boys and Girls (Truth of the World part 2)” – Evermore (Jon Hume/Daniel Hume)
• “Raise The Alarm” – The Living End (Chris Cheney)
• “She’s a Genius” – Jet (Chris Cester)

Prediction: “Foreign Land” seemed to be everywhere last year, yet I still didn’t seem to get sick of it. It’s my pick.

International Work of the Year

• “Gives You Hell” – All American Rejects (Tyson Ritter/Nick Wheeler
• “Love Story” – Taylor Swift
• “Second Chance” – Shinedown (Dave Bassett/Brent Smith)
• “Sober” – Pink (Floyd Hills/Alecia Moore/Kara Dioguardi/Marcella Araica)
• “You Found Me” – The Fray (Joseph King/Isaac Slade)

Prediction: It’s hard to pick against Taylor Swift, but purely based on the song I’m going to tip The Fray for an upset.

Country Work of the Year

• “Big Big Love” – Troy Cassar-Daley
• “Come Home” – Brad Cole
• “Hell of a Ride” – Adam Brand (Adam Brand/Danny Meadows)
• “I Ain’t That Guy” – Steve Forde (Steve Forde/Danny Meadows)
• “Kick It Up” – The McClymonts (Brooke McClymont/Trey Bruce)

Prediction: I’ve got to admit that country music isn’t really my area of specialty, but it’s hard to go past the staying power of Troy Cassar-Daley.

Blues and Roots Work of the Year

• “Breakout” – Ash Grunwald (Ashley Groenewald/Pip Norman)
• “Bring Back the Fire” – Bonjah (Daniel Chisholm/ Regan Lethbridge/James Majernik/David Morgan/Glenn Mossop)
• “Can’t Help Myself” – The Bamboos (Lance Ferguson/Daniel Farrugia/Benedict Chijioke)
• “Fly” – Bonjah (Daniel Chisholm/ Regan Lethbridge/James Majernik/David Morgan/Glenn Mossop)
• “Hold On” – James Grehan

Prediction: Bonjah should be a big chance with two nominations, but I expect Ash Grunwald to pip them at the post.

Urban Work of the Year

• “Festival Song” – PEZ (Perry Chapman/Matthew Colwell/Hailey Cramer/Stephen Mowat)
• “On Tour” – Bliss N Eso (Mark Landon/Max MacKinnon/Jonathan Notley)
• “Running Back” – Jessica Mauboy (Jessica Mauboy/Audius Mtawarira/Sean Mullins)
• “Spaceship” – Spaceship (Harley Webster/Robert Conley/Spencer Davies)
• “Still Standing” – Hilltop Hoods (Barry Francis/Matthew Lambert/ Daniel Smith/Henry Lawes)

Prediction: It seems strange to see Jessica Mauboy sitting in this category, although I guess urban is a pretty broad umbrella. She’s got some star power, but I don’t think she’ll topple the Hilltop Hoods.

Dance Work of the Year

• “16” – Sneaky Sound System (Angus McDonald /Connie Mitchell)
• “If I Know You” – The Presets (Julian Hamilton/Kim Moyes)
• “Release Me” – Zoe Badwi (Zoe Badwi/Grant Smillie/Ivan Gough/Colin Snape)
• “Talk Like That” – The Presets (Julian Hamilton/Kim Moyes)
• “Walking on a Dream” – Empire of the Sun (Nick Littlemore/Jonathan Sloan/Luke Steele)

Prediction: The Presets might have two nominations, but if the ARIAs taught me anything it’s that it’s dangerous to pick against Empire of the Sun.

Rock Work of the Year

• “Foreign Land” – Eskimo Joe (Stuart MacLeod/Joel Quartermain/Steve Parkin/Kav Temperley)
• “Hey Boys and Girls (Truth of the World part 2)” – Evermore (Jon Hume/Daniel Hume)
• “Raise The Alarm” – The Living End (Chris Cheney)
• “She’s a Genius” – Jet (Chris Cester)
• “White Noise” – The Living End (Chris Cheney)

Prediction: “Foreign Land” was a standout to me and I’d love to see the Eskimo Joe boys pick up a double.

Song of the Year

• “All I Want” – Sarah Blasko
• “Big Big Love” – Troy Cassar-Daley
• “Sweet Disposition” – Temper Trap (Abby Mandagi/Lorenzo Sillitto)
• “The Last Day on Earth” – Kate Miller-Heidke (Kate Miller-Heidke/Keir Nuttall)
• “We Are The People” – Empire of the Sun (Nick Littlemore/Jonathan Sloan/Luke Steele)

Prediction: You know what I said about not picking against Empire of the Sun? I’m going to do it. If “Sweet Disposition” doesn’t pick up this award there’s no justice.

Image source: Wikimedia