Latest news with #HollyArrowsmith
RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Holly Arrowsmith wins Best Country Music Song
music national 41 minutes ago Last night the APRA Country Music Honours were held in Gore, bringing the country's - best country crooners under one roof. The award for the Best-Country-Music-Song was awarded to singer/songwriter Holly Arrowsmith for her song Blue Dreams. The track delves into life as a first-time parent, surviving those early days of chronic exhaustion while managing the burden of responsibility and bringing life into such a turbulent world. Holly speaks to Mihi Forbes.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Finalists Announced For 2025 Apra Best Country Music Song
Celebrating the best in Aotearoa country music APRA AMCOS NZ are pleased to announce the 2025 APRA Best Country Music Song award finalists, with the winner to be presented at the Country Music Honours in Gore on Friday 23 May. ' 5432 ' written and performed by Mel Parsons ' Blue Dreams ' written and performed by Holly Arrowsmith ' Borrow My Boots ' written and performed by Tami Neilson, Ashley McBryde, and Shelly Fairchild, featuring Grace Bowers Multi award-winning Mel Parsons is one of New Zealand's most established songwriting stars with a dedicated fan base across six records and countless tours. Having won the MLT Songwriting Award in 2024 with ' Hardest Thing ', Parsons returns to Gore with ' 5432 ', an expression of love and quiet hope above gnawing self-doubt. With a soaring Crosby-Stills-Nash style vocal harmony in the chorus, the song explores the common experience of artists – the inner battle between anxiety and being able to produce work. Having toured with Crowded House in 2024, her latest album Sabotage saw her a finalist for the prestigious Taite Music Prize and 2025 Aotearoa Music Award finalist for Album of the Year and Best Folk Artist. Mel celebrates her latest single and video ' Post High Slide ' with a run of shows through Aotearoa and Australia in June. 2024 APRA Best Country Song Award winner for ' Desert Dove ', Holly Arrowsmith returns to the finalist with the title track from the album ' Blue Dreams '. A leader in New Zealand's contemporary Folk, Alt-Country and Americana movement, Arrowsmith was a finalist for the coveted Taite Music Prize while the album also sees her with a finalist nod at the upcoming Aotearoa Music Awards for Best Folk Artist. The moving title track ' Blue Dreams ' delves into life as a first-time parent, surviving those early days of chronic exhaustion while managing the huge burden of responsibility, bringing life into such a turbulent world. Showing a real domestic scene, not a glorified one; the often-invisible work of Mothers, especially. Those messy, imperfect, sometimes lonely, tender and mundane days with your beautiful baby, time in suspension – for a time. Tami Neilson is no stranger to awards, having won this award five times since 2014, alongside multiple Aotearoa Music Awards, an APRA Silver Scroll and chart-topping success. Fresh off the back of a tour with Willie Nelson, her next studio album ' Neon Cowgirl ' will be released 11th July, followed by US tour supports for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. Nominated track ' Borrow My Boots ', out 15 May, was co-written long-distance with US country stars Ashley McBryce and powerhouse songwriter Shelly Fairchild after Neilson's experiences of being lifted up and encouraged by her musical peers in the US; in Tami's words that's how you say, 'Hey Sister, you can borrow my boots'. Ant Healey of APRA AMCOS says 'These songs speak with honesty, power, and heart—capturing the stories that connect us all. Each songwriter offers a perspective that is both deeply personal and reminds us of the strength found in community. It's an honour to recognise such exceptional songwriting talent.'
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Apra Best Country Music Song award finalists named
Holly Arrowsmith. Photo: Si Moore The finalists have been announced for the Apra Best Country Music Song award, with the winner to be announced at the Country Music Honours in Gore on May 23. The finalists are: 5432 written and performed by Mel Parsons; Blue Dreams written and performed by Holly Arrowsmith; Borrow My Boots written and performed by Tami Neilson, Ashley McBryde and Shelly Fairchild, featuring Grace Bowers. Parsons won the MLT Songwriting Award last year with Hardest Thing. She returned to Gore with her nominated song, an expression of love and quiet hope above gnawing self-doubt. Having toured with Crowded House last year, her latest album Sabotage saw her a finalist for the Taite Music Prize and Aotearoa Music Award finalist for Album of the Year and Best Folk Artist. Last year's Apra Best Country Song Award winner for Desert Dove, Arrowsmith returns as a finalist with the title track from the album Blue Dreams. She is a leader in New Zealand's contemporary folk, alt-country and Americana movement, a finalist for the Taite Music Prize and for the upcoming Aotearoa Music Awards for Best Folk Artist. Blue Dreams delves into life as a first-time parent. Neilson is no stranger to awards, having won this award five times since 2014, alongside multiple Aotearoa Music Awards, an Apra Silver Scroll and chart-topping success. Fresh off the back of a tour with Willie Nelson, her next studio album Neon Cowgirl will be released on July 11, followed by US tour supports for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. Borrow My Boots was co-written long-distance with US country stars Ashley McBryce and Shelly Fairchild after Neilson's experiences of being lifted up and encouraged by her musical peers in the US. Apra head of New Zealand operations Anthony Healey said the songs spoke with honesty, power and heart. — APL
