Latest news with #MelParsons
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The close cultural favourites of indie country star Mel Parsons
'Post High Slide' from Ohinehou Lyttleton based singer songwriter Mel Parsons is one of several new songs released ahead of a tour of Aotearoa and Australia that kicks off Sunday March 25 in Poneke Wellington. That's just ahead of the Aotearoa Music Awards, where Parson's sixth album Sabotage is nominated for Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau Album of the Year. And Mel's song '5432', from that album, has also just been announced as a finalist for 2025 APRA Best Country Music Song. Mel Parsons joins Culture 101 for 'Fast Favourites'. They include an annual music festival she can walk to - Port Noise - and a fellow artist who also grew up in Westport, Becky Manawatu. The cover artwork for Sabotage features paintings by a favourite painter, Emma Hercus (also up for an AMA for that artwork). Mel's "Instagram go-to when she needs a laugh" meanwhile is Tom Sainsbury. As for music: she's looking forward to Jeff Parsnips' album for children in June, and Otautahi's Mim Jensen is her pick of emerging musicians who are going to make an impact.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Finalists Announced For Gore's MLT Songwriting Award
Legends, Locals and First Timers Alongside the APRA Best Country Music Song Awards, the MLT Songwriting Award, acknowledges unreleased songs from writers from New Zealand and Australia, presented by the NZ Songwriters Trust. The 2025 MLT Songwriting Award finalists are: ' A Short Time' written by ' Clean Slate ' written by Mel Parsons ' Ease ' written by Maegan Mitchell ' Get To Know My Heart ' written by Pat McDonald ' Gossamer Wings ' written by Mal McCallum 'Hole In My Heart ' written by Rowdys Rose ' Off Switch' written by Lachie Hayes ' Orbit ' written by Liv Cochrane and Katie Thompson ' The View From Here ' written by Barry Saunders ' Wā/Time ' written by Nicola Mitchell, Em-Hayley Walker & Byllie-Jean Zeta The Country Music Honours at the St James Theatre are presented by the volunteers of the NZ Songwriter's Trust and are a red-carpet event that marks the opening of Gore's Bayleys Tussock Country Music Festival; the 10-day country music festival with over 60 events on offer this year. Festival-goers can look forward to a glamorous evening filled with live performances by finalists, including very special guest Tami Neilson – fresh of the back of touring in the United States with Willie Nelson and the presentation of these very special awards. NZ Songwriters Trust also welcome ' Going Local ' to Gore, presented by Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ). Going Local is a free event featuring a Q&A panel with industry professionals, designed to connect and educate musicians of all ages and experience levels. The event is held nationwide, but this marks the event's first-ever stop in Gore. When: Saturday May 24th, 12.00pm - 1.00pm Gore's 2025 Going Local Panel will include guest speakers:
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.'
