The Taite Music Prize which recognises ''outstanding creativity'' of New Zealand-made albums was announced on Wednesday (15 April 2015).
In its sixth year the prize recognises ''outstanding creativity'' across an entire album.
The prize is named after veteran Kiwi music journalist Dylan Taite, who passed away in 2003, known for his left-of-centre style and unique journalistic output.
In an age of shuffle tracks and big-hitting singles, recognising creativity across an entire album is relatively rare, and precisely what the Taite Prize seeks to do.
A lengthy list of 65 nominations, made by record labels of all sizes across the country, has been whittled down to just ten finalists.
The winner receives a cash prize of $10,000, as well as studio recording time and a year's supply of Red Bull.
Lorde's Pure Heroine nabbed the 2014 grand prize.
2015 nominees
- @peace - @peace and the Plutonian Noise Symphony (Young, Gifted and Broke)
- Aldous Harding - 'Aldous Harding' (Lyttleton Records/Flying Out)
- Delaney Davidson - 'Swim Down Low' (Outside Inside)
- Electric Wire Hustle - 'Love Can Prevail' (EWH Ltd./Okayplayer Records)
- Grayson Gilmour - 'Infinite Life!' (Flying Nun Records)
- Jakob - 'Sines' (ShootThe Freak)
- Kimbra - 'The Golden Echo' (Warner Brothers Records)
- Tiny Ruins - 'Brightly Painted One' (Arch Hill Recordings/Spunk Records)
- Mulholland - 'Stop & Start Again' (Mulholland)
- Tami Neilson - 'Dynamite!' (Neilson Records)
