The 10 finalists for the Taite Music Prize 2022 have been announced. We are proud to say that a mammoth 6 of those involve writers on the Native Tongue roster.

See below the list of our writers that have been nominated.

Reb Fountain – IRIS
Luke Buda – BUDA
French For Rabbits – The Overflow
Dianne Swann – The War On Peace Of Mind
Vera Ellen- It’s Your Birthday
Delaney Davidson also worked on Troy Kingi’s Black Sea Golden Ladder

We would like to wish all nominees the best of luck. The winner will be announced at a ceremony on Tuesday, April 20.

Vikki Thorn has been making music a long time. If you’re a fan of her band The Waifs, you’ll love her debut solo album ‘ThornBird’. But this is not a Waifs record.

With a box of songs, unplayed phone recordings and memories of ten years living in the wilds of Utah USA swirling in her head, Vikki needed a vehicle to fully realise these stories. And ThornBird was born.

‘ThornBird’ is Vikki Thorn’s story telling at its very best. From her experience of living in the canyons of the US, to the inspiring women she met along the way. There are songs about love and friendship and made with a band that just clicked.

Stream ThornBird here.

ThornBird is also heading out on tour across Australia this March and April. Full details here.

The follow-up to Mousey’s Silver Scroll nominated album Lemon Law has arrived.

The greatest strength of ‘My Friends’ is how well it straddles the line between fresh and familiar. These new songs are inspired by friendships with friends – The good and the bad.

This record rewards repeated listens, as you focus in on every expertly crafted element that comprise the listening experience.

Stream My Friends here.

Mousey is touring Aotearoa this April. Full details here.

The legendary frontman of Blam Blam Blam, Front Lawn and Mutton Birds, and APRA Silver Scroll Award winner Don McGlashan releases his much anticipated new album, ‘Bright November Morning’ – his first since the renowned ‘Lucky Stars’ in 2015.

Recorded in Auckland, Lyttelton and Vancouver with the formidably talented The Others: Shayne P Carter (Dimmer, Straitjacket Fits) on guitar, James Duncan (Dimmer, SJD) on bass and Chris O’Connor (Phoenix Foundation, SJD) on drums, with cameos from The Beths, Anita Clark (Motte), Emily Fairlight and Hollie Smith.

The album has all the usual brilliant McGlashan touches – from the detail-perfect narratives of local life to the beautiful melodies with detours into something noisier, and on to those infectious choruses.

‘Bright November Morning’ is an essential addition to Don McGlashan’s remarkable output.

Stream Bright November Morning here.

Die! Die! Die! have always blended the perfect concoction of powerful and infectious post-punk, noise pop, shoegaze, lo-fi and punk rock. This signature sound is prevalent on ‘This Is Not An Island Anymore’.

The long-running core team of guitarist/singer Andrew Wilson and the furious drumming of Michael Prain have been going strong since their formation as Die! Die! Die! back in 2003. In 2018, the band welcomed bassist Lachlan Anderson back into the band full time.

Their indispensable collection of records, and their intense and unflinching live show, continue to drive their connection with audiences across the globe. Both are a telling reminder of why Die! Die! Die! are one of the most enduring and unapologetic bands to ever emerge out of Aotearoa.

Stream This Is Not An Island Anymore here.

Native Tongue has today announced the signing of Christchurch songwriter Sarena Close (pka Mousey), coinciding with the news of her second album My Friends.

Her 2019 debut album Lemon Law marked a significant milestone for Mousey, and earned her a nomination at the 2019 APRA Silver Scrolls for breakout track, ‘Extreme Highs’. She was also announced as a finalist for the 2020 Auckland Live Best Independent Debut prize at the Taite Music Prize Awards (New Zealand’s equivalent of the Mercury or Polaris Prize).

Sarena Close said of the signing: “It’s already so obvious that the team at Native Tongue are invested and on board with all my goals for Mousey and as a songwriter! I’m especially looking forward to writing more for other artists, something that the team have already shown they’re keen to facilitate. I’m so excited to see what will happen in the future as we work together!

“As a fan from her first single release ‘Extreme Highs’ and the album Lemon Law, I’m thrilled to have Sarena aka Mousey join the Native Tongue roster. ‘The Bench’ is an example of Sarena’s outstanding songwriting abilities, and her forthcoming album further cements her status as an up and coming talent in Aotearoa.” added General Manager of Native Tongue New Zealand, Pennie Black.