Benee thanks Kiwis for supporting new artists after taking out coveted 2020 APRA Silver Scroll Award

Benee, Joshua Fountain, and Djeisan Suskov join Dave Dobbyn and other Kiwi music royalty as winners of the coveted prize.
Benee, Joshua Fountain, and Djeisan Suskov join Dave Dobbyn and other Kiwi music royalty as winners of the coveted prize. Photo credit: Supplied / Getty Images.

Benee, Joshua Fountain, and Djeisan Suskov have been announced as the joint winners of the coveted APRA Silver Scroll Award for their hit 'Glitter'. 

It's the trio's first win following their second consecutive nomination with Benee and Fountain collaborating since Benee’s 2017 debut single 'Tough Guy', through to the trendy 'Supalonely'. 

The pair have now teamed up with Suskov who also worked on the double-platinum hit 'Soaked', as well as 'Glitter' and other tracks helping Benee gaining international traction with fans around the world. 

Benee, real name Stella Bennett, accepted the award presented by former winner Joel Little. 

"This is nuts. Thank you very much. This is crazy. I just want to say to all the other finalists, you guys are insane," she said in the video played on Wednesday. 

"Thank you so much to everyone who has listened to my music and supported the music that I’m making and the kind of music that I want to be making.

"The support that I’ve received over the past couple of years now has been insane, and I feel like everyone in New Zealand is so welcoming and supportive of new artists, which I think is very important, and it’s been a very great time for me, so thank you very much."

The Silver Scroll Award, which is voted for by APRA members, recognises excellence in songwriting.

Benee joins other Kiwi talent Aldous Harding, Marlon Williams, Thomas Oliver, Bic Runga, Scribe, P Money and Dave Dobbyn as a recipient. 

For the first time in the award's history, the ceremony was streamed online, adding another level of creativity for live performances of each Scroll nominee's songs covered by other Kiwi artists, picked by music director Julia Deans.

Benee was among nominees Nadia Reid, Troy Kingi, Reb Fountain and L.A.B.
Benee was among nominees Nadia Reid, Troy Kingi, Reb Fountain and L.A.B. Photo credit: Supplied.

Benee's 'Glitter' was executed with a unique touch by Delaney Davidson and The All Girl Big Band, Alien Weaponry took on Troy Kingi's 'Mighty Invader' while Neil MacLeod performed Nadia Reid's 'Get The Devil Out'. 

Disciple Pati impressed the room with Reb Fountain's 'Don’t You Know Who I Am' while Mousey provided a moving rendition of L.A.B.'s 'In The Air'. 

Musicians, industry alumni and guests celebrated by watching the virtual show at Auckland's Powerstation on Wednesday night. 

All 2020 APRA Silver Scroll winners:

  • APRA Silver Scroll Award: Stella Bennett, Joshua Fountain and Djeisan Suskov – 'Glitter' – performed by Benee 
  • APRA Maioha Award: Rob Ruha – 'Ka Mānu'
  • SOUNZ Contemporary Award – Te Tohu Auaha: Michael Norris – 'Mātauranga' 
  • APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award: Karl Steven – Come To Daddy
  • APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award: David Long – The Luminaries