This story is from Stuff, with photos for Ensemble by Becki Moss

The personal-turmoils-turned-music of rising star Vera Ellen has bagged the Wellingtonian the most prestigious prize at the Taite Music Awards 2024.

The annual ceremony, which celebrates the best New Zealand records of the past 12 months, took place at Auckland’s Q Theatre on Tuesday night with 300 of Aotearoa’s industry professionals in attendance.

Presented by 2023 winner Princess Chelsea, and Recorded Music NZ’s Nick Atkinson, Vera Ellen took home the ceremony’s main prize for her sophomore album Ideal Home Noise, and received a $12,500 cash prize for her work.

Earlier in the ceremony, Afro-Kiwi rapper Jujulipps was awarded the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut, for her EP Get That Shot.

Dubbed the First Lady of Aotearoa Hip-Hop, Teremoana Rapley received the Independent Spirit Award, recognising her long career in music through Moana and the Moahunters and her solo work, as well as her advocacy for Pasifika artists.

The 1991 compilation from Dunedin alt-rock band Look Blue Go Purple, defunct since 1987, was decorated as a classic album during the ceremony.

Songbroker Music Publishing’s Jan Hellriegel, who presented the Independent Music NZ Classic Record, said the band has never been more in demand for sync licensing - a music license granted by a copyright holder which allows a composition to be used in various forms of media. The all-female band’s music has been used by the likes of Converse and Thrasher Magazine in the past.

"Good music is timeless... There is something to be said about the authenticity and energy this wonderful band created - like a classic car, it’s become more valued with age,“ Hellriegel said.

The NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award was given to directors Cushla Dillon and Andrew Moore, for their work on King Loser, a music documentary on the legendary 90s rock band. NZ On Air Head of Music, Teresa Patterson, said the documentary “plays a part - alongside more mainstream day-to-day music journalism - in helping to tell the many and varied stories within our music industry.”

Photographer Becki Moss went along to the awards to capture some of the creative ensembles.