The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) has announced the winners of the 2013 APRA Music Awards at the annual event, which honours songwriters and their publishers. Held this year at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, the list features a number of first time winners alongside a number of those lucky enough to be acknowledged again.

With two nominations in the coveted APRA Song of the Year category the odds were on their side. KEVIN PARKER, leader of psychedelic rock band TAME IMPALA has taken out the peer voted award with ‘Feels Like We Only Go Backwards’, the second single from the critically acclaimed album Lonerism. Their unique sound and hypnotic performances have inspired countless praise for the band from all corners of the world.

The hit song sprang from humble beginnings in KEVIN PARKER’s backyard when he was watering the garden and has now taken TAME IMPALA across the world to the U.S. where they are currently touring to fans that have embraced the band as we have at home.

The APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors has named the hugely talented wordsmith SIA, Songwriter of the Year. A creative force to be reckoned with and a successful songwriter in her own right, SIA’s collaborations with artists like Christina Aguilera, David Guetta, Hilltop Hoods, Rihanna and Flo Rida have solidified her as a bona-fide pop songwriting sensation in the world of contemporary music.

MATTHEW COLWELL (360) and KAELYN BEHR (Styalz Fuego) are the recipients of the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year award (also determined by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors). With his whip smart lyrics, MATTHEW COLWELL lit a firecracker in the Australian music scene when he made his debut.

His second album Falling and Flying has become one of the most exciting records in recent times. Working with close friend, collaborator and musical partner in crime KAELYN BEHR, the pair has flexed their joint songwriting skills and established themselves as a certified hit-making duo.

The full list of winners are below.

APRA 2013 Music Awards Winners

Song Of The Year
Feels Like We Only Go Backwards – Tame Impala
Writer: Kevin Parker
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L

Songwriter of the Year
Sia

Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music
The Seekers

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
Writers: Matthew Colwell (360)* and Kaelyn Behr (Styalz Fuego)
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd* and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L

Most Played Australian Work
Set It Off – Timomatic
Writers: Anthony Egizii / David Musumeci / Timomatic
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd

Country Work of the Year
Piece Of Me – The McClymonts
Writers: Samantha McClymont / Frank Myers*(BMI) / Lindsay Rimes
Publishers: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd / Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo Meleva Music*

Blues & Roots Work of the Year
Longtime – Ash Grunwald
Writers: Ash Grunwald / Colin O’Reilly
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd

Dance Work of the Year
In My Mind – Feenixpawl & Ivan Gough feat. Georgi Kay
Writers: Aden Forte / Ivan Gough* / Georgi Kay* / Joshua Soon
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L* / Sony/ATV Music Publ Allegro (AUST) P/L obo PeppermintBlue Publishing

Rock Work of the Year
My Gun – The Rubens
Writers: Scott Baldwin / Elliott Margin / Izaac Margin / Samuel Margin/ David Kahne* (BMI)
Publishers: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia P/L obo E Equals Music*

Pop Work of the Year
Set It Off – Timomatic
Writers: Anthony Egizii / David Musumeci / Timomatic
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd

International Work of the Year
Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
Writers: Tavish Crowe*(SOCAN) / Carly Rae Jepsen^(SOCAN) / Joshua Ramsay (SOCAN)
Publishers: Crowe Music Publishing* / Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Jepsen Music Publishing

Urban Work of the Year
I Love It – Hilltop Hoods feat. Sia
Writers: Barry Francis (DEBRIS) / Matthew Lambert (SUFFA) / Daniel Smith (PRESSURE) / Sia^
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L / EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo EMI Music Publishing Ltd^

Most Performed Work Overseas
Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye feat Kimbra
Publishers: J Albert and Son Pty Ltd obo Op Shop Songs Pty Ltd and Kobalt Music Publishing Australia P/L* / Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd^

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