Jacob. Photo: Unknown
Jakob, the post-rock instrumental act out of Hawke’s Bay, have won the Taite Music Prize for their album Sines.
The band win a cash prize of $10,000, to spend as they wish, along with recording time at Red Bull Studios.
The Taite is now in its sixth year and previous winners include Lorde, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, SJD, Ladi6 and Lawrence Arabia.
The award, which aims “to recognise outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained on one album”, was named after the late Dylan Taite, one of New Zealand’s most renowned music journalists.
The winner is decided by a panel of industry judges and this year, finalists for the prize included Grayson Gilmour, Kimbra, Tiny Ruins, Mulholland, Tami Neilson, Electric Wire Hustle, Delaney Davidson, Aldous Harding and @Peace.
It wasn’t a straightforward process for Jakob to get the album released, with the band encountering endless challenges during the recording process. All three members of the band suffered hand injuries that left them unable to play, and the band ended up mixing most of the record themselves after running out of money.
Jacob band member Jeff Boyle told The Wireless that they had a clear vision for how they wanted the album to sound and had to press on despite the setbacks.
“Ironically the fact that we were forced to split the recording of this album over multiple studios and long periods of time, meant that the album ended up quite eclectic and dynamic, which is what our original vision was.”
READ: Jacob discuss their winning album, Sines
Describing the record, Music 101’s Kirsten Johnstone said Sines was “a surprisingly coherent listen, full of brutal bass riffs, sweeping melancholic strings, and evocative peaks and troughs. Sines is a fitting title - it reflects the undulating sound of Jakob, as well as the rollercoaster ride the band have had getting it out.”
Also presented at the ceremony was the Independent Music NZ Classic Record, which acknowledges “New Zealand’s rich history of making fine albums that continue to inspire us and define who we are.” This year the judging panel gave a nod to Herbs and their 1981 album What’s Be Happen?
WATCH: Jakob record 'Harmonia' at Roundhead Studios
