Missy Higgins, Briggs, Nathan Cavaleri, Michael Szumowski, continue rock acts’ wins at Screen Music Awards

Singer-songwriter Missy Higgins, rapper and activist Briggs, hard rock guitarist Nathan Cavaleri and one-time Indecent Obsession keyboard player Michael Szumowski continued a tradition of rock musicians’ wins at the Screen Music Awards last night in Melbourne.

All four had their first wins in the medium, while Daniel Johns and Sarah Blasko failed to be recognised for their achievements. 

Higgins was one of the highlights of the night. Her ‘Torchlight’ took Best Original Song Composed for the Screen, for the Australian film Don’t Tell about the cover-up of church sex abuses and the legal changes on how to deal with these. 

“This goes straight into the pool room!” she quipped. 

However, her performance of the song, accompanied by her brother David Higgins who arranged the song, had the audience at the Recital Centre hushed and tearful. She told the guests how emotional it had been to write the song. 

Briggs composed the theme for Fox League Super Saturday with Justin Shave and Charlton Hill. It was named Best Television Theme. 

Briggs’ thanks included “the wife I don’t have yet!”

But he explained why the song also tapped deep-rooted emotions in him, reflected in a performance where he was joined by Shave and singer Caiti Baker. 

“I created this track as the theme for the Fox League channel – the song reflects the journey of the Indigenous players – who give so much excitement and leadership to the sport and community week in and week out, not just the specific Indigenous round.” 

Nathan Cavaleri took Best Music for an Advertisement composed with bassist and producer Lindsay Jehan for Good Mood Water: The Bad Choice. 

The one-time teen prodigy whose fans included Mark Knopfler and Tommy Emanuel, responded, “It’s always good to know that the work translates. Thanks for the love!” 

Michael Szumowski has more recently worked behind the scenes, as producer and Head of Creative/ A&R at Alberts (signing San Cisco, Montaigne and Josh Pyke) and this year joining Rumble Studios heading its new music supervision department

This year’s awards introduced the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award. It was won by one time Sports guitarist and songwriter Martin Armiger.

He was presented with the trophy by Brett Cottle, CEO of APRA AMCOS which organises the event with the AGSC (Australian Guild of Screen Composers). 

Armiger made a comparison to being “a servant of two masters”, music and the screen. As a child growing up to musician parents, he imagined how he could put his own music into the world of Jimi Hendrix and Igor Stravinsky.

During the Sports days, he wondered why “our generation’s music was never on the picture. 

He thanked his students, the “fresh young group of keen people coming in each year who keep it fun.”

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Feature Film Score of the Year

Jasper Jones by Antony Partos

Best Music for a Television Series or Serial

The Get Down by Elliott Wheeler (Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Aust) obo Twenty Fifteen Avenue Music)

Best Television Theme

Fox League Super Saturday by Briggs, Justin Shave and Charlton Hill (Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Aust) /Uncanny Valley

Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie

Barracuda by Bryony Marks (Kobalt Music Publishing (Aust) obo Lillipilli IP)

Best Original Song Composed for the Screen

‘Torchlight’ from Don’t Tell, by Missy Higgins

Best Music for a Documentary

Whiteley, by Ash Gibson Greig

Best Music for a Short Film

Last Tree Standing by Me-Lee Hay

Best Soundtrack Album

Alien: Covenant by Jed Kurzel (Sony/ATV/FOX Music obo TCF Music Publishing)

Best Music for Children’s Television

Bottersnikes & Gumbles: The Ugly Pageant by Michael Szumowski (BMG AM and Cheeky Little Media)

Best Music for an Advertisement

Good Mood Water: The Bad Choice by Lindsay Jehan and NathanCavaleri (Song Zu Publishing)

Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia 

Adam Gock and Dinesh Wicks

Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas

Neil Sutherland