Former Taupō student Louisa Williamson, recognised with the Best Jazz Artist award at the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards in late May, says she is now excited to be in London to “see where the music takes me.”
Williamson missed attending the awards on May 28 at Auckland’s Civic Theatre having already headed to the United Kingdom.
She had attended over the last few years, she says “as a performer or because I was involved in a finalist’s project, (so it) was sad because it’s an amazing night celebrating New Zealand music."
LakeFM caught up with Williamson via email over the weekend.
“I was watching the livestream from my auntie’s house in the UK, so it was morning for me, and that day happened to be the day I travelled down to London with all of my things to officially move there.
“It was a pretty exciting day. It felt nice to be acknowledged for my own project in a room full of New Zealand musicians, a lot of whom I have worked for on their projects.”
Critics say the accolade highlights Williamson’s contributions in the genre over several years and helps testify to her status as a leading figure in New Zealand’s contemporary music scene. She released ‘Groundwork’, the album for which she won the award, in April 2025.
“After spending years making it with my good friends and long-time collaborators Daniel Hayles, Callum Allardice, Johnny Lawrence and Cory Champion. We also released an album for Cory in the same three-day session we recorded ‘Groundwork’, and his album was also a finalist for this award.”
‘Groundwork’ collects eight pieces Williamson wrote and composed between 2016 and 2024 while she was finding her place within New Zealand’s contemporary jazz, soul, funk, and popular music communities.
The saxophone and flute player who has performed live and recorded with L.A.B., Trinity Roots, Dawn Diver, Bret McKenzie Band, AJA, MĀ, Rob Ruha, Clear Path Ensemble, The Rodger Fox Big Band, Other Futures Big Band, Lord Echo and Louis Baker, says there a lot of opportunities and places to play in London.
