THE VODAFONE PACIFIC MUSIC AWARDS FINALISTS (2017): The envelopes please . . .

The finalists for the 2017 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards have been announced and the awards – now in their 13th year – include a wide range of new artists and established legends.

As you may see below, there are 18 finalists across 11 categories representing a strong line-up of Pacific artists set to be honoured at the awards ceremony on 1 June at the Vodafone Events Centre.

Disney blockbuster movie Moana took Pacific music to the world and grossed over $600 million internationally. Its soundtrack featured Vodafone Pacific Music Awards finalists Opetaia Foa’i, Olivia Foa’i,Vai Mahina/Sulata Foa’i-Amiatu and Matthew Ineleo.

Breakthrough artist Kings is a finalist in five categories including Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist, NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, MAINZ Best Producer and Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album for KINGS EP. Kings is also up for APRA Best Pacific Song for ‘Don’t Worry ‘Bout It’, which broke the Official New Zealand Singles Chart record with 32 weeks at #1.

After a string of success off the back of her latest album Brown Girl, Aaradhna is centre stage again as a finalist for four Vodafone Pacific Music Awards: Virgin Australia Best Pacific Female Artist, NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video, Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album, and APRA Best Pacific Song.

Local reggae group Three Houses Down are finalists for three awards, including Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist and Radio 531PI Best Pacific Group, as well as NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video for their latest single ‘Love & Affection’ featuring General Fiyah.

Other nominees include Onehunga hip hop crew SWIDT (Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist, MAINZ Best Producer), Unity Pacific (Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album, Radio 531PI Best Pacific Group) and rapper Savage (NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist).

The winner of the Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album category is presented with a Tui and recognised at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards later this year.

The Vodafone Pacific Music Awards finalists are . . .

Virgin Australia Best Pacific Female Artist Award:

Aaradhna – Brown Girl

La Coco – Love & Other Things

Olivia Foa’i – ‘Tulou Tagaloa’

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist Award:

KINGS – KINGS EP

Savage – ‘Zooby Doo’

Tommy Nee – Colorblind

Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist Award:

KINGS – KINGS EP

SWIDT – SWIDT vs EVERYBODY

Three Houses Down feat. General Fiyah – ‘Love & Affection’

Radio 531pi Best Pacific Group Award:

Three Houses Down feat. General Fiyah – ‘Love & Affection’

Tomorrow People – ‘Writings on the Wall’

Unity Pacific – Blackbirder Dread

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video Award:

Aaradhna – ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ (Directed by Sophie Findlay)

Parri$ – ‘Friday’ (Directed by Parris Goebel)

Three Houses Down feat. General Fiyah – ‘Love & Affection’ (Directed by Samson Rambo)

APRA Best Pacific Song Award:

Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’ (Written by Aaradhna Patel)

KINGS – ‘Don’t Worry Bout’ It’ (Written by Kings)

Opetaia Foa’i – ‘We Know The Way’ (Written by Opetaia Foa’i and Lin-Manuel Miranda)

SunPix Best Pacific Language Award:

Annie Grace – ‘Loimata o le Fiafia’

Olivia Foa’i – ‘Tulou Tagaloa’

Vai Mahina/Sulata Foa’i-Amiatu, Matthew Ineleo – ‘An Innocent Warrior’

Best Pacific Gospel Artist Award:

Annie Grace – ‘Unchangeable Love’

La Coco – Love & Other Things

Revere – ‘Groove Thing’

Flava Best International Pacific Artist Award:

J Boog – Rose Petals

Kylie Auldist – Family Tree

CRSB – Evolution of Love

Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album Award:

Aaradhna – Brown Girl

KINGS – KINGS EP

Unity Pacific – Blackbirder Dread

MAINZ Best Producer Award:

KINGS – KINGS EP (Produced by Kings)

La Coco – Love & Other Things (Produced by Dee Letoa)

SWIDT – SWIDT vs EVERYBODY (Produced by SmokeyGotBeatz)