The finalists for the 2018 Pacific Music Awards have been announced with New Zealand-born, Berlin-based neo-soul singer Noah Slee leading the pack of 25 finalists.

Slee is up for four awards, including Best Pacific Music Album Tui for his debut album ‘Otherland’.  Hip hop crew SWIDT will line up against him for the Tui as well as the Best Pacific Urban Artist title, off the back of their ‘Stoneyhunga’ album.

Among the more traditional finalists, the 45-member Youth Choir from the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth, are finalists in the Best Album, Best Pacific Language and Best Pacific Gospel Artist categories. Ladi6 is another in the running for Best Pacific Music Album (with ‘Royal Blue 3000 EP’), as well as Best Pacific Female Artist.

Continuing the diversity theme, Wellington seven-piece ‘sunshine reggae’ outfit Tomorrow People are finalists in three categories; Best Pacific Group, Best Pacific Language and Best Pacific Song for their track Sa’ili Le Alofa.

General Fiyah, a star-in-the-making, is another three-time finalist – in the Best Pacific Male Artist, Best Pacific Song (Here To Stay) and Best Music Video categories.

Kings won big at the 2017 Pacific Music Awards and this year is another debut album double finalist – in the Best Pacific Male Artist and Best Producer categories, for his self-produced ‘Chapter One’ release. Of course Sol3 Mio can never be left out, likewise Three Houses Down and Te Vaka. 

Scheduled for Thursday, May 24, tickets to the 14th Pacific Music Awards ceremony will be available through Eventfinda.

The Pacific Music Awards Trust are also supporting One For The Pacific, a benefit concert for Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, affected by Cyclone Gita. The concert is a collective community response to help each nation recover and re-build and will be held on Wednesday 11 April at The Trusts Arena, Henderson, Auckland.

Artists announced so far to perform include: Three Houses Down & General Fiyah, King Kapisi, Swiss, Tree, Lapi Mariner, TJ Taotua, Erakah, Mikey Mayz, JP and Raze with more to follow.

The concert team are partnering with the NZ Red Cross, who will be responsible for distributing the money raised.

2018 Pacific Music Awards finalists by category:

Best Pacific Music Album:

• EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth – ‘Fa’afetai Le Atua’
• Ladi 6 – ‘Royal Blue 3000 EP’
• Noah Slee – ‘Otherland’
• Sol3 Mio – ‘A Very Merry Christmas’
• SWIDT – ‘Stoneyhunga’

Best Pacific Female Artist:

• La Coco – ‘Love & Other Things Part II’
• Ladi 6 – ‘Royal Blue 3000 EP’
• Razé – ‘4Seasons’

Best Pacific Male Artist:

• General Fiyah – ‘Here To Stay’
• Kings – ‘Chapter One’
• Noah Slee – ‘Otherland’

Best Pacific Urban Artist:

• 9-5ers – ‘Close To Home’
• Noah Slee – ‘Otherland’
• SWIDT – ‘Stoneyhunga’

Best Pacific Group:

• Sol3 Mio
• Three Houses Down
• Tomorrow People

Best Pacific Music Video:

• Samson Rambo – Here To Stay (General Fiyah)
• Noah Slee & Si Jay Gould – Radar (Noah Slee)
• Olivia Foa’i – Lakalaka (Te Vaka)

Best Pacific Song:

• General Fiyah – Here To Stay
• Tomorrow People – Sa’ili Le Alofa
• Te Vaka – Lakalaka

Best Pacific Language:

• EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth – ‘Fa’afetai Le Atua’
• Te Vaka – Lakalaka
• Tomorrow People – Sa’ili Le Alofa

Best Pacific Gospel Artist:

• TJ Taotua – Special Place
• EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth – ‘Fa’afetai Le Atua’
• Niue Youth Network – ‘NYN Niue Gospel Album’

Best International Pacific Artist:

• Junior Maile
• Tenelle
• Sam Kiles

Best Producer Award:

• Anonymouz – ‘The Undisciplined Son’ EP (Tha Movement)
• Kings – ‘Chapter One’
• Parks, Brandon Haru & Julien Dyne – ‘Royal Blue 3000 EP’ (Ladi 6)