Behind-the-scenes superstars are the focus of the 2019 Artisan Awards. The prizes, part of the annual NZ Music Awards, celebrate top contributors in five categories.

Simon Gooding, last year’s co-winner of the accolade of Best Producer for his work on Alien Weaponry’s ‘Tū’, is a repeat finalist. So is the prolific Josh Fountain who is up for his work on multiple projects. Ji Fraser, Eli Paewai (Mitch James – ‘Mitch James’), and Tom Healy (Tiny Ruins – ‘Olympic Girls’) are also contenders.

Iconic visual artist Dick Frizzell has got the nod again in the Best Album Artwork category after 17 years. His work with Tim Harper depicting a Navy Band playing in a suburban street is on the sleeve of the Salvation Army’s ‘Offering’ album. Rounding out the category is another repeat finalist Jaime Robertson, and Mike Braid with his outlandish work for Villainy’s new album.

With another tribute to visual art, in the form of Best Music Video, Jason Bock (Feeling Free by Leisure), Vision Thing (Rock Bottom by Randa) join Martin Sagadin and Aldous Harding, continuing her successful run; fresh from her Silver Scroll win; for their captivating video for The Barrell.

Jane Egan (Gisborne Girls High School) is a finalist for NZ Teacher of the Year for a second time, with Duncan Ferguson (St Andrews College) and Sue Banham (Rosehill College) also in the running.

Best Engineer sees Josh Fountain, Simon Gooding, and Ben Lawson and Vivek Gabriel competing for the Tui.

The awards will be presented at Massey University’s School of Music in Wellington on the 4th of November.

2019 Artisan Award Finalists

Massey University Best Producer

• Josh Fountain – Various
• Simon Gooding
• Ji Fraser, Eli Paewai – ‘Mitch James’ (Mitch James)
• Tom Healy – ‘Olympic Girls’ (Tiny Ruins)

Best Engineer

• Ben Lawson and Vivek Gabriel – ‘Avantdale Bowling Club’ (Avantdale Bowling Club)
• Josh Fountain – Various
• Simon Gooding – ‘Mitch James’ (Mitch James)

NZ On Air Best Music Video

• Jason Bock – ‘Raised in the Dark’ (Villainy)
• Vision Thing – Rock Bottom (Randa)
• Martin Sagadin and Aldous Harding – The Barrell (Aldous Harding)

Best Album Artwork

• Jaime Robertson – ‘A Quiet Divide’ (Rhian Sheehan)
• Mike Braid – Raised in the Dark (Villainy)
• Tim Harper and Dick Frizzell – ‘Offering’ (Various Artists)

Music Teacher of the Year

• Duncan Ferguson
• Jane Egan
• Sue Banham