Last night the 2019 Pacific Music Awards Finalists were announced in a ceremony held at OMAC in Otara, Auckland.
The list of artists reflects some of the best music not just created by members of the Pasifika community, but local music in general, seeing high-flying artists such as Kings (five times) and SWIDT (four +) represented across many of the award categories. Among the music genres represented hip hop is overwhelmingly dominant.
Remarkably, young Sonatane Kaufusi is up for two awards, not even a year after his high school band Mit Eldnar from Manurewa won both Smokefree Rockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats. Last year he played a pre-award solo set in the foyer, this year he might well be on the main stage.
This year’s Pacific Music Awards introduces three new categories; Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist, Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist, and Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist – stemming from the split up of the controversial ‘urban artist’ music category.
The 15th annual 2019 Pacific Music Awards will take place in Manukau on May 23.
Pacific Music Awards 2019 Finalists
Best Pacific Female Artist:
NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist:
Best Pacific Group:
NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:
- Razé X Edy – Not About You (Kiel Tutin & Edward Liu)
- Sonatane Kaufusi – Birdie (Dave Thomson)
- SWIDT – Who Run It (10Daniel16)
- Villette – Not In Love (Parker Howell)
APRA Best Pacific Song:
- Church & AP – Ready or Not (Elijah Manu, Albert Purcell)
- Kings – 6 Figures (Kingdon Chapple-Wilson)
- Punialava’a – Ana le Seanoa’oe – (Rev. Iosefa Lale Peteru)
Best Pacific Language:
- Adeaze
- Punialava’a
- Sammy Atoa
Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist:
Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist:
Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist:
- Lapi Mariner
- Runtingz Family
- Tomorrow People
Best Pacific Gospel Artist:
- Adeaze
- Punialava’a
- Revere
Best International Pacific Artist:
- Bobby Alu
- Jaro Local
- Kaiit
Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album:
- Kings – ‘Lov3 & 3go’
- SWIDT – ‘The Most Electrifying’
- Tomorrow People – ‘BBQ Reggae’
Best Producer:
- Kings & 10A (Tenei Kesha) – ‘Lov3 & 3go’
- SmokeyGotBeatz – ‘The Most Electrifying’
- Baccyard (Clinton Bently) – ‘Melo & Blues’
Other awards to be given out on the night:
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award
- Phillip Fuemana Award for Most Promising Pacific Artist
- People’s Choice Award
