The finalists for the 2022 Pacific Music Awards have been announced, and leading the finalist nominations are Tomorrow People with four chances to win as Best Pacific Group, Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist and Best Pacific Music Album for ’21’.

Ikon Music (Avina Kelekolio, Hennie Tui and Tana Tupai), the producers responsible for the Tomorrow People album are also finalists in the Best Producer category. 

Previous multi-award winners Kings and SWIDT are each finalists for three awards this year, while Poetik and Team Dynamite are finalists in two caregories, with Harry (Haz Beats) Huavi also nominated for Best Producer for his work on Team Dynamite’s album ‘Respect The Process’.

Impressively nine of the 26 finalists across the 13 awards categories are first-time finalists; House of Misfits, Anthem, Bina Butta and Kennyon Brown, Foundation, Lisi, Mo Etc., Sam V and Sammielz.

Recognising their work on The Panthers television mini series, Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan and P.Smith are finalists for Best Pacific Music Video for the track Ain’t The Same ft. Melodownz & Summer Vaha’akolo (directed by Tom Hern), as well as Best Producer and Best Pacific Album for ‘The Panthers’ OST. Diggy Dupé is also a finalist for Best Pacific Male Artist with his track WEON.

The awards ceremony will take place Thursday, August 4. In making the announcement Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua noted:

“At this significant time of year, Matariki, we are proud to be acknowledging the shining stars of our Pacific music community – announcing our finalists for the 2022 Pacific Music Awards. After two years of presenting the awards online, we can’t wait to return to a live show, sharing the night with all our families, friends and communities.”

2022 Pacific Music Awards finalists:

Best Pacific Female Artist:

• Emily Muli – Break
• Mo Etc. – ‘Oceanbed’
• Tree – No Fear ft Junior Soqeta

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist:

• Diggy Dupé – WEON
• Kings – ‘Raplist’, Young 4Eva
• Poetik – ‘Poetik Justice’

 Best Pacific Group:

• SWIDT – Seize the Day ft Savage, Kelz Garage, 312 Day
• Team Dynamite – ‘Respect The Process’
• Tomorrow People – ’21’

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:

• Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan & P. Smith – Ain’t The Same ft. Melodownz & Summer Vaha’akolo – directed by Tom Hern
• House of Misfits – Tā Te Manawa – directed by Abigail Dougherty
• Vallé – Swing Low – directed by Connor Pritchard

Best Pacific Song:

• Kings – Young 4Eva –  written by Kingdon Chapple-Wilson
• Samson Squad – Amene – written by Jacob Samson, Tautape Samson & Jayjay Samson 
• SWIDT – Kelz Garage – written by Daniel Latu, Amon McGoram. Lomez Brown, Samuel Verlinden

Best Pacific Language:

• Kas Futialo – Grandmasta Kas
• Lani Alo – Tua i manu
• Samson Squad – Kainga, Amene
• Shepherds Reign – Nga Ao E Rua

Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist:

• Poetik – ‘Poetik Justice’
• SWIDT – Seize the Day ft Savage, Kelz Garage, 312 Day
• Team Dynamite – ‘Respect The Process’

Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist:

• Emily Muli – Break
• Sam V – Wired, Biker Boy
• TJ Taotua – ‘Overdue’

Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist:

• Foundation – Closer
• Sammielz – Okay
• Tomorrow People – ’21’
• Victor J Sefo – Pele Ea, Ride, Shots

Best Pacific Gospel Artist:

• Anthem – ‘Anthem’
• Tree – No Fear ft Junior Soqeta
• House of Misfits – Tā Te Manawa

Best International Pacific Artist:

• Bina Butta & Kennyon Brown – Lady Love
• Jaro Local – Kamanda Amanda, First Time, Single Papa, 25 Minutes
• Lisi – Good Life, Dreams, Til the Death, Baby We On

Best Producer:

• Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan & P. Smith – ‘The Panthers OST’
• Team Dynamite – ‘Respect The Process’ – producer: Harry (Haz Beats) Huavi
• Tomorrow People – ’21’ – producers: Ikon Music (Avina Kelekolio, Hennie Tui, Tana Tupai)

Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album (Tui award):

• Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan & P. Smith – ‘The Panthers OST’
• Kings – ‘Raplist’
• Tomorrow People – ’21’  

The awards ceremony for the 2022 Pacific Music Awards will be held on August 4, at the Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau, Auckland.