Showcasing the strength of music by Pasifika artists in Aotearoa across the last year, the 24 finalists for the 2023 Pacific Music Awards have been announced. 

This year’s winners will be celebrated at an event on August 9 at the Due Drop Events Centre (formerly the Vodafone Events Centre) in Manukau. Tickets for the 2023 Pacific Music Awards go on sale in early July.

2023 Pacific Music Awards finalists:

Best Pacific Female Artist:

• Jordan Gavet: He Said
• Jordyn With A Why: Brown Melodies
• Lou’ana: Lost & Found
• Olivia Foa’i: Sunlight

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist:

• Lepani: Tell You Something, The Morning
• Melodownz: ‘Lone Wolf’
• Sam V: ‘The One, The Lonely’EP, Come Through, Love Again
• Victor J Sefo: 685, 685 Remix

Best Pacific Group:

• Deceptikonz: ‘In Perpetuity’
• Stndrd – ‘Jukebox’, Otara (Misunderstood)
• Three Houses Down: The Dream

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:

• Hales: Just My Type, directed by Canaan Ene
• Lou’ana: Lost & Found, directed by Anna Rose Duckworth
• Melodownz: Pray For More ft Lisi, Mikey Dam, directed by Connor Pritchard
• Olivia Foa’i: Sunlight, directed by Shae Sterling

APRA Best Pacific Song:

• Deceptikonz: One Time, written by D Savelio/ M Sagapolutele D Maoate/D Puniani/R Oliver/D Adams/V Papalii
• Olivia Foa’i: Sunlight, written by Olivia Foa’i
• Sam V: Come Through, written by Sam Verlinden, Eli Naea, Edward Liu
• Victor J Sefo: 685, written by Victor J Sefo, Ventry Parker, Elijah Tovio

Best Pacific Language:

• Canaan Ene x Junior Soqeta: Tabamuni
• Olivia Foa’i: Sunlight
• Rei & Olivia Foa’i: Kokomea
• Wayno: Seu lou Pologa, Siva Samoa 2K23

Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist:

• Deceptikonz: In Perpetuity
• Melodownz: Lone Wolf
• Poetik: ‘Hamofied Tre’

Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist:

• Lepani: Tell You Something, The Morning
• Lou’ana: Lost & Found
• Sam V: ‘The One, The Lonely’ EP, Come Through, Love Again

Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist:

• Canaan Ene x Swiss: Luv & Company
• Sweet & Irie: Maximum feat. Shane Walker, My Communication To You
• Three Houses Down: The Dream

Best Pacific Gospel Artist:

• Blsd One: ‘Ready Or Not’ EP
• Punialava’a: Tagi Le Atunu’u Pele
• Wayno: Seu lou Pologa, Siva Samoa 2K23

Best International Pacific Artist:

• Faiva: Valovalo Mai
• Jaro Local: ‘Flowers of July’ EP
• Josh Tatofi: Prisoner of Love, Sweet Loven, Landslide, Still the One, Pua Ahihi, Good Morning Beautiful, Tomorrow

MPG/SAE Best Producer:

• Mareko x Ricky Paul: ‘Untitled – ACT 1′, producer: Ricky Paul
• Sam V: Come Through, Sex & Pain, Love Again, I Tried To Tell U, producer: Edward Liu
• Victor J Sefo: 685 Remix, producer: Victor J Sefo

Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album:

• Melowdownz: ‘Lone Wolf’
• Poetik: ‘Hamofied Tre’
• Stndrd: ‘Jukebox’

Alongside the 13 award categories, there will be eight additional awards presented on the night. Once again, the People’s Choice Award is open to the public, with all artists nominated for the 2023 Pacific Music Awards eligible.

Manukau Institute of Technology Te Pukenga Lifetime Achievement Award

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is the late Toni Williams, a remarkable recording artist who captivated audiences with his soulful voice and remarkable talent throughout the 1960s and beyond. Born in Rarotonga, Toni Williams co-founded one of Auckland’s first skiffle groups, The Housewarmers, in the mid-1950s. His undeniable passion for music led him to become the lead singer and guitarist of the rock and roll group, The Tremellos, touring with Showtime Spectacular and supporting international artists.