With five weeks to go until the 51st Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards (November 17th) it’s time to reveal the Tui finalists at NZ’s biggest night in entertainment.
First up for this year’s Tui contenders are pop group Broods. Their sophomore album Conscious dropped in June 2016 and was hugely popular both here and overseas. Brother and sister duo Caleb and Georgia Nott are finalists for five Tui Awards including the Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year, Best Group, The Edge Best Pop Album, Vodafone People’s Choice Award and Vodafone Single of the Year for their song ‘Free’.
After the release of her fourth album Brown Girl, Kiwi singer-songwriter Aaradhna is nominated for four Tui Awards – Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year, Fiji Airways Best Female Solo Artist, Best Urban/Hip Hop Album and Vodafone Single of the Year for ‘Brown Girl’.
Another quadruple award nominee at this year’s Music Awards is newcomer MAALA. After the breakout success of his debut album Composure he’ll be contending for Best Male Solo Artist, The Edge Best Pop Album, Vodafone People’s Choice Award and Vodafone Single of the Year for the infectious ‘Kind of Love’.
It wouldn’t be a kiwi summer without the smooth tunes of Fat Freddy’s Drop, who are also nominated for four Tuis – Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year, Best Group, Vodafone People’s Choice Award and Best Roots Album for their album Bays.
New Zealand indie rockers The Phoenix Foundation have been nominated again for their latest album Give Up Your Dreams. The 10 track offering has earned the band three Tui nominations – Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year, Best Alternative Album and Best Group.
Other nominees for awards at this year’s ceremony include Avalanche City for Best Male Solo Artist and The Edge Best Pop Album, Hollie Smith for Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year and Fiji Airways Best Female Solo Artist, KINGS for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Vodafone People’s Choice Award and Vodafone Single of the Year for ‘Don’t Worry Bout’ It’, Rob Ruha for Te Mangai Paho’s Best Maori Album and Best Roots Album and Tami Neilson for Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year and Fiji Airways Best Female Solo Artist.
The recipients of Vodafone Highest Selling Single, Three Highest Selling Album, NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year and the International Achievement award will also be announced on the night.
Performers this year include Shapeshifter, MAALA, Aaradhna, Kings, Tami Neilson, Fat Freddy’s Drop and a special performance from our 2016 NZ Herald Legacy Award recipient Bic Runga.
TV3 will be broadcasting live across New Zealand from 8.30pm.
VNZMA 2016 Finalists (by category)
1. Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year
Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’
Broods – ‘Conscious’
Fat Freddy’s Drop – ‘BAYS’
Hollie Smith – ‘Water Or Gold’
Tami Neilson – ‘Don’t Be Afraid’
The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Give Up Your Dreams’
2. Vodafone Single of the Year
Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’
Broods – ‘Free’
KINGS – ‘Don’t Worry Bout’ It’
MAALA – ‘Kind of Love’
The Naked and Famous – ‘Higher’
Shapeshifter – ‘Stars’
3. Best Group
Broods – ‘Conscious’
Fat Freddy’s Drop – ‘BAYS’
The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Give Up Your Dreams’
Sol3Mio – ‘On Another Note’
4. Best Male Solo Artist
Avalanche City – ‘We Are For The Wild Places’
Dave Dobbyn – ‘Harmony House’
Lawrence Arabia – ‘Absolute Truth’
MAALA – ‘Composure’
5. Fiji Airways Best Female Solo Artist
Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’
Hollie Smith – ‘Water Or Gold’
Ladyhawke – ‘Wild Things’
Tami Neilson – ‘Don’t Be Afraid’
6. Breakthrough Artist of the Year
KINGS – ‘Don’t Worry Bout’ It’
Leisure – All Over You’
nomad – ‘Oh My My’
SACHI – ‘Lunch with Bianca’
7. Best Rock Album
Beastwars – ‘The Death Of All Things’
Jordan Luck Band – ‘Not Only… But Also’
Villainy – ‘Dead Sight’
8. The Edge Best Pop Album
Avalanche City – ‘We Are For The Wild Places’
Broods – ‘Conscious’
MAALA – ‘Composure’
9. Best Alternative Album
Lawrence Arabia – ‘Absolute Truth’
The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Give Up Your Dreams’
Silicon – ‘Personal Computer’
10. Best Urban/Hip Hop Album
Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’
PNC – The Luke Vailima EP
SWIDT – ‘SmokeyGotBeatz Presents SWIDT vs EVERYBODY’
11. Best Roots Album
Fat Freddy’s Drop – ‘BAYS’
Rob Ruha – ‘Pūmau’
Unity Pacific – ‘Blackbirder Dread’
12. Best Electronic Album
Electric Wire Hustle – ‘Aeons’
Opiuo – ‘Omniversal’
Pacific Heights – ‘The Stillness’
13. Te Mangai Paho Best Maori Album
Dennis Marsh – ‘Maori Songbook 2’
Kirsten Te Rito – ‘Āiotanga’
Rob Ruha – ‘Pūmau’
14. Best Worship Album
Edge Kingsland – ‘Edge Vol. 3: The Common Good’
Grace Vineyard Music – ‘Seek You’
LIFE Worship – ‘By My Spirit’
15. Best Classical Album
Anthony Ritchie and Ross Harris – ‘Fjarran’
Kenneth Young – ‘Shadows and Light’
Zephyr – ‘Zephyr’
16. Vodafone People’s Choice Award
Broods
Fat Freddy’s Drop
KINGS
MAALA
Sol3Mio
17. NZ Herald Legacy Award
Bic Runga
18. Vodafone Highest Selling Single
19. Three Highest Selling Album
20. NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year
21. International Achievement
Tickets available from Ticketmaster, $25 general admission + booking fee.