Beloved Kiwi group Six60 will be looking to add to their trophy cabinet, already hosts nine Tui at the Vodafone Music Awards, being held at the Spark Arena on November 15th.
After releasing their third self-titled album earlier this year, and recently announced as the first kiwi act to sell out Western Springs stadium in Auckland Six60 are up for four awards in 2018; Album of the Year, Best Group, The Edge Best Pop Artist and Vodafone Single of the Year for ‘Don’t Give It Up’.
Northland-based metal group Alien Weaponry are up for four Tuis for Album of the Year, Best Group, Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Artist and Best Rock Artist. Their hard-hitting combination of classic thrash and te reo Māori offers a uniquely New Zealand metal experience.
After opening for Ed Sheeran earlier this year, Drax Project are up for Vodafone Single of the Year for the smash hit ‘Woke Up Late’, along with Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Best Group and The Edge Best Pop Artist.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra are finalists in the Album of the Year category for their 2018 album Sex & Food, which was recorded across the globe. In addition, the band is up for Vodafone Single of the Year for the hazy tune ‘Hunnybee’, Best Group, and Best Alternative Artist.
Three-time Tui winner Marlon Williams is a finalist again this year, in the running for Album of the Year for his 2018 release Make Way For Love, Three Best Solo Artist and Best Alternative Artist. He will join two Kiwi songstresses Julia Deans and Tami Neilson who are both finalists for Three Best Solo Artist and Album of the Year - for We Light Fire and Sassafrass! respectively.
Newcomer Robinson is up for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Vodafone Single of the Year for the pop anthem ‘Nothing To Regret’, and Sons of Zion are up for Best Roots Artist and Vodafone Single of the Year for ‘Drift Away’.
Aotearoa’s latest hip hop heavyweight JessB has also received the finalist nod for Best Hip Hop Artist alongside Kings and Onehunga’s own SWIDT. JessB is also in the running for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
The finalists for Best Electronic Artist this year are Arma Del Amor, Boycrush and Chores.
Other finalists include Kimbra (Three Best Solo Artist, The Edge Best Pop Artist), Troy Kingi (Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Artist, Best Soul / R&B Artist), Katchafire (Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Artist, Best Roots Artist), Mitch James (Vodafone Single of the Year), L.A.B. (Breakthrough Artist of the Year), Cairo Knife Fight (Best Rock Artist), Skinny Hobos (Best Rock Artist), Wax Chattels (Best Alternative Artist), Tomorrow People (Best Roots Artist), Israel Starr (Best Soul / R&B Artist), and Vince Harder (Best Soul / R&B Artist).
EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth, Equippers Revolution, and Kane Adams are finalists for Best Worship Artist, while Eve de Castro Robinson, Henry Wong Doe, and Michael Houstoun have all been recognised as finalists for Best Classical Artist.
For the first time, all finalists are eligible for the Vodafone People’s Choice Award, which is announced at the awards on 15 November. Voting for the Vodafone People’s Choice Award will be opening soon to the public. Recorded Music New Zealand CEO Damian Vaughan says the success of Kiwi musicians across different genres is a reminder of New Zealand’s diverse, vibrant music scene.
“From rock and metal through to reggae, electronica, hip hop and funk, there’s so much diversity in the music being created by Aotearoa’s talented musicians at the moment,” says Vaughan.
The recipients of the Vodafone Highest Selling Single, Highest Selling Album, NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year, Recorded Music NZ Legacy Award, and the International Achievement Award will also be announced at the 2018 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.