Lorde wins six Tuis at the 2017 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards
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Lorde continues her reign on top of New Zealand music by claiming six Tuis at last night’s 52nd Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards at Spark Arena in Auckland.
The 21-year-old, who performed her hit ‘Green Light’ during the show, claimed the Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year for her second album Melodrama, Vodafone Single of the Year for ‘Green Light’, Three Best Solo Artist, and The Edge Best Pop Artist. Her global success was also recognised with the International Achievement Award – a record extending fourth time she has won this award.
Lorde also won the coveted Vodafone People’s Choice Award, with the New Zealand public voting for her as their favourite artist from the past year.
With tonight’s haul, Lorde now has 18 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards to add to her brimming trophy cabinet which already includes two Grammys.
After bursting onto the New Zealand hip hop scene with SmokeyGotBeatz presents: SWIDT vs Everybody, SWIDT were finalists at the Awards last year.
This year, the Onehunga-based hip hop crew have been making bigger waves with the release of its debut album Stoneyhunga. Packed with humour, throwbacks and a personalised tour into what it was like growing up in Onehunga, SWIDT’s personality is what has seen them take home two Tuis tonight for Best Group and Best Hip Hop Artist.
New Zealand’s rising star Aldous Harding claimed Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Best Alternative Artist, following the release of her 2017 album Party and subsequent local and international touring.
She is currently performing in the United Kingdom before heading home for four shows at the end of November in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
All eyes were on Sharon O’Neill tonight as she received the Legacy Award and was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. The celebration was emphasised by a stunning rendition of her hit song ‘Maxine’ by eight-time Tui winners Stellar*.
Alongside Lorde, songwriter and lead vocalist of Te Vaka, Opetaia Foa’i, was recognised with an International Achievement Award for his work on the soundtrack for Disney’s smash hit film Moana.
His music on the soundtrack was led by the single ‘We Know The Way’ and he contributed significantly to all the music within the film. Earlier this year, Opetaia was also presented with the Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement at the Pacific Music Awards.
Devilskin has been recognised as New Zealand’s Best Rock Artist for 2017. The band’s high energy performance of ‘Pray’ rocked Spark Arena at tonight’s ceremony.
The band’s 2016 album Be Like The River reached #1 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart and has received critical acclaim both in New Zealand and abroad.
Teeks (Ngāpuhi, Ngāiterangi, Ngāti Ranginui) has been awarded the Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Artist. He is recognised for his debut release The Grapefruit Skies EP which is filled with his soulful style and reached #10 on the Official NZ Top 40 Albums Chart.
Last year’s summer smash hit ‘Don’t Worry ‘Bout It’ by Kiwi hip hop artist KINGS has been celebrated again, winning the Tui for both Vodafone Highest Selling Single and New Zealand On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year.
This year, The Koi Boys have achieved phenomenal success with their debut album Meant To Be. Released in October 2016, the album has skyrocketed to the top of the sales chart as 2017’s Highest Selling Album.
After releasing her debut album in 2008, Ladi6 has remained a strong staple of the Kiwi music scene. This year she has earned the top spot for Best Soul/RnB Artist following the release of her six-track EP Royal Blue 3000.
New Zealand electronic duo Truth have received the Tui for Best Electronic Artist, while reggae musician Israel Starr was named the Best Roots Artist after a strong year of touring his new album The Producers Chair Dancehall, Vol. 1.
Curate Music won Best Worship Artist for their work on the album These Eyes, while Best Classical Artist was awarded to the NZTrio after the release of their album Sway.
Recorded Music CEO Damian Vaughan said 2017 has been another phenomenal year for New Zealand music, with a number of notable achievements internationally and here in Aotearoa.
“The sheer calibre of Kiwi musicians at the moment is astounding, we’re particularly thrilled to see such strong female representation amongst the finalists and the winners. Across all genres and musical styles, the sound of Aotearoa continues to evolve to encompass our diverse communities and reflect our identity as a country.
“The great number of first time finalists this year is a great sign for the bright future of Kiwi music. Today we’re celebrating each Tui win, but we’re already looking forward to seeing what our talented musicians are planning next.”
The 2017 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards were hosted by comedians Jono and Ben and featured performances by Lorde, SWIDT, Devilskin, TEEKS, Theia, Opetaia and Olivia Foa’iperforming ‘We Know the Way’ from the Moana film and a special tribute by Stellar* for the 2017 Legacy Award recipient Sharon O’Neill.
VNZMA 2017 Finalists (by category)
Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year
Winner: Lorde – Melodrama
Aldous Harding – Party
David Dallas – Hood Country Club
Fazerdaze – Morningside
LEISURE – LEISURE
SWIDT – Stoneyhunga
Vodafone Single of the Year
Winner: Lorde – “Green Light”
David Dallas – “Fit In”
Ladi6 – “Royal Blue”
MAALA – “In My Head”
SWIDT – “Player Of The Day”
Theia – “Roam”
Best Group
Winner: SWIDT
Devilskin
LEISURE
Shapeshifter
THREE Best Solo Artist
Winner: Lorde
Aldous Harding
KINGS
Nadia Reid
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Winner: Aldous Harding
Fazerdaze
Nadia Reid
TEEKS
Best Rock Artist
Winner: Devilskin
Clap Clap Riot
Graham Brazier
The Edge Best Pop Artist
Winner: Lorde
Mitch Jame
Theia
Best Alternative Artist
Winner: Aldous Harding
Fazerdaze
Nadia Reid
Best Soul/RnB Artist
Winner: Ladi6
TEEKS
Tommy Nee
Best Hip Hop Artist
Winner: SWIDT
David Dallas
KINGS
Best Roots Artist
Winner: Israel Starr
Sons of Zion
Tomorrow People
Best Electronic Artist
Winner: Truth
Chaos In The CB
K+Lab
Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Artist
Winner: TEEKS
Alien Weaponry
Best Worship Artist
Winner: Curate Music
Josh & Amberley Klinkenberg
Juliagrace
Best Classical Artist
Winner: NZTrio
Jenny McLeo
Te Kōkī Trio
Vodafone People’s Choice Award
Winner: Lorde
KINGS
MAALA
SWIDT
Theia
Artisan Awards
NZ On Air Best Music Video
Winner: Joel Kefali – Got It Bad (LEISURE)
Dan Watkins (Reel Factory) – Her (Shapeshifter)
Sam Kristofski – Lucky Girl (Fazerdaze)
Best Album Cover
Winner: Henrietta Harris – ‘Otherness’ (Grayson Gilmour)
Dean Poole & Tyrone Ohia (Alt Group) – ‘Stars’(Shapeshifter)
Jamie Robertson – ‘String Theory’ (Fly My Pretties)
Massey University Best Producer
Winner: Ben Edwards – ‘Preservation’ (Nadia Reid)
LEISURE – ‘LEISURE’ (LEISURE)
SmokeyGotBeatz – ‘Stoneyhunga’ (SWIDT)
Best Engineer
Winner: Clint Murphy – ‘Be Like The River’ (Devilskin)
Ben Edwards – ‘Preservation’ (Nadia Reid)
Chris Chetland – ‘A Place to Stand’ (REI)
NZ Herald Legacy Award
Sharon O’Neill
Vodafone Highest Selling Single
KINGS – “Don’t Worry ‘Bout It”
Highest Selling Album
The Koi Boys – Meant To Be
NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year
KINGS – “Don’t Worry ‘Bout It”
International Achievement
Lorde
Opetaia Foa’i
Additional Tuis presented in 2017
Best Pacific Album
Winner: Aaradhna – Brown Girl
KINGS – KINGS EP
Unity Pacific – Blackbirder Dread
Best Country Album
Winner: Jody Direen – Shake Up
Hamilton County Bluegrass Band – These Old Hands
Phil Doublet – Endless Highway
Best Folk Album
Winner: Guy Wishart – West By North
Luke Thompson – Hosts
Graeme James – News From Nowhere
Best Jazz Album
Winner: Jonathan Crayford – East West Moon
Mike Nock Trio & NZ Trio – Vicissitudes
Myele Manzanza – OnePointOne
Best Children’s Album
Winner: Anika Moa – Songs For Bubbas 2
Claudia Gunn – Little Wild Lullabies
Itty Bitty Beats – On The Move