Finalists announced for NZ Music Awards - Technical Award winners revealed

Recorded Music NZ has announced the artists in the running for Tui glory at the 48th Annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

Shapeshifter and Aaradhna are this year's front-runners claiming five finalist spots each, with Unknown Mortal Orchestra following closely on four.

Others with multiple finalist nods include Kiwi music sensation Lorde, newcomer Jamie McDell and evergreen groups Fat Freddy's Drop and The Phoenix Foundation - each with three spots. Lawrence Arabiaand Willy Moon both claim two finals places, as does this year's newly announced co-host Stan Walker.

The finalists were announced at a star-studded function lat night (October 22) at The Pullman Aucklandhotel. 

Recorded Music New Zealand Chief Executive Damian Vaughan says this year's line-up shows the depth and breadth of musical talent in New Zealand.

"We have a really good mix of genres represented among the finalists in 2013; it's going to be a brilliant night. There have been some fantastic releases this past year, and all would be deserving winners."

The winning artists are revealed at the 48th Annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards at Vector Arenaon November 21. The show is being broadcast as live on FOUR on the night. It is preceded by The Mentos Red Carpet Special from 8pm onwards and hosted by Drew Neemia & Sharyn Casey.

Christchurch-based Shapeshifter's five places are for Mentos Album of the Year, Vodafone Single of the Year, Steinlager Pure Best Group, Vodafone Peoples' Choice and George FM Best Electronica Album for‘Delta'. The album also grabs spots for Shapeshifter and The Upbeats in the Best Producer category and forNick Dwyer in the NZ On Air Best Music Video category.

Aaradhna is a finalist in Mentos Album of the Year, Vodafone Single of the year, Spotify Best Female Solo Artist and Best Urban / Hip Hop Album for ‘Treble and Reverb'. The singer's also up for Vodafone Peoples' Choice Award and she picked up a Tui at the 2013 Pacific Music Awards in May taking out Pasefika Proud Best Pacific Music Album.

Ruban Nielson as Unknown Mortal Orchestra is a finalist in Mentos Album and Vodafone Single of the Year, Spotify Best Male Solo Artist and Best Alternative Album for ‘II'.

Fat Freddy's Drop is a finalist in Mentos Album of the Year, Steinlager Pure Best Group and Best Roots Album for ‘Blackbird'. The Phoenix Foundation's ‘Fandango' nabs finals spots for Mentos Album of the year, Steinlager Pure Best Group and Best Alternative Album.

In the Westpac Hotpoint's Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award,  Lorde (‘The Love Club EP') is up againstJamie McDell (‘Six Strings and a Sailboat') and Willy Moon (‘Here's Willy Moon'). 

McDell's other spots are in Spotify Best Female Solo Artist and The Edge Best Pop Album while Lorde is in for Vodafone Single of the Year and Vodafone Peoples' Choice and Moon for Spotify Best Male Solo Artist.

Legacy Award

For the first time the New Zealand Herald Legacy Award goes to a female, Shona Laing.  Laing first hit the spotlight aged 17 on the TV showNew Faces with her hit‘1905'. That song and ‘Show Your Love' both went Gold and also peaked at #4 on the New Zealand charts. Laing spent some time in the UK in the 1970s where she was a vocalist with Manfred Mann's Earth Band alongside fellow Kiwi Chris Thompson.

Recorded Music New Zealand Chief Executive, Damian Vaughan says Recorded Music NZ is delighted to welcome Shona Laing into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. "Not only is she extremely talented and deserving of this award, hers is also a pioneering acknowledgement of the role female artists play in our music psyche."

Guests at the awards ceremony on November 21 can look forward to a big night of great New Zealand music with live performances by Aaradhna, Lorde, Jamie McDell, Titanium, Iva Lamkum and awards co-host Stan Walker. There's also a special tribute performance to Legacy Award recipient Shona Laing by Ruby Frost.

Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.co.nz and cost just $25 including booking fees.

Technical Award winners

The winners of the 2013 Technical Awards have also been revealed at the finalist announcement event. The Tui for Best Album Cover has gone to Gina Kiel and Harry A'Court for Fat Freddy's Drop's ‘Blackbird'.

The Phoenix Foundation with Lee Prebble and Brett Stanton nab two Tuis for ‘Fandango', taking out Best Producer and Best Engineer.

Hallenstein Brothers Critics' Choice Prize

The 2013 line-up for the Critics' Choice Prize includes multi-instrumentalist Daniel McBride aka Sheep, Dog & Wolf; US-based singer/songwriter Janine and the Mixtape; and Paquin - the musical outlet of songwriter Tom Healy. Established in 2010, the prize recognises up-and-coming artists and potential future Tui winners. Past Critics' Choice Prize nominees include Kimbra and The Naked and Famous.

The three 2013 contenders perform a live showcase at The Kings Arms in Auckland on November 6 before the prize recipient is announced on the night.

48th Annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards Nominees

Mentos Album of the Year
Aaradhna ‘Treble & Reverb'
Fat Freddy's Drop ‘Blackbird'
Shapeshifter ‘Delta'
The Phoenix Foundation ‘Fandango'
Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‘II'

Vodafone Single of the Year
Aaradhna ‘Wake Up'
Lorde ‘Royals'
Shapeshifter ‘In Colour'
Stan Walker ‘Take It Easy'
Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‘So Good At Being In Trouble'

Steinlager Pure Best Group
Fat Freddy's Drop ‘Blackbird'
Shapeshifter ‘Delta'
The Phoenix Foundation ‘Fandango'

Spotify Best Male Solo Artist
Lawrence Arabia ‘The Sparrow'
Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‘II'
Willy Moon ‘Here's Willy Moon'

Spotify Best Female Solo Artist
Aaradhna ‘Treble & Reverb'
Iva Lamkum ‘Black Eagle'
Jamie McDell ‘Six Strings and a Sailboat'

Westpac Hotpoints Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Jamie McDell ‘Six Strings and a Sailboat'
Lorde ‘The Love Club EP'
Willy Moon ‘Here's Willy Moon'

Best Rock Album
Beastwars ‘Blood Becomes Fire'
The Datsuns ‘Death Rattle Boogie'
Villainy ‘Mode. Set. Clear.'

The Edge Best Pop Album
AnikaBoh&Hollie ‘Peace of Mind'
Jamie McDell ‘Six Strings and a Sailboat'
Kids Of 88 ‘Modern Love'

Best Alternative Album
Lawrence Arabia ‘The Sparrow'
The Phoenix Foundation ‘Fandango'
Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‘II'

Best Urban/Hip Hop Album
@Peace ‘Girl Songs'
Aaradhna ‘Treble & Reverb'
P-Money ‘Gratitude'

Best Roots Album
Fat Freddy's Drop ‘Blackbird'
Latinaotearoa ‘Sonido de Latinaotearoa'
Soljah ‘Aotearoa'

George FM Best Electronica Album
K+LAB ‘Space Dirt'
Shapeshifter ‘Delta'
Sola Rosa ‘Low and Behold, High and Beyond'

NZ On Air Best Music Video
Joel Kefali - ‘Royals' (Lorde)
Nick Dwyer - ‘In Colour' (Shapeshifter)
Thunderlips - ‘Frankenstein' (Randa)

NUMA Trust Best Maori Album
Kirsten Te Rito ‘Te Rito'
Maisey Rika ‘Whitiora'
Ngatapa Black ‘I Muri Ahiahi'

Best Gospel/Christian Album
Edge Kingsland ‘Edge Vol.2: Due North'
Go Stop Go ‘Go Stop Go'
Strahan ‘Posters'

Best Classical Album
Gillian Whitehead ‘Arapatiki'
Helen Webby ‘Pluck'
Michael Houstoun ‘Lilburn'