The finalists for the 2018 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards have been announced, and will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

New Zealand-born, Berlin-based neo-soul singer Noah Slee leads the 25 finalists who are set to be honoured at the Pacific Music Awards ceremony on 24 May at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland.

Noah is up for four awards off the back of his debut album Otherland including Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Urban Artist, NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video (along with Si Jay Gould) for his single ‘Radar’, and Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album – which is an official Tui.

Onehunga hip hop crew SWIDT tore up the stage last year at the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards with a high energy performance of their hit ‘312’.

The group return this year, with finalist nods for both Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Urban Artist and Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album for their debut album Stoneyhunga.

Another hip hop artist garnering attention at the moment is Kings, who is a finalist for NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist and SIT/MAINZ Best Producer for his self-produced debut album Chapter One.

Released in November 2017, Chapter One followed the smash success of Kings’ breakthrough single ‘Don’t Worry ‘Bout It’, which broke the Official New Zealand Singles Chart record with 32 weeks at #1. He also won several awards at the 2017 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards including NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award and Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist Award.

The seven piece ‘sunshine reggae’ collective Tomorrow People are finalists in three categories (Sunpix Best Pacific Language, APRA Best Pacific Song, Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Group) after a huge year in 2017 that saw them nominated for Best Roots Artist at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

With a diverse sound and multiple lead vocalists, the Wellington-based band endeavour to take their listeners on a journey of musical entertainment.

EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth is the 45-member Youth Choir from the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (EFKS) in Te Atatu, Auckland.

After releasing their debut album Fa'afetai le Atua in 2017, the group are finalists for the Sunpix Best Pacific Language, Auckland Council Best Pacific Gospel Artist, and Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album categories.

Other finalists include General Fiyah (NZ On Air Best Music Video, APRA Best Pacific Song, NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist), Sol3 Mio (Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Group, Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album), Ladi 6 (Virgin Australia Best Pacific Female Artist, Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album) and Te Vaka (Sunpix Best Pacific Language, APRA Best Pacific Song).

Vodafone Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua said the sheer range of different talents on display across the finalists was something the Pacific music community should be proud of.

“This year’s Vodafone Pacific Music Award showcases a broad range of incredible musicians, which continues to build on the momentum from previous years with more fresh talent and vision to our stage.

“The Vodafone Pacific Music Awards have celebrated Pacific excellence in music for 14 years. I’m always inspired at the impressive unique material our finalists bring out each year”

The awards event will also reveal the recipients of the four additional awards; the Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Awards, NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award, Phillip Fuemana Award for Most Promising Pacific Artist, and the Vodafone People’s Choice Award.    

The winner of the Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album category is presented with an official Tui and recognised at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards later this year.

Tickets to the 14th Vodafone Pacific Music Awards ceremony will be available through www.eventfinda.co.nz

The Pacific Music Awards Trust are also supporting ‘One for the Pacific’, which is a benefit concert for Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, affected by Cyclone Gita.  

The concert is a collective community response to help each nation recover and re-build and will be held on Wednesday 11 April at The Trusts Arena, Henderson, Auckland.

The artists announced to perform are: Three Houses Down & General Fiyah, King Kapisi, Swiss, Tree, Lapi Mariner, TJ Taotua, Erakah, Mikey Mayz, JP and Raze with more announcements to follow.  The concert team are partnering with the New Zealand Red Cross, who will be responsible for distributing the money raised.  For more information go to: https://www.facebook.com/OneForThePacific/  

Vodafone Pacific Music Awards finalists:

Virgin Australia Best Pacific Female Artist Award:

La Coco – Love & Other Things Part II

Ladi 6 – Royal Blue 3000 EP

Razé – 4Seasons

 

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist Award:

General Fiyah – ‘Here To Stay’

Kings – Chapter One

Noah Slee – Otherland

 

Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Urban Artist Award:

9-5ers – Close To Home

Noah Slee – Otherland

SWIDT – Stoneyhunga

 

Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Group Award:

Sol3 Mio – A Very Merry Christmas

Three Houses Down – ‘Smile’

Tomorrow People – ‘Lock Me Up’

 

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video Award:

Samson Rambo – ‘Here To Stay’ (General Fiyah)

Noah Slee & Si Jay Gould – ‘Radar’ (Noah Slee)

Olivia Foa’i – ‘Lakalaka’ (Te Vaka)

 

APRA Best Pacific Song Award:

General Fiyah – ‘Here To Stay’ (Written by : Charlie Pome'e & Nicholas Pome'e)

Tomorrow People – ‘Sa’ili Le Alofa’ (Written by Kenape Saupese, Naomi Alatipi, Honiara Salanoa, Helen Tupai, Avina Kelekolio, Daniel Sugrue, Tana Tupai)

Te Vaka – ‘Lakalaka’ (Written by Opetaia Foa'i/Matatia Foa'i)

 

SunPix Best Pacific Language Award:

EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth – Fa'afetai Le Atua

Te Vaka – ‘Lakalaka’

Tomorrow People – ‘Sa’ili Le Alofa’

 

Auckland Council Best Pacific Gospel Artist Award:

TJ Taotua – 'Special Place'

EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth – Fa'afetai Le Atua

Niue Youth Network – NYN Niue Gospel Album

 

Flava Best International Pacific Artist Award:

Junior Maile – 'When I'm Gone'/'Golden Touch'

Tenelle – For the Lovers

Sam Kiles – ‘Delay’

 

Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album Award:

EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth – Fa'afetai Le Atua

Ladi 6 – Royal Blue 3000 EP

Noah Slee – Otherland

Sol3 Mio – A Very Merry Christmas

SWIDT – Stoneyhunga

 

SIT/MAINZ Best Producer Award:

·         Anonymouz – The Undisciplined Son EP (Tha Movement)

Kings – Chapter One (Kings)

Parks, Brandan Haru & Julien Dyne – Royal Blue 3000 EP (Ladi 6)

 

All the finalists:

9-5ers – Close To Home

Anonymouz – The Undisciplined Son EP(Tha Movement)

EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth – Fa'afetai Le Atua

General Fiyah – ‘Here To Stay’

Junior Maile – 'When I'm Gone'/'Golden Touch'

Kings – Chapter One (Kings)

La Coco – Love & Other Things Part II

Ladi 6 – Royal Blue 3000 EP

Niue Youth Network – NYN Niue Gospel Album

Noah Slee – Otherland

Olivia Foa’i – ‘Lakalaka’ (Te Vaka)

Parks, Brandan Haru & Julien Dyne – Royal Blue 3000 EP (Ladi 6)

Raze – 4Seasons

Sam Kiles – ‘Delay’

Samson Rambo – ‘Here To Stay’ (General Fiyah)

Si Jay Gould – ‘Radar’ (Noah Slee)

Sol3 Mio – A Very Merry Christmas

SWIDT – Stoneyhunga

Te Vaka – ‘Lakalaka’

Tenelle – For the Lovers

Three Houses Down – ‘Smile’

TJ Taotua – 'Special Place'

Tomorrow People – ‘Sa’ili Le Alofa’ / ‘Lock Me Up’