Join us for the 2021 Pacific Music Awards right here on TP+, Saturday 11 December at 7pm.
The finalists were announced for the 2021 Pacific Music Awards this evening at an event at The Alexander Café, Ōtara, Auckland.
This year saw a record 27 finalists across the 13 award categories, with soul sensation Tree leading the nominations.
After the release of her self-produced debut album Mrs Tree, she has been nominated for Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist, SunPix Best Pacific Language, NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video for ‘Afio Ane Loa’, and Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album.
She recently headlined the main stage at the Return of the Auckland Pasifika Festival and is currently touring in Australia, with plans for Aotearoa, the United States and Hawai’i in the future.
Tāmaki Makaurau-based Lou’ana has been serving up soul funk to listeners with her seven piece band, releasing her debut album Moonlight Madness and undertaking a winter tour of Aotearoa.
No stranger to the Pacific Music Awards, this year she’s nominated for Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist, Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist, and Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album.
Hip hop heavyweight Kings is back at the Pacific Music Awards in 2021. After a string of successful releases in years past, the independent producer and rapper is back with his latest single ‘Help Me Out’, which recently went gold.
He’s nominated for NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video and APRA Best Pacific Song for ‘Help Me Out’.
Last year, singer/songwriter Lepani was nominated for Best Soul/R&B Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards after the release of his debut EP In The Moment.
This year, he’s up for three awards at the Pacific Music Awards – Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist, Best Producer and Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album.
Back for the third year running, hip hop duo Church & AP have been busy during the last 12 months.
After winning four Pacific Music Awards (Best Group, Best Hip Hop Artist, Radio Airplay, and Best Producer) and Best Hip-Hop Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards for their debut album Teeth last year, hip-hop duo Church & AP are back.
The two are nominated for Flava Best Pacific Group and Base FM & Island Base Samoa Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist at the 2021 Pacific Music Awards.
“With the largest number of submissions in the history of Pacific Music awards received this year, we acknowledge this bodes well for our Pacific music community and also the Aotearoa New Zealand Music industry,” said Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua.
2021 Pacific Music Awards finalists:
Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist:
- Jordan Gavet – ‘Do Better’
- Lou’ana – Moonlight Madness
- Tree – Mrs Tree
NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist:
- Hawkins – ‘Can’t Leave It Alone’/’Streetlights’/’Fireflies’/’I Couldn’t Tell It All’
- Kings – ‘Help Me Out’
- Melodownz – ‘Fine’
Flava Best Pacific Group:
- Church & AP – At Thy Feet
- Shepherds Reign – ‘Aiga’
- STNDRD – Keep it STNDRD
- Team Dynamite – ‘Dragon Fruit ft. Louis Baker’
NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:
- Kings – ‘Help Me Out’
- Directed by Kings
- Tree – ‘Afio Ane Loa’
- Directed by Tree Manu & Quincy Filiga
- Vallé – ‘Trip Advisor’
- Directed by Jadon Calvert
APRA Best Pacific Song:
- Jawsh 685 – ‘Savage Love (Laxed -Siren Beat)’
- Written by Joshua Nanai, Phil Greiss, Jason Derulo, Jacob Kasher Hindlin
- Kings – ‘Help Me Out’
- Writen by Kingdon Chapple-Wilson, Matt Sadgrove, Sam Eriwata, Joel Latimer
- Team Dynamite – ‘Dragon Fruit ft Louis Baker’
- Written by Tony Sihamau, Lance Fepuleai, Harry Huavi, Louis Baker
SunPix Best Pacific Language:
- Loopy Tunes Preschool Music – ‘Umukisia’
- Samson Squad – ‘Taviri/Manea/Te Kuki Airani’
- Shepherds Reign – ‘Aiga’
- Tree – Mrs Tree
Base FM NZ & Island Base FM Samoa Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist:
- Church & AP – At Thy Feet
- Diggy Dupé – That’s Me, That’s Team
- Melodownz- ‘Fine’
Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist:
- Emily Muli – ‘Self Care’
- Lepani – In the Moment EP
- Lou’ana – Moonlight Madness
Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist:
- Lomez Brown – The Feels & Groove EP
- Raggadat Cris – ‘Nay Sayers’
- Victor J Sefo – ‘My Everything’/’Is It Bad’/’Want To’/’Like’
531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist:
- Erakah – ‘How You Love Me’
- Marley Sola – ‘Lift Your Head High’
- TY – ‘Never Too Far’/’Drive’
Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist:
- DJ Noiz – ‘Amelia ft Kennyon Brown, Donell Lewis, Victor J Sefo’
- J Boog – ‘Siva Mai feat Siaosi’
- Mr Cowboy – ‘Daddy Toe Sau’
- Tenelle – This Is X
Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album:
- Lepani – In the Moment EP
- Lou’ana – Moonlight Madness
- Tree – Mrs Tree
Best Producer
- Jawsh 685 – ‘Savage Love (Laxed -Siren Beat)’
- Producer: Jawsh 685
- Lepani – In the Moment EP
- Producers: Lepani, Rory Noble, Ambian & Sleo, Devin Abrams
- Lou’ana – Moonlight Madness
- Producer: Nathan Judd
There will be six other awards announced for the 2021 Pacific Music Awards: Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Pacific Artist, NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award, NZ On Air Streaming Award, SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist, Ministry for Pacific Peoples Special Recognition Award and the Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award.
The winner of the Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album category is presented with an official Tui and recognised at the Aotearoa Music Awards later in November 2021.
