2013 Pacific Music Awards Finalists Announced

2013 Pacific Music Awards Finalists Announced
Aaradhna and Iva Lamkum headline awards field

The finalists for the 2013 Pacific Music Awards have been announced and it’s the ladies who are racking up multiple finals spots.

Exotic Porirua songstress Aaradhna stands out for special recognition with five finals berths and she goes head to head with neo-soul singer Iva Lamkum who is in line for four gongs.

Well known for her soulful R & B voice, Aaradhna is a finalist in a new category, the New Zealand on Air Best Pacific Music Video, for her song “Lorena Bobbitt” produced with Tom Gould.

She’s also in the running for Best Pacific Female Artist, Nui FM Best Pacific Urban Artist and Best Pacific Music Album for her new album ‘Treble & Reverb’ and the APRA Best Pacific Song for ‘Wake Up’.

Aaradhna is the first artist since the Pacific Music Awards started who has received five finals berths in the one awards ceremony.

Iva Lamkum’s 2012 album ‘Black Eagle’ is a finalist in Best Pacific Album and the 26 year old Wellingtonian is also competing for Best Pacific Artist. Like Aaradhna, Lamkum is also up for Best Music Video for her work with Askew on the song ‘Doo Bop’, which is also in the running for Best Pacific Song.

Vince Harder joins Iva and Aaradhna in the battle for Best Pacific Music Video with his 2012 release ‘Far From Here’ produced with Mark Arona and Shae Sterling.

The winner of the Best Pacific Album category is presented with a Tui and recognised at the New Zealand Music Awards later this year.

In the NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist category, Hip Hop stalwart Savage is a finalist for his work on the 2012 album ‘Mayhem and Miracles’. It’s Savage’s sixth Pacific Music Awards finals berth and he’s up against Swiss and Vaniah Toloa for their work on ‘Slow Wind’ and ‘Tofi O Tamatane’.

The Homebrew crew, winners of the Best Urban/Hip Hop Album at last year’s Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, are in the running for Best Pacific Music Album as well as the Radio 531PI Best Pacific Music Group. They line up against Tomorrow People in both categories.

In the Best Pacific Music Language Category church group Mangere Congregational Church of Jesus is joined by Mr Tanoa and Vaniah Toloa as they battle it out for the top spot.

A total of 12 artists and groups have been announced as finalists by the Pacific Music Awards Trust, at a function in Auckland's Aotea Centre tonight. The evening is held in association with the Auckland Arts Festival and is supported by ATEED, as part of the ‘Pacific As’ programme for Pacific events.

Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua says, “Aotearoa has a wealth of musical talent in the pacific community. This year’s line-up shows some talented artists being recognised for their passion to produce great music. It’s also good to see the female artists taking such a prominent position with the most nominations this year.”

“The nominees this year are a great mix of talent and show us all that Pacific culture is alive and well in New Zealand”.

The awards are in their ninth year and winners are to be announced at an event celebrating and honouring Pacific music and artists at the TelstraClear Pacific Events centre on 30 May.

Tickets for the awards ceremony are available through TicketDirect. www.ticketdirect.co.nz
0800 224 224
(Please note a booking fee may apply)

The full list of finalists for the Pacific Music Awards are:

BEST PACIFIC FEMALE ARTIST
Aaradhna ‘Treble & Reverb’
Iva Lamkum ‘Black Eagle’
Ria ‘The One’

NZ MUSIC COMMISSION BEST PACIFIC MALE ARTIST
Savage ‘Mayhem & Miracles’
Swiss ‘Slow Wind’
Vaniah Toloa ‘Tofi O Tamatane’

NIU FM BEST PACIFIC URBAN ARTIST
Aaradhna ‘Treble & Reverb’
Iva Lamkum ‘Black Eagle’
Swiss ‘Slow Wind’

RADIO 531PI BEST PACIFIC GROUP
Home Brew ‘Home Brew’
The Hypnotics ‘Give It Time’
Tomorrow People ‘One’

NZ ON AIR BEST PACIFIC MUSIC VIDEO
Aaradhna ‘Lorena Bobbitt’
Iva Lamkum ‘Doo Bop’
Vince Harder ‘Far From Here’

APRA BEST PACIFIC SONG
Aaradhna ‘Wake Up’
Iva Lamkum ‘Doo Bop’
Swiss ‘Slow Wind’

TAGATA PASIFIKA BEST PACIFIC LANGUAGE
Mangere Congregational Church of Jesus ‘Ia Outou Vivi'I’
Mr Tanoa ‘My Sweat & Tears’
Vaniah Toloa ‘Tofi O Tamatane’

BEST PACIFIC MUSIC ALBUM
Aaradhna ‘Treble & Reverb’
Home Brew ‘Home Brew’
Tomorrow People ‘One’

The 2012 Pacific Music Awards are supported by the following generous sponsors:

Auckland Council, NZ On Air, APRA, NZ Music Commission, Radio 531pi, Niu FM, Tagata Pasifika, Manukau Institute of Technology and PPNZ Licensing. Along, with support from TelstraClear Pacific, 'Pacific As' and the Auckland Arts Festival.

Photographs of finalists are available on request to Alex Gray (details below).

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