Multi-Talented Artists Dominate Technical Awards List

Media release

10 October 2013

Multi-Talented Artists Dominate Technical Awards Finalists List

Recorded Music NZ announces the Technical Award finalists for the 2013 Vodafone NZ Music Awards

The Technical Award finalists for the 48th annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards have been announced by Recorded Music NZ shining the spotlight on Kiwi music’s backstage-professionals.

The 2013 finalist line-up includes a mix of previous winners and finalists as well as several multi-talented artists who have worked behind the scenes on the technical side of their albums.

Renowned indie rock band The Phoenix Foundation dominates the call-up with nominations in the Best Engineer and Best Producer categories.

The Wellington-formed band shares its nomination with Brett Stanton and Lee Prebble who worked with them on their fifth album, Fandango. The album debuted at number four on the Official NZ Music Charts.

Lee Prebble demonstrates his noted engineering skills with a second solo nomination for his work on Iva Lamkum’s album Black Eagle.

Neil Baldock also joins the Best Engineer line up and he’s no stranger to the limelight. In his 23 years of engineering Neil has clocked up some stellar achievements, including working with iconic Kiwi music stars Fred Dagg, Che Fu, Nathan Haines and Flight of the Conchords. Neil also took out the award for Best Engineer last year.

Shapeshifter and Fat Freddy’s Drop continue the theme of bands recognised for their technical work on their own albums.

Shapeshifter and the Upbeats are finalists in the Best Producer category for Shapeshifter’s album Delta. Fat Freddy’s Drop joins them in the Best Producer line-up for the Blackbird album.

Blackbird also features in the Best Album Cover category with designers Gina Kiel & Harry A’Court nabbing a spot.

Recorded Music NZ chief executive Damian Vaughan says: “It’s important to recognise the very special talents of the skilled technicians who bring the music to life and we have a fantastic line up this year. Congratulations to all the finalists.”

The full list of finalists for the Technical Awards at the 48th annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards is:

Best Producer
Fat Freddy’s Drop                                                          Fat Freddy’s Drop – ‘Blackbird’
Sam McCarthy, Jaden Parkes, Jordan Arts                      Kids of 88 – ‘Modern Love’
Shapeshifter and the Upbeats                                         Shapeshifter – Delta
The Phoenix Foundation / Lee Prebble / Brett Stanton      The Phoenix Foundation – Fandango

Best Engineer                                                     
Brett Stanton / Lee Prebble / The Phoenix Foundation      The Phoenix Foundation – Fandango
Lee Prebble                                                                   Iva Lamkum – Black Eagle
Neil Baldock                                                                  Eden Mullholand – Feed the Beast

Best Album Cover
Gina Kiel and Harry A’Court                                             Fat Freddy’s Drop – Blackbird
Heather Liddell                                                               Strahan – Posters
Nick Keller                                                                     Beastwars – Blood Becomes Fire

The winners of the Technical Awards are revealed at VNZMA Finalists Announcement at The Pullman Auckland on 22 October.

The line-up for this year’s Hallensteins Brothers Critics’ Choice Showcase and the 2013 New Zealand Herald Legacy Award recipient is also being unveiled at the event.

The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards awards categories are:

•          Mentos Album Of The Year
•          Vodafone Single Of The Year
•          Steinlager Pure Best Group
•          Spotify Best Male Solo Artist
•          Spotify Best Female Solo Artist
•          Westpac Hotpoints Breakthrough Artist Of The Year
•          NZ On Air Best Music Video
•          The Edge Best Pop Album
•          Best Rock Album
•          Best Urban / Hip Hop Album
•          Best Electronica Album
•          Best Roots Album
•          Numa Trust Best Maori Album
• Best Alternative Album
•          Best Gospel / Christian Album
•          Best Classical Album
•          Vodafone Peoples’ Choice Award
•          New Zealand Herald Legacy Award

No finalists are announced for the Vodafone Highest Selling NZ Single, the FOUR Highest Selling NZ Album, NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award and the Xbox International Achievement awards. They are awarded at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards ceremony at Auckland’s Vector Arena on November 21.

Ends

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