The richness and vibrancy which are trademarks of Pacific music industry has been celebrated at the 15thPacific Music Awards, at Auckland’s Vodafone Events Centre.
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a long-time supporter of this event recognising Pacific culture, arts and identity, and Minister for Pacific Peoples Hon. Aupito William Sio was at the May 23 event to enjoy the celebrations.
Kings and Tomorrow People are quickly becoming Pacific music legends, adding to their previous hauls, collecting four 2019 awards each.
Kings took home Best Pacific Male Artist, APRA Best Pacific Song, and the NZ On Air Streaming Award, as well as SIT/MAINZ Best Producer alongside 10A for their album Lov3 & 3go.
Tomorrow People picked up Recorded Music Best Pacific Music Album, Pato Entertainment Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist, and PMN Best Pacific Group following the release of their 2018 EP BBQ Reggae.
The Wellingtonians also received the coveted SunPix People’s Choice Award for Best Pacific Artist.
Both groups took time to acknowledge the Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Her Majesty Queen Sālote Tupou lll - first Queen regnant and third Monarch of the Kingdom of Tonga.
Ruling for 48 years until her passing in 1965 - longer than any other Tongan monarch - she was an avid writer of songs and poems.
Queen Sālote’s work captured Tongan culture and heritage for the people of Tonga, and in recent times, her work has been shared through a collection published in 2004.
An album of her compositions Lomipeau Aotearoa was released in 2017, and these unique recordings were performed by Auckland-based dance group Pukepuke o’ Tonga, breathing new life into the sounds and melodies of ancient Tonga through the late Queen’s poetry.
Another artists recognised and celebrated was Razé, whose single Not About You led her to win Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist and Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist.
After first appearing at the Pacific Music Awards in 2005, the brother duo Adeaze has returned with their latest album A Mother’s Love, released to pay tribute to their late mother, which won PMN Best Pacific Gospel Artist this year.
Onehunga powerhouse hip hop group SWIDT were back at it again this year as well, picking up the Base FM NZ and Island Base FM Samoa Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist after releasing their EP The Most Electrifying.
Hailing from the Solomon Islands, Jaro Local received the award for Flava Best International Pacific Artist showcasing his international hit song Dakini Tangarareh.
Samoan group Punialava’a received the SunPixBest Pacific Language award this year; while the NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award went to General Fiyah ft Three Houses Down with their song Here to Stay; and Melodownz was recognised as this year’s recipient for Phillip Fuemana Award for Most Promising Pacific Artist.
Chairman and spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua says the 15th celebration of the Pacific Music Awards speaks of past achievements, but just as important, the future - humble Pacific music beginnings with global musical ramifications.
“There are new Pacific sayings when traditional Pacific music engages with urban Pacific music.
“Our Malaga ola, life journey sings of our Pacific unity and new hope.”
The awards provided a showcase of the best in Pacific music – with an incredible line up throughout the night.
Alongside the special tribute performance for Her Majesty Queen Sālote Tupou lll, there were finalist performances by Adeaze, Poetik Melodownz, Razé, Tree, Punialava’a, Jaro Local and Tomorrow People.
2019 Pacific Music Awards Winners:
Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist Award:
• WINNER: Razé - Not About You
• La Coco - Waiting
• Tree - Can We
• Villette - Money
NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist Award:
• WINNER: Kings - Lov3 & 3go
• Melodownz - Melo & Blues
• POETIK - HAMOFIED EP
• Sonatane Kaufusi - Birdie
PMN Best Pacific Group Award:
• WINNER: Tomorrow People - BBQ Reggae
• Adeaze - A Mother's Love
• SWIDT - The Most Electrifying
PMN Best Pacific Gospel Artist Award:
• WINNER: Adeaze - A Mother's Love
• Punialava’a - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow O ananafi, O nei ma Taeao
• Revere - Revere
Base FM NZ & Island Base FM Samoa Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist Award:
• WINNER: SWIDT - The Most Electrifying
• Kings - Lov3 & 3go
• POETIK - HAMOFIED EP
Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist Award:
• WINNER: Razé - Not About You
• La Coco - Waiting
• Villette - Not in Love
Pato Entertainment Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist
• WINNER: Tomorrow People - BBQ Reggae
• Lapi Mariner - Go Back
• Runtingz Family - Runtingz Anthem
Flava Best International Pacific Artist Award:
• WINNER: Jaro Local - Dakini Tangarareh
• Bobby Alu - Move
• Kaiit - Live From Her Room EP
SIT/MAINZ Best Producer Award:
• WINNER: Kings & 10A - Lov3 & 3go
• SmokeyGotBeatz - The Most Electrifying, SWIDT
• Baccyard - Melo & Blues, Melodownz
NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:
• WINNER: Villette Money - directed by Parker Howell, Baron VR
• Razé X Edy - Not About You, directed by Kiel Tutin & Edward Liu
• Sonatane Kaufusi - Birdie, directed by: Dave Thomson, Imaginary Friends
• SWIDT - Who Run It directed by 10Daniel16
APRA Best Pacific Song
• WINNER: Kings - 6 Figures written by Kingdon Chapple-Wilson
• Church & AP - Ready or Not written by Elijah Manu, Albert Purcell
• Punialava’a - Ana le Seanoa’oe - written by Rev. Iosefa Lale Peteru
SunPix Best Pacific Language
• WINNER: Punialava’a Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow O ananafi, O nei ma Taeao
• Adeaze A Mother's Love
• Sammy Atoa Samoa Finau
Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album Award:
• WINNER: Tomorrow People - BBQ Reggae
• Kings - Lov3 & 3go
• SWIDT - The Most Electrifying
Phillip Fuemana Award – Most Promising Pacific Artist
• WINNER: Melodownz
NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award
• WINNER: General Fiyah feat Three Houses Down – Here To Stay
NZ On Air Streaming Award
• WINNER: Kings – Don’t Worry About It
SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist
• WINNER: Tomorrow People
Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award
• WINNER: Her Majesty Queen Sālote Tupou lll