Record number of entries and finalists for the 2021 Pacific Music Awards

After a thriving 12 months, this evening we announced the finalists for the 2021 Pacific Music Awards at an event at The Alexander Cafe, Otara, Auckland.

This year, we have 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.

Tamaki 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.

Other finalists include:

– Diggy Dupe (Base FM & Island Base Samoa Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist)

– DJ Noiz (Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist)

– Emily Muli (Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist)

– Erakah (531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist)

– Hawkins (NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist)

– J Boog (Niu FM Best International Pacifc Artist)

– Jawsh 685 (Best Producer, APRA Best Pacific Song)

– Jordan Gavet (Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist)

– Lomez Brown (Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist)

– Loopy Tunes Preschool Music (SunPix Best Pacific Language)

– Marley Sola (531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist)

– Melodownz (NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, Base FM & Island Base Samoa Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist)

– Mr Cowboy (Niu FM Best International Pacifc Artist)

– Raggadat Cris (Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist)

– Samson Squad (SunPix Best Pacific Language)

– Shepherds Reign (Flava Best Pacific Group, SunPix Best Pacific Language)

– STNDRD (Flava Best Pacific Group)

– Team Dynamite (Flava Best Pacific Group, APRA Best Pacific Song)

– Tenelle (Niu FM Best International Pacifc Artist)

– TY (531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist)

– Valle (NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video)

– Victor J Sefo (Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist)

Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua said: “This year we celebrate the music created and released in 2020.With the Covid-19 environment, this was one of our most unique and challenging times that we have all experienced. We are heartened by the immense talent, determination and resilience shown by our Pacific artists.”

“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. We are grateful that our artists can draw from a very rich Pacific history and continue to determine their own pathways forward.”

“We proudly announce the 2021 finalists and acknowledge the dynamic diversity of the artists and their music. We look forward to the 2021 Pacific Music Awards and to collectively celebrating our amazing Pacific music community.”

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.

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

– Valle– 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 SamoaBest Pacific Hip Hop Artist:

– Church & AP – At Thy Feet

– Diggy Dupe – 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