The finalists for the 2019 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards have just been announced, with alternative artists including Aldous Harding, The Beths, Troy Kingi and Avantdale Bowling Club leading the pack.
Troy Kingi, Aldoud Harding, Tom Scott and The Beths are all nominated for multiple awards at this year's NZ Music Awards Photo: Supplied
The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards take place on Thursday, November 14 from 6.30pm. RNZ Music will have extensive coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the RNZ website.
And the finalists are...
Indie pop band The Beths have been nominated in an impressive five categories this year: Best Alternative Artist, Best Group, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year for ‘Little Death’.
Skip to full list of finalists.
The Beths released their critically acclaimed debut album Future Me Hates Me in August of 2018. It includes the Silver Scroll-nominated song ‘Happy/Unhappy’.
Folk-pop musician Aldous Harding is a finalist in four categories: Best Solo Artist, Best Alternative Artist, Album of the Year for Designer, and Single of the Year for ‘The Barrel’, which is also nominated for New Zealand’s top songwriting award, the Silver Scroll.
Aldous released her third album Designer earlier in 2019. Her 2017 album Party was a chart-topper and earned her two NZ Music Awards that same year – Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Best Alternative Artist).
Nineteen-year-old pop sensation Benee is also nominated for four awards: Best Solo Artist, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Best Pop Artist and Single of the Year for ‘Soaked’.
Benee’s debut single ‘Soaked’, released in September 2018, has been streamed over 24 million times. She released her debut EP Fire On Marzz in June this year and she’s been touring extensively in New Zealand and abroad.
Kiwi hip hop artist Tom Scott’s jazz-inspired project Avantdale Bowling Club is up for three awards: Best Solo Artist, Best Hip Hop Artist and Album of the Year.
The project was three years in the making, but only took one week to reach #1 in the NZ Album Charts. Tom describes it as ‘a self-help book addressed to myself’.
Northland psych/reggae/soul musician Troy Kingi is up for Best Māori Artist and Best Roots Artist.
Troy is on a mission to create 10 albums in 10 years in 10 different genres. His third and latest instalment is 70s roots reggae album Holy Colony Burning Acres, a deeply personal and spiritual examination of the plight of First Nations peoples around the world.
Troy won Best Soul/RnB and Best Māori Artist in 2018.
Founded by the legendary Kora brothers Brad and Stu, L.A.B. are finalists for Best Group and Best Roots Artist. The group have established a name for themselves as a cornerstone of the Kiwi summer circuit.
Their unique blend of soulful-rock and electronic-funk continues on their second album L.A.B II released at the end of last year.
Full list of finalists:
Album of the Year | Te Pukaemi o te Tau
- Aldous Harding – Designer
- Avantdale Bowling Club – Avantdale Bowling Club
- The Beths – Future Me Hates Me
- Broods – Don’t Feed The Pop Monster
- Mitch James – Mitch James
- Marlon Williams – Live at Auckland Town Hall
Vodafone Single of the Year | Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau
- Aldous Harding – ‘The Barrell’
- BENEE – ‘Soaked’
- The Beths – ‘Little Death’
- Church & AP – ‘Ready or Not’
- Drax Project – ‘All This Time’
- Six60 – ‘The Greatest’
Best Group | Te Roopu Toa
- Beastwars - IV
- The Beths – Future Me Hates Me
- Broods – Don’t Feed The Pop Monster
- L.A.B. – L.A.B. II
THREE Best Solo Artist | Te Kaipuoro Takitahi Toa
- Aldous Harding - Designer
- Avantdale Bowling Club – Avantdale Bowling Club
- BENEE – FIRE ON MARZZ
- Mitch James – Mitch James
Smirnoff Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Te Kaituhura Puoro Toa o te Tau
- BAYNK
- BENEE
- The Beths
- Church & AP
Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Artist | Te Kaipuoro Māori Toa
- Louis Baker
- Rei
- Troy Kingi
The Edge Best Pop Artist | Te Kaipuoro Arotini Toa
- BENEE
- Broods
- Mitch James
Best Alternative Artist | Te Kaipuoro Manohi Toa
- Aldous Harding
- The Beths
- Tiny Ruins
Best Soul/RnB Artist | Te Kaipuoro Awe Toa
- Bailey Wiley
- Louis Baker
- Rei
Best Hip Hop Artist | Te Kaipuoro Hipihope Toa
- Avantdale Bowling Club
- Church & AP
- Diggy Dupè
Best Roots Artist | Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa
- L.A.B
- Lost Tribe Aotearoa
- Troy Kingi
Best Electronic Artist | Te Kaipuoro Tāhiko Toa
- Pacific Heights
- Sweet Mix Kids
- TALI
Best Rock Artist | Te Kaipuoro Rakapioi Toa
- Beastwars
- Racing
- Villainy
Best Worship Artist | Te Kaipuoro Kairangi Toa
- Equippers Worship
- Harbourside Worship
- Jules Riding
Best Classical Artist | Te Kaipuoro Inamata Toa
- The Linkwood Guitar Duo
- Michael Houstoun & Bella Hristova
- Simon O’Neill
Music Teacher of the Year | Kaiārahi Puoro o te Tau
- Duncan Ferguson – St Andrews College, Christchurch
- Jane Egan – Gisborne Girls High School, Gisborne
- Sue Banham – Rosehill College, Papakura, Auckland
Legacy Award | Tohu Whakareretanga
Th’ Dudes
Additional Tuis presented in 2019
Best Folk Artist | Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa
- Winner: The Frank Burkitt Band – Raconteur
- Great North – The Golden Age
- Jono Heyes – 9 Pilgrims
Best Pacific Music Album | Te Pukaemi Toa o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa
- Winner: Tomorrow People – BBQ Reggae
- Kings – Lov3 & 3go
- SWIDT – The Most Electrifying
Best Country Artist | Te Kaipuoro Tuawhenua Toa
- Winner: Jenny Mitchell – Wildfires
- Jamie McDell – Extraordinary Girl
- Tami Neilson – Sassafrass!
Best Jazz Artist | Te Kaipuoro Tautito Toa
- Winner: GRG67 – The Thing
- Antipodes – Good Winter
- Dog – No Dogs Allowed
Best Children’s Artist | Te Kaipuoro Waiata Tamariki Toa
- Winner: Craig Smith – Not Just For Kids 2
- Marian Burns – Songs For Kids
- Anna van Riel – Fishing For Stars
