And SWIDT are in the lead.
Auckland hip-hop collective SWIDT. Photo: Supplied
Hot on the heels of the fiercely debated APRA Silver Scrolls awards ceremony, the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards nominations were released this morning proving, in a development that should surprise no one, that Aaradhna knows best.
A year after the Brown Girl singer gave her award for best Urban artist to SWIDT, calling them the “future of hip-hop” (and making a speech that ultimately led to the ~problematic~ category being retired), the Onehunga collective, who released their amazing debut album STONEYHUNGA in July, lead the 2017 nominations.
With six nominations, the group are in the running for Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year, Vodafone Single of the Year, Best Group, Best Hip Hop Artist, and Vodafone People’s Choice, while member SmokeyGotBeatz is up for Massey University Best Producer at the Artisan Awards.
Also in the running are Silver Scrolls finalists Aldous Harding and Nadia Reid who, along with TEEKS and Fazerdaze, are nominated for the Breakthrough Artist of the year award.
Scrolls winner and international wunderkind Lorde is also, of course, destined to clean up with five nominations for Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year, Vodafone Single of the Year, Three Best Solo Artist, The Edge Best Pop Artist, and Vodafone People’s Choice.
While there is no word yet on who will be the Legacy Award recipient to be inducted into the New Zealand Hall of Fame this year, the awards are set to be a celebration of new and established talent, with beloved performers like David Dallas and Ladi6 nominated alongside up and comers like Theia, MAALA and Alien Weaponry.
With the awards taking place on November 16th at 8.30pm (And broadcast live on channel three for your viewing pleasure), SWIDT, TEEKS, Theia, Devilskin and (wow!) Lorde are set to perform, along with two as-yet-unannounced “special performances”. No word on whether we will again have the rare pleasure of another witty Jono and Ben hosting gig, but cross your fingers and toes.
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VNZMA 2017 Finalists
Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year
Aldous Harding – ‘Party’
David Dallas – ‘Hood Country Club’
Fazerdaze – ‘Morningside’
LEISURE – ‘LEISURE’
Lorde – ‘Melodrama’
SWIDT – ‘Stoneyhunga‘
Vodafone Single of the Year
David Dallas – “Fit In”
Ladi6 – “Royal Blue”
Lorde – “Green Light”
MAALA – “In My Head”
SWIDT – “Player Of The Day”
Theia – “Roam”
Best Group
Devilskin
LEISURE
Shapeshifter
SWIDT
THREE Best Solo Artist
Aldous Harding
KINGS
Lorde
Nadia
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Aldous Harding
Fazerdaze
Nadia Reid
TEEKS
Best Rock Artist
Clap Clap Riot
Devilskin
Graham Brazier
The Edge Best Pop Artist
Lorde
Mitch James
Theia
Best Alternative Artist
Aldous Harding
Fazerdaze
Nadia Reid
Best Soul/RnB Artist
Ladi6
TEEKS
Tommy Nee
Best Hip Hop Artist
David Dallas
KINGS
SWIDT
Best Roots Artist
Israel Starr
Sons of Zion
Tomorrow People
Best Electronic Artist
Chaos In The CBD
K+Lab
Truth
Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Artist
Alien Weaponry
Maisey Rika
TEEKS
Best Worship Artist
Curate Music
Josh & Amberley Klinkenberg
Juliagrace
Best Classical Artist
Jenny McLeod
NZTrio
Te Kōkī Trio
Vodafone People’s Choice Award
Lorde
KINGS
MAALA
SWIDT
Theia
Artisan Awards
NZ On Air Best Music Video
Dan Watkins (Reel Factory) – Her (Shapeshifter)
Joel Kefali – Got It Bad (LEISURE)
Sam Kristofski – Lucky Girl (Fazerdaze)
Best Album Cover
Dean Poole & Tyrone Ohia (Alt Group) – ‘Stars’ (Shapeshifter)
Henrietta Harris – ‘Otherness’ (Grayson Gilmour)
Jamie Robertson – ‘String Theory’ (Fly My Pretties)
Massey University Best Producer
Ben Edwards – ‘Preservation’ (Nadia Reid)
LEISURE – ‘LEISURE’ (LEISURE)
SmokeyGotBeatz – ‘Stoneyhunga’ (SWIDT)
Best Engineer
Ben Edwards – ‘Preservation’ (Nadia Reid)
Chris Chetland – ‘A Place to Stand’ (REI)
Clint Murphy – ‘Be Like The River’ (Devilskin)
