Fazerdaze, Lorde, Stan Walker and Earth Tongue have taken out the top awards at the Aotearoa Music Awards in Tāmaki Makaurau.
There was fierce competition for the album of the year and best solo artist categories, which had Aaradhna, Stan Walker, Georgia Lines, Troy Kingi, and Kaylee Bell among the finalists, but Fazerdaze (whose real name is Amelia Murray) took out both awards for her third album, Soft Power.
The 32-year-old disappeared from the limelight for a few years after the smash success of debut album Morningside in 2017. She told RNZ her latest album was about crafting her own version of womanhood and adulthood, away from people’s expectations.
Stan Walker’s single Māori ki te Ao, sung in te reo Māori, won te māngai pāho mana reo award, which recognises recordings with at least 50% te reo Māori content.
The 34-year-old, who was a finalist in five categories this year, was also recognised as best Māori artist.
The biggest night on the Kiwi music calendar is celebrating its 60th anniversary. (Source: 1News)
Grammy award-winning singer Lorde (aka Ella Yelich-O’Connor) won single of the year for her Girl, so confusing featuring lorde collaboration with British pop star Charli XCX.
The 28-year-old Kiwi has been promoting her upcoming album Virgin with surprise appearances in Sydney and Auckland, and recently revealed to Rolling Stone magazine she had been battling an eating disorder.
Berlin-based doom fuzz duo Earth Tongue (Gussie Larkin and Ezra Simons) landed the best group gong for their second album, Great Haunting.
Te Manu Mātārae category award, which was introduced last year to acknowledge artists that have made a significant impact on the music landscape, was given to funk soul powerhouse L.A.B and record producer 9Lives (Maxwell Jardine).
L.A.B also nabbed the radio airplay record of the year while veterans Six60 were recognised as the highest-selling artist.
Full list of winners
NZ On Air Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year
Fazerdaze – Soft Power
Spotify Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year
Lorde – ‘Girl, so confusing featuring lorde’ (Charli xcx, Lorde)
Spotify Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist
Fazerdaze – Soft Power
Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group
Earth Tongue – Great Haunting
People’s Choice Award
Devilskin
Te Manu Mātārae
9Lives
L.A.B
Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo
Stan Walker – ‘Māori Ki Te Ao’
Te Māngai Pāho Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist
Stan Walker
Te Iti Rearea o te Tau | Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Hori Shaw
Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist
Jim Nothing – Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn
Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist
Jian Liu – Where Fairburn Walked
Te Manu Taki Tuawhenua o te Tau | Best Country Music Artist
Tami Neilson – Neilson Sings Nelson
Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist
MOKOTRON – WAEREA
Te Manu Taki Ahurea o te Tau | Best Folk Artist
Holly Arrowsmith – Blue Dreams
Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau | Best Hip Hop Artist
David Dallas – Vita
Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau | Best Jazz Artist
Lucien Johnson – Ancient Relics
Te Manu Taki Arotini o te Tau | Best Pop Artist
Cassie Henderson – The Yellow Chapter
Te Manu Taki Rakapioi o te Tau | Best Rock Artist
DARTZ – Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One
Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau | Best Roots Artist
Corrella – Skeletons
Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist
Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender
Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork
Matt Sinclair – Neilson Sings Nelson (Tami Neilson)
Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer
Simon Gooding – Safar (CHAII)
NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content
Oscar Keys, Ezra Simons, Kristin Li – ‘Paradise’ (DARTZ)
Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer
Nic Manders – The Rose Of Jericho (Georgia Lines)
Te Taumata o te Hokona | Highest Selling Artist
Six60
NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Horapa | Radio Airplay Record of the Year
L.A.B
By Isra’a Emhail of rnz.co.nz
