April 16, 2009
Four to the floor
The finalists for the 2009 S³ Pacific Music Awards have been announced with Ladi 6 and Nesian Mystik both named in four
categories each.
Ladi 6 is a finalist for her highly anticipated and long awaited debut solo album, ‘Time is Not Much’ in the Pacific
Blue Best Pacific Female Artist, Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist and the S³ Best Pacific Music Album categories.
She is also a finalist in the APRA Best Pacific Song category for her catchy single, ‘Walk Right Up’. An MC as well as a
renowned vocalist, Ladi 6 is known for her energetic live performances, sublime soulful vocals and conscious lyrics.
Nesian Mystik is a finalist for their album, ‘Elevator Musiq’, in the Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artitst, Radio 531P1
Best Pacific Group and the S³ Best Pacific Music Album categories.
Number 1 smash hit, ‘Nesian 101’, has earned the band a place as finalist in the APRA Best Pacific Song category.
Their cultural backgrounds unite a remarkable diversity of Polynesia in bringing together Maori, Tongan, Samoan and Cook
Island ancestry leading to the group becoming one of the biggest names in New Zealand music.
Altogether 12 artists and groups have been announced as finalists at a function in Manukau City tonight (16 April)
hosted by His Worship Mayor Len Brown and the Manukau City Council.
Also up for more than one award are Angela Afeaki and Devolo.
Angela Afeaki is a finalist for the Pacific Blue Best Pacific Female Artist with her album ‘Tongan Rendezvous’ and the
APRA Best Pacific Song award for her single ‘Happy Happy Tonga’.
Devolo is in the running for the NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist and the Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist
award with his album ‘Heaven & Hell’.
“The S³ (pron: ess-cubed) Pacific Music Awards 2009 finalist list is a mix of previous winners and finalists with fresh
new entrants covering a variety of music from new reggae sounds and traditional Pacific language music to Pasifika hip
hop,” says Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua.
“We welcome again, for the second year, our naming rights sponsor - S³ - a project dedicated to the survival of our
young people on the roads of Aotearoa and a positive message that the Pacific Music Awards Trust is delighted to
support.”
The awards are in their fifth year and winners are to be announced at an event celebrating and honouring Pacific music
and artists at Manukau City’s TelstraClear Pacific venue on May 23.
A new People’s Choice Award was introduced to the line-up for the Best Pacific Artist last year and is in the mix once
more for 2009. All category finalists are eligible for this award with the public able to cast their vote by logging
onto www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz.
Tickets for the awards ceremony will be available from May 1st through TicketDirect. www.ticketdirect.co.nz
0800 224 224
(Please note a booking fee may apply)
The full list of finalists for the 2009 S³ Pacific Music Awards is:
PACIFIC BLUE BEST PACIFIC FEMALE ARTIST
Ladi 6 ‘Time is Not Much’
Angela Afeaki ‘Tongan Rendezvous’
Iva Lamkum ‘Iva Lamkum EP’
NZ MUSIC COMMISSION BEST PACIFIC MALE ARTIST
Devolo ‘Heaven & Hell’
Mareko ‘White Sunday 2: The Book of Mark’
Vince Harder “Strobelight”
NIU FM BEST PACIFIC URBAN ARTIST
Devolo ‘Heaven & Hell’
Ladi 6 ‘Time is Not Much’
Nesian Mystik ‘Elevator Musiq’
RADIO 531PI BEST PACIFIC GROUP
Cydel “There’s A Place”
Horsemen Family ‘My Shout’
Nesian Mystik ‘Elevator Musiq’
APRA BEST PACIFIC SONG
Angela Afeaki “Happy Happy Tonga” (A. Afeaki/W. Afeaki/J. Afeaki)
Ladi 6 “Walk Right Up” (K. Tamati/B. Park)
Nesian Mystik “Nesian 101” (Atai/Manukau/McNulty/Reeder/Rikiau/Strickson-Pua)
BEST PACIFIC GOSPEL ALBUM
St Pauls Methodist Church Otara ‘2008 Choir’
South Auckland Community Church Band ‘Set Us Free’
Oyster Music – various artists ‘The Gospel According to….’
S³ BEST PACIFIC MUSIC ALBUM
Angela Afeaki ‘Tongan Rendezvous’
Ladi 6 ‘Time is Not Much’
Nesian Mystik ‘Elevator Musiq’
ends