Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards 2011

Media release finalists – 1
7 September, 2011


Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards 2011

The Naked and Famous, Ladi6 and Brooke Fraser lead finalists list

The finalists for the 2011 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards have been announced, with Auckland indie rock band The Naked and Famous leading the charge with six spots for their debut album Passive Me Aggressive You.

The band is up for six awards: Russian Standard Vodka Album of the Year, Vodafone Single of the Year, FOUR Best Group, Pacific Blue Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Best Alternative Album and Vodafone People’s Choice Award.

Close behind with five finalist spots each are Ladi6 and Brooke Fraser. Avalanche City, David Dallas, Six60 and Tiki Taane have received three finalist spots each. A full list of all awards accompanies this release.

The finalists were announced at a function this evening (7 September) at the HP and Intel Winter Garden in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter. The winning artists will be honoured at the 46th annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards held at Vector Arena, Auckland, on November 3, and broadcast that night on FOUR.

In addition to their six awards above, both The Naked and Famous and Ladi6 are also nominated for the NZ On Air Best Music Video award: The Naked and Famous for Punching In A Dream, directed by Special Problems, and Ladi6 for her hit single Like Water, directed by Faye McNeil. Rounding out the finalists in this category is Special Problems’ video of Zowie’s single Broken Machine.

The Naked and Famous’ debut album Passive Me Aggressive You also featured strongly in the Technical Awards, which were announced tonight (full details below). Band members Thom Powers and Aaron Short took home the MAINZ Best Engineer Award, with Olly Harmer, and the MAINZ Best Producer Award.

Also announced today was the recipient of the New Zealand Herald Legacy Award – Dragon. The band will be officially honoured at the main awards ceremony and will also be inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

Awards spokesperson and Recording Industry of New Zealand Managing Director Chris Caddick says he’s excited to see a mix of established and new artists and genres in the finalists’ line up.

“The finalists’ line-up is a fantastic testament to the strength and depth of New Zealand music across all genres in 2011. We’re really excited about the big night which we’re confident will be the best yet.”

Guests at the 3 November event will be treated to performances by Brooke Fraser, The Naked and Famous and Ladi6 – who have all interrupted their international tour schedule to return home and perform at New Zealand’s biggest night in music – as well as Six60, Tiki Taane and Avalanche City. There will also be a special appearance by music veterans Supergroove, who will be performing a tribute to this year’s Legacy Award winner Dragon.

Finalists
The Russian Standard Vodka Album of the Year Award 2011 sees tough competition, with The Naked and Famous (finalists for last year’s Gravity Coffee Critics’ Choice Prize) lining up against Ladi6 (The Liberation Of…), Brooke Fraser (Flags), Avalanche City (Our New Life Above The Ground) and David Dallas (The Rose Tint).

The Vodafone Single of The Year sees a similar line-up: The Naked and Famous (Young Blood), Avalanche City (Love Love Love), Ladi6 (Like Water) and Brooke Fraser (Something in the Water) in addition to Six60 (Rise Up 2.0).

In the FOUR Best Group category, the 2011 finalists include The Naked and Famous, Shihad and Kids of 88.

Meanwhile Tiki Taane battles it out against David Dallas and Stan Walker for the title of Best Male Artist; and Julia Deans goes head-to-head with Ladi6 and Brooke Fraser in the Best Female Artist category.

Technical Award Winners
The MAINZ Best Engineer Award has been awarded to Thom Powers, Aaron Short and Olly Harmer for their work on the band’s debut album Passive Me Aggressive You.

Powers and Short also take out the MAINZ Best Producer Award.

The winner of the Best Album Cover is Nick Keller for his work on Beastwars’ self-titled album.

Critics’ Choice Prize
The 2011 line-up for the Gravity Coffee Critics’ Choice Prize has also been revealed, with rising star Kimbra pitted against Auckland band Popstrangers and Christchurch band The Unfaithful Ways.

Established in 2010, this prize is aimed at recognising up-and-coming artists and potential future Tui winners. The three artists will battle it out at the showcase event at the Kings Arms Tavern in Auckland on October 6 where a winner will be announced live.

ends

© Scoop Media