New category – Best Music Video

PRESS RELEASE 10
Friday, September 7, 2012

New category – Best Music Video

Five finalists have been selected for the inaugural New Zealand On Air Best Music Video, which will be contested for the first time as part of this year’s National Waiata Maori Music Awards.

The five finalists include Pounamu by Ahorangi featuring Sidney Diamond (video made by Sani Sagala); Papatuanuku by Te Awanui Reeder (video made by Luke Sharpe); My Baby by Pieter T (video made by Anthony Plant); Best Of Me by Ria Hall (video made by Jessica Sanderson) and Is Our Love Worth Fighting For by Tiki Taane (video made by Gareth Moon).

Te Awanui Reeder, formerly with Nesian Mystic, was also named a finalist in the Best Male Maori Solo Artist, Best Song by a Maori Artist and Best Maori Songwriter categories.

He said being named a finalist in the new music video category was the “icing on the cake” marking the strength of his new successful solo career.

“I’m really happy about the video because it was funded by Te Mangai Paho which encouraged me to take the reo content up to 30 of the song.

“So thanks to them, they’ve given me the opportunity and resources to do it well and it’s ended being a really cool showcase for our culture and music in a mainstream forum.

“That was the whole goal, not just to be classified World Music but for it to be good enough so it can compete on a mainstream level.”

The video Papatuanuku, shows black and white images revealing the damage people are inflicting on the earth. Some of the footage used is from actual camera work captured during Cyclone Katrina in the US.

“I wanted to look at how we as humans treat papatuanuku and our role, and my role, in that problem.

“When I explored it I saw how useless we are and I had to admit to papatuanuku I am really sorry that I have played a part in this mess, and that I can’t stop it but I can limit the effect I have on you.”

Reeder worked with Che Fu who features in the song and video. It was directed by Luke Sharpe, who has worked on other videos for Nesian Mystic.

Best Music Video finalist Ria Hall is also a finalist in the Best Female Maori Solo Artist category, along with Jess Harlen (based in the US), Ahorangi Winitana (Auckland), Kirsten Te Rito and Toni Huata (both based in Wellington).

Hall said she was “speechless” to find out she’d been named a finalist in the music video category for her work on Best Of Me.

“ I wanted the video to be something different, something creative, artistically beautiful and powerful.

“I'm not really a person who follows trends and like my music, this video is a great reflection of that philosophy. It's special because its something you haven't seen before, it's completely unique in it's style.”

She said the director Jessica Sanderson “did an amazing job” with the final production and deserved the acknowledgement.

“I'm extremely glad there is a category for music videos, as videos really show the depth of the music, and allows the director and artist to be creative in another forum, and this takes a high level of skill and dedication.

“There have always been Maori artists making videos, but now NZ on Air have taken notice of the talent that is coming through and acknowledging it accordingly through this new award. Me mihi ka tika ki a NZ on Air, ngā mihi!”

Reeder and Hall will be among a host of guest performers to appear at this year’s National Waiata Maori Music Awards ceremony on the evening of Friday, September 14, at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings.

ends

© Scoop Media