Music Awards Finalists: Lorde, Sol3 Mio Top 2014 Tuis Charge

Media release – for publication after 7pm today Finalists 1
October 16, 2014

VODAFONE NZ MUSIC AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Lorde and Sol3 Mio Top 2014 Tuis Charge
Tui stalwarts take out Legacy Award

The countdown is on. With only 35 days until the country’s biggest night in music kicks off Recorded Music NZ has revealed the artists in the running for Tui glory at the 49th annual Vodafone NZ Music Awards.

Lorde has taken the music world by storm during the past year and she co-leads the 2014 Tui charge with five finalist spots. Joining her is newcomer family opera trio, Sol3 Mio. They are followed closely by Ladi6 and David Dallas, both up for four awards each.

Other front runners include previous Critics’ Choice nominees The Naked And Famous, the hugely popular sibling duo Broods, solo-act turned band Tiny Ruins and seasoned Tui winner and 2013 VNZMA co-host Stan Walker – all claiming three spots each.

Liam Finn gains two finalist nods, as do roots artists House of Shem and Tama Waipara.

The line-up was revealed at a star-studded event at the Pullman Auckland Hotel this evening (October 16).

Recorded Music New Zealand Chief Executive Damian Vaughan says it’s great to see a variety of musical talent being celebrated.

“It has been a phenomenal year for NZ music across a variety of genres – from pop to opera, hip hop to rock. It shows the strong diversity in musical tastes and talents across NZ,” Vaughan says

“And the international acclaim and success our artists have been enjoying clearly shows that Kiwis produce world class music.

“Recorded Music NZ is incredibly proud of all of the talented finalists and we look forward to celebrating the winners at the main Vodafone NZ Music Awards event.”

International sensation Lorde’s five places are for Mentos Album of the Year, Vodafone Single of the Year, Best Female Solo Artist, The Edge Best Pop Album and Vodafone People’s Choice. Her album Pure Heroine also grabs spots for Joel Little in the Best Producer and Best Engineer categories.

Sol3 Mio rose to fame at the end of 2013, topping the End of Year Album Charts. This year they enter their first Music Awards as co-leaders of the pack. Their award nods include Mentos Album of the Year, Steinlager Pure Best Group, Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Vodafone People’s Choice. The trio also claimed the Tui for 2014 Auckland Council Best Pacific Music Album at the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards in May.

Ladi6 was also a lead finalist at the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards and she’s continuing the trend at the VNZMAs. She’s a finalist in Mentos Album of the Year, Vodafone Single of the year, Best Female Solo Artist and Best Urban / Hip Hop Album for Automatic.

He opened for global rap sensation Eminem this year and now David Dallas is adding four Tui finalist nods to his accolades. He is a finalist for Vodafone Single of the Year, Best Male Solo Artist, Vodafone People’s Choice and Best Urban/ Hip-Hop Album.

The Naked And Famous are up for Mentos Album of the Year, Vodafone Single of the Year and Steinlager Pure Best Group. Broods claim their spots for Vodafone Single of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Vodafone People’s Choice. Tiny Ruins makes the grade in the Mentos Album of the Year, Best Female Solo Artist and Best Alternative Album categories. And Stan Walker is a finalist for Best Male Solo Artist, The Edge Best Pop Album and Vodafone People’s Choice Award.

In addition to celebrating the success of our talented artists, guests at the awards ceremony on November 20 can look forward to a big night of great Kiwi music with live performances by Tiny Ruins, Benny Tipene, Blacklistt, Sol3 Mio, Broods and David Dallas. There will also be a very special tribute performance dedicated to the NZ Herald Legacy Award recipient.

And if they can’t make it along to the arena on the night, fans all over the country can watch all the action in real time from their living rooms with the show being broadcast live on channel FOUR for the first time in its 49 year history.

The show is preceded by The Mentos Red Carpet Special from 6pm onwards, hosted by Sharyn Casey and Clint Roberts from The Edge Afternoons.

Legacy Award
The New Zealand Herald Legacy Award shines a light on classic Kiwi artists who have shaped the NZ music industry. And this year the honour goes to Tui stalwarts Supergroove.

The band was renamed on New Year’s Eve of 1989 / 1990 after previously being known as the Low-Down Dirty Blues Band. In 1994, they released their first album Traction – making this year the 20th anniversary of Supergroove’s debut album release.

Traction went multi-Platinum and took out the Tui for Best Album at the 1995 NZ Music Awards. From there the group went from strength to strength with the likes of Scorpio Girls, You Gotta Know and Sitting Inside My Head rocketing to Gold certification and the classic Kiwi anthem Can’t Get Enough hitting Platinum.

Between 1994 and 1997 Supergroove picked up seven Tuis. They then disbanded in 1997 but reformed again in 2007, four years after their ‘Best Of’ compilation Postage was released which was certified Gold.

Supergroove began touring again that year and was a headline act at the 2008 Big Day Out festival. They have also recently announced a winery tour kicking off at the end of this year.

Recorded Music New Zealand Chief Executive, Damian Vaughan says he’s thrilled to welcome Supergroove in to the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

“The NZ Herald Legacy Award is always a favourite, recognising the incredibly talented musicians who have shaped and influenced NZ’s musical landscape.

“Supergroove are Kiwi music legends and have had a huge impact on many of today’s artists. Their songs have become Kiwi anthems – the likes of Can’t Get Enough and You Gotta Know,” Vaughan says.

“I well remember growing up with the music of Supergroove and their songs still evoke some great memories. They are an extremely talented group and I am sure all of NZ and the music industry will join Recorded Music New Zealand in congratulating them as we welcome them to the NZ Music Hall of Fame.”

In addition to the stellar line-up of finalist performances on music awards night, there’s also a special tribute performance to Legacy Award recipient Supergroove.

Technical Award winners
The winners of the 2014 Technical Awards have also been revealed at the finalist announcement event with Lorde’s collaborator Joel Little taking out two of the three awards for Best Engineer and Best Producer.

Little claims his double award victory for his work on Lorde’s album Pure Heroine. The Best Album Cover Tui goes to Anna Taylor and Ken Clark for their photograph cover of Liam Finn’s The Nihilist.

NZ On Air Critics’ Choice Prize
This year marks the 25th anniversary for NZ On Air and as a way of showing its commitment to finding and encouraging new talent, the organisation is sponsoring the 2014 Critics’ Choice Prize showcase.

The 2014 line-up for the NZ On Air Critics’ Choice Prize includes three incredibly talented artists covering a variety of genres from soul to rap.

The soulful Estere makes this year’s short-list. She has already begun building a solid reputation and fan base – even landing the accolade of performing as the opening for Aloe Blacc on October 21.

The electric Lake South is also in the line-up and again has proven his laurels. His "downbeat anthem for disillusion" Good Keen Man was shortlisted for the APRA Silver Scroll.

And rounding out the line-up is rapper Randa. No stranger to the awards, Randa’s video for Frankenstein was a finalist in 2013 VNZMAs. Randa also performed at this year’s Big Day Out festival.

Established in 2010, the Critics’ Choice prize recognises up-and-coming artists and potential future Tui recipients. Past winners include Watercolours (2012) and multi-instrumentalist Sheep, Dog & Wolf (2013).

The three 2014 contenders perform a live showcase at The Kings Arms in Auckland on October 29 before the Tui recipient is announced on the night.

The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards categories are:

Mentos Album of the Year
Vodafone Single of the Year
Steinlager Pure Best Group
Best Male Solo Artist
Best Female Solo Artist
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
NZ On Air Best Music Video
The Edge Best Pop Album
Best Rock Album
Best Urban / Hip Hop Album
Best Electronica Album
Best Roots Album
Best Maori Album
Best Alternative Album
Best Gospel / Christian Album
Best Classical Album
Vodafone People’s Choice Award
New Zealand Herald Legacy Award

The International Achievement and Legacy Awards are judged by the Recorded Music NZ Board and awarded at the Board’s discretion. No finalists are announced for these categories.

Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.co.nz and cost just $25 including booking fees.

Follow the Awards news online: www.nzmusicawards.co.nz

For publication after 7pm today

VNZMA 2014 Finalists (by category)

1. Mentos Album of the Year
Ladi6 – ‘Automatic’
Lorde – ‘Pure Heroine’
Sol3 Mio – ‘Sol3 Mio’
The Naked And Famous – ‘In Rolling Waves’
Tiny Ruins – ‘Brightly Painted One’

2. Vodafone Single of the Year
Broods – ‘Bridges’
David Dallas – ‘Runnin’
Ladi6 – ‘Diamonds’
Lorde – ‘Team’
The Naked And Famous – ‘Hearts Like Ours’

3. Steinlager Pure Best Group
@Peace – ‘@Peace and the Plutonium Noise Symphony’
Sol3 Mio – ‘Sol3 Mio’
The Naked And Famous – ‘In Rolling Waves’

4. Best Male Solo Artist
David Dallas – ‘Falling Into Place’
Liam Finn – ‘The Nihilist’
Stan Walker – ‘Inventing Myself’

5. Best Female Solo Artist
Ladi6 – ‘Automatic’
Lorde – ‘Pure Heroine’
Tiny Ruins – ‘Brightly Painted One’

6. Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Broods
Doprah
Sol3 Mio

7. Best Rock Album
Blacklistt – ‘Blacklistt’
Clap Clap Riot – ‘Nobody/Everybody’
Ekko Park – ‘Tomorrow Tomorrow Today’

8. The Edge Best Pop Album
Benny Tipene – ‘Toulouse’
Lorde – ‘Pure Heroine’
Stan Walker – ‘Inventing Myself’

9. Best Alternative Album
Grayson Gilmour – ‘Infinite Life!’
Liam Finn – ‘The Nihilist’
Tiny Ruins – ‘Brightly Painted One’

10. Best Urban/Hip Hop Album
David Dallas – ‘Falling Into Place’
Ladi6 – ‘Automatic’
PNC – ‘The Codes’

11. Best Roots Album
House of Shem – ‘Harmony’
Mark Vanilau – ‘Dark Horizon’
Tama Waipara – ‘Fill Up The Silence’

12. Best Electronica Album
Bulletproof – ‘#Listen’
Opiuo – ‘Meraki’
Sorceress – ‘Dose’

13. NZ On Air Best Music Video
Campbell Hooper – ‘Hearts Like Ours’ (The Naked And Famous)
Thunderlips – ‘Stranger People’ (Doprah)
Tom Gould – ‘Runnin’ (David Dallas)

14. Best Maori Album
House of Shem – ‘Harmony’
Rob Ruha – ‘Tiki Tapu’
Tama Waipara – ‘Fill Up The Silence’

15. Best Gospel Christian Album
Lifestyle (of Worship) – ‘Lifestyle (of Worship)’
Mosaic Music – ‘You Surround’
Saving Grace – ‘The Urgency’

16. Best Classical Album
Dame Gillian Whitehead – ‘Alice’
Jack Body – ‘Poems of Love & War’
Voices 16 – ‘Voice of the Soul’

17. Best Album Cover
Winner: Anna Taylor & Ken Clark – ‘The Nihilist’ (Liam Finn)
Other finalists:
Henrietta Harris – ‘Infinite Life!’ (Grayson Gilmour)
Robert Wallace – ‘Automatic’ (Ladi6)

18. Best Producer
Winner: Joel Little – ‘Pure Heroine’ (Lorde)
Other finalists:
Thomas Healy – ‘Brightly Painted One’ (Tiny Ruins)
Thom Powers – ‘In Rolling Waves’ (The Naked And Famous)

19. Best Engineer
Winner: Joel Little – ‘Pure Heroine’ (Lorde)
Other finalists:
Doug Jane – ‘Waiata’ (Dame Kiri Te Kanawa)
Hayden Taylor – ‘Blacklistt’ (Blacklistt)

20. Vodafone People’s Choice Award
Lorde
Sol3 Mio
David Dallas
Broods
Stan Walker

21. NZ Herald Legacy Award
Supergroove

22. NZ On Air Critics’ Choice Prize line-up
Estére
Lake South
Randa

Additional Tuis presented in 2014:
23. Auckland Council Best Pacific Music Album:
Winner: Sol3 Mio – ‘Sol3 Mio’
Other finalists:
David Dallas – ‘Falling Into Place’
Ladi6 – ‘Automatic’

24. Best Country Album
Winner: Kaylee Bell – ‘Heart First’
Other finalists
Anna van Riel – ‘Whistle and Hum’
Marian Burns – ‘The Paris Sessions’

25. Best Folk Album
Winner: Tattletale Saints – ‘How Red is the Blood’
Other finalists
Into The East – ‘Fight From the Inside’
Chris Priestley – ‘Unsung Heroes’

26. Best Jazz Album
Winner: Nathan Haines – ‘Vermillion Skies’
Other finalists
Phil Broadhurst – ‘Flaubert’s Dance’
Reuben Bradley – ‘Mantis: The Music of Drew Menzies’

Follow the Awards news online: www.nzmusicawards.co.nz

NOTES:
No finalists are announced for the Vodafone Highest Selling Single, the Highest Selling NZ Album, NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award and the International Achievement awards. They are awarded at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards ceremony at Auckland’s Vector Arena on November 20.

This year the awards also coincide with the 25th anniversary of NZ On Air, a Platinum sponsor of the event.

For the first time ever the show is being broadcast live on channel FOUR meaning music fans all over the country can watch all the action in real time from their living rooms, thanks to NZ On Air.

About Recorded Music New Zealand: Recorded Music NZ is a non-profit industry representation and licensing organisation for recording artists and their labels. It divides its services into three main areas. The Member Services team delivers projects including the Vodafone NZ Music Awards, the weekly Official NZ Top40 Charts and the Music Grants programme. Recorded Music NZ’s licensing division administers broadcast and public performance licensing either directly or through its joint initiative with APRA called OneMusic. The Pro-Music team is dedicated to protecting and promoting the interests of artists and labels across the New Zealand recording industry.

About the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards: The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards is owned and hosted by Recorded Music NZ and produced for Recorded Music NZ by J&A Productions Limited.

About Vodafone: Vodafone is passionate about music and proud to be the principal sponsor partner of New Zealand’s premier music awards. Vodafone’s loyalty programme, Fantastic Fridays, rewards Vodafone customers and connects them to the things they love.

© Scoop Media