L.A.B at the 2021 Aotearoa Music Awards Photo: SUPPLIED/ Stijl
L.A.B has secured their spot in award history, by taking out the same four Tūī for second year running.
L.A.B's success story continues with the group taking home Recorded Music NZ Te Pukaemi o te Tau Album of The Year for their fifth album L.A.B. V.
Along with this, the group won Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau Single of the Year for Mr Reggae, Te Roopu Toa Best Group and Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa Best Roots Artist.
Country singer-songwriter Tami Neilson won three awards for her album Kingmaker - her 6th Te Kaipuoro Tuawhenua Toa Best Country Artist, Te Kaipuoro Takitahi Toa Best Solo Artist, and Massey University Te Kaiwhakaputa Toa Best Producer.
Neilson's Best Producer nod makes her the first solo female to win the award since Bic Runga in 2006.
Tami Neilson performing at RNZ Photo: Andre Upston/RNZ
Rob Ruha was recognised as the Te Kaipuoro Awe Toa Best Soul/RnB Artist for his album Preservation of Scenery.
Under his mentorship, Te Tairāwhiti tira waiata Ka Hao received Te Māngai Pāho Te Kaipuoro Māori Toa Best Māori Artist and the Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo Tūī for Ka Hao: One Tira, One Voice and 35 (ft. Rob Ruha) respectively.
Tauranga-based artist and first-time nominee Georgia Lines scooped the Tūī for Te Kaituhura Puoro Toa o te Tau Breakthrough Artist of the Year for her sophomore EP Human.
For the fourth year running, BENEE took home the Te Kaipuoro Arotini Toa Best Pop Artist.
The other winners included Waipu-based metal band Alien Weaponry for Te Kaipuoro Rakapioi Toa Best Rock Artist, Vera Ellen for Te Kaipuoro Manohi Toa | Best Alternative Artist for the critically acclaimed It's Your Birthday, first time nominee LEAPING TIGER for Te Kaipuoro Tāhiko Toa | Best Electronic Artist, and Robert Ashworth & Sarah Watkins for Te Kaipuoro Inamata Toa | Best Classical Artist for their album Moonstone - a collection of works by New Zealand composers.
Two-time 2022 Pacific Music Award winners Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan and P. Smith took home the Tūī for Te Kaipuoro Hipihope Toa Best Hip Hop Artist for The Panthers OST.
Six60 took home the Te Toa Hoko Teitei Highest Selling Artist for the fourth year running, along with Te Rikoata Marakerake o te Tau | Radio Airplay Record of the Year for the sixth time for their single Someone To Be Around.
BENEE at the 2021 Aotearoa Music Awards Photo: Stijl Ltd.
Announcing the Artisan Awards winners
Alongside the main awards finalists, the behind-the-scenes heroes of the hapori puoro were also announced.
While Neilson received Best Producer, the Tūī for Te Kaipukaha Toa Best Engineer went to Simon Gooding for his contributions to Tami's album.
L.A based Chelsea Jade Metcalf was awarded Te Toi Ataata Pukaemi Toa Best Album Artwork for her album Soft Spot.
Joel Kefali and Ella Yelich-O'Connor (Lorde) were recognised with the NZ On Air Te Kiko Puoro Ataata Toa Best Music Video Content for Lorde's music video Secrets from a Girl (Who's Seen It All).
Recorded Music New Zealand Kaiwhakahaere o Ngā Tohu Puoro o Aotearoa Sarah Owen said this year's awards were a testament to the passion and commitment displayed by the local music scene.
"Being able to see such deserving artists receive recognition for their art is an honour - such a broad range of recorded work with originality and artistry, showing the depth and breadth of talent in Aotearoa," Owen said.