The Wireless

Our guide to the NZ Music Awards

14:45 pm on 17 November 2016
Katie Parker, Digital Journalist

Chaos reigns but the show must go on.

 
 
 

Broods won big at the 2015 VNZMAs. Photo: Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Times are tough: The world is literally falling away beneath our feet; a consummate bigot prepares to take over the free world; cows are winning our hearts and minds; Brian Tamaki is back; and we fall to the mercy of a giant malevolent moon.

But, as we all know, the show must go on - and once again, it’s time for the Vodafone NZ Music Awards.

Leading the awards are Broods with five nominations, including Album of the Year, Single of the Year, People’s Choice Award,  Best Group and Best Pop Album. Having cleaned up last years awards with five wins, and still climbing the mountain of success with their sophomore effort Conscious, the brother and sister electro-pop duo are on a hot streak. They may be too busy to attend the awards tonight, but the odds are high for them to win big once more.
 
They stand alongside some great nominees - Aaradhna, SWIDT, Leisure and MAALA all deserve to be in with in a winning chance - and with Bic Runga picking up her slightly premature, but still very much deserved Legacy Award.

The potential for greatness is there, just within our grasp and right when we need it most.

 
 
Awards shows are always hit and miss, and as you may recall last year’s VNZMA’s were a bit of a stinker: Dominic Bowden talked over a haka; The Māori Language category was somehow excluded from the televised broadcast; Dom Harvey continued to exist; even known lovely man Taika Waititi seemed strangely awkward and out of sync as the night’s host.
 
If we have learned anything lately no one can predict the future, and neither I nor anyone else can tell you what will go down tonight. Jono and Ben are hosting so who knows. But with some awesome contenders, a public deeply in need of morale, and a very worthwhile livestream maybe things are finally looking up.
 

What: The 51st Vodafone NZ Music Awards

When: Tonight 8:30pm, broadcast live on TV3.  

Where: Vector Arena, Auckland, land of the insensitive fireworks

Who: Feel free to peruse this handy list of nominees...

 

Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year

Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’

Broods – ‘Conscious’

Fat Freddy’s Drop – ‘BAYS’

Hollie Smith – ‘Water Or Gold’

Tami Neilson – ‘Don’t Be Afraid’

The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Give Up Your Dreams’

 

Vodafone Single of the Year

Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’

Broods – ‘Free’

KINGS – 'Don't Worry Bout' It'

MAALA – ‘Kind of Love’

The Naked and Famous – ‘Higher’

Shapeshifter – ‘Stars’

 

Best Group

Broods – ‘Conscious’

Fat Freddy’s Drop – ‘BAYS’

The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Give Up Your Dreams’

Sol3Mio – ‘On Another Note’

 

Best Male Solo Artist

Avalanche City – ‘We Are For The Wild Places’

Dave Dobbyn – ‘Harmony House’

Lawrence Arabia – ‘Absolute Truth’

MAALA – ‘Composure’

 

Fiji Airways Best Female Solo Artist

Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’

Hollie Smith – ‘Water Or Gold’

Ladyhawke – ‘Wild Things’

Tami Neilson – ‘Don’t Be Afraid’

 

Breakthrough Artist of the Year

KINGS – 'Don't Worry Bout' It'

Leisure – All Over You’

nomad – ‘Oh My My’

SACHI – ‘Lunch with Bianca’

 

Best Rock Album

Beastwars – ‘The Death Of All Things’

Jordan Luck Band – ‘Not Only… But Also’

Villainy – ‘Dead Sight’

 

The Edge Best Pop Album

Avalanche City – ‘We Are For The Wild Places’

Broods – ‘Conscious’

MAALA – ‘Kind of Love’

 

Best Alternative Album

Lawrence Arabia – ‘Absolute Truth’

The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Give Up Your Dreams’

Silicon – ‘Personal Computer’

 

Best Urban/Hip Hop Album

Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’

PNC – The Luke Vailima EP

SWIDT – ‘SmokeyGotBeatz Presents SWIDT vs EVERYBODY’

 

Best Roots Album

Fat Freddy’s Drop – ‘BAYS’

Rob Ruha – ‘Pūmau’

Unity Pacific – ‘Blackbirder Dread’

 

Best Electronic Album

Electric Wire Hustle – ‘Aeons’

Opiuo – ‘Omniversal’

Pacific Heights – ‘The Stillness’

 

Te Mangai Paho Best Maori Album

Dennis Marsh – ‘Maori Songbook 2’

Kirsten Te Rito – ‘Āiotanga’

Rob Ruha – ‘Pūmau’

 

Best Worship Album

Edge Kingsland – ‘Edge Vol. 3: The Common Good’

Grace Vineyard Music – ‘Seek You’

LIFE Worship – ‘By My Spirit’

 

Best Classical Album

Anthony Ritchie and Ross Harris – ‘Fjarran’

Kenneth Young – ‘Shadows and Light’

Zephyr – ‘Zephyr’

 

Vodafone People’s Choice Award

Broods

Fat Freddy’s Drop

KINGS

MAALA

Sol3Mio