This past week has been huge for New Zealand music with the winners of both the NZ Music Awards and the Juice TV awards both being announced. At least not forgot the finalists for the bNet NZ Music Awards too!
Most people would have some idea what the results were, but here's a quick run-down of the highlights, and lowlights...
NZ Music Awards
As always, there are some artists that win more awards than others and that's hardly surprising, as there are multiple awards that overlap in some way or another. However, I think that the results for 2006 gave the best spread of all nominees I have seen in years.
Highlights for me were Bic Runga taking two awards (album of the year, female soloist of the year) for her album Birds. The Bleeders also did extremely well, taking out breakthrough artist and best rock album. Fat Freddy's Drop also deserve a mention, taking out three awards (music video, highest selling NZ album and people's choice) despite not releasing anything for all of 2006!
Lowlights, well there shouldn't be any, and we should just shut up about it and move on. But at the end of the day, surely we need to educate the general public that karaoke is not music and you shouldn't be buying it. Click here to see what I mean...
For a full list of the award winners, check out this article.
The 2006 Jim Beam Long Black Juice TV Awards
Ain't corporate sponsorship a bitch? Anyway, Jim Beam has been behind NZ music for years, both in sponsoring events and fuelling our thirsty concert-goers.
The Juice TV awards, the "unofficial" NZ Music Awards, but still an awards ceremony all the same. One positive aspect of these awards is that it includes no categories influenced by record sales - it's all based on airtime babee!
Looking down the list I would say the choices made were appropriate, but feel free to check it out yourself and have your own opinion.
The bNets
Let's not forget the bNet awards. The awards that you get to vote in. Do it now!
You can see all of the artists nominated on the bNet website. Voting for these closes December 1st, with the winner announced on December 16th.
Who are your favourite NZ bands and artists?
Blindspott, Shihad, The Bleeders, The Datsuns, Steriogram, The Valves, Stylus, Redline
What is your favourite NZ venue?
Hysteria Bar AUCKLAND also Dux De lux christchurch
What is the best thing about being in Fingerprint?
We would have to, say creating music that we all enjoy playing, we try to have a wide spread of music. At this stage we don't want to stick to one genre or style of playing yet as at each practice we come up with new idea, different riffs and patterns to play that sound good
What is the best live gig you have ever been to?
Rolling Stones
White stripes
Mudvayne
Shihad
Blindspott
Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?
Hopefully playing the main stage at big day out. to be all over the radio and be touring overseas playing to thousands of people and living where ever our music takes us.
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
mostly through myspace and email and talking to people at gigs before and after we've played
What rumour would you like to start about yourselves?
rumours are bad
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Have a certain element of seriousness to practices and recordings but don't stop having fun. also make sure that everyone in the band is heading towards the same goal what ever it may be
Roger Greenaway is a musician, multi-instrumentalist, family man and modern day balladeer. He has been writing and performing for as long as he can remember, and probably then some. Given the choice between music and breath, this is a man that would pause for consideration.
2004 saw Roger releasing his debut album 'Wayt', under the guidance of producers Justin Harwood (The Chills) and Riki Morris, through his own Sunshine Productions label. A thoughtful collection of contemplative rock and pop featuring the single 'Wise', it was followed up with two highly successful national club tours.
Not one to rest on his laurels, album number two, '40 Miles', is just over the horizon. The next step in Roger Greenaways personal evolution involves you. In stores early 2007.
Who are your favourite NZ bands and artists?
Prince Tui Teka, Riki Morris, Ritchie Pickett, the Finn brothers, Mixture, Shihad, Steriogram and The Dance Exponents...
What is your favourite NZ venue?
Playing... The Arc Cafe, soaking it up...Western Springs
What is the best live gig you have ever been to?
Definitely a tie between the Rolling Stones at Western Springs circa 94/95 and Soundgarden at BDO.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Recording music in a custom built studio and growing chillis.
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
At gigs, email via rogergreenaway.com or with the newly discovered wonders of myspace.
What rumour would you like to start about yourself?
That I wrote 'Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress'.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
The difference between inspiration and imitation is obvious, be innovative.
New Artists
Thrashing Marlin | Darktone |
DonkeyPunk | Moonlight Flit |
Siknik | Puppet |
Asylum | Psyrok |
Kimbra | Stiletto |
Colonel Mustard |
Are we slacking off?
Some people would have noticed that it's been taking a little while for us to answer some of your requests. It's not because we're being slack, it's because there are a few other things "on the go" at the moment. The major one is the complete redesign of muzic.net.nz, which we are currently investing a huge amount of time into. So please bear with us, it will all be worth it in the end!