18 September 2020 - 0 Comments

A blend of new and established talented artists make up the mix of this year’s finalists for the National Waiata Maori Music Awards. A total of 18 finalists have been selected across various categories, some competing for multiple titles for the 13th annual awards event. Former award winners Troy Kingi, Israel Starr and Seth Haapu are back as finalists for the coveted Best Maori Male Solo Artist, along with Lion Rezz, who was a finalist in previous years. Haapu and Kingi are also finalists in Best Maori Songwriter, Best Music Video by a Maori Artist and Best Single by a Maori Artist categories.

Just as important is the Best Maori Female Solo Artist title which this year will be contested by Taisha Tari, Ria Hall and La Coco. All three are former finalists and guest performers as previous awards events. Taisha Tari was a winner at the inaugural awards in 2008, for the Best Maori Female Solo Artist title and the Best Maori Song title for her waiata, Karanga.

Ria Hall is also a former award winner, for the Best Video Of The Year by a Maori Artist, in 2012 and has performed as a guest artist at other awards events as well.

La Coco performed as a guest artist at the 2019 awards, treating the show to her RnB, soul, vocal style and 2020 will be her second consecutive year as a finalist for the top award.

National Waiata Maori Music Awards Executive Director Ellison Huata said she was pleased with the high level of the finalists. “We would like to thank all of our artists who put forward their work to be considered for this year’s awards. We know it’s been a difficult year for our artists and we hope this event will give people something to celebrate and provide a platform for better times ahead in the coming year.”

Independent judges have assessed the work of the artists online, individually, rather than as a group or collective panel. The results were submitted via the internet to the awards administrator and collated. Judges have been nominated from the music industry, both Maori and mainstream musicians, composers, producers, managers and music organisations.

Ellison wanted to remind the music industry that this year’s National Waiata Maori Music Awards has been moved online, due to the ongoing alert levels to keep people safe from Covid-19.

The online event will be held on October 9, streamed online via YouTube and the Waiata Maori Music Awards Facebook page.

The full list of 2020 finalists are:

Best Maori Male Solo Artist:

Israel Starr
Lion Rezz
Seth Haapu
Troy Kingi

Best Maori Female Solo Artist:

La Coco
Ria Hall
Taisha Tari

Best Maori Group:

L.A.B
Sons of Zion
Te Nutube

Best Hip Hop Album by a Maori Artist:

Dharmarat (WLKNZ)
Rei (Hoea)

Best Maori Songwriter:

L.A.B
Noel Rawiri Woods – Grove Roots
Ria Hall
Seth Haapu
Troy Kingi

Best Music Video by a Maori Artist:

Ed Waaka (Revolution)
Seth Haapu (Cool Down)
Te Nutube (Pakipaki Mai)
Troy Kingi (Ethiopia)
Tutahi (Stay)

Best Pop Album by a Maori Artist:

Grove Roots (Marae)
Kirsten Te Rito (Te Kaitiaki)
L.A.B (L.A.B. III)

Best RnB Album by a Maori Artist:

Grove Roots (Marae)
La Coco (Grateful)
Masaya (Tongue And Groove)

Best Roots Reggae Album by a Maori Artist:

Grove Roots (Marae)
Lion Rezz (A Lions Worth)
Ria Hall (Manawa Wera)
Troy Kingi (Holy Colony Burning Acres)

Best Single by a Maori Artist:

L.A.B (In The Air)
Ria Hall (Owner)
Seth Haapu (Cool Down)
Te Nutube (Pakipaki Mai)
Troy Kingi (Ethiopia)

Best Te Reo Maori Album:

Grove Roots (Marae)
Kirsten Te Rito (Te Kaitiaki)
Rei (Hoea)

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