30 April 2020 - 0 Comments

The finalists for the Pacific Music Awards were announced this evening, with many first-time nominees making the list for this year’s awards ceremony.

Continuing her family’s musical legacy, Olivia Foa’i debuted her first solo album, Candid, last year in 2019. Staying true to her Tokelauan and Tuvaluan roots, the album featured a fun mixture of signature island rhythms, pop beats and Pasifika language.

Foa’i garnered four nominations for Candid, including Best Pacific Language Song, Best Pacific Female Artist and Best Pacific Music Album. Her brother Matatia Foa’i has also been nominated for Best Producer for his work on the album.

While the singer/songwriter has been nominated in the past for her work with Te Vaka, this is the first time Foa’i has been nominated for her solo work.

Polynesian metal band Shepherds Reign have also earned three nominations for Best Pacific Group, Best Pacific Language and Best Pacific song.

Newcomers to the Pacific Music Awards, the group has climbed from strength to strength, building an impressive online following on their unique musicality of Poly drum beats, Samoan lyrics and hard rock.

Another surprising yet inevitable first-time nomination are Melbourne-based rap group HP Boyz, who were nominated for Best International Pacific Artist. While they only released their first single in May last year, the group have managed to build an international fan base within a short space of time.

One of the most requested artists on NZ urban radio, their track Engineers has gathered over 14 million streams on Spotify and over 8 million views on YouTube. HP Boyz travelled to Kiwi shores late last year where they performed in three sold-out concerts around the country.

Returning to the nominees list are former PMA winners Punialava’a (with 2 nominations) rap artist Poetik (nominated for 3), Church & AP (3 nominations) and General Fiyah (with 2 Nominations).

All the finalists are up for the Sunpix People’s Choice Award, which will be announced on the evening of the awards.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the nominees were broadcast via Facebook livestream. The date for the award ceremony has yet to be announced.

For the full list of nominees, see the list below:

Pacific Music Award nominees 2020

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video

Disciple Pati, The Boy who Cried Woman / dir. Shae Sterling and Disciple Pati
Lou’ana, Eye to Eye / dir. Annie Duckworth
SWIDT, Bunga / dir. Anahera Parata

Best Producer

Dera Meelan, Teeth / Church & AP
Kings, Hit That / Kings
Tia Drumma and EDY, Wild People / Mikey Mayz
Matatia Foa’i, Candid / Olivia Foa’i

PMN Best International Pacific Artist

HP Boyz / Engineers
Josh Tatofi / Ua Kui a Lawa
Kaiit / Miss Shiney

Sunpix Best Pacific Language

Lani Alo / Alo I Ou Faiva
Olivia Foa’i / Candid
Punialava’a / Sili’aga Fa’atufugaga, Beyond our Stories
Shepherds Reign / Le Manu

PMN Best Pacific Gospel Artist

JXN / Talako Dragon
Lani Alo / Alo I Ou Faiva
Punialava’a / Sili’aga Fa’atufugaga, Beyond our Stories

Base FM NZ & Island Base Samoa Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist

Church & AP / Teeth
Melodownz / No Mercy ft. Denzel Curry
Poetik / Hamofied EP 2

Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist

Jordan Gavet / Hesitation
Lepani / Pocket Full of Love
Lou’ana / Move Along
Noah Slee / Twice

Pato Ent. Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist

General Fiyah / It’s You ft. Three Houses Down
Lomez Brown / Tell Me
Raggadat Cris / I Swear
Tomorrow People / Fever ft. Fiji

APRA Best Pacific Song

General Fiyah / It’s You ft. Three Houses Down
Lani Alo / Alo I Ou Faiva
Shepherds Reign / Le Manu

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist

Lepani / Pocket Full of Love
Poetik / Hamofied EP 2
Noah Slee / Twice

Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist

Bella Kalolo / Ends of the Earth
Lou’ana / Move Along
Olivia Foa’i / Candid

Flava Best Pacific Group

Church & AP / Teeth
Shepherds Reign / Le Manu
Tomorrow People / Fever ft. Fiji

Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album

Church & AP / Teeth
Olivia Foa’i / Candid
Poetik / Hamofied EP 2

Next: 'Replica' The Debut Album from MEDaL

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