Pacific Music Awards 2024
The 20th Pacific Music Awards took place at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau last night (Thursday 29th Aug).
The event marked a milestone in Aotearoa’s music history, signifying two decades of celebrating Pasifika contributions to the New Zealand music scene.
The atmosphere ran electric as musicians, friends, families and entire communities gathered to celebrate the achievements of the years nominated finalists.
The first award for the evening, the Most Promising Artist Award, went to brother and sister country duo Miti. The Porirua raised siblings dedicated the award to their parents and remarked “This is so surreal. It is truly an honour and a privilege to be able to represent country music on a platform such as this.”
The display of Porirua excellence continues with pillar of Pacific music Aaradhna walking away with Best Pacific Female Artist.
Her track ‘She’, which won the Best Video Content and Best Soul/RnB Artist awards at this years Aotearoa Music Awards, also took out the last nights awards for Best Pacific Music and Best Pacific Music Video.
Aaradhna was unable to attend the event in person but via video said “To my solid listeners, the ones that have been listening to me since day 1, since I started, I have nothing but love for you and appreciation for you because without you I’m not able to do this. So to still be here after 20 plus years is a privilege.”
Aaradhna was honoured once more alongside fellow Pacific music icon Savage for their timeless 2005 classic ‘They Don’t Know” which won the NZ on Air Music Streaming Award.
Grey Lynn raised artist Diggy Dupé added to his already impressive list of honours, securing the Best Pacific Male Artist and Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist awards for his work titled ‘We The City’.
South Auckland Polynesian Metal band Shepards Reign were impressively nominated in six categories. The group took out the awards for Best Pacific Music Album and Best Pacific Language.
The bands guitarist Gideon Voon declared “We can’t thank you enough for appreciating our music. We’re all born and bred in South Auckland, we know metal isn’t everyones cup of tea. We all grew up playing other music in other bands but we love metal and we found each other and through that we’ve formed an unbreakable bond.”
Avaiki Nui artist Sam V was named Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist for the third year in a row for his LP ‘You Left Your Things Here’.
Holding up his trophy the ‘3peat’ winner said “I called the project ‘You Left Your Things Here’ because shawty left some things behind. Breakups they’re tough but at least I got something new to take home tonight.”
Global sensation Josh Tatofi won Best International Pacific Artist. His self proclaimed “crazy aunties” Alisi and Alena were present to cheer him on and shared “We’re just so proud because we’ve been watching him and following him since he was young recording in Maui, playing in Honolulu bars and now to sell out crowds we are so so proud.”
The years Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Teremoana Rapley an Auckland based singer songwriter of Kiribati, Aitutaki, Rarotonga, Mangaia and Jamaican heritage. Rapley is remarked as ‘having been a powerful force in the New Zealand music scene for over three decades.’
She called her family to stage when accepting her award, crediting them as being “the reason why I exist”.
“I never really planned to be in the music industry as long as I have, which is around 37 years now … I left home at 14 and became a rapper and everything else is history now or ‘ her story” shared Rapley.
Other recipients of the evening awards were:
Shane Walker who having been nominated for the Best Pacific Roots/ Raggae Artist award won the evenings SunPix People’s Choice Award - Best Pacific Artist.
Jordan Gavet for the Radio Airplay Award for her song ‘He Said.’
Noa Records for the Creative New Zealand Award.
Aaron Strickland for the Independent Music Award.
Unity Pacific for the Best Pacific Roots/ Raggae Artist for the track ‘Integrity.’ SWIDT for Best Pacific group
Signature Choir for Best Pacific Gospel Artist for their album ‘Mana Moana.’
CATCH THE OUTFITS OF THE PMA'S WHO WORE WHAT?
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Written by Tehere Koteka