All eyes were on KINGs (Matt Headland) and Aaradhna at the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards tonight with the both artists winning multiple awards at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland. Opetaia Foa'i (Julie Foa'i) also won the Special Recognition Award for outstanding achievement, with his daughter Olivia winning the Pacific Language Song Award
Aaradhna picked up four awards including the coveted Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album Tui as well as the Virgin Australia Best Pacific Female Artist, the NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video and the APRA Best Pacific Song.
Kings took home the NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, the Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist, MAINZ Best Producer, and the NZ On Air Radio Airplay award.
The highlight of the night was an outstanding performance from Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Brother Love playing his timeless classic ‘Ruketekete Te Mamae’ aka ‘The Roimata Song’.
Opetaia Foa’i became world famous for his hit ‘We Know The Way’ which featured on the Disney smash-hit Moana. He was recognised at the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards with the Special Recognition Award for outstanding achievement. His daughter Olivia Foa’i won Sunpix Best Pacific Language Song for ‘Tulou Tagaloa’, which was also featured on Moana.
The Vodafone People’s Choice Award always has special meaning to the artists. This year voters selected Three Houses Down (featuring General Fiyah) who also won the Radio 531PI Best Pacific Group.
Other winners included Annie Grace for the Auckland Council Best Pacific Gospel Artist, J Boog for the Flava Best International Pacific Artist and Tommy Nee for the Phillip Fuemana Award as the most promising Pacific artist.
Vodafone Pacific Music Awards Trust chairman and spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua says it was a remarkable night to celebrate Pacific music.
“Musika is the Pacific word for music and it expresses who we are. The 2017 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards continues a tradition of Pacific Music excellence. We honour Tokelau/Tuvalu singer, composer and leader of Te Vaka, Opetaia Foai with the Special Recognition Award - Outstanding Achievement, for his work on the very successful international Disney film Moana.
“The Pasifika Lifetime Achievement goes to Cook Island legend Brother Love whose famous party and club songs have been at the heart of many fond memories and celebrations throughout the Pacific. Pacific music is growing at an extraordinary rate and I can’t wait to see what our talented artists come up with next.”
Vodafone Pacific Music Awards Winners:
Virgin Australia Best Pacific Female Artist Award:
WINNER: Aaradhna – Brown Girl
La Coco – Love & Other Things
Olivia Foa’i – ‘Tulou Tagaloa’
NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist Award:
WINNER: KINGS – KINGS EP
Savage – ‘Zooby Doo’
Tommy Nee – Colorblind
Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist Award:
WINNER: KINGS – KINGS EP
SWIDT – SWIDT vs EVERYBODY
Three Houses Down feat. General Fiyah – ‘Love & Affection’
Radio 531pi Best Pacific Group Award:
WINNER: Three Houses Down feat. General Fiyah – ‘Love & Affection’
Tomorrow People – ‘Writings on the Wall’
Unity Pacific – Blackbirder Dread
NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video Award:
WINNER: Aaradhna – ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ (Directed by Sophie Findlay)
Parri$ – ‘Friday’ (Directed by Parris Goebel)
Three Houses Down feat. General Fiyah – ‘Love & Affection’ (Directed by Samson Rambo)
APRA Best Pacific Song Award:
WINNER: Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’ (Written by Aaradhna Patel)
KINGS – ‘Don’t Worry Bout’ It’ (Written by Kings)
Opetaia Foa’i – ‘We Know The Way’ (Written by Opetaia Foa’i and Lin-Manuel Miranda)
SunPix Best Pacific Language Award:
Annie Grace – ‘Loimata o le Fiafia’
WINNER: Olivia Foa’i – ‘Tulou Tagaloa’
Vai Mahina/Sulata Foa’i-Amiatu, Matthew Ineleo – ‘An Innocent Warrior’
Best Pacific Gospel Artist Award:
WINNER: Annie Grace – ‘Unchangeable Love’
La Coco – Love & Other Things
Revere – ‘Groove Thing’
Flava Best International Pacific Artist Award:
WINNER: J Boog – Rose Petals
Kylie Auldist – Family Tree
CRSB – Evolution of Love
Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album Award:
WINNER: Aaradhna – Brown Girl
KINGS – KINGS EP
Unity Pacific – Blackbirder Dread
MAINZ Best Producer Award:
WINNER: KINGS – KINGS EP (Produced by Kings)
La Coco – Love & Other Things (Produced by Dee Letoa)
SWIDT – SWIDT vs EVERYBODY (Produced by SmokeyGotBeatz)
Vodafone People’s Choice Award:
WINNER: Three Houses Down feat. General Fiyah – ‘Love & Affection’
NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award
WINNER: KINGS – KINGS EP (Produced by Kings)
Phillip Fuemana Award – Most Promising Pacific Artist:
WINNER: Tommy Nee
Special Recognition Award – Outstanding Achievement:
WINNER: Opetaia Foa’i
Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Brother Love