Vince Harder dominates at Vodafone Pacific Music Awards

Vince Harder has dominated at the 2016 Vodafone Pacific Music awards, taking out the honours for best male artist, urban artist and best producer, for his album Rare Vision.

Music and dance group Te Vaka nabbed the awards for best album - Amataga - and best song, Papua I Sisifo, which was written by band member Opetaia Foa'I, who is currently writing the soundtrack for the upcoming Disney film Moana.

Kiwi-Samoan singer Annie Grace won best female artist for her album The Journey, while Sol3 Mio took out the title of best group.

Annie Grace and family

Hip hop heavyweight Savage took home the radio airplay award for his hit Freaks, as well as nabbing a special recognition award for outstanding achievement, alongside Tongan sisters Vika and Linda Bull.

Savage

The Bulls weren't the only international artists to get recognition, as Californian group Common Kings picked up the award for best international Pacific artist - with its members having ties to Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga.

Illegal Musik Artists with award winning Ill Semantics-DJ CXL & MC Patriarch

In other notable achievements, Ill Semantics won their first ever award in 20 years in the NZ music industry. The People's choice award. Fast-rising hip hop favourite, Mikey Mayz won the award for most promising Pacific artist.

Mikey Mayz

TJ Taotua won best gospel artist, Team Dynamite won best music video, The Feelstyle won best Pacific language song, and New Zealand's longest running Pacific performing arts group, Pacific Underground was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award.

Originally from Christchurch, Pacific Underground formed in 1992 and helped kick start the careers of stars like Ladi 6, Oscar Kightley and David Fane.

It shot to fame in 1993 with its play Fresh Off the Boat, and had numerous plays, music shows and albums over the following years.

Ladi6 & Scribe take the stage

Also announced at the Pacific Music Awards was the new MAINZ Pacific Scholarship for a promising artist.

The scholarship provides up to $8000 in tuition fees towards a qualification from MAINZ, which offers qualifications in music, event management, audio engineering and production, business or live sound.

Guest performance from NZ soul diva Aaradhna graced the crowd with her brand new single 'Brown Girl' for the first time ever.

Aaradhna performing live

 

Photo Credit: Penina Joy Photography