Fresh Talent & Industry Icons Among 2022 Pacific Music Awards finalists

Last night, the finalists for the 2022 Pacific Music Awards were announced. Across 13 awards categories, this year’s 26 finalists are a mix of new musicians debuting music, established Pacific music icons and everything in between.

Leading the finalist nominations this year are Tomorrow People with four nods including Flava Best Pacific Group, One Love Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist and Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album for 21.

With such a strong local movement, it’s only natural hip hop has a presence at this year’s awards. This year Base FM will be proudly presenting the Base FM & Island Base FM Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist award. In the running this year is: Poetik – Poetik Justice, SWIDT – ‘Seize the Day ft Savage’, ‘Kelz Garage’, ‘312 Day’ and Team Dynamite – Respect The Process.

Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua said: “At this significant time of year, Matariki, we are proud to be acknowledging the shining stars of our Pacific music community”. The awards ceremony for the 2022 Pacific Music Awards will be held on Thursday 4 August, at the Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau, Auckland. ​ For 2022, the Pacific Music Awards will be Celebrating Pacific Music through Connection, Collaboration and Community.

The winner of the Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album category is presented with an official Tūī and recognised at the Aotearoa Music Awards later in the year. The APRA Best Pacific Song Award recipient will also be recognised at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards.

For a taste of this year’s finalists, their work can be found on this Spotify playlist.

2022 Pacific Music Awards finalists:

• ALL FINALISTS
  
  Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist:
• Emily Muli – ‘Break’
• Mo Etc. – Oceanbed
• Tree – ‘No Fear ft Junior Soqeta’
  
  NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist:
• Diggy Dupé – ‘WEON’
• Kings – Raplist, ‘Young 4Eva’
• Poetik – Poetik Justice
  
  Flava Best Pacific Group:
• SWIDT – ‘Seize the Day ft Savage’, ‘Kelz Garage’, ‘312 Day’
• Team Dynamite – Respect The Process
• Tomorrow People – 21
  
  NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:
• Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan & P. Smith – ‘Ain’t The Same ft. Melodownz & Summer
  Vaha’akolo’
  o Directed by Tom Hern
• House of Misfits – ‘Tā Te Manawa’
  o Directed by Abigail Dougherty
• Vallé – ‘Swing Low’
  o Directed by Connor Pritchard
  
  APRA Best Pacific Song:
• Kings – ‘Young 4Eva’
  o Written by Kingdon Chapple-Wilson
• Samson Squad – ‘Amene’
  o Written by Jacob Samson, Tautape Samson & Jayjay Samson 
• SWIDT ‘Kelz Garage’
  o Written by Daniel Latu, Amon McGoram. Lomez Brown, Samuel Verlinden
  
  SunPix Best Pacific Language:
• Kas Futialo – Grandmasta Kas
• Lani Alo – ‘Tua i manu’
• Samson Squad – ‘Kainga’, ‘Amene’
• Shepherds Reign – ‘Nga Ao E Rua’
  
  Base FM & Island Base FM Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist:
• Poetik – Poetik Justice
• SWIDT – ‘Seize the Day ft Savage’, ‘Kelz Garage’, ‘312 Day’
• Team Dynamite – Respect The Process
  
  Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist:
• Emily Muli – ‘Break’
• Sam V – ‘Wired’, ‘Biker Boy’
• TJ Taotua – Overdue
  
  One Love Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist:
• Foundation – ‘Closer’
• Sammielz – ‘Okay’
• Tomorrow People – 21
• Victor J Sefo – ‘Pele Ea’, ‘Ride’, ‘Shots’
  
  531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist:
• Anthem – Anthem
• Tree – ‘No Fear ft Junior Soqeta’
• House of Misfits ‘Tā Te Manawa’
  
  Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist:
• Bina Butta & Kennyon Brown – ‘Lady Love’
• Jaro Local – ‘Kamanda Amanda’, ‘First Time’, ‘Single Papa’, ‘25 Minutes’
• Lisi – ‘Good Life’, ‘Dreams’, ‘Til the Death’, ‘Baby We On’
  
  Best Producer:
• Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan & P. Smith – The Panthers OST
  o Producers: Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan, P Smith
• Team Dynamite – Respect The Process
  o Producer: Harry (Haz Beats) Huavi
• Tomorrow People – 21
  o Producers: IKON MUSIC – Avina Kelekolio, Hennie Tui, Tana Tupai
  
  Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album:
• Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan & P. Smith – The Panthers OST
• Kings – Raplist
• Tomorrow People – 21