'So proud': PMAs to celebrate 20 years of Pacific excellence

The Pacific Music Awards (PMAs) finalists were announced with much fanfare at the Mangere Arts Centre in Auckland this month, marking 20 years since these annual honours began.

This year has also seen the largest number of entries, resulting in 27 finalists across 13 award categories.

Metal band Shepherds Reign are up for the most awards of any artist, including Flava Best Pacific Group, SunPix Best Pacific Language and Recorded Music NZ Te Pukaemi Toa o Te Moana Nui A Kiwa Best Pacific Music Album for their record Ala Mai.

Shepherds Reign with their six award finalist certificates. Photo/ PMN/ Joseph Safiti

They are also up for NZ on Air Best Pacific Music Video for ‘Nafanua’ (alongside director Dave Thomson) and APRA Best Pacific Song for ‘Ua Masa’a’.

Filiva'a James, who’s the lead singer for the five-piece group, says getting recognition across so many categories is an “amazing feeling”.

“We’re really happy to be nominated for all these categories, and there’s no better feeling than to know that our people are recognising our talents and who Shepherds Reign is.”

James says it’s particularly heartening that the Pacific Media Awards has still acknowledged them, despite their style of music being markedly different from other Pacific artists.

“It’s great that even though metal is not the normal genre for Pacific people we’ve still got the support and encouragement from the Pacific Music Awards.”

James says along with the awards, being invited to play at a prestigious international indigenous festival Riddu Riđđu Festival in Norway this month is another sign of their growing profile within the music industry.

“Other than these awards, flying to Norway for a festival - that’s going to be a major highlight for our year.”

SWIDT members Boomer Tha God and SPYCC with their certificates. Photo/ PMN/ Joseph Safiti

Rap crew SWIDT are up for three awards this year, including Flava Best Group, Matai Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist and APRA Best Pacific Song for ‘YOUPHORIA feat. HIGH HOOPS’.

SWIDT's Boomer tha God says being recognised by their Pacific peers carries special weight for the group.

“It’s always an honour - especially for the Pacific Music Awards, this is for our people and that’s why we’re here.”

He says this year has been extra special as they’ve been able to complete their long-awaited second album after their highly acclaimed debut STONEYHUNGA.

"Getting our latest album done [has been a big highlight]. It’s been eight years since our last project so it’s really good to get it out there for everyone.”

Elena was one of 12 first-time finalists. Photo/ PMN/ Joseph Safiti

There are 12 first-time finalists this year, highlighting the depth of talent in the Pacific music community at this time. And one of the youngest finalists is 18-year-old R&B songstress Elena, who’s best named in both the Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist and Pacificast Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist categories.

She says her overwhelming emotion is gratefulness.

“I’m so thankful for my team, and my family and everyone who supported me so far,” she says.

“I’m only 18, so yeah, just to be recognised - it’s really nice and I never thought I’d make it this far. “

Pacific Music Awards Trustee and event producer, Petrina Togi-Sa’ena says the trust “is so proud” to be celebrating 20 years since the PMAs inception.

“It has been a journey over the last two decades and reaching the 20th anniversary signals the importance and growth of the Pacific music community.”

Along with the main awards, the SunPix People’s Choice Award is open for public voting, and all artists nominated for the 2024 Pacific Music Awards are eligible. The winner will be decided entirely by public vote, which can be cast through the voting poll on the PMA website. Voting is now open and will close on Friday 9 August.

To listen to all the nominees, here’s the official PMA 2024 Finalist Playlist, as well as another playlist to celebrate the 20th anniversary commemorating two decades of PMA winners over the last 20 years PMA Celebrating 20 Years Playlist.

This year’s Pacific Music Awards will be on Thursday August 29th, at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau. Tickets for the 2024 Pacific Music Awards are available for purchase through Eventfinda.

2024 Pacific Music Awards finalists:

Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist

• Aaradhna - ‘She’

• Elena - ‘Ur Vibe’

• Jordyn with a Why - ‘Set Go | Seen Tonight’

• Olivia Foa'i - Tūmau Pea

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist

• Diggy Dupé - ‘We The City’

• Kings - Dad's Son

• lilbubblegum - ’Hourglass’, ‘Rickys’, ‘Mudboy’, ‘Pack-a-Punch’

• Sam V - You Left Your Things Here (LP)

Flava Best Pacific Group

• A.R.T. - ‘WTF Man’

• Shepherds Reign - Ala Mai

• SWIDT - ’YOUPHORIA feat HIGH HOOPS’, ‘Burn One Feat Stallyano’, ‘Hocus Pocus’, ‘Not 4 Sale’

SunPix Best Pacific Language

• Shepherds Reign - Ala Mai

• Signature Choir - Mana Moana

• Olivia Foa'i - Tūmau Pea

531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist

• Junior Soqeta - ‘Fiji Forever (feat Pauliasi), Just You & Me (feat JSQZE)

• Signature Choir - Mana Moana

• TONE6 - ‘Close Your Eyes’

Matai Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist

• Diggy Dupé - ‘We The City’

• SWIDT - ’YOUPHORIA feat HIGH HOOPS’, ‘Burn One Feat Stallyano’, ‘Hocus Pocus’, ‘Not 4 Sale’

• Tha Movement - Cut From a Different Cloth

Pacificast Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist

• Aaradhna - ‘She’

• ELENA - ‘Ur Vibe’

• Sam V - You Left Your Things Here(LP)

Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist

• Folau - 'Upē 'O Siu'ilikutapu’

• Shane Walker - ‘Tahine Tonga’, ‘Mrs Walker’, ‘Come Back Darling’, ‘Cigah’

• Stanley T - ’Fallin’, ‘Island Girl’, ‘Honestly’, ‘Lockdown’

• Unity Pacific - ‘Integrity’

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video

• Aaradhna - ‘She’

• Director: Anahera Parata

• Diggy Dupe - ‘We The City’

• Director: Tom Grut

• EMA I'U - ‘Flower of Life’

• Director: Francis Baker

• Pat - ’What Do I Do feat Dizzy Dash & Sven Illy’

• Director: Danny Aumua

• Shepherds Reign - ’Nafanua’

• Director: Dave Thomson

• Tha Movement - ’Tin City feat. Sid Diamond’

• Director: Robert George

MPGNZ/SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer

• Aaradhna - ‘She’ (Aaradhna)

• Haz Beats - Brunette EP (Haz & Miloux) ‘Run It Back’ (Home Brew)

• Kings - Dad's Son (Kings)

• Oliver Leupolu - Ala Mai (Shepherds Reign)

APRA Best Pacific Song

• Aaradhna - ‘She’

• Writer: Aaradhna Patel

• A.R.T. - ‘WTF Man’

• Writers: Anastasia Sirila, Roseta Lopa, Tiresa Foma'i, Avina Kelekolio, Edward Liu, Jeremiah Fale

• Diggy Dupé - ‘We The City’

• Writer: Stephen Atutolu

• Shepherds Reign - ‘Ua Masa'a’

• Writers: Filiva'a James, Oliver Leupolu, Shaymen Rameka, Gideon Voon, Joseph Oti-George

• SWIDT - ‘YOUPHORIA feat HIGH HOOPS’

• Writers: Taniela Latu, Amon McGoram, Jordan Arts

• Teo Glacier - ‘Close With Desires (feat. Thuy)’

• Writers: Eden Betham, Rory Noble, Thuy Tran

NIU FM Best International Pacific Artist

• Jaro Local - ‘Olbaut Olbaut’, ‘Wani Eh’, ‘Kativa’

• Josh Tatofi - 'Ouana’, ‘Why Worry’, ‘Storms Never Last’, ‘Fakateretere’, ‘I Jus Want Ya’, ‘I'm Gonna Love You’, ‘Tears On My Pillow’

• Kennyon Brown, Donell Lewis, DJ Noiz - ‘Island Girl’

• Mr Cowboy - ‘OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA’

Recorded Music NZ Te Pukaemi Toa o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa Best Pacific Music Album

• Kings - Dad's Son

• Olivia Foa’i - Tūmau Pea

• Sam V - You Left Your Things Here

• Shepherds Reign - Ala Mai

• Signature Choir - Mana Moana

For more information: https://www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz/