Lorde dominates the 2014 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards

As the Australian Music Industry gets ready for its “night of nights” at the 2014 ARIA Awards, New Zealand’s own industry had their own reason to celebrate last week with the 49th Annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards taking over the Vector Arena in Auckland with a phenomenally well run event.

Naturally, Lorde was the big winner of the night, taking home six trophies for her worldwide hit record Pure Heroine, including Album and Single of the Year. The only award she was nominated for that she didn’t take home was for highest selling album of the year, which went to the self-titled debut from Sol3 Mio.

Currently touring Australia, Broods were also celebrating after they took home Breakthrough Artist of the Year (you can check out our backstage interview with them here. Among the other winners of the night, Tama Waipara took home Best Roots Album (check out our interview here and Stan Walker, who claimed two “Tuis”; taking home the NZ On Air Radio Airplay award for ‘Bulletproof’ and Vodafone People’s Choice. One of our personal favourites, The Naked and Famous were unfortunately not present to accept their trophy for Best Group nor Best Music Video, but Tiny Ruins was for best Alternative Album.

Stay tuned for our backstage interview with Rock winners Blacklistt and AU Radio will be broadcasting Lorde’s thoughts after her massive haul later in the week! The full list of winners are below:

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The Mentos Album of the Year – Lorde ‘Pure Heroine’
Vodafone Single of the Year – Lorde ‘Team’.
Best Female Solo Artist – Lorde
Best Male Solo Artist – David Dallas
The Edge Best Pop Album – Lorde ‘Pure Heroine’
Vodafone Highest Selling Single – Lorde ‘Royals’
International Achievement Award – Lorde
Best Urban / Hip Hop Album – David Dallas ‘Falling Into Place’
NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award – Stan Walker “Bulletproof”
Vodafone People’s Choice – Stan Walker
Breakthrough Artist of the Year – Broods
Steinlager Pure Best Group – The Naked and Famous
Best Rock Album – Blacklistt – Blacklistt
Best Alternative Album – Tiny Ruins
FOUR Highest Selling Album – Sol3 Mio
Best Roots Album – Tama Waipara “Fill Up The Silence”
Best Electronica Album – Opiuo ‘Meraki’
NZ On Air Best Music Video – Campbell Hooper for The Naked and Famous’ “Hearts Like Ours”
Best Maori Album – Rob Ruha ‘Tiki Tapu’
Best Gospel / Christian Album – Mosaic Music ‘You Surround’
Best Classical Album: Jack Body ‘Poems of Love and War’

Guests at the event, hosted by Shannon Ryan and comedian Dai Henwood, were treated to live performances by some of the biggest names in New Zealand music including Benny Tipene, Blacklistt, Broods, David Dallas, Sol3 Mio and Tiny Ruins.

Perhaps the biggest crowd pleaser on the night was a tribute performance in honour of the 2014 NZ Herald Legacy Award recipients – Supergroove – performed by female music powerhouses Hollie Smith, Iva Lamkum, Ria Hall and Tali. They were accompanied by The Levites under the music direction of Jacob Nansen. The NZ Herald Legacy Award was presented to Supergroove on the night by Slave and Otis.

Tui recipients who have received their awards during the year are:
Best Jazz Album – Nathan Haines for ‘Vermillion Skies’
Best Folk Album – Tattletale Saints for ‘How Red is the Blood’
Best Pacific Music Album – Sol3 Mio for ‘Sol3 Mio’
Best Country Music Album – Kaylee Bell for ‘Heart First’
Best Album Cover – Anna Taylor & Ken Clark – ‘The Nihilist’ (Liam Finn)
Best Engineer – Joel Little – ‘Pure Heroine’ (Lorde)
Best Producer – Joel Little – ‘Pure Heroine’ (Lorde)
Best Children’s Music Album – Anika Moa ‘Songs for Bubbas’
NZ On Air 2014 Critics’ Choice Prize – Randa

Follow the Awards news online: www.nzmusicawards.co.nz

Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.