Hip hop and urban Samoa converge in Aotearoa through Pat's music. With a passion for music dating back to 2012, Pat's dedication to his craft took centre stage in 2019 when he joined forces with independent music collective From Outside (FOS). Already achieving notable milestones as a sophomore in the music scene, his most notable achievement is opening for Home Brew crew at Powerstation. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of artists, including Dawn Raid, Che Fu, Rizvān, and YGB, Pat's blues-infused sound also takes cues from iconic musicians like Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson, Prince, and Sade. Pat's music serves as a vessel for storytelling, reflecting his cultural heritage and introspective musings. Furthermore, he has appeared on Ka Mua Ka Muri, 4 Bar Friday, and Niu FM’s Freshman Cypher.
 
 
Nominated for:
NZ ON AIR BEST PACIFIC MUSIC VIDEO
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Olivia Foa’i is a singer, songwriter and dancer of Tokelauan, Tuvaluan and British descent.
 
Her musical career started in her childhood as the youngest member of her dad’s Polyneisan fusion band, Te Vaka. She toured with the band to 40 countries and featured on many of their songs through her teens and into her adult years. In 2016 she featured in Disney’s Moana soundtrack singing ‘Tulou Tagaloa’ and ‘Logo te Patea’ and in 2018 she debuted her solo music. Her Bilingual Pacific Pop/R&B debut album Candid won her the 2020 Tui for Best Pacific Album. 2023 saw a strong continuance of her Gagana Tokelau, with the release of her sophomore album Tumau Pea and her first original song fully in the Tokelau language, ‘Mai Anamua’ which was also the theme song for DocEdge’s "Best New Zealand Feature" winner ‘Pacific Mother’ The song and Olivia were featured in The Guardian and BBC’s Happy Podcast in discussions on endangered languages.
 
Nominated for:
AUCKLAND COUNCIL BEST PACIFIC FEMALE ARTIST
SUNPIX BEST PACIFIC LANGUAGE
RECORDED MUSIC NZ TE PUKAEMI TOA O TE MOANA NUI A KIWA BEST PACIFIC MUSIC ALBUM
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Mr. Cowboy, a country superstar, has graced stages at Tamworth, Australia, known as the 'Nashville' down under. With recent performances across Australia and a successful tour in NZ, he's gained acclaim. His smash hit "Oblah di Oblah dah" has amassed 15 million views, showcasing his crossover appeal from the Samoan music community to mainstream audiences worldwide. With a natural voice, he continues to captivate listeners across genres.
 
 
Nominated for:
NIU FM BEST INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC ARTIST
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Growing up an avid gamer, frequently playing Skyrim and engaging with online gaming communities on Youtube opened Winther up to Soundcloud’s underground music community, where he soon started uploading his own music recorded only using his phone in 2018 at age 15.
 
At the same time as Winther, who is of Samoan and Māori descent, he was undergoing his high school exams, in 2019 he self-released his debut single ‘af1’ after submitting the song to a Youtube lyric video distribution channel called dolo - which exploded with 10-20k views within the first hour. TikTok then caught onto the track, spiralling it into a viral overnight success the following year while he continued to roll out a steady output of new singles such as ‘e girl’, ‘guap’ and collaborations with the likes of Letoa, 1nonly and $avage Gasp among many others.
 
Winther embarked on his first overseas trip to the United States in 2022, where he signed to US label, Listen To The Kids. Since the signing he has released collaborations with artists such as SXMPRA, Jasiah, Yung Gravy and Rico Nasty.
 
Nominated for:
NZ MUSIC COMMISSION BEST PACIFIC MALE ARTIST
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New Zealand born producer, rapper, singer and songwriter Kings burst onto the scene in 2016 with his smash hit single 'Don't Worry 'Bout It'. The track went on to become the biggest local release of the year, selling triple platinum and surpassing the record for longest running #1 on the New Zealand Singles Chart by spending 33 consecutive weeks at the top.
 
Following his debut hit, Kings went on to release three projects independently, displaying the depth and breadth of his musical abilities and dexterity. First up, his debut album 'Chapter One' with the Gold selling hit 'We'll Never Know', which was soon followed by his second album 'Two' with the Gold selling hit 'You Do'. He completed the trilogy with the double album 'LOV3 and 3GO' which featured the Double Platinum hit '6 Figures' and Gold selling hit 'ALIV3'. Kings' next album 'RAPLIST' was released in 2021 to mass acclaim, and features the Platinum smash hit single 'Help Me Out' with Sons of Zion. In 2023 he released his latest album 'Dad's Son'.
 
Alongside his own music, Kings has collaborated with a wide variety of artists both locally and abroad including,L.A.B., Bliss n Esso, Dizzee Rascal, CHAII, Louis Baker, Hamo Dell, Stan Walker, Ria Hall, Jolyon Petch, Pacific Heights, Magik Johnson, General Lee, Dan Aux, and many more.
 
Over five years on from 'Don't Worry Bout It', Kings has cemented himself as Aotearoa music royalty; writing, recording, mixing and mastering his own music under his self-run label Arch Angel Records.
 
Nominated for:
NZ MUSIC COMMISSION BEST PACIFIC MALE ARTIST
MPGNZ/SAE CREATIVE MEDIA INSTITUTE BEST PRODUCER
RECORDED MUSIC NZ TE PUKAEMI TOA O TE MOANA NUI A KIWA BEST PACIFIC MUSIC ALBUM
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Island Girl is a single released mid 2023 by Pacific Island artists Kennyon Brown, Donell Lewis and DJ Noiz whom are based out of Australia of Samoan descent (DJ Noiz half Tongan). The record discusses falling for an island girl, who reflects themselves as Island Males and their love for own cultural woman. Since it's release, the record has trended in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Fiji on Shazam, reached the NZ charts and reached over 7 million streams in only 6 months. Along with this, it was the theme song for Miss Pacific Islands 2024 and Kennyon Brown was invited to perform the song at the ceremony. This record has had a huge impact on the Pacific region and represents the importance of Island women all around the world and was released independently by FutureNow Music, distributed by Precise Digital (All Platforms but Vevo) and ACTS Agency (VEVO).
 
Nominated for:
NIU FM BEST INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC ARTIST
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Falling in-between the cracks of Reggae, RnB, Soul, Gospel and Pacific Island Music, Junior Soqeta has an extensive cultural knowledge of music and it's evolution. His unique take on the industry reflects his years of involvement and commitment to his craft: from studying it academically to participating in live shows. From euphony to cacophony, Junior’s experiences allow him to understand a variety of sounds that form the collective whole of culture's ever-changing landscape. Becoming familiar with creating music that resonates with audiences; by incorporating traditional elements into modern sounds, He has been able to cultivate a fanbase comprised of diverse generations. In addition to sharing his own original creations, Junior has had the privilege of also mentor upcoming talent - showing them how to curate songs that capture hearts as well as minds. His efforts are part of a larger mission to ensure that these music styles do not become lost or forgotten in today’s society.
 
 
Nominated for:
531pi BEST PACIFIC GOSPEL ARTIST
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Josh Tatofi was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father, established local musician Tivaini Tatofi, is an original member of the acclaimed reggae band Kapena.
 
Josh’s early career resembled that of a reggae-lover, consisting of upbeat melodies, catchy hooks and local collaborations.  He yearned to fuse his R&B soul with a love for his Polynesian heritage.  “I ka wā ma hope, I ka wā mamua.”  A Hawaiian proverb meaning, the future is in the past.  In 2014, Josh had a career altering epiphany and discovered a home for his voice in traditional Hawaiian music.

He released his first Hawaiian language single and album, both titled ‘Pua Kiele’ and with it embedded his imprint in the Hawaiian music scene. Since then, Josh has earned the nickname as, ‘the Luther Vandross of Hawaii’ and continues to express his soul through Hawaiian mele.    In 2017, he won two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.  He garnered a Grammy nomination in 2018 for the same album in the category of Regional Roots.

Josh released his next album ‘Ua Kui A Lawa’ in 2019, which won 5 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 2020.  Josh also won the 2021 Island Music Award for Male Artist of the Year and has won the Best International Pacific Artist in 2020 and 2023 at the Pacific Music Awards.

The work didn’t stop there in 2020 as Josh released his first Christmas EP project titled ‘A Jream Christmas’.  He has continued to release a number of singles each year, both originals and covers; and to perform in Hawaii, the mainland and overseas.  There are plans tour in New Zealand and Australia in 2024, amongst other key performances and events.
 
 
Nominated for:
NIU FM BEST INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC ARTIST
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Growing up in the suburban-scapes of South Auckland, Jordyn has quickly impacted the Aotearoa music scene with her bilingual (Māori and English) soulful sounds. Descending from Whāingaroa, Mulifanua Lalovi, Falelatai and Vaimoso, the stories are woven throughout her music, with her second release, ‘Brown Melodies’ being nominated for ‘Best Single’ at the 2022 Māori Music Awards. Following suit, 2023 included a slew of recognitions as a finalist in the Pacific Music Awards, the APRA Silver Scrolls and awarded the 2023 Māori Music Awards Best Female Artist. Jordyn’s “why” is in and through her music - she tells the stories of language reclamation, identity and cultural heritage. As an emerging artist, Jordyn has made noticeable moves in the music scene and shows no signs of slowing down.
 
Nominated for:
AUCKLAND COUNCIL BEST PACIFIC FEMALE ARTIST
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Jaro Local, a rising star from the Solomon Islands, inherits a rich musical legacy from his father, Sharzy. He began his journey with the group Dezine, known for hits like ‘Gyal’ and ‘Must Be Love’. Going solo in 2016, he quickly gained acclaim, winning awards and selling out tours across the Pacific. His dynamic performances at international festivals have captivated audiences worldwide. With his EP 'Flowers of July' and numerous accolades, Jaro Local is not just an artist but a cultural ambassador, blending island beats with universal appeal.
 
Nominated for:
NIU FM BEST INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC ARTIST
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