Porirua songstress Aaradhna has made a clean sweep at tonight’s Pasefika Proud Pacific Music Awards winning all five categories she was a finalist in as well as the NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award.

​The haul represents the most awards won in a night by any single artist in the nine-year history of the Pacific Music Awards and comes off the back of her highly acclaimed album ‘Treble & Reverb’ released in November 2012.
Aradhna’s domination of the awards was fitting on a night themed around recognising Pacific women. Aaradhna’s wins are:

Nautilus Foundation Best Pacific Female Artist
Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist
APRA Best Pacific Song – ‘Wake Up’
NZ On Air Best Pacific Video – ‘Lorena Bobbit’, director Tom Gould
Pasefika Proud Best Pacific Music Album
NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award – ‘Wake Up’
‘Treble & Reverb’ was entirely written by Aaradhna and produced by P-Money and Evan Short. Its success comes after an almost four-year break from recording her sophomore album, ‘Sweet Soul Music’.

Hit single ‘Wake Up’ spent three weeks at number one in the New Zealand Singles charts in November and early December 2012. Aaradhna says the track is a plea to herself to get back into the music industry.

“At the time I was listening to Amy Winehouse,” she says. “I used to go to herBack to Black album; I’d repeat it all day because I connected with all her music.

“The thing I liked about it was that she didn’t care about what other people said, and she really spoke her mind…that’s what I wanted to do, I wanted to make music that I could really say what I wanted to say.

“I am so humbled and honoured to have been recognised by the Pasefika Proud Pacific Music Awards for doing something which I love,” she says.

The only other artist to win multiple awards was Wellington’s Swiss. He took home NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist and the Auckland Council People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist for his debut EP ‘Slow Wind’.

Pasifika Proud Pacific Music Awards Trust chairperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua says the awards are a celebration of Pacific music and culture.

“This year we welcome Pasefika Proud to the family and thank them for their support of Pacific music and culture. The awards themselves are a great example of Pacific unity and we acknowledge all those who were nominated, performed or took part in some away in the evening.”

RIANZ chief executive Chris Caddick says; “The Pacific Music Awards showcase a burgeoning musical community that RIANZ is proud to support with a Tui for Best Pacific Music Album. Congratulations to the PMA Trust for a successful event and especially to the 2013 award winners.”

Other winners include:

Radio 531pi Best Pacific Group – Tomorrow People – ‘One’
Tagata Pasifika Best Pacific Language – Vaniah Toloa – ‘Tofi O Tamatane’
Phillip Fuemana Award, Most Promising Artist – Cilla
Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award – Mavis Rivers

The Tangaroa College Niuean Group opened the night, with an amazing welcome, which was also very stirring tribute to the late Tom Etuata. The audience was also treated to live performances by both established and rising Pacific music stars including finalists The Hypnotics, Swiss, Vaniah Toloa and Tomorrow People along with Bella Moore and Joel Amosa. There was also a tribute to Lifetime Achievement recipient Mavis Rivers under the direction of Lance Su’a.

‘90s girl group MaVElle turned back the clock with a surprise performance at the awards - the first time they’ve performed together as a group in 14 years. The performance served as a re-launch for the trio who are now set to work on new material together.

The ninth annual Pasefika Proud Pacific Music Awards were announced at Manukau City’s Vodafone Events Centre to celebrate Pacific music and artists, promote excellence in Pacific music and encourage young Pacific musicians to aim high.


Issued for the Pacific Music Awards Trust by Pead PR

Contacts:
​
Anna Reeve, Pead PR, Tel: 09 918 5552, Mob: 021 145 5155, email:[email protected]

Fa’amatuainu Tino Pereira, Chairman of the Pacific Advisory Group, Pasefika Proud media spokesperson, Mob: 021 223 6404, email: [email protected]

PMAT Spokesperson, Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua, Mob: 021 141 [email protected]

The Pacific Music Awards Trust are looking to honour Pacific women, which will be the theme for the awards ceremony.

2013 Pasefika Proud Pacific Music Awards
Thursday 30th May 2013 @ 7:30pm
Vodafone Events Centre
Genesis Energy Theatre, 
770 Great South Road, 
Manukau, Auckland
​
The Pacific Music Awards Trust are looking to honour Pacific women, which will be the theme for the awards ceremony. This will be achieved through acknowledging the 2013 female finalists, Pacific female music artists past and present. They are also looking to honour all the women behind the scenes - the mothers, wives, sisters, daughters - that support our Pacific music artists with their music

Performers on the night will include finalists’ The Hypnotics, Swiss, Vaniah Toloa, Tomorrow People, along with Isabella Moore & Joel Amosa and a tribute to our Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, under the direction ofLance Su’a.

There will also be a special performance by 90s leading girl group MaVElle. This will be the first time in 14 years that Lavina, Maybelle and Marina have performed together. MaVElle are relaunching themselves at the awards – in response to their fans. They will working on new releases, as a way to give back to their fans, for all their support. This will be a special part of the awards evening!

Tickets for the 2013 Pasefika Proud Pacific Music Awards are available now direct from the Vodafone Events Centre ticketing office, or throughTicketDirect. Phone 0800 224 224
(Please note a booking fee may apply)

Pasefika Proud is the new naming rights sponsor for the 2013 Pacific Music Awards to be held on 30 May at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau. ​Pasefika Proud is a community-based approach addressing issues of family violence in Pacific communities. It is a call for Pacific families and communities, particularly youth, to be a part of the initiative.

“We work closely with the Pacific Advisory Group and the wider Pacific community to support the aims of Pasefika Proud and helping support something like the Pacific Music Awards is a great way to get those messages out to a younger audience,” says Deputy Chief Executive of Family and Community Services Murray Edridge.

The Pacific Advisory Group to the Government Taskforce on Family Violence (PAG) says music is a huge part of Pacific youth identity in this country and promoting Pasefika Proud messages around taking responsibility by making our homes safe and loving in order to nurture healthy, happy and resilient Pacific families are important messages.

“The Pacific Music Awards are an effective and positive channel for these messages as our Pacific artists, their families and friends celebrate success and achievement”, says PAG chairman Fa’amatuainu Tino Pereira.

Mr Pereira says it’s a very exciting opportunity to be able to work with leaders behind the Pacific Music Awards fraternity in our collective efforts to address family violence.

Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua says the new sponsorship of the awards is a great partnership within the Pacific community.

“We are delighted to be joining with Pasefika Proud as we celebrate Pacific families, and honour the achievements and creativity of our Pacific music artists.”

The Pasefika Proud Pacific Music Awards are in their ninth year and will be celebrated be on Thursday 30 May from 7.30pm – 9.30pm at the Vodafone Events Centre, 770 Great South Road, Wiri, Manukau.

Tickets available from the Vodafone Events Centre ticketing office, or through www.ticketdirect.co.nz, 0800 224 224.
Adults $40, Children $15,
​www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz.