Wellington band Fat Freddy’s Drop emerged as the main winner of the 2005 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, known as the “Tuis” after the trophy that is presented to winners.
In a ceremony held at the Aotea Centre in downtown Auckland Oct. 5, the band took four Tuis: Album of the Year for their platinum-selling debut album “Based On A True Story,” Best Aotearoa Roots Album, Best Group and the People’s Choice Award. The album, which with blends electronica, soul and reggae, is released on the band’s own record label, The Drop.
Two other multiple-award winners were also being independently produced, P-Money and Dei Hamo. P-Money won in the categories Best Male Solo Artist and Best Urban/Hip Hop Album for “Magic City” on Dirty Records. Dei Hamo took home the Tuis for Highest Selling Single and Best Music Video for “We Gon Ride” on Hiruys Records. Their records have been licensed to Festival Mushroom and Universal Music, respectively.
Of the four multiple award winners on the night, only 19-year-old pop classical artist Yulia is a major label signing, after inking a deal with Sony Music — now Sony BMG — in 2003. She won the awards for Best Female Solo Artist and the Highest Selling NZ Album for her debut album “Into The West.”
Prominent DJ Zane Lowe, a native New Zealander but currently working in London for public broadcaster BBC Radio 1, also received an award, as his folk-soul band Breaks Co-Op won the KIWI Single of the Year for “The Otherside” from their sophomore album “The Sound Inside” (EMI).
Three acts were honoured with the International Achievement Award: singer-songwriter duo Finn Brothers for their album “Everyone Is Here” (EMI); rapper Scribe for his 2003 debut “The Crusader” (Dirty Records/Festival Mushroom Records); and rock band Evermore, whose 2004 album “Dreams” was signed to Warner Music’s U.S. label Sire Records.
RIANZ spokesperson Adam Holt said presenting three International Achievement Awards this year was a sign of New Zealand industry’s growing confidence on the world stage. “It’s great to see such a wide selection of artists being honoured this year and it is truly reflective of what has been a great year in music,” said Holt.
The awards ceremony was filmed by free-to-air CanWest TV station C4 and will be broadcast today (Oct 6) and repeated on Oct. 9.
The awards, now in their 40th year, are organized by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). They are held annually to celebrate the achievements of domestic artists.
A total of 21 Tuis in 19 categories were presented during the evening. The winners are voted for by an academy regrouping members from recording companies, radio, television and press. The full list of winners is available at www.nzmusicawards.co.nz.
