The finalists for the 2021 Aotearoa Music Awards have been announced and Troy Kingi leads the pack with six nominations.
With four Tūi already to his name, the Rotorua-born musician is up for Te Pukaemi o te Tau (Album of the Year) for his fourth album The Ghost of Freddie Cesar and Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau (Single of the Year) for 'Sleep (Slumber)'.
He's also up for Te Kaipuoro Takitahi Toa (Best Solo Artist) Te Māngai Pāho Te Kaipuoro Māori Toa (Best Māori Artist), Te Kaipuoro Awe Toa (Best Soul/RnB Artist), in addition to a nomination for Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo award with blues and roots trio The Nudge.
Hot on his heels with five nominations is Teeks, who is also a finalist for Album of the Year for his record Something to Feel, as well as for Single of the Year with 'Remember Me'. He's also a finalist for Best Solo Artist, Best Māori Artist and Best Soul/RnB Artist.
LAB are finalists for four Tūi including Album of the Year for LAB IV, while Benee is also nominated for the same award for her record Hey u x, as well as receiving nods for Te Kaipuoro Arotini Toa (Best Pop Artist) and Best Solo Artist.
After a long hiatus, Lorde's 'Solar Power' also earns a nominations for Single of The Year, while Six60, Foley, Rei, Ekko Park, SWIDT, Shapeshifter, Sola Rosa, Crowded House, The Phoenix Foundation and Anna Coddington are among the 36 finalists across 15 different categories.
The Aotearoa Music Awards will take place at the Aotea Centre's Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Auckland and will be broadcast live on TV.
The list of finalists in the major categories for the 2021 Aotearoa Music Awards is as follows:
Te Pukaemi o te Tau (Album of the Year)
- BENEE - Hey u x
- Crowded House - Dreamers are Waiting
- LAB - LAB IV
- The Phoenix Foundation - Friend Ship
- TEEKS - Something to Feel
- Troy Kingi - The Ghost of Freddie Cesar
Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau (Single of the Year)
- Harper Finn - 'Dance Away These Days'
- L.A.B. - 'Why Oh Why'
- Lorde - 'Solar Power'
- Six60 - 'All She Wrote'
- TEEKS - 'Remember Me'
- Troy Kingi - 'Sleep (Slumber)'
Te Roopu Toa (Best Group)
- Crowded House - Dreamers are Waiting
- LAB - LAB IV
- The Phoenix Foundation - Friend Ship
- Shapeshifter - Rituals
Te Kaipuoro Takitahi Toa (Best Solo Artist)
- Anna Coddington - Beams
- BENEE - Hey u x
- TEEKS - Something to Feel
- Troy Kingi - The Ghost of Freddie Cesar
Te Kaituhura Puoro Toa o te Tau (Breakthrough Artist of the Year)
- Foley
- Harper Finn
- Muroki
- Niko Walters
Te Māngai Pāho Te Kaipuoro Māori Toa (Best Māori Artist)
- Mara TK
- Teeks
- Troy Kingi
Te Kaipuoro Arotini Toa (Best Pop Artist)
- BENEE
- Foley
- LA WOMEN
Te Kaipuoro Manohi Toa (Best Alternative Artist)
- Anthonie Tonnon
- Na Noise
- Wax Chattels
Te Kaipuoro Awe Toa (Best Soul/RnB Artist)
- Mara TK
- Teeks
- Troy Kingi
Te Kaipuoro Hipihope Toa (Best Hip Hop Artist)
- Diggy Dupè
- SWIDT
- Team Dynamite
Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa (Best Roots Artist)
- Grove Roots
- LAB
- Tomorrow People
Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo Award
- Rei
- Te Nūtube
- The Nudge & Troy Kingi
Te Kaipuoro Tāhiko Toa (Best Electronic Artist)
- Paige Julia
- Shapeshifter
- Sola Rosa
Te Kaipuoro Rakapioi Toa (Best Rock Artist)
- Dead Favours
- Ekko Park
- Mako Road
Te Kaipuoro Inamata Toa (Best Classical Artist)
- Claire Cowan
- Justin DeHart
- Tony Yan Tong Chen
