Scuba Diva Awarded Critics' Choice Prize 2016

Auckland musician Jimmy Mac aka Scuba Diva was awarded the Critics' Choice Prize 2016 at a showcase at The Tuning Fork last night. Mac, whose music has been described as a "percussive underwater Herbie Hancock wet dream", performed at the showcase with a full band - bringing to life his Kody Nielson-produced singles 'Marimba' and 'What's The Point?', along with several other watery-psych tunes.

Mac went head-to-head with two other finalists to take the prize, Onehunga rap outfit Sypcc and INF, and Dunedin's Kane Strang. The prize includes NZ On Air grant worth $8000 (to go towards recording a single or music video) and $1500 voucher for audio services from Stebbing Recording Centre.

Now in its seventh year, the Critics’ Choice Prize aims to recognise up-and-coming musicians as future Tui award winners. Previous winners include Kimbra, Randa, Bespin, Street Chant, Watercolours and Sheep, Dog & Wolf.