2021 Pacific Music Awards Winners Announced

The onset of summer means Aotearoa's awards season has fully arrived, with the recently rescheduled 17th annual Pacific Music Awards celebrating the outstanding musical achievements of our Pacific community in 2021 on Saturday, the same evening as the first ever SRN Awards. Big winners on the night included international chart-topping South Auckland superstar Jawsh 685 who took away three awards, while Lou’ana, Melodownz and Tree were recipients of two awards each.

The prerecorded awards ceremony was screened online via TP+, featuring performances by Oceans Before Me (honouring the Polynesian Panthers), Brownhill paying tribute to Lifetime Achievement recipient George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso, Wayno, Tomorrow People, Lepani, Emily Muli, Diggy Dupé (who'll be performing at The Others Way festival on 29th January), Hawkins, Melodownz and Tree. You can tune in to a highlights show available from 18th December and check out the full list of winners below...

“For our 2021 Pacific Music Awards a key theme is ‘Amanaki / Hope'.

To our 2021 Pacific Music Awards finalists, winners and special award recipients, fa’afetai lava, fakamalo, kia ora, thank you, for your musika, miusiki, rangi music, for your pese, fo’i hiva, waiata, song, that uplifts our people and our nations. Pacific music is about being family of humanity, being safe, being kind and being a team of 5 million.” - chairman and spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua

2021 Pacific Music Awards Winners

Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist: Lou’ana – Moonlight Madness

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist: Melodownz – ‘Fine’

Flava Best Pacific Group: Team Dynamite – ‘Dragon Fruit ft. Louis Baker’

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video: Tree – ‘Afio Ane Loa’

APRA Best Pacific Song: Jawsh 685 – ‘Savage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat)’

SunPix Best Pacific Language: Shepherds Reign – ‘Aiga’

Base FM & Island Base Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist: Melodownz – ‘Fine’

Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist: Lepani – In the Moment EP

One Love Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist: Victor J Sefo – ‘My Everything’/’Is It Bad’/’Want To’/’Like’

531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist: Marley Sola – ‘Lift Your Head High’

Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist: Tenelle – ‘This Is X’

Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album: Tree – Mrs Tree

Best Producer: Lou’ana – Moonlight Madness

Phillip Fuemana Award: Emily Muli

NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award: Jawsh 685 x Jason Derulo – ‘Savage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat)

NZ On Air Streaming Award: Jawsh 685 x Jason Derulo – ‘Savage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat)

SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist: Samson Squad

Ministry for Pacific Peoples Special Recognition Award: Nick Afoa

Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award: George “Fiji” Veikoso

Watch the award winning video for Tree's 'Afio Ane Loa'...