Avalanche City's stellar year has been topped with a nomination for Vodafone Single of the Year. Catherine Gaffaney speaks to Dave Baxter about the nomination, his new album and what's next.
After my interview with Dave Baxter, also known as Kiwi folk musician Avalanche City, a colleague asks what he's like.
I think back to his DIY approach to recording music, his anecdote about being "a tad starstruck" by Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla who mixed his second album, and how he loves setting music videos outdoors because he believes his music ties in with landscape.
"Very Nu Zealund", I say in my best attempt at an exaggerated Kiwi accent.
Chilled out, remarkably polite and humble, Baxter and his music typify the best aspects of New Zealand character.
His debut 2011 single Love Love Love was number one for 19 weeks, was nominated for Vodafone Single of the Year and won two national songwriting awards.
His first album Our New Life Above the Ground reached number 4 and achieved gold status.
We Are for the Wild Places, his second album released in July, peaked at number three and its first single Inside Out spent 13 weeks at number one.
Inside Out is also nominated for Single of the Year in next week's 2015 Music Awards.
Obviously he'd love to win but Baxter says the nomination alone is "really nice".
"It's quite cool and kind of validating to get nominated for something like this because there's so much good New Zealand music... I don't know how much of a chance I stand but it's nice to be thought of."
Baxter's been similarly humbled by his reception at live shows, including when he opened for Robbie Williams' Wellington concert.
"I don't get to play to ginormous crowds of 12,000 people so it was of a bit of a thrill.
Avalanche City
"It's been really nice to play the album out with the full band and see people enjoy the music."
Baxter writes and records in his home studio - which is dubbed The Treehouse, as it sits up some stairs and has a window looking into a tree - but he performs with a backup band.
"Hanging out in the studio and experimenting and making mistakes and keeping those mistakes is really fun and quite special."
Baxter has several plans for producing and performing more of the music he has a "genuine personal connection" to.
"It just doesn't feel honest if you don't (have a connection).
"I'm already thinking about my next album but it'll be a while away. I've released another single, Keep Finding A Way, off the new album, and I've got a couple more shows lined up over the summer.
"Early to mid next year I want to head overseas and release the album in a couple of different markets. I'll probably go to Canada and the States, and hopefully Germany and maybe Holland and Sweden, and just see what happens."
Though he may be bound for the "wild places" hinted at in the name of his second album, it seems highly likely he'll remain a well-grounded Kiwi.
The Vodafone Music Awards take place at the Vector Arena in Auckland on Thursday, November 19.
VNZMA 2015 Finalists (by category)
1. Mentos Album of the Year Broods - 'Evergreen' Marlon Willams - 'Marlon Williams' Shihad - 'FVEY' Six60 - 'Six60' Unknown Mortal Orchestra - 'Multi-Love'
2. Vodafone Single of the Year Avalanche City - 'Inside Out' Lorde - 'Yellow Flicker Beat' Marlon Williams - 'Dark Child' Six60 - 'White Lines' Unknown Mortal Orchestra - 'Multi-Love'
3. Best Group Broods - 'Evergreen' Shihad - 'FVEY' Six60 - 'Six60'
4. Best Male Solo Artist Marlon Williams - 'Marlon Williams' Stan Walker - 'Truth & Soul' Unknown Mortal Orchestra - 'Multi-Love'
5. Best Female Solo Artist Anika Moa - 'Queen At The Table' Brooke Fraser - 'Brutal Romantic' Gin Wigmore - 'Blood To Bone'
6. Breakthrough Artist of the Year Devilskin Ginny Blackmore Marlon Williams
7. Best Rock Album Cairo Knife Fight - 'The Colossus' Devilskin - 'We Rise' Shihad - 'FVEY'
14. Best Maori Album Moana & the Tribe - 'Rima' Ranea - 'Tihei Mauri Ora' Whaia and The Mahician - 'Whaia'
15. Best Worship Album Edge Kingsland Presents - 'Seven Days' LIFE Worship - 'Through The Fire' We, The Revival - 'We, The Revival'
16. Best Classical Album Jack Body - 'Passing By' Jack Body - 'Songs Of Death and Desire' Michael Houstoun - 'Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas'
17. Best Album Cover Winner: Kelvin Soh - 'Evergreen' (Broods) Other finalists: Alt Group - 'FVEY' (Shihad) Barny Bewick - 'The Colossus' (Cairo Knife Fight)
18. Massey University Best Producer Winner: Sean Donnelly - 'Saint John Divine' (SJD) Other finalists: Clint Murphy - 'We Rise' (Devilskin) Joel Little - 'Evergreen' (Broods)
19. Best Engineer Winner: Lee Prebble and Oliver Harmer - 'Drylands' (Mel Parsons) Other finalists:Evan Short - 'FVEY' (Shihad) Clint Murphy - 'We Rise' (Devilskin)
20. Vodafone People's Choice Award Broods Lorde Six60 Sol3 Mio Stan Walker
21. NZ Herald Legacy Award The Exponents
22. NZ On Air Critics' Choice Prize line-up Winner: Bespin Other finalists: Boycrush New Gum Sarn
Additional Tuis presented in 2015:
23. Best Pacific Music Album: Winner: Cydel - 'Memoirs of a Midnight Cowboy' Team Dynamite 'Shepherds Delight' Fiafia Band 'Siva Siva Maia'
24. Best Country Album Winner: Tami Neilson - 'Dynamite!' Delaney Davidson and Marlon Williams - 'Sad But True, Vol. 3' Glen Moffatt - "Superheroes and Scary Things'
25. Best Folk Album Winner: Great North - 'Up In Smoke' Flip Grater - 'Pigalle' Rachel Dawick - 'The Boundary Riders'
26. Best Jazz Album Winner: Dog - 'Dog' The Jac - 'Nerve' Jonathan Crayford - 'Dark Light'
27. Best Children's Album Winner: fleaBite - 'The Jungle is Jumping' Poppet Stars - 'Poppet Stars' Itty Bitty Beats - 'Bathtime
This year, the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards celebrates its 50th anniversary. For the first time ever the show is broadcast live on TV3 made possible with the support of NZ On Air.
