She won Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist, Sunpix Best Pacific Language, and Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album for her debut solo album "Candid".
The legacy of the late Fijian guitarist Daniel Rae Costello was honoured with the Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award.
Costello released his debut album "Tropical Sunset" in 1979 and went on to put out 19 more throughout his lifetime. His hits such as "Take Me to the Island", "Dark Moon" and "Samba", are ubiquitous on radio, and at nightclubs and family gatherings across the Pacific to this day.
Gospel singer Lani Alo took a break from his work with previous winners EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth Choir to release his first single "Alo I Ou Faiva". The track won Best Pacific Song, and he won Best Pacific Gospel Artist.
Kiwi hip hop sensation Kings won the Streaming Award for his single "6 Figures", while the award for Best Pacific Male Artist went to rapper Poetik for Hamofied EP 2, which continues to put Polynesian culture and issues on the map.
A Special Recognition Award was presented to Jawsh 685 – AKA Josh Nanai – a 17-year-old producer from Manurewa who's catchy "Laxed (Siren Beat)" went viral on social media platform TikTok, before being picked up by US pop star Jason Derulo.
The resulting collaboration "Savage Love / Laxed (Siren Beat)" has had global success, reaching the #1 spot in 17 countries including New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Performances on the night showcased the new wave of Pacific talent with sets from finalists Church & AP, Lomez Brown, Lou'ana, Shepherds Reign, Lani Alo, and Disciple Pati. There was also a special tribute performance for Lifetime Achievement recipient Daniel Rae Costello by Stevie Heatley and TCB, the band that toured with him across NZ and the Pacific from 2013 to 2015.
Chairman and spokesperson Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua said: "The 2020 Pacific Music Awards again travel new oceans of richness, diversity and inclusivity, mirroring the Pasifika wairuatanga/spirit of overcoming life struggles and giving back to loved ones from Atua/God, to sacred tupuga/tupuna/ancestors."
2020 Pacific Music Awards Winners
Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist
WINNER: Olivia Foa'i – Candid
Bella Kalolo – 'Ends of the Earth'
Lou'ana – 'Move Along'
NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist
WINNER: Poetik – HAMOFIED 2 EP
Lepani – 'Pockets Full of Love'
Noah Slee – Twice
Flava Best Pacific Group
WINNER: Church & AP – Teeth
Shepherds Reign – 'Le Manu'
Tomorrow People – 'Fever feat. Fiji'
NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video
WINNER: Disciple Pati – 'The Boy Who Cried Woman', directed by Shae Stirling and Sapati Apa
Lou'ana – 'Eye To Eye', directed by Annie Duckworth
SWIDT – 'Bunga', directed by Anahera Parata
APRA Best Pacific Song
WINNER: Lani Alo – 'Alo I Ou Faiva', written by Metitilani Alo and Livingstone Efu
General Fiyah – 'It's You feat. Three Houses Down', written by Charlie Pome'e and Nicholas Pome'e
Shepherds Reign – 'Le Manu', written by Oliver Leupolu, Filivaa James, Joseph Oti–George, Gideon Voon, Shaymen Rameka
SunPix Best Pacific Language
WINNER: Olivia Foa'i – Candid
Lani Alo – 'Alo I Ou Faiva'
Punialava'a – Sili'aga I Fa'atufugaga, Beyond Our Stories
Shepherds Reign – 'Le Manu'
Base FM NZ & Island Base Samoa Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist
WINNER: Church & AP – Teeth
Melodownz – 'No Mercy feat. Denzel Curry'
Poetik – HAMOFIED 2 EP
Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist
WINNER: Jordan Gavet – 'Hesitation'
Lepani – 'Pocket Full of Love'
Lou'ana – 'Move Along'
Noah Slee – Twice
Pato Entertainment Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist
WINNER: Tomorrow People – 'Fever feat. Fiji'
General Fiyah – 'It's You feat. Three Houses Down'
Lomez Brown – 'Tell Me'
Raggadat Cris – I Swear
Best Pacific Gospel Artist
WINNER: Lani Alo – 'Alo I Ou Faiva'
Punialava'a – Sili'aga I Fa'atufugaga, Beyond Our Stories
JXN – 'Talako Dragon'
Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist
WINNER: Josh Tatofi – Ua Kui A Lawa
HP Boyz – 'Engineers'
Kaiit – 'Miss Shiney'
Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album
WINNER: Olivia Foa'I – Candid
Church & AP – Teeth
POETIK – HAMOFIED 2 EP
Red Bull Best Producer
WINNER: Dera Meelan (Church & AP – Teeth)
Kings (Kings – 'Hit That')
Tia Drumma and EDY (Mikey Mayz – 'Wild People')
Matatia Foa'I (Olivia Foa'i – Candid)
Phillip Fuemana Award – Most Promising Pacific Artist
WINNER: Victor J Sefo
NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award
WINNER: Church & AP – 'Ready or Not'
NZ On Air Streaming Award
WINNER: Kings – '6 Figures'
SunPix People's Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist
WINNER: HP Boyz
Special Recognition Award
WINNER: Jawsh 685
Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Daniel Rae Costello
-RNZ
