Focus: Post award interviews with the big winners of the VNZMA 2019. Video / Leon Menzies
Teenage pop sensation Benee was the big winner at last night's Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, scooping all four awards she was nominated for.
The 19-year-old Aucklander won best solo artist and single of the year for her platinum debut Soaked. She also claimed best pop artist and breakthrough artist for her latest album Fire on Marzz.
In a series of endearingly offbeat acceptance speeches Benee – real name Stella Bennett - swore, apologised for swearing and encouraged young people to follow their dreams, referring to her dropping out of university after two weeks.
Benee won best solo artist, single of the year, best pop artist and breakthrough artist. Photo / Supplied
In one appearance on the podium, the Grey Lynn resident, who still lives at home and releases new EP Stella & Steve today, said: "Oh my gosh what the f***? Sorry. Oh my goodness me, what the frick? Holy crumble cakes. What's going on?
"I'm a solo artist but I would not be able to do anything by myself. I'm a bit of a weird one and I have trouble doing things alone."
Backstage after winning her fourth award, she told media she felt "kind of like a blank page right now, like what the actual heck just happened to me?"
Other multiple winners included Tom Scott's Avantdale Bowling Club, which won awards for best hip hop artist and the coveted album of the year gong.
Scott's was one of several big-name and winning acts to play live, delivering a stunning performance of Home with the choir from his former school Avondale Intermediate.
In his first acceptance speech he urged Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was in the audience with Finance Minister Grant Robertson, to visit the protest at disputed land at Ihumātao, South Auckland.
He later told media:"Jacinda Ardern should go down there. We're a f****** colony, we benefit off the misery of the native people in this land. Sorry to kill everyone's buzz but it's the truth."
Scott also joked that he felt like US basketball star LeBron James in the glare of the cameras and said it was cathartic to know you can go through depression with everyone watching, referring to the honesty of the lyrics on his winning record.
Tom Scott's Avantdale Bowling Club received album of the year and best hip hop artist. Photo / Dean Purcell
Indie pop band The Beths won best group and best alternative artist following the success of 2018 debut album Future Me Hates Me in 2018. The four-piece has been making waves overseas, with sell-out shows across the UK and mainland Europe.
For the second year running, the near-veterans Six60 picked up highest-selling artist and radio airplay record of the year. They also won the people's choice award, underlining their huge domestic popularity.
The Beths won best group and best alternative artist. Photo / NZ Herald
Troy Kingi and his band The Upperclass won best Maori artist and best roots artist thanks to the success of Holy Colony Burning Acres, the third of 10 albums he plans to release in a decade.
Th' Dudes had already been announced as recipients of the legacy award and new members of the hall of fame. Newly reformed, they played a medley of classics including Bliss, Be Mine Tonight and Walking in Light to close the night.
They were joined on stage by special guests Rikki Morris, brother of late member Ian Morris, and Ian's daughters Julia and Maude.
Their appearance was rapturously received, with Bliss, in particular, sparking wild dancing in the aisles and around the tables that filled the arena floor.
Before that, singer Peter Urlich delivered a speech that thanked their many and diverse influences – everyone from John Lennon and Paul McCartney to Sir Howard Morrison and Monty Python.
Th 'Dudes performed a medley of their classic Kiwi songs. Photo / Murray Cammick
Perhaps the biggest shock of the night was the lack of awards for Aldous Harding, who was nominated for four and is carving out a hugely successful international career.
Auckland rockers Villainy, who returned after a four-year hiatus with third album Raised in the Dark, won best rock artist. Bailey Wiley won best soul/RnB artist.
Other awards went to Harbourside Worship for best worship artist, Simon O'Neill for best classical artist and Tali, for best electronic artist.
In an emotional speech Tali said: "I know we're supposed to get up here and act like we're really chill and don't care and stuff but I actually really care."
Six60 picked up highest selling artist and radio airplay record of the year. Phopto / Supplied
Big winners at last year's awards, Drax Project, received the international achievement award for the success of single Woke Up Late, which has more than 70 million streams on Spotify to date.
Recorded Music NZ chief executive Damian Vaughan said this year's awards celebrated newcomers and past favourites, showing the New Zealand music scene is continuing to grow.
"The calibre of talent just keeps getting better each year with more and more of our talented Kiwi musicians making an impact both in Aotearoa and abroad. We're consistently impressed by the creativity, skill and expertise of our musicians and New Zealand should be incredibly proud."
The event was hosted by Laura Daniel and Shihad's Jon Toogood. As well as Avantdale Bowling Club and Th' Dudes, there were also performances from The Beths, Benee, Mitch James, Troy Kingi, Villainy, and Teeks and Hollie Smith.
