The Naked and Famous, Brooke Fraser clean-up at Music Awards (videos, photos)

NZ Herald

3 Nov, 2011 05:30 PM4 mins to read

The Naked and Famous perform at the 46th New Zealand Music Awards held at Vector Arena, Auckland tonight. Photo / Richard Robinson.

There were two major winners but it was still a five-all draw at the New Zealand Music Awards last night with band The Naked and Famous and singer-songwriter Brooke Fraser taking out five awards each.

But the Auckland quintet dominated the major categories with a clean-sweep of all the Tuis they were nominated for.

The Naked and Famous won best album for debut Passive Me, Aggressive You, single of the year, best group, breakthrough artist and best alternative album.

The clip for the band's hit Punching in A Dream also won its producers Special Problems the best video prize, while group members Thom Powers and Aaron Short had earlier been named winners of the engineer and producer awards.

Band member Aaron Short said the group had no expectations despite winning five of the six categories they were finalists for.

"We've been away from New Zealand since February ... so coming back here, it's like leaving from the bubble for a while," he said.

Band member Thom Powers smushed his face against his golden award backstage, and when he spoke he seemed stunned by the accolades.

"No, it's weird ... This is weird. It's weirder. It's weird ... I dunno, it's weird. It's like an awards festival," he told the crowd.

Fraser, who also performed at the Vodafone-sponsored event at Vector Arena tonight, added five Tuis to her to already crowded trophy case from past awards.

As well as winning the publicly-voted People's Choice award, Fraser's Flags won both best pop and highest selling album.

Its hit track Something in the Water won her the highest selling single and her efforts in overseas markets saw her take away the international achievement award.

Other big winners on the night included hip-hop/soul artist Ladi6.

She pipped Fraser for the best female solo artist prize and two male rivals - PNC and David Dallas - in the best hip-hop album division.

Past winner Tiki Taane proved a multi-genre triumph, winning best male solo artist, best Maori and best electronica album.

The night featuring performances by all the winners and was capped by a reunited Supergroove performing Rain as part of the New Zealand Herald Legacy Award tribute to Dragon.

The band were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame with founding member Todd Hunter receiving the award alongside past and present members of the group whose definitive 70s and 80s line-up featured his late brother Marc Hunter as its charismatic frontman.

NZ Music Awards 2012 winners:

Russian Standard Vodka Album of The Year
The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You

Vodafone Single of The Year
The Naked and Famous - Young Blood

FOUR Best Group
The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You

Best Male Solo Artist
Tiki Taane - In the World of Light

Best Female Solo Artist
Ladi6 - The Liberation Of...

Pacific Blue Breakthrough Artist of The Year
The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You

PPNZ Best Rock Album
Shihad - Ignite

The Edge Best Pop Album
Brooke Fraser - Flags

Best Alternative Album
The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You

Serato Best Urban / Hip Hop Album
Ladi6 - The Liberation Of ...

Best Roots Album
TrinityRoots - Music is Choice