You've got to hear the music

The votes are in for next week's NZ Music Awards, but Herald entertainment writers are still arguing about who the night's winners will or should be.

To paraphrase Charles Dickens: it was the best of times and it was the even betterer of times. New Zealand's music scene has seldom seemed more diverse - it's a long way from TrinityRoots to 8 Foot Sativa - and as vibrant.

How many dudes? Just heaps, mate.

New stars have appeared in the sky - this time last year only family and a few friends really knew of Brooke Fraser - and old hands like Greg Johnson have come back with their best material in, like, ever.

We, here in the office, have argued over whether someone is "pop" or "rock" - which means they aren't scraping for candidates in any category. We can't even get close on who should win for best urban/hip-hop.

We seriously wondered whether Concord Dawn shouldn't be in the rock category because ... well, they rock. But so did Scribe.

Ask around the music industry and people will stand proud and say, yes we actually do have a music industry now. We have managers and promo people, record companies and producers, engineers and video makers, and people who make a living out of just doing album cover artwork.

That's an industry by any measure, but it couldn't exist without all those who get up and make a noise that attracts our attention. It's a diverse and gratifying sound, doesn't need any cheerleaders (although has plenty) and commands radio and television time on its own merits.

A few made it to the shortlist below and on Wednesday night, at the Tui Awards, we'll know the winners. This year more than any other, "You've got to hear the music".

So here are our picks of who we think should win - and who probably will ...

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Brooke Fraser - What To Do With Daylight

Dimmer - You've Got To Hear The Music

goodshirt - Fiji Baby

Phoenix Foundation - Horsepower

Scribe - The Crusader


PICKS

Russell Baillie: Horsepower

Graham Reid: You've Got To Hear The Music

Rebecca Barry: You've Got To Hear The Music

Predicted winner: Scribe - The Crusader


SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Brooke Fraser - Lifeline

Dimmer - Getting What You Give

Goldenhorse - Maybe Tomorrow

goodshirt - Buck It Up

Scribe - Stand Up


PICKS

Baillie: Scribe (but for Not Many, the Remix)

Reid: Scribe

Barry: Scribe

Predicted winner: Scribe


BEST GROUP

Dimmer - You've Got To Hear The Music

Elemeno P - Love & Disrespect

goodshirt - Fiji Baby


PICKS

Baillie: goodshirt

Reid: Dimmer

Barry: goodshirt

Predicted winner: goodshirt


BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST

Adeaze - Always And For Real

Brooke Fraser - What To Do With Daylight

Minuit - The 88


PICKS

Baillie: Brooke Fraser

Reid: The Have

Barry: Brooke Fraser

Predicted winner: Brooke Fraser


BEST MALE SOLO


Greg Johnson - Here Comes The Caviar

Nathan Haines - Squire For Hire

Scribe - The Crusader


PICKS

Baillie: Greg Johnson

Reid: Mareko

Barry: Scribe

Predicted winner: Scribe


BEST FEMALE SOLO

Bic Runga - Live In Concert

Brooke Fraser - What To Do With Daylight

Hayley Westenra - Pure


PICKS

Baillie: Bic Runga

Reid: Brooke Fraser

Barry: Brooke Fraser

Predicted winner: Brooke Fraser


BEST SONGWRITER

Brooke Fraser - Lifeline

Greg Johnson - Save Yourself

Scribe, P-Money, Con Psy & Savage - Not Many: The Remix


PICKS

Baillie: Greg Johnson

Reid: Greg Johnson

Barry: Scribe, P-Money, Con Psy & Savage

Predicted winner: Brooke Fraser


BEST ROCK ALBUM

Dimmer - You've Got To Hear The Music

Elemeno P - Love & Disrespect

goodshirt - Fiji Baby


PICKS

Baillie: PanAm (PanAm)

Reid: PanAm

Barry: Paselode (The Taming of the Wasps)

Predicted winner: Dimmer - You've Got To Hear The Music


BEST URBAN ALBUM

King Kapisi - 2nd Round Testament

Mareko - White Sunday

Scribe - The Crusader


PICKS

Baillie: King Kapisi

Reid: Mareko

Barry: Scribe

Predicted winner: Scribe


BEST DANCE ALBUM

Concord Dawn - Uprising

Salmonella Dub - One Drop East

Shapeshifter - The Riddim Wise LP


PICKS

Baillie: Concord Dawn

Reid: Concord Dawn

Barry: Concord Dawn

Predicted winner: Concord Dawn


BEST MUSIC VIDEO

Chris Graham - Stand Up (Scribe)

Gary Sullivan - Getting What You Give (Dimmer)

Mark Trethewey & Shane Mason - Fools Love (Misfits Of Science)


PICKS

Baillie: Chris Graham

Reid: Chris Graham

Barry: Chris Graham

Predicted winner: Chris Graham


INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

Bic Runga

Hayley Westenra

Scribe


PICKS

Baillie: Hayley Westenra

Barry: Hayley Westenra

Reid: Hayley Westenra

Predicted winner: Hayley Westenra


PEOPLE'S CHOICE

Brooke Fraser

Elemeno P

goodshirt

Scribe

Steriogram

Zed

Predicted winner: Scribe