Award chance is one more highlight for Pacific star

Bella Kalolo is downplaying her chance of winning the Best Pacific Female Artist award. Photo / Supplied

A line-up of top musicians are among finalists in this year's Pacific Music Awards.

Hundreds are expected to attend the annual awards event tonight at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau City.

Among the finalists is Christchurch-raised singer Bella Kalolo, who is contender for the Best Pacific Female Artist award with her song What Love Can Do.

She is up against fellow Christchurch-raised hip hop soul singer Ladi6 and r'n'b performer Erakah, who won the award last year.

Known for her low and sultry voice, Kalolo has many overseas fans.

Yesterday, she downplayed the possibility of winning the award.

"I reckon Ladi will get it, I know it," she laughed.

"But I'm absolutely stoked that I was named for it. I haven't gotten many awards in the Pacific music scene, but I'm stoked to be named a finalist."

Kalolo writes her own songs with her husband and was recently chosen to perform at this year's Glastonbury music festival in England.

She will join Kiwi artists King Kapisi, The Naked and Famous, Ladi6 and Shapeshifter at the event, which attracts more than 150,000 people.

"I don't have anything out," she said. "I don't have a single, I don't have a video. So it was just amazing that I was picked to perform at Glastonbury.

"Polynesian music is being represented there in King Kaps and Ladi and me, but also Kiwi music in general. It's great."

Other artists up for awards tonight include South Auckland rapper Young Sid, Pacific Underground and Nesian Mystik, who are finalists for four awards, including Best Pacific Group and Best Pacific Song, for their song Sun Goes Down.

J Williams, who recently revealed he had been abusive to his partner Larissa Leo Brown, is also nominated for the Best Pacific Male Artist award, but is understood to not be attending the awards ceremony.