Ahead of the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, co-host and finalist Stan Walker spoke to Hugh Sundae about hosting the Critics' Choice Prize Showcase, indie crowds, and the boundaries of pop music.

A live performance by Lorde is set to be one of the highlights at tonight's Vodafone New Zealand Music awards ceremony.

Fresh off stage from soundcheck at Vector Arena for her Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards performance, finalist and performer Jamie McDell spoke to Hugh Sundae about playing the piano, her "image", and which award would mean the most to her.

Shapeshifter's still winning fans here and overseas, writes Paula Yeoman.

Peter Wadams, a.k.a. hip-hop DJ and producer P-Money, has worked with an array of New Zealand artists.

Heavy-metal rockers, Beastwars, formed in 2007 and have since gained a following of dedicated fans, especially in the local metal scene.

Discovered at 16, Jamie McDell has found success with her singles You'll Never Take That Away and Life in Sunshine.

Wellington soul singer, Iva Lamkum, has been making her mark across Aotearoa, working with the likes of P-Money and Andrew Spraggon from Sola Rosa.

Ruban Nielson formed Unknown Mortal Orchestra in 2010 after moving from New Zealand to Portland, Oregon, in the US.

In the lead up to this year's Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards we have asked some of the finalists to share their personal New Zealand music mixtapes, including all-time favourites or current picks.

In the lead up to this year's Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards we have asked some of the finalists to share their personal New Zealand music mixtapes, including all-time favourites or current picks.

Watch the 2013 Critics' Choice Prize Showcase back in full, thanks to Spotify and Vodafone.

Featuring performances and interviews with Paquin, Janine and the Mixtape and Sheep, Dog and Wolf.

Originally streamed live from Auckland's Kings Arms Tavern on November 6th 2013.

The Hallenstein Brothers Critics' Choice Prize is part of the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

The winner presentation for the Best Album Cover Art award, presented at the VNZMA Finalist Announcement and Technical Award presentation.

Watch a replay of NZ Herald Online's live stream of the 2013 VNZMA Finalist Announcement, and Technical Awards presentation.

The presentation of the Best Producer and Best Engineer awards for the 2013 Vodafone NZ Music Awards.

Shapeshifter, Aaradhna, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Lorde lead the nominees list for the New Zealand Music Awards, announced today.

Vodafone NZ Music Awards finalists Aaradhna and P-Money have teamed up with Vodafone to produce new single Dapper Man, which will also feature on the new VNZMA smartphone App.

“It’s always a great feeling to put new music out and I’m excited to launch Dapper Man with Vodafone’s Music Award app,” says Aaradhna.

"Dapper Man is about a type of man who is smooth, charming, respectable, clean cut and knows how to take care of himself. It’s a song expressing love for those kinds of qualities.”

The music video stars Aaradhna, P­?Money, plus Vodafone ambassador and Boy star James Rolleston.

Just like overseas, the NZ Music Awards start off with a red carpet full of musicians, hangers on and - worse - media.

She may have been the red hot favourite to win at the New Zealand Music Awards last night but Kiwi songbird Kimbra didn't get it all her own way.

Hot off the red carpet, we're bringing you the best shots from the New Zealand Music Awards at Vector Arena in Auckland.

nzherald.co.nz was backstage at the 2012 VNZMA's. Multi award winner Kimbra, Annah Mac & The New Zealand Herald Legacy award recipients were just some of the stars Hugh Sundae, Entertainment Editor spoke to.