Music Awards: Broods win five top awards but Aaradhna and Bic Runga shine brightest

Thursday night saw New Zealand music’s biggest names come together at Auckland’s Vector Arena for the 51st annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

Brother and sister duo Broods came out on top for the second year running, taking home a total of five Tui awards including Album of the Year, Single of the Year, and the People’s Choice Award.

From their tour of the US and Canada via video , Caleb and Georgia Nott expressed their gratitude for the awards, saying they were “very proud and very overwhelmed.”

The pair said winning Album of the Year was “the most insane thing ever,” adding that winning at the Music Awards is something they’ve wanted to do this since they were kids.

“We grew up watching these awards. Conscious has been one of the most amazing albums to play live and we had so much fun making it. Thank you to everyone who forced us to pursue music when we were lazy as children.”

Broods’ award-winning producer Joel Little accepted the awards in their absence.

Aaradhna won the Tui for Best Female Solo Artist, but later refused to accept the Tui for Best Urban/Hip Hop Album for Brown Girl.

"‘Brown Girl’ speaks on many things. It speaks on racism and being placed in a box. I feel like if I was to accept this I’m not being truthful in my song.If I were to accept this as an artist, it wouldn't be fair because I am a singer, not a rapper,” the singer said.

"I feel like I've been placed in a category of brown people," she said.

Speaking to NBR on the red carpet earlier in the night, Aaradhna said being recognised for Brown Girl and Best Female Solo Artist would mean a lot “because of the song, the message in the song, and the knowledge that a song like that could win.”

Aaradhna instead presented the award to up-and-comers SWIDT, to whom she said “I believe that you guys are the future of hip-hop, if you guys keep going. I want to give this to you guys.”

Maala took home his first Tui, winning Best Male Solo Artist for his debut album Composure.

“It’s a nice reward and it’s nice to celebrate it with the people who made it,” he said after the win.

Talking about the possibility of his first Tui earlier in the night, Maala told NBR “it would mean something to me but I think it’s going to mean a lot more to the people I’ve worked with. I haven’t worked out what these awards mean to me yet, but I know I’ve worked with a lot of talented people and I’m really hoping I can pull through for them.”

Longtime New Zealand favourites Fat Freddy’s Drop won the International Achievement Award, following a successful year touring their 2015 album Bays.

Sol3 Mio also found success, winning Highest Selling Album for the third consecutive year.

The ceremony was closed by Bic Runga, who was presented the Legacy Award by Dave Dobbyn, with whom she toured in the 1990s, inducting her into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

“I can’t tell you how much this award has given back to me in confidence and creativity. It was almost over, and this has really motivated me, so thanks for that,” Ms Runga said when accepting the award.

Ms Runga closed the ceremony with her award-winning song Sway.

VNZMA Full Winners List

Album of the Year: Broods - Conscious

Single of the Year: Broods - ‘Free’

Best Female Solo Artist: Aaradhna - Brown Girl

Best Male Solo Artist: MAALA - Composure

Best Group: Broods

People’s Choice Award: Broods

Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Kings - ‘Don’t Worry Bout’ It’

International Achievement Award: Fat Freddy’s Drop

Best Pop Album: Broods - Conscious

Best Rock Album: Villany - Dead Sight

Best Electronic Album: Pacific Height - The Stillness

Best Maori Album: Rob Ruha - Pūmau

Best Alternative Album: Lawrence Arabia - Absolute Truth

Best Roots Album: Unity Pacific - Blackbirder Dread

Best Urban/Hip Hop Album: SWIDT - SmoketGotBeatz Presents SWIDT vs EVERYBODY

Best Classical Album: Anthony Richie and Ross Harris - Fjarran

Best Worship Album: Edge Kingsland - Edge Vol 3: Common Good

Legacy Award: Bic Runga

Highest Selling Single: Six 60 - ‘White Lines’

Highest Selling Album: Sol3 Mio - On Another Note

Radio Airplay Record of the Year: Six60 - ‘White Lines’

Artisan Award Winners

Best Engineer: Joel Little - Conscious (Broods)

Best Producer: Joel Little - Conscious (Broods)

Best Music Video: Chris Lane - ‘Inside Out’ (Avalanche City)

Best Album Cover: Anna Taylor - Absolute Truth (Lawrence Arabia)

Critics’ Choice Prize: Scuba Diva

Other awards presented in 2016

Best Pacific Music Album: Te Vaka - Amataga

Best Children’s Album: Itty Bitty Beats - Lay Down Your Head

Best Country Album: The Warratahs - Runaway Days

Best Folk Album: Holly Arrowsmith - For The Weary Traveller

Best Jazz Album: Phil Broadhurst - Panacea