Avondale artist Melodownz wins big at Pacific Music Awards

West Auckland artist Melodownz took home the spoils at the annual Pacific Music Awards, winning three awards in Manukau on Wednesday.

Melodownz, an Avondale-born artist, won Best Male Artist, Best Video and Best Music Album for Lone Wolf at the Due Drops Centre in south Auckland.

Tokelauan artist Olivia Foa’i took was named Best Female Artist and won Best Pacific Language for her song Sunlight.

Other winners of the night were Deceptikonz, scooping Best Pacific Group for their captivating album In Perpetuity, while Punialava’a won Best Pacific Gospel for Tagi Le Atunu’u Pele.

In the hip-hop category, Poetik’s Hamofied Tre was recognised as Best Hip-Hop Artist, while Sam V’s soulful tracks on The one, the lonely EP, Come Through, and Love Again earned him the Best Soul/RnB Artist.

Best Roots/Reggae artist went to Three Houses Down for their work on The Dream and She Loves Me.

International talent was also recognised at PMA, with Josh Tatofi winning the NIU FM Best International Pacific Artist award for his mesmerising tracks, Prisoner of Love, Sweet Loven, Landslide, Still the One, Pua Ahih’i, Good Morning Beautiful, and Tomorrow.

The Best Producer award was won by Mareko x Ricky Paul, for their collaborative work on Untitled: ACT 1.

Victor J Sefo’s unofficial anthem of Toa Samoa, co-written with Ventry Parker and Elijah Tovio, won Best Pacific Song, and Independent Music award.

SWIDT feat. Lomez Brown received the Radio Airplay Award for Kelz Garage, while Savage ft Aaradhna’s They Don’t Know won the NZ On Air Streaming Award with over 28.2 million streams across Spotify and YouTube.

Fan favourite, Wayno, walked away with the People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist, while Teo Glacier was awarded with the Phillip Fuemana Award for Most Promising Pacific Artist.

The awards ceremony was filled with live performances from finalists and winners, including Melodownz, Lou’ana, Lepani, Jordyn With A Why and Jaro Local.

PMA’s lifetime avivement award was given to the late Toni Williams, and he was honoured with a performance from the Cook Island String Band, the Kabin Bread Boyz.

All the 2023 Pacific Music Awards Winners:

Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist:

WINNER: Olivia Foa’iI – Sunlight Jordan Gavet – He Said Jordyn with a Why – Brown Melodies Lou’ana – Lost & Found

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist:

WINNER: MELODOWNZ – Lone Wolf Sam V – The one, the lonely EP, ‘ome Through, Love Again Victor J Sefo – 685, 685 Remix Flava Best Pacific Group: WINNER: Deceptikonz – In Perpetuity STNDRD – Jukebox | Otara (Misunderstood) Three Houses Down – The Dream

531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist:

WINNER: Punialava’a – Tagi Le Atunu’u Pele Blsd One – Ready or Not EP Wayno – Seu lou Pologa, Siva Samoa 2K23

Matai Watches Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist:

WINNER: Poetik – Hamofied Tre Deceptikonz – In Perpetuity MELODOWNZ – Lone Wolf

Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist:

WINNER: Sam V – The one, the lonely EP, Come Through, Love Again Lepani – Tell You Something, The Morning Lou’ana – Lost & Found

Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist:

WINNER: Three Houses Down – The Dream, She Loves Me Canaan Ene x Swiss – Luv & Company Sweet & Irie – Maximum ft Shane Walker, My Communication to You

Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist:

WINNER: Josh Tatofi – Prisoner of Love, Sweet Loven, Landslide, Still the One, Pua Ahih’i , Good Morning Beautiful, Tomorrow FAIVA – Valovalo Mai Jaro Local – Flowers of July EP

MPG/SAE Best Producer:

WINNER: Mareko x Ricky Paul – Untitled: ACT 1 (Producer: Ricky Paul Musik) Sam V – Come Through, Sex & Pain, Love Again, I Tried To Tell U: Producer: Edward Liu Victor J Sefo – 685, 685 Remix Producer: Victor J Sefo

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:

WINNER: MELODOWNZ – Pray For More ft Lisi, Mikey Dam (directed by Connor Pritchard) Olivia Foa’ i – Sunlight, directed by Shae Sterling Hales – Just My Type, directed by Canaan Ene Lou’ana – Lost & Found, directed by Anna Rose Duckworth

APRA Best Pacific Song:

WINNER: Victor J Sefo – 685, written by Victor J Sefo, Ventry Parker, Elijah Tovio) Deceptikonz – One Time, written by D Savelio/ M Sagapolutele D Maoate/D Puniani/R Oliver/D Adams/V Papalii Olivia Foa’i – Sunlight, written by Olivia Foa’i Sam V – Come Through, written by Sam Verlinden, Eli Naea, Edward Liu

SunPix Best Pacific Language:

WINNER: Olivia Foa’i – Sunlight Canaan Ene x Junior Soqeta – Tabamuni Rei & Olivia Foa’i – Kokomea Wayno – Seu lou Pologa, Siva Samoa 2K23

Recorded Music NZ Te Pukaemi Toa O Te Moana Nui A Kiwa | Best Pacific Music Album Award:

WINNER: MELODOWNZ – Lone Wolf Poetik – Hamofied Tre STNDRD – Jukebox

NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award:

WINNER: SWIDT ft Lomez Brown – Kelz Garage NZ On Air Streaming Award: WINNER: Savage ft Aaradhna – They Don’t Know

SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist:

Phillip Fuemana Award – Most Promising Pacific Artist:

Creative New Zealand Award:

Ministry for Pacific Peoples Special Recognition Award:

Ministry for Pacific Peoples Special Recognition Award:

Arch Angel Independent Music Award:

Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Te Pukenga Achievement Award: