SoundProof at the 2009 VNZMAs, Part One
By: Jessica Gillon
Posted: October 20, 2009 – Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand's top musos are gathering once again at Auckland's Vector Arena for the night that recognises and showcases the best talent in the industry. In its 44th year, the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards have honoured many a homegrown artist with a coveted Tui.
From the red carpet to the stage, love is clearly in the air. Each musician makes a different entrance. Some, like Midnight Youth and Gin Wigmore, are swept up in a sea of camera flashes and cries of "look over here!". Ladyhawke, a.k.a Pip Brown, walks carefully up the red carpet, almost shy and painfully aware of the publicity she is generating. The blonde, smoky-eyed warbler is nominated for six awards, while rocker-boys Midnight Youth are up for four.
No great show would be complete without stage pyrotechnics and performances on stilts.
MC'd by comedian Dai Henwood, the show opens with Midnight Youth. Their vibrant and enthusiastic performance of "All on Our Own", accompanied by flames shooting into the air, pumps the crowd full of adrenaline.
The boys prove their worth, walking away with two coveted awards, Best Group and Best Rock Album for The Brave Don't Run. In this case, the brave really don't run, they soar. The MAINZ Best Engineer award is added to Midnight Youth's cluster, won by Andrew Buckton.
Best Album cover, another technical award, is given to Ruban Nielson, for the colourful masterpiece Screens by The Mint Chicks. Best Classical album is awarded to David Bremner for Gung Ho, while Best Gospel/Christian Album goes to stalwarts Mumsdollar for their latest effort, Ruins. Sola Rosa take to the stage to perform "Turn Around" (nominated for Best Video), featuring an Iva Lamkum on stilts, who successfully navigates the difficult process of pushing out grunty notes while being at least some 12 feet off the ground.
Swooping in on a return from overseas, Ladyhawke, whose self-titled album's infectious blend of pop and electronica has been garnering much attention of late, is collecting enough awards to fill a mantlepiece. Fat Freddy's Drop get the crowd into a relaxed vibe and the drinks start pouring. Fat Freddy's take home the Best Aotearoa Roots Album and MAINZ Best Producer with Dr Boondigga and the Big BW.
The atmosphere is becoming more and more interesting, and the true "kiwi" friendly nature starts to show itself. As each artist receives an award and returns to the table, it's hugs all around: partners, record label executives, and comrades in other bands. The love is being shared. There's an intoxicating sense of joy. Excitement is pervading the arena... a feeling of euphoria that a small nation in the South Pacific, with somewhat limited resources, can do so much on an international scale. It is a true homecoming for several nominated artists, and Ladyhawke and Brooke Fraser both receive awards for international achievement.
Smashproof, featuring the throaty songbird Gin Wigmore, present a powerful image. They rouse the audience with the hard-hitting "Brother"—a social commentary on domestic life in New Zealand that earns them the People's Choice award, Highest Selling NZ Single, and Best Music Video (director Chris Graham). Best Urban/Hip Hop album goes to Ladi 6, while Savage, another great hip hop figure, wins Best Male Solo Artist. Best Female Artist is presented to... you guessed it... Ladyhawke. Her performance starts off a little fluttery, but by the end of "My Delerium" she is less nervous and adding Breakthrough Artist of the Year to her nest-egg of awards.
The Feelers, known for their classic anthemic rock, win Highest Selling NZ Album for The Best: 1998-2008, and the talented Tiki Taane takes away the NZ on Air Radio Airplay Record of the year for the hit single, "Always On My Mind".
Tingeing the night with a little sadness is the recent passing (on September 24) of the legendary New Zealand entertainer Sir Howard Morrison. John Rowles, another Kiwi great, performs to honour this great man and his musical legacy. Many thoughts on the night are also with Samoa. The recent tsunami has had a devasting impact and several of the evening's performers have family links there.
On a lighter note, Ray Columbus and the Invaders step up to receive the New Zealand Herald Legacy Award. They are also inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.
The Mint Chicks (who caged five Tuis in 2007) make a last minute attempt to steal the show from Ladyhawke with a trippy cover of "She's A Mod" as a tribute to Ray Columbus, taking us back to a time when New Zealand music was getting off the ground. From the quality of the night's show and the artists' performances, New Zealand music on an international stage is in full flight.
Continue to Part Two, here.
Video: "Brother" by Smashproof (feat. Gin Wigmore)
