Electro-pop duo Broods blazed their way to Tui glory at the 50th Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards last night, taking home an impressive four gongs – including Best Album – and marking the end of an exceptional year.
The Nelson-born brother and sister seemed genuinely overwhelmed by their impressive haul, with a barefoot Georgia Nott, 21, begging VNZMA veteran Lorde for some acceptance-speech tips, saying, “We’re not good at talking – we’re musicians!”
The stunned siblings, who also performed their hit “Mother and Father”, paid tribute to their parents “for teaching us how to play guitar and sing”.
Lorde – resplendent in a figure-hugging red dress – took home the Single of the Year award (for the third time in a row) for her Hunger Games soundtrack hit “Yellow Flicker Beat”. The 19-year-old, who had flown in from New York two days earlier, was upbeat as she thanked mum Sonia Yelich-O’Connor for being her right-hand woman – and scooping up her socks off countless hotel-room floors!
Meanwhile, Best Solo Female Artist winner Gin Wigmore gave a shout-out to female artists, teasing fellow nominee Anika Moa with a cheeky “up yours, Anika” as she accepted her gong.
VNZMA winners Gin Wigmore (left, in an outfit from The Kooples) and Lorde (right). Photo: Getty
Girls undoubtedly ruled the night, but the boys didn’t go home empty-handed.
Rising alt-country star Marlon Williams scooped Tuis for Best Male Solo Artist and Best Breakthrough Artist, while perennial Samoan-Kiwi opera favourites Sol3 Mio took home Highest-Selling Album for their self-titled debut for the second year running. Savage and Tiny Trumpet opened the show with a rousing version of “Freaks”, which won Highest-Selling Single.
Legendary artist Mick Fleetwood, of Fleetwood Mac fame, made a surprise appearance at the star-studded bash, hosted this year by Taika Waititi.
Several artists paid tribute to Jonah Lomu, who passed earlier this week, the most moving being a rousing impromptu haka by Best Maori Album winner Ranea.
VNZMA 2015 winners by category
Mentos Album of the Year
Broods – Evergreen
Vodafone Single of the Year
Lords – Yellow Flicker Beat
Best Group
Broods – Evergreen
Best Male Solo Artist
Marlon Williams – Marlon Williams
Best Female Solo Artist
Gin Wigmore – Blood To Bone
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Marlon Williams – Marlon Williams
Best Rock Album
Shihad – FVEY
The Edge Best Pop Album
Broods – Evergreen
Best Alternative Album
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love
Best Urban/Hip Hop Album
Janine and The Mixtape – XX
Best Roots Album
Trinity Roots – Citizen
Best Electronica Album
Electric Wire Hustle – Love Can Prevail
NZ On Air Best Music Video
Shahir Daud – Cymatics (Nigel Stanford)
Best Maori Album
Ranea – Tihei Mauri Ora
Best Worship Album
LIFE Worship – Through The Fire
Best Classical Album
Michael Houstoun – Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas
Highest Selling Album
Sol3 Mio – Sol3 Mio
Highest Selling Single
Savage and Timmy Trumpet – Freaks
NZ ON AIR Radio Airplay Record of the Year
Broods – Mother & Father
International Achievement
Lorde
Savage
Vodafone People’s Choice Award
Six60
NZ Herald Legacy Award
The Exponents
