PASIFIKA – A mix of newcomers, old hands, and Polynesian heavy metallers are among the finalists for this year’s Pacific Music Awards.

The nominees were announced by livestream on Facebook on Wednesday night, with a gala postponed because of the Covid-19 lockdown in New Zealand, RNZP reports.

Nominations are led by New Zealand-born Tokelauan and Tuvaluan singer Olivia Foa’i, and Auckland rappers Church & AP, with four each.

Both already have crowded mantlepieces having been winners at past awards.

But with 24 nominees in all, the field is crowded with long time legends, like Punialava’a, and newcomers, like Shepherds Reign, one of the few metallers to sing in Samoan.

The awards ceremony, in its 16th year, has been hampered by the pandemic – it will be held on a yet-to-be announced date, coronavirus dependent.

Pacific Music Awards 2020 finalists:

Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist:

· Bella Kalolo - ‘Ends of the Earth’

· Lou’ana - ‘Move Along’

· Olivia Foa’i – Candid

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist:

· Lepani - ‘Pockets Full of Love’

· Noah Slee - Twice

· Poetik - HAMOFIED 2 EP

Flava Best Pacific Group:

· Church & AP - Teeth

· Shepherds Reign - ‘Le Manu’

· Tomorrow People - ‘Fever feat. Fiji’

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:

· Disciple Pati - ‘The Boy Who Cried Woman' | Directed by Shae Stirling and Sapati Apa

· Lou’ana - ‘Eye To Eye' | Directed by Annie Duckworth

· SWIDT - ‘Bunga' | Directed by Anahera Parata

APRA Best Pacific Song:

· General Fiyah - ‘It’s You' feat. Three Houses Down | Written by Charlie Pome’e and Nicholas Pome’e

· Lani Alo - ‘Alo I Ou Faiva' | Written by Metitilani Alo and Livingstone Efu

· Shepherds Reign - ‘Le Manu' | Written by Oliver Leupolu, Filivaa James, Joseph Oti-George, Gideon Voon, Shaymen Rameka

SunPix Best Pacific Language:

· Lani Alo - ‘Alo I Ou Faiva’

· Olivia Foa’i - Candid

· Punialava’a - Sili’aga I Fa’atufugaga, Beyond Our Stories

· Shepherds Reign – ‘Le Manu’

Base FM NZ & Island Base FM Samoa Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist:

· Church & AP - Teeth

· Melodownz - ‘No Mercy feat. Denzel Curry’

· Poetik - HAMOFIED 2 EP

Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist:

· Jordan Gavet - ‘Hesitation’

· Lepani - ‘Pocket Full of Love’

· Lou’ana - ‘Move Along’

· Noah Slee - Twice

Pato Entertainment Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist:

· General Fiyah - ‘Its You feat. Three Houses Down’

· Lomez Brown - ‘Tell Me’

· Raggadat Cris - I Swear

· Tomorrow People - ‘Fever feat. Fiji’

PMN Best Pacific Gospel Artist:

· Lani Alo - ‘Alo I Ou Faiva’

· Punialava’a - Sili’aga I Fa’atufugaga, Beyond Our Stories

· JXN - ‘Talako Dragon’

PMN Best International Pacific Artist:

· HP Boyz - ‘Engineers’

· Josh Tatofi - Ua Kui A Lawa

· Kaiit - ‘Miss Shiney’

Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album:

· Church & AP - Teeth

· Olivia Foa’I - Candid

· POETIK - HAMOFIED 2 EP

Best Producer:

· Church & AP - Teeth | Producer: Dera Meelan

· Kings - ‘Hit That’ | Producer: Kings

· Mikey Mayz - ‘Wild People’ | Producers: Tia Drumma and EDY

· Olivia Foa’i - Candid | Producer: Matatia Foa'i