Pacific Music Awards finalists announced

David Dallas is up for four awards at the Pacific Music Awards this year. Photo / supplied

The Pacific Music Awards has announced its finalists for 2012, with both hip-hop favourite David Dallas and R&B duo Adeaze locking in four nominations each and Kas Futialo aka Tha Feelstyle nominated in three categories.

Dallas, based in both New Zealand and New York, is up for Best Pacific Male Artist for his 2011 album The Rose Tint, which has also earned him nominations for Best Pacific Urban Artist, Best Pacific Song for Take a Picture and Best Pacific Music Album.

The brothers Tuapa'i, known as R&B/Soul duo Adeaze, will be up against Dallas in three of the four categories.

The group's self-released album Rise and Shine is up for Best Pacific Music Album while both brothers are in the running for Best Urban Artist and Best Pacific Group. Their single Paradise has also been nominated for Best Pacific Song.

Kas Futialo joins the competition for Best Pacific Music Album with his 2011 release Good Morning Samoa.

The winner of the Best Pacific Music Album category will be presented with a Tui and recognised at the New Zealand Music Awards later this year.

Fourteen artists and groups were announced as finalists.

Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua said: "This year's line-up of finalists represent another exciting group of talented musicians and are a true testament to the talent and creativity of Pacific artists here in Aotearoa. The finalists demonstrate an exceptionally high standard, a strong community and language component and industry excellence.

"We have a great mix of established and emerging artists nominated across the categories and combined they show us that Pasifika music and as a culture itself are alive and well in New Zealand."

Winners will be announced at an event at Manukau City's TelstraClear Pacific venue on May 31.

The full list of finalists for the Pacific Music Awards are:

BEST PACIFIC FEMALE ARTIST
Bella Kalolo 'Without the Paper'
Iva Lamkum "Raise Your Glass"
MzJ 'Love Changes Everything'

NZ MUSIC COMMISSION BEST PACIFIC MALE ARTIST
David Dallas 'The Rose Tint'
Kas Futialo 'Good Morning Samoa'
Stks 'Rhythm & Brown'

NIU FM BEST PACIFIC URBAN ARTIST
Adeaze 'Rise & Shine'
David Dallas 'The Rose Tint'
Stks 'Rhythm & Brown'

RADIO 531PI BEST PACIFIC GROUP
Adeaze 'Rise & Shine'
Te Vaka 'Havili'
The Hypnotics 'Coincidence'

APRA BEST PACIFIC SONG
Adeaze "Paradise" written by: F Tupa'i/L Tupa'i
David Dallas "Take A Picture" written by: D Dallas/A Iustini/J Iustini/T Rowlands/E Simons
Ria "Over You" written by: A Numia/E Ensink

TAGATA PASIFIKA BEST PACIFIC LANGUAGE
2PouzFynist 'Upgrade - Cook Island Legacy'
Kas Futialo 'Good Morning Samoa'
Te Vaka 'Havili'

BEST PACIFIC GOSPEL ALBUM
Erakah 'Infatuated'
Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust Choir 'Lologo Tapu Tokiofa Mutalau Niue - Taofi Lologo 5'
Samoan Autalavou P.I.P.C. Newton 'Lota Nu'u Moni'

BEST PACIFIC MUSIC ALBUM
Adeaze 'Rise & Shine'
David Dallas 'The Rose Tint'
Kas Futialo 'Good Morning Samoa'