News November 16, 2017

Lorde scoops NZ Music Awards with six major wins, now boasts a total of 18 “Tuis”

After a year of further achievements outside New Zealand from the Melodrama album, Lorde made a triumphant return to the home country last night with six formidable wins at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

In four years she’s now picked up 18 of the awards, known as “Tuis”.

Last nights six were for album of the year, single of the year for ‘Green Light’, best solo artist, best pop artist, a people’s choice award (presented by PM Jacinda Ardern) and an international achievement award for the fourth time.

When accepting Album of the Year, she brought up her younger brother to the podium and told the crowd, “This one is so important … I put everything I had into this record. I gave it everything. I think it’s going to be one of the most important things I make.”

During another acceptance, she grinned at the cheering crowd at Spark Arena in Auckland, “I’m surprised I can be people’s choice after all these years of harassing you.”

“This means so much to me, the putting together of the song and video … was such a process.

“We had it mixed. We had it mixed again. I listened to it for the first time running through the streets of New York then got tired out so sat in a dog park. Pretty low key.”

“I’m so grateful for this and all the times I’ve been on the stage.

The 21-year-old was enthusiastic about her triumphs but grew emotional with each win.

To cap it off, her performance of ‘Green Light’ included a full band and 20 backup singers, giant green screens, confetti cannons and silver balloons dropping from the roof.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand after the event, Lorde exclaimed, ’Oh man, it’s been amazing, the whole tour has been amazing and it’s so nice to finish it like this.

’I forget how lucky I am to have the support here – it’s amazing to come home and be greeted with this.’

In other notable moments of the night:

During an opening segment with hosts Jono and Ben. rapper Scribe made fun of his recent legal hasses. He asked them what date it was. “Oh, I’ve got court!” and split

TEEKS made his thank-you speech for winning Best Maori Album with a speech entirely in Te Reo Maori.

Sydney-based Sharon O’Neill was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Rock band Stella reformed to perform her song ’Maxine’.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Album of the Year

Lorde – Melodrama

Single of the Year

Lorde – ’Green Light’

Best Group

SWIDT

Best Solo Artist

Lorde

Breakthrough Artist of the Year