It’s that time of the year again! The South African Music Awards are upon us and this morning, the nominations were finally announced. I am proud to say that I was very involved in the awards this year as a judge and it was really interesting to see how the whole process worked. I’m honoured that I was approached to be a judge especially that it’s the award’s 20th anniversary.
Interestingly, rockers Gangs of Ballet and dance superstars Mi Casa lead the pack this year with 5 nominations each. With 4 nominations each, Naima Kay and Nakhane Toure, both new faces, prove that newbies are taken just as seriously this year.
I was incredibly proud of Connell Cruise and GOODLUCK for their nominations and it was so great seeing how excited they were moments after finding out that they have been nominated. It’s fantastic to see just how diverse the nominees are this year and I think it’s proof that local really is lekker. Below are the nominees for the 20th South African Music Awards.
Album of the Year
DJ Kent – The Weekent
Mafikizolo – Reunited
Mi Casa – Su Casa
Naima Kay – Umsebenzi
Nakhane Touré – Brave Confusion
Duo or Group of the Year
Gangs of Ballet – Yes/No/Grey
GoodLuck – Creatures of the Night
Mafikizolo – Reunited
Mi Casa – Su Casa
The Parlotones – Stand Like Giants
Female Artist of the Year
Dear Reader – Rivonia
Judith Sephuma – The Experience Live in Concert
Naima Kay – Umsebenzi
Rebecca – Bayos’Khomba
Zahara – Phendula
Male Artist of the Year
Connell Cruise – Connell Cruise
Kabomo – Memory Remains
Matthew Mole – The Home We Built
Nakhane Touré – Brave Confusion
Vusi Mahlasela – Sing to the People
Newcomer of the Year
Gangs Of Ballet – Yes/No/Grey
IFani – I Believes in Me (1st Quadrant)
MuzArt – MuzArt
Naima Kay – Umsebenzi
Nakhane Touré – Brave Confusion
Best Rock Album
Gangs of Ballet – Yes/No/Grey
Shadowclub – Goodbye Wild Child
The Black Cat Bones – Beatipiller
The Parlotones – Stand Like Giants
Van Coke Kartel – Bloed, Sweet & Trane
Best Pop Album
Danny K Good Look
GoodLuck Creatures of the Night
LCNVL Faster Longer Mixtape
Mafikizolo Reunited
Matthew Mole The Home We Built
Beste Pop Album (Afrikaans)
4Werke 4 Harte
Charlize Berg Charlize Berg
JAY Dis Hoe Ons Rol
Karlien van Jaarsveld Uitklophou
Kurt Darren Seerower
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Connell Cruise Connell Cruise
Farryl Purkiss Home
Hinds Brothers Ocean of Milk
Michael Lowman Crayon Boxes
Shaun Jacobs Love Can
Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album
Ampie Niks en Niemand
Andriëtte Wat Rym met Liefde
Bok van Blerk Steek Die Vure Aan
Elvis Blue Afrikaans
Jak de Priester N1 van My Hart
Best African Adult Album
Naima Kay Umsebenzi
Selaelo Selota The Promise
Vusi Mahlasela Sing to the People
Zamajobe Thula Mntwana
Zonke Give and Take Live
Best Alternative Album
Chris Letcher Hyperbalist
Dear Reader Rivonia
Death by Misadventure dumb dumb
Die See II
Nakhane Touré Brave Confusion
Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album
Kabomo Memory Remains
MuzArt MuzArt
The Soil Reflections Live in Joburg
Vusi Nova Walk into Light
Zahara Phendula
Best Rap Album
AB Crazy Home Coming
iFani I Believes in Me (1st Quadrant)
Kwesta DaKAR
L-Tido All of Me
Molemi A Sia
Best Kwaito Album
Alaska The Revival
Big Nuz Made in Africa
Character Self-Control
Mandoza Sgantsontso
Tzozo Amabills
Best Dance Album
DJ Kent The Weekent
Lulo Café Soul Africa
Mi Casa Su Casa
Uhuru Our Father
Zakes Bantwini The Fake Book & Real Book: My Music Bible
Best Traditional Faith Music Album
Andile KaMajola Chapter 6 ujehova ungibiyele
Deborah Umqhele
Lusanda Spiritual Group Uhambo Lwam
Rebecca Bayos’Khomba
Worship House Project 10 Live in Limpopo, RSA
Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
Benjamin Dube Renewal in His Presence with Benjamin Dube
Judith Sephuma The Experience Live in Concert
Nqubeko Mbatha Sentiments of a Worshiper
Soweto Gospel Choir Divine Decade & Friends
We Will Worship YHWH
Best Traditional Album
Hennie de Bruyn en die Kitaarkêrels Kitaar Kwêla
Joe Shirimani na Vana va Ndoda Hawu Ra Mina
PS. Manyike Na Vatirhi Va Hosi Taduma e Kerekeni
Sayicology Round 2
Dr. Thomas Chauke Na Shinyori Sisters Shimatsatsa No 32
Best Maskandi Album
Amabunjwa X6
Buselaphi Gijima Ntuthwane
Khwelebhasini Ngiyistress
Phuzekhemisi Kungakho Nilwa Nodwa
Thokozani Langa Inyakanyaka
Best Jazz Album
Marcus Wyatt Quartet One Life in the Sun
Shane Cooper Oscillations
Sisa Sopazi Images & Figures
Tumi Mogorosi Project Elo
Zim Ngqawana Live at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album
Cape Consort Claudio Monteverdi – Selected Madrigals
Guy Buttery Live in KwaZulu
Ockie Vermeulen Obsession
Tygerberg Children’s Choir Glorious
Zanne Stapelberg & Soul of Fire
Kathleen Tagg
Best Live DVD
Nataniël Factory
Skouspel 2013 Skouspel 2013
The Soil Reflections Live in Joburg
Unathi An Intimate Night with Unathi
Zonke Give and Take Live
Best Collaboration
DJ Kent Ft The Arrows Spin My World Around
LCNVL Ft Lakota Silva Closer
Mafikizolo Ft May D Happiness
The Parlotones, Khuli Chana & Jon Savage Sleepwalker
Uhuru Ft Oskido, Professor &a Y-tjukutja
DJ Bucks
Best Music Video of the Year
Goldfish One Million Views
Mi Casa Jika
The Muffinz – Umsebenzi Wendoda (An Ode to Single Mothers)
The Parlotones, Khuli Chana & Jon Savage Sleepwalker
Toya Delazy Memoriam
Best Producer of the Year
Danny K Good Look by Danny K
Darryl Torr Yes/No/Grey by Gangs of Ballet
David Poole & Three Second Memory by Goldfish
Dominic Peters
Dan Roberts Border Crossing by Laurie Levine
Shaun Jacobs Love Can by Shaun Jacobs
Best Engineer of the Year
Peter Auret Pimp My Piano by Charl du Plessis
Darryl Torr Yes/No/Grey by Gangs of Ballet
Matthew Fink The Home We Built by Matthew Mole
Matthew Fink Goodbye Wild Child by Shadowclub
Shaun Jacobs Love Can by Shaun Jacobs
Remix of the Year
Euphonik Hallelujah Anyway
Khuli Chana Hape (Part 2)
Mi Casa Jika
Oskido Tsa Ma Ndebele
Uhuru Thath’isghubu
Category winners to be announced at the awards ceremony:
SPECIAL AWARDS
International Achievement Awards
BEST SELLING MOBILE MUSIC DOWNLOAD
Best Selling Album
Best Selling DVD
Best Selling Mobile Music Download
Best Selling True-Tone
Best Selling Ring-Back Tone
Best Selling Full-Track Download
SAMPRA AWARD
Highest Airplay of the Year
The official nominee announcement took place at Carnival City Casino earlier today and I managed to spot some of the nominees and other musicians in the crowd:
DeaderThanDisco were there! Was so nice to see them out and about!
Yup, I took a selfie with Jules from GOODLUCK.
So proud of this dude! Connell Cruise was nominated for two awards.
Elvis Blue’s latest record was also nominated for an award.
Zahara gave us a little pose as well.
Mi Casa’s J’Something must be smiling from ear to ear right about now.
Monde Msutwana from Idols also made a turn
The BEST picture EVER!!! Kurt Darren and Nakhane Toure.
The Muffinz were nominated for one award this year.
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