ALIEN WEAPONRY

Nominated for best: Album, Group, Māori Artist, Rock Artist

Band members: Lewis de Jong, Henry de Jong, Ethan Trembath

Date formed: 2010

Biggest chart hit: Kai Tangata

Breakthrough moment: In February, Alien Weaponry signed an international deal with Napalm Records in Europe, after signing on with German-based management agency das Maschine last September. After that, they got a European festival tour and their debut studio album

Tū debuted at number five in NZ, scored more than a million streams on Spotify in its first week, had its songs playlisted by over 50 radio stations in the US and their single Kai Tangata rocketed to number one on the prestigious Devil’s Dozen on

New York-based Sirius XM.

Claim to fame: Alien Weaponry is New Zealand’s first — and very likely the world’s only — thrash metal band that performs in Te Reo Māori. They’re believed to be the youngest recipients to get New Zealand on Air funding with their song Ru Ana Te

Whenua in 2015.

History matters: Alien Weaponry was formed in Auckland in 2010 by brothers Lewis and Henry de Jong who were just 8 and 10 years old at the time. They got the idea for their name after watching the sci-fi flick District 9. In 2016 the band won both the SmokefreeRockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats, becoming the only band to have ever won both events.

FYI: This summer, Alien Weaponry is heading on a massive US tour with Ministry throughout November and December, before embarking on a festival run through Australia and Europe in 2019. First though, they’ll perform at tonight’s awards ceremony.