2015 New Mexico Music Awards Winners


The 2015 New Mexico Music Awards banquet was held at Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque on Saturday, May 30th, 2015. The awards program celebrated its 28th year or promoting New Mexico artists, producers, songwriters, engineers and recording studios. This year’s program featured performances by Paula Rhae McDonald, Benzo, Pray for Brain, Jeanette Clark, Tiho Dimitrov and Zenobia.

Thanks to our sponsors Grandma’s Music & Sound, Quickbeam Systems, listen!ABQ, High Fidelity Mastering, KBAC 98.1 Santa Fe, Albuquerque Film & Music Experience and Moonlight Talent Management.

The 2015 program fielded a record 833 entries in 43 categories from across New Mexico.

The Eric Larson Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Kenny “Canuto” Delgado

Kenny (right) with Carlos Santana

Mr. Delgado, sometimes referred to as “the music mayor of Santa Fe” was one of the founding members of the Santa Fe bandstand and one of New Mexico music’s biggest supporters.
Winning entries came from all parts of New Mexico including Santa Fe, Portales, Soccorro, Albuquerque and Tijeras.

The Eric Larson Endowment at UNM provides unrestricted funds for juniors or seniors who have chosen music or the recording arts as their major and have maintained a 3.0 GPA. Eric Larson was co-founder of the New Mexico Music awards and passed away in 2005. The New Mexico Music Awards contributes annually to the scholarship fund. To donate, go to ericlarsonendowment.com


Finalists are listed in the following order unless category specific
Artist
Song or Project Title
Producer
Studio
City

Awards listed as they were presented


Adult Contemporary
Eryn Bent
Friends, Foes
Eryn Bent
Kitchen Sink Studios
Chupadero


Americana

hONEyhoUSe
Autumn
John Wall & hONEyhoUSe
Wall of Sound Studios
Albuquerque

Blues

Tiho Dimitrov
Bring Love Back
Tiho Dimitrov
Kitchen Sink Studios
Chupadero

Bluegrass

Paul Kelly
Deeper
Paul Kelly
Santa Fe Soundworks
Santa Fe

Children’s

Andy Mason
Empty
Andy Mason, Josua Better, Dusty Dreen, Mike Davidson
Rotten Apple Studios
Portales

Country

Billy St Johns
The Fight
Matthew Tobias
Empty House Studios
Albuquerque

Electronica

Ben Lawry
Pressure
Ken Riley & Ben Lawry
Studio 150
Albuquerque

Folk

Billy St. Johns
Feel Like a River
Matthew Tobias
Empty House Studios
Albuquerque

Hip-Hop

Benzo
Heart Beat
Jeff Nelson
Stepbridge Studios
Santa Fe

Indie Rock

Thieves and Gypsys
Take Me To The Sea
Will Dyar & Jared Garcia
Kabby Sound
Santa Fe

Jazz

JQ Whitcomb & Five Below
Always a Reason
JQ Whitcomb, Ez Weiss & Andy Hunter
The Samuri Hotel & The Electric Company Recording Studio
Santa Fe

Latin

Nosotros
Aqui y Alla
Luis Guerra, Manuel Ramirez, Dennis Jasso, Felipe Rubial
FW Studios & Terremoto Studios
Santa Fe

Metal

RockFox
Today We Become Aware
James Fox & Randy Sanchez
777 Studios & Fw Studios
Santa Fe

Modern Rock

Parachute Picnic
Dirty Crimson Strings
David Madik Lucero
Madik Nnovation
Albuquerque

Native American

Jemez & Zuni Pueblo Seasonal Singers
Living in the Moment
Lawrence Toya, Glendon Toya, Delvin Toya & Riley Gachupin
Rick Hale Productions
Albuquerque

New Age Contemporary

Glen Neff
Time Machine Dreams
Glen Neff
Picture Rock Studio
Cerrillos/Madrid

Novelty

Don Shearer
Cone of Shame
Don Shearer
Fat Blob Productions
Rio Rancho

Pop

Mikey Junchaya
A Little Love
Michael Junchaya
Brutally Honest Productions
Albuquerque

Punk

Repetitardz
You Know Who
Brian Widger
In My Own Filth Studios
Santa Fe

R&B

Helene Yvonne
Blind
Locomotive Recordings
Albuquerque

Rap

Red Coalescence
Be Real
David Madik Lucero
Madik Nnovation
Albuquerque

Reggae

Joseph General/BlesInfinate
She is True
Gilbert Uribe & Joseph Evans
Soulealiteproductions
Albuquerque

Religious/Gospel

Jeannette Clark
Christ the Catalyst
Larry Mitchell
Insatiable Studios Southwest
Placitas

Singer/Songwriter

Lisa Carman
In Love and Loss
Lisa Carman
The Palace
Santa Fe

Western

Doug Figgs
Running With The Wind
Miriam Funke
GMF Studios
Socorro

World Music

Ricky Carrido
Iyesa
Ricky Carrido
Souleialiteproductions & Afro Caribe Studio
Albuquerque

Best Arrangement Original

Barucatanga
Deja de Matar

Best Cover

Never My Love
American Jem
Jay Cawley
Smilin’ Fish Studio
Santa Fe

Best Instrumental Performance

Le Chat Lunatique
Swing Gitan

Best Recording Engineer

John Kurzweg, Brant Leeper, Bill Palmer
Tiho Dimitrov-Stay Awhile

Best Mastering Engineer

Jason Blum
hONEyhoUSe-Perfect Mess

Best Song

Language of Love
Lisa Carman

Best Video

Empty-Andy Mason
Andy Mason, Joshua Belter, Dusty Deen and Mike Davidson
Dusty Deen of Red Roadrunner Productions

Best Vocal Performance

Kady Bow
I’m a Fool for You f/Bobby Shew
Best Packaging Design
The Story of It All-Dave Tutin
Dave Tutin

Best Country CD

J Miller Band
One More High, One More Low
Jono Manson
Kitchen Sink Studios
Chupadero

Best Jazz CD

Pray for Brain
None of the Above
Mustafa Stefan Dill
Third Eye Studios
Tijeras

Best Rock CD

Whump!
50 Watt Whale
50 Watt Whale & Chris Jonas
shiNing toObFish sTuDios and Kabby Sound
Santa Fe

Norman Petty Producer’s Award

John Kurweg & Kito Peters
Design Flaw
House on Vitalia
Santa Fe

Best of the Year

Resurrection
Zenobia
Zenobia
Frogville Studios
Santa Fe