The finalists for the 39th Annual New Mexico Music Awards are listed below.
The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 17th, 2026 at Sandia Resort & Casino in Albuquerque. You need not be present to win but it is our sincere hope that you will attend. It makes the evening so much more special for everyone and it is a wonderful networking opportunity. Tickets go on sale soon.
Sandia Resort & Casino is offering a special room rate for our attendees. To obtain the discounted rate, you must book your room by April 17 2026.
Guests may book online at: https://gettaroom.b4checkin.com/sandia/rlp/NewMexicoMusicAwards39thAnniversary
or by calling 877-272-9199 and asking for the New Mexico Music Award 39th Anniversary rate, Please reference Booking ID# 13225.
Please check the listing below and let us know if there are any misspellings, omissions or additions to the listing. For corrections, please reach out to us at contactnewmexicomusicawards@gmail.com
2026 New Mexico Music Awards Finalists
Finalists are listed as follows unless otherwise indicated:
Artist
Title
Producer(s)
Studio/City
Adult Contemporary/Adult Pop
Eryn Bent
Let Go
Eryn Bent
Wilderness Sound Studios
Albuquerque
Laura Di Mauro
Sunshower
John Wall
Wall of Sound
Albuquerque
Wayne James
Gentle Rains
Nathan Dunton
Home Studio
Santa Fe
Ron Crowder
Everyday Eyes
Ron Crowder
InCrowd Productions
Albuquerque
Teri Lynn Browning
I Surrender
Andrew Primm, Teri Lynn Browning
Northern New Studio
Santa Fe
Ambient
Melodious Ceremonia
Whales
Elizabeth Marie Berry and Keely Mackey-Gonzales
Mobile Recording Studio
Albuquerque
Zimbabwe Highway
from The PBS series “Cinema Nomad”
Harry Musselwhite
Harryproduction Studios
Los Lunes
Jim Oliver
Aurora
Jim Oliver
Oliver Music Studio
Santa Fe
Justin Bransford
Overnight
Justin Bransford
Home Studio
Albuquerque
Chloe Navarre
Analemma
Ry Mohon
Home Studio
Santa Fe
Americana
Bette Korber
Silver Wolf
Peter Oviatt
Moon Flower Sounds
Taos
Drastic Andrew
Salt
Matthiew McClinton
Frogville Studios
Santa Fe
Rich Rajacich
While the Getting Is Good
Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink Studio
Santa Fe
Michael Rudd
Going to the Mountain
Michael Rudd
Frogville Studios
Sante Fe
Jay Wakes
Every Wave
Joseph Trent
Cactus Croft Studios
Silver City
Bluegrass
David Kuncicky
Forty Years and Nothin’
David Kuncicky
La Barberia Studios
Santa Fe
Daniel Boling & Tom Paxton
Old Red Barn
Jono Manson & Daniel Boling
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
LAMBY
Jesus in the Holler
Brian Nelson
Queen Bee Music Association
Santa Fe
Bob Dodge
Take a Bus
Bob Dodge
Engine 70 Studios/The Kitchenette
Santa Fe
David Kuncicky
Put Some Bluegrass in Your Blues
David Kuncicky
La Barberia Studios
Santa Fe
Blues
Burning Moonlight
Memphis Blues
Richard Malcolm
Central Root Studios
Albuquerque
Tiho Dimitrov
Irresistible
Tiho Dimitrov & Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink Studio
Santa Fe
Michael Rudd
Before the Demon Came
Michael Rudd
Frogville Studios
Santa Fe
Jess Wayne
Come Tomorrow
Jess Wayne; Sidney Barrett
The Kitchen Sink Studio
Santa Fe
Casey Mráz & Metamorfos
Sea of Galilee
Casey Mráz
FW Studios
Santa Fe
Country
Jeanette Clark
Spa Day
Jeanette Clark
JC Studio Southwest
Albuquerque
John Douglas Cox
I’m Out Gettin’ Hammered While She’s Out Gettin’ Nailed
John D Cox
Bear Trax Studio
Roswell
Monique Perish
Whiskey Bottle
Monique Perish & Heartbeat Melodies Productions
Moonlight Recording Studio
Albuquerque
Steven Wade Thomas
Year, Make and Model
Steven Thomas
Rio Grande Studios
Albuquerque
Alan J Coleman
Justice
Ron Crowder
InCrowd Studio
Albuquerque
Electronica
DKW Project
Tonight I’m Your…
Dare N Wade
Pebble Beach Studio
Albuquerque
Chloe Navarre
Analemma
Ry Mohon
Home Studio
Santa Fe
G Precious
PUSH
Brenda M. Atencio & Velvet Code
Recording Center of New Mexico
Albuquerque
DKW Project
Through the Waves
Dare N Wade
Pebble Beach Studio
Albuquerque
Chloe Navarre
LE Back
Ry Mohon
Home Studio
Santa Fe
Folk
Brent Berry
Always
Brent Berry, Peter Oviatt
Moonflower Sounds and Highwater Records
Taos
Dr. Hall
Down From the Mountain
Howard M Hall
Smoky Mountain Music Creations
Santa Fe
Danny Rubin and Jono Manson
Your Old Man
Danny Rubin and Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
The Banded Geckos
Yellow Balloon
Evelyne Taylor
Creekbottom Music
Santa Fe
Daniel Boling
It Matters
Jono Manson & Daniel Boling
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
Hip Hop
DOSE Dan Otero Sonic Ensemble
Evidence and Logic
Dan Otero
Mandolin Company
Albuquerque
EnVee Tha Queen
Let It Go feat. Dino Rae
EnVee Tha Queen
EnVee Music
Albuquerque
Qwst
Be Better (feat. Gilly Soul & PAAKMAN)
Dom Major
Music Made Entertainment
Albuquerque
O.G. Willikers
Oh No
Zach Maloof
RaRa Room Recordings
Santa Fe
Juan Gambino
Estilo Chalino
Juan Gambino
La Colonia Inc
Albuquerque
Indie Rock
Nikki Manos
The Baron
Nicholas Zeigler-Heil
Rabotat Records
Mayhill
Pluteros
Heaven and Earth
Monte Perez
Pluteros LLC
Corrales
Chloe Violet
Artist
Chloe Nixon
Bloom Records
Albuquerque
Fossils For Feelings
Monsoon Season
John Peloian and Owen Petersen
Double Blind Studio
Santa Fe
Outta This World
Matthiew McClinton
Frog Ville Studios
Santa Fe
Jazz
Chris Jonas
Windy Josh
Chris Jonas
Roving Bovine Studio
Santa Fe
Deep Energy Orchestra
Captain Quirk
Jason Everett
Mister E Productions
Albuquerque
E. Christina Herr and Wild Frontier
See You View
E. Christina Herr, Martin Rowell
Wild Frontier Studio
Albuquerque
Alex Murzyn and Quintessential
Rip Tide
Alex Murzyn
Paradiso Records
Santa Fe
Continuous Sky
Sombra Samba
Jack Wright/Steve Selby/Timothy Gay/Mike Box
Cosmic Covee Studios
Las Cruces
Latin
Candace Vargas
No Siento Nada
Anthony Perez, Chip Martin, and Joel Vargas Jr.
J&R Vargas Productions
Ojo Caliente
Stefan
Midnight Rumba
Stefan Schyga
Innovative Strings
Silver City
Brent Berry
Tu Has Regresado
Brent Berry & Peter Oviatt
Moonflower Sounds and High Water Records
Taos
De’Anza
México Mágico
De’Anza Paredes
Bruja Studio
Santa Fe
Josué Urrutia
Tal Vez
Dennis Jasso
FW Studios
Santa Fe
Metal
Angelo Unale
Redemption Awakening
Dave Heidt
Route 66 Music
Bernalillo
Alter Apex
Burn
Joe Marsh
Home Studio
Albuquerque
Durkmoose
Stop Buzzer
Aaron Pickett
Home studio
Albuquerque
Inimicus
Will you Follow?
Gabriel Freire
Home studio
Albuquerque
Zachariah Julian
Violence
Kenny Riley
Rio Grande Studios
Albuquerque
Modern Rock
Drastic Andrew
Outta This World
Matthiew McClinton
Frogville Studios
Santa Fe
Severn
Adaline
Kenny Campos
Cranked up Studio
Secret Feast
Forever Whatever
John Wall & Roman Wagner, with contributions from Nick Stern
Wall of Sound
Albuquerque
Purifeye
City Electric
Purifeye
Tree House Studios
Pecos
Danny Winters
Taming the Beast
Danny Winters
Danny’s Studio &
Recording Center of New Mexico
Albuquerque
Native American
Indigie Femme & G Precious
Colors of The People
Larry Mitchell
IndigenousWays Studios
Santa Fe
Turquoise Steel
Homeland
Ken Riley
Rio Grande Studios
Albuquerque
Iriebellion
Leonard Peltier’s Song
Michael Davis
Frogville Sudios
Santa Fe
Zachariah Julian
Skin
Ken Riley
Rio Grande Studios
Albuquerque
Turquoise Steel
Navajo Outlaw
Ken Riley
Rio Grande Studios
Albuquerque
New Mexico Song
John King Cave
Turquoise Skies
Randy Martin
Aspen Attic Studio
Albuquerque
Bob Dodge
Heaven New Mexico
Bob Dodge
Engine 70 Studios/The Kitchenette
Santa Fe
Darren Geffre
I Am New Mexico
Darren Geffre
Rio Grande Studios
Albuquerque
Saint Of Trains
Freezer Burn
John Wall
Wall of Sound
Albuquerque
Mike Chastaine
Here in Santa Fe
George Mahn III
Gentry Avenue Productions
Santa Fe
Novelty
Oscar Butler
Old Age Was Never Meant for Me
Oscar Butler
Cool Duck Studio
Albuquerque
The Limeliters
There You Have It, There You R
Jono Manson & The Limeliters
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
David Kuncicky
Grandma Had a Sayin’
David Kuncicky
La Barberia Studios
Santa Fe
John Douglas Cox
The Roswell Incident
John Douglas Cox
Roswell
Linda Castaneda
Handyman
David McRae
Third Eye Studio
Tijeras
Pop
DKW Project
Miracles
Dare N Wade
Pebble Beach Studios
Albuquerque
G Precious
PUSH
Brenda M. Atencio & Velvet Code
Recording Center of New Mexico
Albuquerque
Gato
King Midas
Kat Bloom
The Vault
Albuquerque
64 LoveMachine
Be My Baby
Jimmy Medina, 64 Love Machine
Recording Center of New Mexico
Albuquerque
Natanya Manson
Intriguing
Natanya Manson
The Kitchen Sink / The Rayven Room
Santa Fe
Rap
McAlex
Van a decir
Jimmy J Medina
Recording Center of New Mexico
Albuquerque
EnVee Tha Queen
Crash Out
Navajo Muzik
EnVee Music
Albuquerque
Sepsis ft. UpTown
BeatDown III
Justin Cassin / SepsisBeats
Septicemia Records
Albuquerque
Qwst
Aviary
Dom Major
Music Made Ent.
Albuquerque
Juan Gambino
I Can Make You Bounce
Juan Gambino
La Colonia Inc.
Albuquerque
Rhythm & Blues
Charlotte Rose Marie
Treasures
Ben Lawry
Molly Brown Records
Albuquerque
Isaac Aragon
Baptized by the Rain
Artha Meadors, Isaac Aragon
Empty House Studios
Albuquerque
64 Love Machine
Chillness
Jimmy Medina, 64 Love Machine
Recording Center of New Mexico
Albuquerque
Montana Joanna
Same Stars
Jimmy Medina, Montana Standish
Recording Center of New Mexico
Albuquerque
Staciawa Abbot, Tony Morgan, Michael Matison and Got Soul
Tennessee Whiskey
Jim Casey, Co-Producer Alex Murzyn
Paradiso LLC
Santa Fe
Reggae
Elovated Roots
Bringing the Love
Bonzai Caruso, Reinhard Lorenz
Big Cat Trax
Cedar Crest
Josué Urrutia
The Change
Dennis Jasso
FW Studios
Santa Fe
Desert Mind
Corozalito
Antonio Dixon
Cloud to a Dream Studio
Santa Fe
Iriebellion
Free
Michael Davis
Frogville Studios
Santa Fe
Mister Kali
Last Sovereign
Lazer Hand & Spce Prgrm
Ceremony Studios
Santa Fe
Religious/Gospel
Charlotte Rose Marie
Oh Well (I’ll Still Praise You)
Ben Lawry
Molly Brown Records
Albuquerque
Jason White
Spread Love Like Jesus
Dave Heidt
Route 66 Music
Bernalillo
RJ Berry
Roll Back the Stone
RJ Berry, David McRae
Third Eye Studio
Tijeras
Ron Crowder
There’s a Light
Ron Crowder
InCrowd Studio
Albuquerque
Angelo Unale
Lord Walk With Me
Dave Heidt
Route 66 Music
Bernalillo
Seasonal
Feedback
My Presence for Christmas
Craig Wonsiewicz, Chad Matey
Rodney Lane Studios
Albuquerque
Eryn Bent
Christmas in Santa Fe
Eryn Bent
Wilderness Sound Studios
Albuquerque
Ron Whitmore
Grampa Got Stepped on by a Sasquatch
George Mahn III
Gentry Avenue Productions
Santa Fe
Singer/Songwriter
Oscar Butler
These Blues
Oscar Butler
Cool Duck Studio
Albuquerque
Lady’s Mantle
Higher Ground
Peter Oviatt
Moonflower Sounds
Taos
The Banded Geckos
Yellow Balloon
Evelyne Taylor
Creekbottom Music
Santa Fe
Greg Johns
Dear Dave and Sue
John Wall
Wall of Sound
Albuquerque
Chloe Violet
Hidden Words
Chloe Violet
Bloom Records
Albuquerque
Michael Evan Sheppard
Mora
Scott Jarrett
The Ship
Santa Fe
Western
Rich Rajacich
Red River
Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink Studio
Santa Fe
Casey Mráz & Metamorfos
Black Crow
Casey Mráz
FW Studios
Santa Fe
Daniel Boling
Wand’rin’ Again
Jono Manson & Daniel Boling
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
Doug Figgs
Cowboy’s Legacy
Peter Renfree
8 South Studio
Alamogordo
Ryan Painter
Wondering Where the Days Have Gone
Richard Blair and Ryan Painter
Secret Sound 505
Rio Rancho
World
Love Unfold the Moon
Makam Taos, LUTM (live)
Mustafa Stefan Dill
Norumba Studios
Albuquerque
Deep Energy Orchestra
Dance of the Woodnymphs
Jason Everett
Mister E Productions
Datil
Brent Berry
Barstow
Brent Berry and Peter Oviatt
Moonflower Sounds and High Water Records
Taos
Stefan
Deseo
Stefan Schyga
Innovative Strings
Silver City
Casey Mráz & Metamorfos
Too Late to Wait
Casey Mráz
FW Studios
Santa Fe,
Best Arrangement of an Original Recording
(Artist and title.)
Chris Dracup
for
Chris Dracup: Funk of the West
Caught in the Middle
David Kuncicky
for
David Kuncicky
An Unkindness of Ravens
Alex Murzyn and Quintessential
for
Alex Murzyn and Quintessential
Illumination
Turquoise Thistle
for
Turquoise Thistle
Velvet Danced with Iron
Susan Anders
for
Susan Anders
I Quit Blaming You
Best Cover Song
Carlos Steele
Ohio
Ken Riley
Rio Grande Studios
Albuquerque
Alex Murzyn and Quintessential
I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
Alex Murzyn
Paradiso Records
Santa Fe
David Kuncicky
The Fool on the Hill
David Kuncicky
La Barberia Studios
Santa Fe
The Curio Cowboys
The Rose Medley (The First Rose/La Vie En Rose)
John T. Feldman
Doubly J Studio
Albuquerque
Entourage Jazz
As Long as I’m Singing
Emerson Corley and Roger Baker
Downstairs Studio
Albuquerque
Best Instrumental Performance
(Artist and title.)
DOSE Dan Otero Sonic Ensemble
for
Earthling
Deep Energy Orchestra
for
Captain Quirk
Terry Burns, John Funkhouser, Arnaldo Acosta
for
The Territory
Alex Murzyn and Quintessential
for
Rip Tide
Sage Gentlewing
for
Fat Cat
Best Mastering Engineer
(Mastering engineer, facility, artist and title.)
Andy Rogulich
High Fidelity Mastering
for
Ray Anthony
Bread & Butter
Michael MacDonald
AlgoRhythms mastering
for
Seven Windows
Light Brown Color
Michael Carpenter
Moonlight Recording Studio
for
Monique Perish
Whiskey Bottle
Peter Larkin
Lighthouse Recording
for
Wayne James
Gentle Rains
Ron Crowder
InCrowd Studio
for
Alan J Coleman
Since You Went Away
Best Recording Engineer
(Recording engineer, facility, artist and title.)
Tim Schomyer
Engine 70 Studios
for
Free Range Buddhas
Honeycomb
Ken Riley
Rio Grande Studios
for
Turquoise Steel
Soul Dimension
Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink Studios
for
Danny Rubin and Jono Manson
Fallow
George Mahn III
Gentry Avenue Productions
for
Marc and Paula’s Roadside Distraction
Theory About You
John Wall, Roman Wagner & Nick Stern
Wall of Sound
for
John Wall & Roman Wagner
Project 18
Best Original Song
(Writers and title.)
Ron Crowder
for
There’s a Light
Linda Castañeda
for
You Don’t Even Know
Danny Rubin and Jono Manson
for
Sweet Melody
Tony Silva
for
American Made
Kito Peters
for
Heroes
Best Vocal Performance
(Artist and performance.)
Staciawa Abbot, Tony Morgan, Michael Matison and Got Soul
for
Tennessee Whiskey
John Douglas Cox
for
Cruisin With Susan
The Curio Cowboys
for
The Rose Medley (The First Rose/La Vie En Rose)
Entourage Jazz
for
We’ve Got a World That Swings
Ty Cooper
for
No Regrets
Best Video
(Video production, artist, title and studio.)
Just US Productions – Elena Higgins
For
Indigie Femme & G Precious
Colors of The People
Jeff Hellerman
for
Deep Energy Orchestra
Stargazing
Joe Gabel
for
Joe Gabel
American Dream
Louis Tafoya
for
Louis Sheridan
Things I Didn’t Know, About My Country Girl
First Eye Films INC – Reinhard Lorenz
for
Elovated Roots
Dankrupt
Dave Garner
for
MusicHouse Mal/ Malvina Canon
Low Riding Truck
Best Album Design
(Art design, artist and title.)
Francesca Jozette
for
Free Range Buddhas
Hatched
A.J. Chippero
for
Deep Energy Orchestra
The Science of Sound
John David Peters
for
John David Peters
In the Lonely
Dave Garner
for
Malvina Canon
Always Come Back Home
Aiysha Sipe and Richard Malcolm
For
Burning Moonlight
Bad Ideas and True Stories
Best Country Album
Kipp Bentley
Night Letter
James Raymond
The Rayvenroom
Santa Fe
Alan J Coleman
Cupid’s Alley
Ron Crowder
InCrowd Productions
Albuquerque
Rich Rajacich
Better Angels
Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
The Curio Cowboys
Oklahoma Waltz
John T. Feldman
Double J Studio
Albuquerque
John Douglas Cox
Kinda Sorta Country
John Douglas Cox
Bear Trax Studio
Roswell
Best Jazz Album
Allison Davis
SweetJazz
Alex Murzyn
Third Eye Studios
Tijeras
Terry Burns, John Funkhouser, Arnaldo Acosta
Artrio-two
Terry Burns, John Funkhouser
ABQ Post
Albuquerque
Chris Jonas
Backwardsupwardsky
Chris Jonas
Roving Bovine Studio
Santa Fe
Ty Cooper
Reflections
Ty Cooper and Sid Fendley
Mountain Road Recording Studios
Albuquerque
Roving Bovine Studio
Santa Fe
Deep Energy Orchestra
The Science of Sound
Jason Everett
Mister E Productions
Datil
Best Pop Album
Memoryy
Exit Interview
Shaun Hettinger
Neon Moon Studios
Albuquerque
Susan Anders
Now I’m a Kite
Tom Manche & Susan Anders
Studio X Santa Fe
Santa
Sarah Mohr
Mohr or Less
Mathiew McClinton
Frogville Studios
Santa Fe
Secret Feast
Secret Feast
John Wall & Roman Wagner
with contributions from Nick Stern (posthumously)
Wall of Sound
Albuquerque
Kito Peters
Midnight Sun
Kito Peters
Frogville Studio
Santa Fe,
Best Rock Album
City Electric
Purifeye
Purifeye
Tree House Studios
Pecos
Fossils For Feelings
Fossils For Feelings
John Peloian and Owen Petersen
Double Blind Studio
Santa Fe
Free Range Buddhas
Hatched
Free Range Buddhas
Engine 70 Studios
Santa Fe,
Nepthisis
History Dies
Sheila Eden, Shaun Hettinger, Somer Bingham, Ana Saucedo, Christopher Sanchez, Jeff Ensign, Gail Silverson, Andreas Smidelov
Dark Iris Music
Albuquerque
Love Unfold the Sun
In Front of Witnesses
Mustafa Stefan Dill
Paradiso (live venue/audio capture)
Norumba Studios
Albuquerque
Norman Petty Producer’s Award
(Producers, artist, title and studio.)
John T. Feldman
for
The Curio Cowboys
Oklahoma Waltz
Double J Studio
Albuquerque
James Raymond
for
Kipp Bentley
Night Letter
The Rayvenroom
Santa Fe
Danny Rubin and Jono Manson
for
Danny Rubin and Jono Manson
Likable
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
Ron Crowder and John David Peters
for
John David Peters
In the Lonely
InCrowd Studio
Albuquerque
Terry Burns, John Funkhouser
for
Terry Burns, John Funkhouser, Arnaldo Acosta
Artrio-two
ABQ Post
Albuquerque
Best of the Year
Isaac Aragon
The Healing
Artha Meadors, Isaac Aragon
Empty House Studios
Albuquerque
Daniel Boling
IT MATTERS featuring Tom Paxton
Jono Manson & Daniel Boling
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
Danny Rubin and Jono Manson
Likable
Danny Rubin and Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink
Santa Fe
Free Range Buddhas
Hatched
Free Range Buddhas
Engine 70 Studios
Santa Fe
Susan Anders
Now I’m a Kite
Tom Manche & Susan Anders
Studio X Santa Fe
Santa Fe
The New Mexico Music Awards works to promote and encourage both amateur and professional artists, songwriters, producers, audio engineers and other music industry professionals through competition. The awards program educates with workshops ranging from copyright information to recording techniques as well as other educational endeavors related to music within the New Mexico community. The NMMA also works tirelessly to promote New Mexico artists and their music to a global audience.
The New Mexico Music Awards are sponsored by Quickbeam Systems, Guitar Center of Albuquerque, Tonewood Amp and Jason’s Music Publishing with additional support by, The Candyman of Santa Fe, High Fidelity Mastering, Grandma’s Music and Sound, Listen!NM, Two Pups Boutique, and Moonlight Talent Management.