Ōpōtiki Musician Hori Shaw Wins People's Choice Award at Aotearoa Music Awards

Ōpōtiki-born musician Hori Shaw, also known as Horace the Boris, has gained widespread recognition, recently winning the J.D. Sport Tā Te Iwi People's Choice Award at the 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards. Known for his roots reggae sound, Shaw’s music has resonated with fans across Aotearoa, with impressive streaming numbers and local chart success further establishing his place in the scene. Reflecting on his upbringing, Shaw credits his father for his strong foundation, sharing, "My old man had me pretty sorted...big ups to the old man." His music journey began humbly in the shed and at school, with Shaw noting that his success today is both surprising and humbling. Receiving the People's Choice Award has been a major highlight. "It's pretty meke, really. I didn’t know I was going to pump this much," Shaw said, expressing his excitement at being recognised among more established artists. "Amongst all those big dogs, there’s your little Māori boy from the coast, just come out on top." Shaw has teased more new music, including collaborations and plans to release an album soon. He encourages rangatahi to pursue their passions without the need for fancy equipment, saying, "If you’ve got the talent, you may as well use it. "His music can be found on all streaming platforms under his name, Hori Shaw. He also gave special shout-outs to his cousin Phoenix Brown and Radio Ngāti Porou, where his music has been a staple on the airwaves. With a growing fanbase and new music on the horizon, Shaw’s cruisey reggae tunes continue to represent the sounds of Ōpōtiki all of us here living on the 35.