The 2021 AIR Awards were broadcast on YouTube last night to celebrate the success of the Australian Independent Music sector and included moving performances from Emma Donovan & The Putbacks with Yarian Mitji, DMA’S with Silver and Wolf & Cub with Blue State.
Dylan Lewis, long-time AIR Awards Master of Ceremonies, was joined by Jessica Braithwaite as co-host for another great night.
DMA’S owned the night with 3 trophies for Independent Album of the Year, Best Independent Rock Album or EP with The Glow, and Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club single for The Avalanches remix of Criminals.
Spacey Jane also dominated, taking home two of their three nominations for Independent Song of the Year with Booster Seat and Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year – Presented by PPCA.
Gordi took home the award for Best Independent Pop Album or EP with Our Two Skins. Best Independent Punk Album went to The Chats for their album High Risk Behaviour, and Best Independent Blues and Roots Album went to Vika & Linda for their album Sunday (The Gospel According to Iso).
Polaris took out the Best Independent Heavy Album for The Death of Me, Best Independent Jazz Album was awarded to Katie Noonan for The Sweetest Taboo, and Banoffee took home the award for Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Album or EP with Look At Us Now Dad.
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks took out the Best Independent Soul/RNB category with Crossover. Fanny Lumsden took out the Best Independent Country Album with Fallow, and the Best Independent Classical Album went to Joseph Tawadros/James Tawadros/Sydney Symphony Orchestra/Benjamin Northey for Live at the Sydney Opera House. The Best Independent Children’s Album went to Teeny Tiny Stevies for Thoughtful Songs For Little People, and ChillinIt took out the Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP with The Octagon.
The highly coveted award for Best Independent Label sponsored by Moshtix recognised the efforts of I OH YOU, and the 2021 Outstanding Achievement Award sponsored by Merlin went to Deena Lynch (Jaguar Jonze). Deena was nominated by AIR members as the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Achievement award, sponsored by Merlin, for her work in courageously calling out unacceptable behaviour and raising awareness for the industry to have a code of conduct to ensure that all practitioners operate in a safe and respectful environment.
AIR CEO, Maria Amato commented – “Congratulations to all the nominees and winners tonight. In a year of continued lockdowns and enormous challenges, it was great to see Australian Independent artists continue to create new music and connect with engaged audiences. We thank the South Australian Department of Innovation and skills, the Music Development Office, Tourism SA and Events SA for being our major sponsor and extend thanks to our supporting partners and label members for their continued support.”
Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said: “Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. You all richly deserve the recognition after what has been a challenging year for the music industry. The South Australian Government is proud to support these awards, showcasing the amazing artists that we have in this country across a wide range of diverse genres of music.”
THE 2021 AWARDS RECIPIENTS ARE…
BEST INDEPENDENT LABEL
I OH YOU
Thanks to Moshtix; Australia’s most trusted independent ticketing company and supporting partner of the 2021 AIR Awards, the recipient will receive flights and accommodation for 2 to experience a concert of their choice during the Twilight at Taronga 2022 season. The prize includes flights for 2 to Sydney along with VIP passes to Twilight at Taronga.
INDEPENDENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR
DMA’S – THE GLOW
INDEPENDENT SONG OF THE YEAR
SPACEY JANE – BOOSTER SEAT
BEST INDEPENDENT SOUL/RNB ALBUM OR EP
EMMA DONOVAN & THE PUTBACKS – CROSSOVER
BEST INDEPENDENT COUNTRY ALBUM OR EP
FANNY LUMSDEN – FALLOW
BEST INDEPENDENT BLUES AND ROOTS
ALBUM OR EP
VIKA & LINDA – SUNDAY (THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ISO)
BEST INDEPENDENT POP ALBUM OR EP
GORDI – OUR TWO SKINS
BEST INDEPENDENT ROCK ALBUM OR EP
DMA’S – THE GLOW
BEST INDEPENDENT CLASSICAL ALBUM OR EP
JOSEPH TAWADROS/JAMES TAWADROS/SYDNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – LIVE AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
BEST INDEPENDENT HIP HOP ALBUM OR EP
CHILLINIT – THE OCTAGON
BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE OR ELECTRONICA ALBUM OR EP
BANOFFEE – LOOK AT US NOW DAD
BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE, ELECTRONICA OR CLUB SINGLE
DMA’S – CRIMINALS (THE AVALANCHES REMIX)
BEST INDEPENDENT JAZZ ALBUM OR EP
KATIE NOONAN – THE SWEETEST TABOO
BEST INDEPENDENT PUNK ALBUM OR EP
THE CHATS – HIGH RISK BEHAVIOUR
BEST INDEPENDENT HEAVY ALBUM OR EP
POLARIS – THE DEATH OF ME
BEST INDEPENDENT CHILDREN’S ALBUM OR EP
TEENY TINY STEVIES – THOUGHTFUL SONGS FOR LITTLE PEOPLE
Watch the Awards here