Tag: ARIA Awards

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amy Shark, Genesis Owusu Lead ARIA Awards Charge

I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling like the awesome music our local artists created was the best thing to come out of the last 12 months. Today ARIA announced the talented artists who are up for the 2021 awards. It’s a diverse list which serves as a real testament to the talent in this country.

Amy Shark and Genesis Owusu lead the charge with six nominations a piece. They’ll face off in half of those categories: Album of the Year, Best Artist, and Best Australian Live Act. Note that Best Artist replaces Best Male and Best Female artist categories this year, a move that should help this year’s ceremony feel a little more inclusive. Not far behind we’ve got Midnight Oil, The Avalanches, Vance Joy, Tones and I, Masked Wolf and Budjerah all with five nominations each. With so many artists putting in such a good showing, it’s going to be really interesting to see where the awards land. You can see for yourself when ARIA streams this year’s awards on its YouTube channel on November 24. Until then, check out all the nominees. Who are you backing?

Album Of The Year
Amy Shark – Cry Forever (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)
Midnight Oil and First Nations Collaborators – The Makarrata Project (Sony Music)
The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You (Modular / EMI Music Australia)
Tones And I – Welcome to the Madhouse (Bad Batch Records / Sony Music

Best Artist
Amy Shark – Cry Forever (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Budjerah – Budjerah (EP) (Warner Music Australia)
Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)
Keith Urban – The Speed Of Now Part 1 (CAPITOL – NASHVILLE / EMI Music Australia)
Kylie Minogue – Disco (Liberator Music/Mushroom)
Masked Wolf – ‘Astronaut In The Ocean’ (Teamwrk Records/ADA/Warner Music)
Ngaiire – 3 (Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records)
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – ‘Stay’ (Columbia/Sony Music)
Tones And I – Welcome to the Madhouse (Bad Batch Records / Sony Music)
Vance Joy – ‘Missing Piece’ (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)

Best Dance Release
Cosmo’s Midnight – Yesteryear (Nite High/Sony Music)
Dom Dolla – ‘Pump The Brakes’ (Sweat It Out/Warner)
Jolyon Petch – ‘Dreams’ (TMRW Music)
KLP & Stace Cadet – ‘People Happy’ (Medium Rare Recordings / Sony Music)
RÜFÜS DU SOL – ‘Alive’ (Rose Avenue Records/Reprise/Warner Music)

Best Group
AC/DC – Power Up (Leidseplein Presse / Sony Music)
Gang Of Youths – ‘The Angel of 8th Ave.’ (Mosy Recordings / Sony Music)
Midnight Oil and First Nations Collaborators – The Makarrata Project (Sony Music)
RÜFÜS DU SOL – ‘Alive’ (Rose Avenue Records/Reprise/Warner Music)
The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You (Modular / EMI Music Australia)

Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist
Budjerah – Budjerah (EP) (Warner Music Australia)
Gretta Ray – Begin To Look Around (EMI Music Australia)
Masked Wolf – ‘Astronaut In The Ocean’ (Teamwrk Records/ADA/Warner Music)
MAY-A – Don’t Kiss Ur Friends (Arcadia Music / Sony Music)
Ngaiire – 3 (Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records)

Best Pop Release
Amy Shark – Cry Forever (Wonderlick Recording Company)
The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You (Modular / EMI Music Australia)
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – ‘Stay’ (Columbia/Sony Music)
Tones And I – ‘Fly Away’ (Bad Batch Records / Sony Music)
Vance Joy – ‘Missing Piece’ (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)

Best Hip Hop Release
B Wise – jamie (Semi Pro Sound)
Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)
Masked Wolf – ‘Astronaut In The Ocean’ (Teamwrk Records/ADA/Warner Music)
The Kid LAROI – ‘WITHOUT YOU’ (Columbia/Sony Music)
Youngn Lipz – Area Baby (Biordi Music/Virgin Music)

Best Soul/R&B Release
Budjerah – Budjerah (EP) (Warner Music Australia)
Hiatus Kaiyote – Mood Valiant (Brainfeeder/Ninja Tune)
Ngaiire – 3 (Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records)
Tash Sultana – Terra Firma (Lonely Lands Records/Sony Music
Tkay Maidza – Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3 (Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)

Best Independent Release
Archie Roach – The Songs Of Charcoal Lane (Bloodlines/Mushroom)
Ball Park Music – Ball Park Music (Prawn Records/ Inertia Music)
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks – Crossover (Hopestreet Recordings/The Planet Company)
Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)
Vance Joy – ‘Missing Piece’ (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)

Best Rock Album
AC/DC – Power Up (Leidseplein Presse / Sony Music)
Ball Park Music – Ball Park Music (Prawn Records/ Inertia Music)
Holy Holy – Hello My Beautiful World (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Middle Kids – Today We’re The Greatest (EMI Music Australia)
Midnight Oil and First Nations Collaborators – The Makarrata Project (Sony Music)

Best Adult Contemporary Album
Big Scary – Daisy (Pieater/Inertia)
Crowded House – Dreamers Are Waiting (EMI Music Australia)
Kylie Minogue – Disco (Liberator Music/Mushroom)
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – Carnage (Goliath / AWAL)
Odette – Herald (EMI Music Australia)

Best Country Album
Brad Cox – My Mind’s Projection (Sony Music)
Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham – The Song Club (ABC Music)
Shane Nicholson – Living In Colour (Lost Highway Australia/Universal Music Australia)
The Wolfe Brothers – Kids On Cassette (BMG/WMG)
Troy Cassar-Daley – The World Today (Tarampa Music / Sony Music)

Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
Alpha Wolf – A Quiet Place To Die (Greyscale Records / Cooking Vinyl Australia)
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – SHYGA! The Sunlight Mound (What Reality?/Virgin Music)
Tropical F**k Storm – Deep States (TFS Records/Virgin Music)
Yours Truly – Self Care (UNFD/The Orchard)
A. Swayze & the Ghosts – Paid Salvation (IVY LEAGUE/MUSHROOM)

Best Blues & Roots Album
Archie Roach – The Songs Of Charcoal Lane (Bloodlines/Mushroom)
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks – Crossover (Hopestreet Recordings/The Planet Company)
Josh Teskey & Ash Grunwald – Push The Blues Away (Ivy League/Mushroom)
Martha Marlow – Medicine Man (Independent/The Planet Company)
Ziggy Alberts – Searching For Freedom (Commonfolk Records / The Orchard)

Best Children’s Album
Amber Lawrence – The Kid’s Gone Country 2 (Fun For All The Family ABC Music)
Bluey The Album – Bluey (Ludo Studios / Demon Music Group / BBC Studios / Rocket)
Diver City – Dance Silly (ABC Music / Universal)
The Wiggles – Lullabies With Love (ABC Music)
Various Artists – The Moon, The Mouse & The Frog: Lullabies from Northern Australia (ABC Music)

PUBLIC VOTED AWARDS

Best Video
24k – Tkay Maidza, Nicholas Muecke (Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)
Astronaut In The Ocean – Masked Wolf, Daniele Cernera (Teamwrk Records/ADA/Warner Music)
could cry just thinkin about you (Full Version) – Troye Sivan & Jesse Gohier-Fleet (EMI Music Australia)
Dance – Julia Stone, Jessie Hill (BMG/WMG)
First Nation – Midnight Oil ft. Jessica Mauboy & Tasman Keith, Robert Hambling (Sony Music)
Higher – Budjerah, Mick Soiza (Warner Music Australia)
Love Songs Ain’t for Us – Amy Shark, James Chappell (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Missing Piece – Vance Joy, Annelise Hickey (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
The Divine Chord – The Avalanches, Jonathan Zawada (Modular / EMI Music Australia)
Won’t Sleep – Tones and I, Nick Kozakis, Liam Kelly (Bad Batch Records / Sony Music)

Best Australian Live Act
Amy Shark – Cry Forever Tour 2021 (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Ball Park Music – The Residency (Prawn Records/ Inertia Music)
Budjerah – Budjerah 2021 Aus Tour (Warner Music Australia)
Genesis Owusu – Smiling With No Teeth Album Tour (OURNESS / AWAL)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Micro Tour (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard/Virgin Music)
Lime Cordiale – Relapse Tour (Chugg Music Pty Ltd)
Midnight Oil and First Nations Collaborators – Makarrata Live (Sony Music)
The Avalanches – The Avalanches Live (Modular / EMI Music Australia)
The Teskey Brothers – The Teskey Brothers (Headline Shows + Festivals) (IVY LEAGUE/MUSHROOM)
Thelma Plum – Homecoming Queen Tour (Warner Music Australia)

Song of the Year
Amy Shark Feat. Keith Urban – Love Songs Ain’t For Us (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Dean Lewis – Falling Up (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
Hooligan Hefs – Send It! (db Music / Warner Music Australia)
Keith Urban & Pink – One Too Many (CAPITOL – NASHVILLE / EMI Music Australia)
Masked Wolf – Astronaut In The Ocean (Teamwrk Records/ADA/Warner Music)
Sam Fischer & Demi Lovato – What Other People Say (Sony Music)
Spacey Jane – Booster Seat (AWAL Recordings)
The Kid LAROI with Miley Cyrus – Without You (Columbia/Sony Music)
Tones and I – Fly Away (Bad Batch Records / Sony Music)
Vance Joy – Missing Piece (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)

Most Popular International
Ariana Grande – Positions (Universal Records USA / Universal Music Australia)
Doja Cat – Planet Her (RCA Records / Sony Music)
Justin Bieber – Justice (Def Jam / Universal Music Australia)
Kanye West – Donda (Def Jam / Universal Music Australia)
Luke Combs – What You See Ain’t Always What You Get (Columbia Nashville / Sony Music)
Machine Gun Kelly – Tickets To My Downfall (Interscope / Universal Music Australia)
Miley Cyrus – Plastic Hearts (RCA Records / Sony Music)
Olivia Rodrigo – Sour (Geffen / Universal Music Australia)
Pop Smoke – Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon (Universal Records USA / Universal Music Australia)
Taylor Swift – Evermore (Universal Music Australia)

Music Teacher Award
Aaron Silver – Wodonga Primary School, Regional VIC
Ashley Baxter – Pimlico State High School, Townsville QLD
Daniel Wilson – Star Struck, Newcastle NSW
Zoë Barry – Sacred Heart School, Melbourne VIC

ARTISAN AWARDS

Best Cover Art
Ngaiire Joseph & Dan Segal for Ngaiire – 3 (Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records)
Eben Ejdne for Odette – Herald (EMI Music Australia)
Kofi Anash & Bailey Howard for Genesis Owusu – Smiling With No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)
Jonathan Zawada for The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You (Modular / EMI Music Australia)
Giulia Giannini McGauran & Mitchell Eaton for Tones and I – Welcome to the Madhouse (Bad Batch Records / Sony Music)

Engineer Of The Year
Chris Collins
Eric J Dubowsky
Konstantin Kersting
Matt Corby
Tony Espie

Producer Of The Year
Andrew Klippel, Dave Hammer
Konstantin Kersting
M-Phazes
Matt Corby
Robert Chater

FINE ARTS AWARDS

Best Classical Album
Christian Li – Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (Decca Records Australia/Universal Music Australia
Emily Sun & Andrea Lam – Nocturnes (ABC Classic)
Genevieve Lacey and Marshall McGuire – Bower (ABC Classic / Universal)
Grigoryan Brothers – This is Us: A Musical Reflection of Australia (ABC Classic / Universal)
Nat Bartsch – Hope (ABC Classic / Universal)

Best Jazz Album
Australian Art Orchestra, Reuben Lewis, Tariro Mavondo & Peter Knight – Closed Beginnings (AAO Recordings/The Planet Company)
Kristen Beradi, Sean Foran & Rafael Karlen – Haven (Earshift Music / The Planet Company) Mildlife – Automatic (Inertia Music / [PIAS])
Petra Haden & The Nick Haywood Quintet – Songs from my Father (ABC Jazz / Universal)
Vazesh – The Sacred Key (Earshift Music / The Planet Company)

Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album
Angus & Julia Stone – Life Is Strange (BMG/WMG)
Antony Partos – Rams (Original Motion Picture Score) (ABC Music)
Caitlin Yeo, Maria Alfonsine, Damian de Boos-Smith – Wakefield Season One Official Soundtrack (MADBS Composing Palace)
Sia – Music: Songs From And Inspired By The Motion Picture (Atlantic Records / Warner Music
Yve Blake – Fangirls (ADA/Warner Music)

Best World Music Album
Bob Weatherall & Halfway, with William Barton – Restless Dream (ABC Music)
Bukhu – Bukhchuluun Ganburged – The Journey (Bukhu/Distrokid)
Eishan Ensemble – Project Masnavi (Earshift Music / The Planet Company)
Joseph Tawadros – Hope In An Empty City (Independent / The Planet Company)
Kuya James – ISA (Settle Down Records / MGM Distribution)

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The ARIA Awards Wrap

Pub trivia took precedence over the ARIA Awards last night so I’m only just catching up on all the goings on (thanks 9Now!). Honestly, I think it was one of the better award ceremonies. It was so exciting to see such a diverse range of talent honoured with the sharp pointy things. Guy Sebastian was such a superb host with the right mix of warmth and humour. I was thrilled to see him take out the Song of the Year title for “Choir.” What a top track that is.

I found myself getting unexpectedly emotional at Human Nature’s Hall of Fame induction. They were my boy band of choice in my teenage years, although I swore black and blue that they were a “vocal group” instead. I went to countless RSL gigs, shopping centre appearances, and the like. I lost track of them somewhere along the way, but watching them bust out those old hits before their induction took me right back. 30 years together is a massive achievement. Congratulations to them.

While Human Nature stirred my nostalgia, The Teskey Brothers delivered the performance of the night for me with “Rain.” I’ve long championed these guys and I can only hope the ARIA Awards puts them on the radar of people who might have been unaware of their talents. I was stoked to see them take home awards for best group and best blues and roots album for Run Home Slow.

I’m not going to run through every performance and accolade, because it’s so late on a Thursday that all that information has already been widely publicised. But it’d be remiss of me not to mention Tones and I. She’s smashed chart records and earned global fame this year, but four ARIA awards is such a fitting cherry on top. Hats off to her.

What did you think of the 2019 ARIAs? Who were you excited to see honoured and was there anyone you were disappointed to see missing out? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gang of Youths, Amy Shark, Paul Kelly Big Winners at ARIAs

Often I spend the ARIA Awards feeling a little out of step with the industry voters, because the acts I feel passionate about aren’t often the ones who come home with the trophies. Not last night though, where Gang of Youths, Amy Shark, and Paul Kelly took home some of the top prizes. I was also thrilled to see Jimmy Barnes taking out the Best Children’s Album category (who would have thought he could beat out The Wiggles?) and Kasey Chambers recognised for her wonderful album Dragonfly. 2017 has been such a great year for local music and last night’s event was a fitting celebration of that.

Sure, it wasn’t a perfect awards night. Without a host, the night seemed to lack a little direction. Some of the banter felt forced, like the section with the stars of Pitch Perfect 3 and Joel Creasey’s awkward conversation with Jillian Michaels. The sound also left a lot to be desired, at least on the television broadcast. I hope it sounded better in the room. But the performances were all outstanding. It seems wrong to single anyone out, but Jimmy Barnes’ rendition of “High Voltage” was such a fitting tribute to Malcolm and George Young. If you weren’t excited by new Hall of Fame inductee Darryl Braithwaite teaming up with Vera Blue and Guy Sebastian for “The Horses” you’re probably not Australian. I thought Paul Kelly’s new take on “Dumb Things” with A.B. Original and Dan Sultan was inspired. Gang of Youth’s performance showed just why they were so dominant this year.

If you didn’t catch the ceremony, at least make sure you look up some of the performances on YouTube. Here’s one to get you started.

And here are all the winners!

Album Of The Year: Gang Of Youths – Go Farther In Lightness
Best Male Artist: Paul Kelly – Life Is Fine
Best Female Artist: Sia – “The Greatest feat. Kendrick Lamar”
Best Dance Release: Pnau – “Chameleon”
Best Group: Gang Of Youths – Go Farther In Lightness
Breakthrough Artist: Amy Shark – Night Thinker
Best Pop Release: Amy Shark – Night Thinker
Best Urban Album: A.B. Original – Reclaim Australia
Best Independent Release: A.B. Original – Reclaim Australia
Best Rock Album: Gang Of Youths – Go Farther In Lightness
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Paul Kelly – Life Is Fine
Best Country Album: Kasey Chambers – Dragonfly
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album: Northlane – Mesmer
Best Blues & Roots Album: All Our Exes Live In Texas – When We Fall
Best Children’s Album: Jimmy Barnes – Och Aye the G’Nu!
Best Video: Bliss N Eso – “Moments” (feat. Gavin James)
Best Australian Live Act: Illy
Song Of The Year: Peking Duk – “Stranger” (feat. Elliphant)
Best International Artist: Harry Styles

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The ARIAs … 30 Years On

Unlike most music lovers in Australia, I wasn’t watching the ARIAs last night. I was playing trivia, expecting to catch up on all the action this morning. I managed to avoid learning of the winners until I watched the broadcast, but last night I did learn that a lot of people were fed up with the awards. Perhaps it’s just a symptom of getting older, but my Facebook feed was full of people bemoaning the new acts and insisting things were better in their day.

Watching the broadcast, I think it’s very easy for nostalgia to creep in. We were celebrating 30 years of music awards, and watching the montages of artists that came before I too felt that sense of longing for some of my favourite performers of the past.

But the thing is, that shouldn’t take away from embracing what’s great about the music industry today. I got really excited about Illy’s album this week. I was thrilled about Montaigne’s win because she’s created some of my favourite songs this year. What Flume does isn’t quite to my taste, but he’s clearly dominating right now. Diversity is what the industry has always been about. Hats off to him and his five pointy trophies.

I think the organisers of this year’s ARIAs did a wonderful job of celebrating the past and the present. Watching Jimmy Barnes sing with Jess Mauboy, seeing current acts like Bernard Fanning and Missy Higgins sing Crowded House songs before the act themselves performed, grinning ear to ear as The Veronicas bowed down to John Farnham, these are moments that symbolise not just the great music we’ve made as a country but that we continue to make.

It’s very easy to stay in our bubble and just listen to the music we’ve always loved. But the arts will only thrive if we take chances on something new.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tame Impala & Courtney Barnett Clean Up at ARIAs

Tame Impala and Courtney Barnett were the big winners at this year’s ARIA Awards, taking home three awards in major categories each. Tame Impala were named best group and received best rock album and album of the year for Currents. Courtney Barnett claimed best female, breakthrough artist, and best independent release (Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit) gongs.

Like so many people, the highlight for me was watching The Veronicas and Jessica Mauboy join Hall of Fame inductee Tina Arena for her 90s hit “Chains.” It was such a powerful reminder of what incredible female vocalists we have in this country. I’ll take these ladies over Beyonce, Mariah, and Christina any day of the week. I also loved Tina’s speech. What a way to claim that Hall of Fame spot.

Anyway, if you couldn’t be bothered sitting through the hours of Channel Ten footage, here are all the winners for your browsing pleasure.

Album of the Year: Tame Impala – Currents
Best Independent Release: Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
Best Female Artist: Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
Best Male Artist: Vance Joy – Dream Your Life Away
Best Group: Tame Impala – Currents
Breakthrough Artist: Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
Best Dance Release: Rüfüs – ‘”You Were Right”
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album: Northlane – Node
Best Pop Release: Jarryd James – “Do You Remember”
Best Rock Album: Tame Impala – Currents
Best Urban Album: Seth Sentry – Strange New Past
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Oh Mercy – When We Talk About Love
Best Blues And Roots Album: C.W. Stoneking – Gon’ Boogaloo
Best Comedy Release: Matt Okine – Live at the Enmore Theatre
Best Australian Live Act: 5 Seconds Of Summer – Rock Out With Your Socks Out Tour
Best International Artist: One Direction
Best Video: Matt Sharp & Daniel James for The Veronicas – “You Ruin Me”
Song Of The Year: Conrad Sewell – “Start Again”

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

ARIAs are Awesome, But Why the International Star Hysteria?

I’ve only just caught up with what down at the ARIAs last night. I have a Wednesday night date at the local RSL with the members of my trivia team Fusion, so I caught it on the DVR today.

Overall I enjoyed this year’s ceremony a lot more than last year’s. It was a joy to watch Neil Finn and Paul Kelly performing together, to be reminded of how good young things like Five Seconds of Summer and Sheppard are in the live arena, and to see Molly Meldrum and Countdown take their rightful place in the Hall of Fame. Chet Faker’s performance was also spellbindingly good. I like to think those squealing 5SOS and 1D fans in the front learned a few things watching this man play. Ditto Dan Sultan.

But I have to wonder, why do we insist on fawning over the international celebrities? Why do we hype up Katy Perry presenting an award, and give One Direction a plum spot on the running time? I’m probably more of a 1D fan than a woman in her mid-thirties should be, but it still felt a little odd to me. A show like last night reinforced yet again that Australia has such a rich, diverse array of talent. So why don’t organisers focus on that? It’s not like the addition of these big-name stars seemed to do much for the ratings after all.

Thoughts?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gotye Dominates 2012 ARIA Awards

Gotye showed he’s the current king of Australian music after taking home four of the silver pointy things at last night’s ARIA Awards.

The Melbourne singer-songwriter was recognised as the best male artist and best Australian live act. His album Making Mirrors was also named the year’s best album and the best pop release. He took the opportunity to pay tribute to the album format, which so many naysayers insist is dying, as well as the work of local musicians.

The other awards were spread out amongst the talented crowd. Gotye’s mate Kimbra won her second consecutive female artist of the year while The Temper Trap were named the best band and their self-titled album dubbed the best rock album. Matt Corby’s “Brother” was deservedly given the song of the year title.

The ceremony had its fair share of international talent, but the musical highlight arguably came from new hall of fame inductees Yothu Yindi. They were joined by Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan, Paul Kelly, and Andrew Farris for a rousing rendition of their smash hit “Treaty.”

And in case you missed the telecast, here are all the winners!

Album of the Year: Gotye – Making Mirrors
Best Male Artist: Gotye – Making Mirrors
Best Female Artist: Kimbra – Vows
Best Group: The Temper Trap – The Temper Trap
Breakthrough Artist: 360 – Falling & Flying
Best Independent Release: The Jezabels – Prisoner
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Missy Higgins – The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle
Best Blues & Roots Album: Jeff Lang – Carried In Mind
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album: DZ Deathrays – Bloodstreams
Best Pop Release: Gotye – Making Mirrors
Best Rock Album: The Temper Trap – The Temper Trap
Best Urban Album: Hilltop Hoods – Drinking From The Sun
Best Children’s Album: The Wiggles – Surfer Jeff
Best Comedy Release: Buddy Goode – Unappropriate
Best Country Album: The McClymonts – Two Worlds Collide
Best Dance Release: Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl feat. Georgi Kay – In My Mind
ARIA Song of the Year: Matt Corby – “Brother”
Best International Artist: One Direction
Best Australian Live Act: Gotye
Best Video: Natasha Pincus- Missy Higgins – “Everyone’s Waiting”
Best Classical Album: William Barton – Kalkadungu
Best Jazz Album: Sarah McKenzie – Close Your Eyes
Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album: triple j – Straight To You: triple j’s Tribute To Nick Cave
Best World Music Album: Joseph Tawadros – Concerts of the Greater Sea
Best Cover Art: Frank De Backer (Artwork & Handwriting) & Wally De Backer– Making Mirrors
Producer of the Year: Styalz Fuego – 360, Falling & Flying

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

360 Dominates ARIA Award Nominations

If the nominations are any indication, 360 could scoop this year’s ARIA Awards. The hip hop artist has scored six nominations: Best Male Artist, Breakthrough Artist, Album of the Year and Best Urban Album (Falling and Flying), Song of the Year (“Boys Like You”), and Best Australian Live Act.

Gotye and The Jezabels also did well with five nods. Just behind them we see Lanie Lane and Hilltop Hoods with four nominations each.

I’m most impressed by the diversity of this year’s awards. We see so many genres represented and a great mix of new artists and old favourites. In recent years it’s felt the awards have gone a bit too alternative, so I’m thrilled to see mainstream pop acts, dance divas, and rock acts getting their due. I’m not so secretly hoping to see Cold Chisel take out the best group category.

In something new this year, fans will also be able to vote via the ARIA website for four categories: Song of the Year, Best Australian Live Act, Best International Artist and Best Video.

The pointy statues will be handed out at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on November 29. They’ll air on GO! You can see all the nominees at the ARIA website.

Image source: ARIA Awards website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The ARIA Awards Wrap

Boy & Bear and Gotye were the big winners at last night’s ARIA Awards ceremony. Boy & Bear took home five awards for their stunning debut Moonfire, including best album and best group. Gotye scooped four, including male artist of the year and best single for “Somebody That I Used to Know.”

That’s all the stuff you’ll read in all the other media outlets, so I thought I’d much rather talk about the way I saw this year’s awards. Honestly, it was pretty bloody good. Admittedly anything would look like a world class production compared to last year’s shambles, but I was impressed by the way things went off.

I’ve heard criticisms that some of the jokes fell flat, and some of the irreverent spirit of Aussie music was missing. Maybe. But most important for me was that the ceremony had real heart. I found myself genuinely moved at several moments: when Billy Thorpe’s wife and daughters accepted his posthumous ARIA for Tangier, when former Wiggle Greg Page stood with his fellow skivvy wearers as they were inducted into the Hall of Fame, when Delta Goodrem sang “The Day You Went Away” against the backdrop of the images of people the industry has lost, and when Missy Higgins joined Gurrumul for a gorgeous duet. I have no clue what they were singing about but it was the most touching musical number of the night.

For those moments I loved these ARIAs. They reminded us that the night should be about recognising and celebrating the amazing music we make as a country. We punch well above our weight, and we deserve a night that acknowledges that, without bringing in too many international guests or getting too fancy with the staging.

Last night wasn’t perfect, but it was certainly a step in the right direction. I’m not sure how much Go had to do with the broadcast, but I take my hat off to them for whatever part they played. Even if it was just ensuring these awards stay on free to air, it was important. And how refreshing to see the channel being the youth station it originally set out to be and offering something new rather than the countless Big Bang and Two and a Half Men reruns.

Boy & Bear and Gotye may have taken home the lion’s share of the pointy things, but as clichéd as it sounds, Australian music was the big winner last night. Click below for the other winners!

Continue reading “The ARIA Awards Wrap” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Great ARIA Awards, Shame About the Ceremony

The ARIA Awards are intended to celebrate the year that was, and on paper they did just that. Angus and Julia Stone deservingly took home the lion’s share of the pointy statues. Their sophomore effort Down The Way was named album of the year, best adult alternative album, and best cover art, its second single “Big Jet Plane” single of the year, and the duo was named producers of the year.

I was also thrilled to see Washington bag a double for female artist of the year and breakthrough artist, and outgoing act Powderfinger recognized by the new popular awards for album and artist.

What a shame that the ceremony itself wasn’t fitting of the artists it recognised. I use the word ceremony loosely, because really there wasn’t anything ceremonial about it. I’m not suggesting the ARIAs need a great deal of pomp, but this thing was so relaxed that it got messy.

I cringed watching presenters wading through crowds to hand out the gongs, and seeing speeches given amongst the throng. The concept of making the awards accessible to the public looks good on paper; this music is for the people after all. But the execution was lacking last night. I’m not sure whether it made any more sense at the event, but at home watching on the TV it appeared shambolic.

The performances helped to save it, of course. We can always rely on our musicians to turn out quality acts, and they did. I loved Washington’s saucy delivery of “Sunday Best,” and Dan Sultan stepping in for INXS. If they’re looking for a replacement for JD Fortune any time soon, he’d do a great job.

While those musical numbers helped make the event watchable, they couldn’t save it completely. I only hope that next year our musicians get the ceremony they deserve.