With five awards and a thunderous live performance, indigenous hip-hop duo A.B. Original dominated the 2017 AIR Independent Music Awards, held Thursday night (July 27) at Queen’s Theatre in Adelaide.
The pairing of rapper Briggs and producer Trials made it a perfect 5-from-5 by taking out honors for best independent artist, breakthrough independent artist of the year, best independent single (for “January 26” featuring Dan Sultan) and their LP Reclaim Australia (Bad Apples Music/Golden Era Records) won for best independent hip-hop album and best independent album or EP.
5/5 for the good guys. pic.twitter.com/2ZPKE98u2B
— Golden Era Records (@GoldenEraOnline) July 27, 2017
It’s been a breezy couple months for A.B. Original, whose politically-charged debut won the 12th annual Australian Music Prize in March, recognizing the best Australian album of 2016. They’re the first indigenous act to win that particular prize.
Reclaim Australia features guest appearances by the late Dr G. Yunupingu, Thelma Plum, Dan Sultan and others, and opened at No. 10 on the national albums survey last December.
TBH by the 4th award (out of 5) @ @ausindies @ABOriginalBAM CBF getting out their seat again. So we filmed a little video incase we won. pic.twitter.com/4kV4fxcSYl
— Senator Briggs (@BriggsGE) July 27, 2017
Meanwhile, alternative rockers Violent Soho snagged the AIR Award for best independent hard rock, heavy, or punk album with Waco (I Oh You), the band’s first ever No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and a multiple winner at the 2016 ARIA Awards. It’s their second time taking out the AIR Awards category.
Other key winners on the night included Pieater, which claimed the best independent label award; Nick Murphy (formerly known as Chet Faker) whose “Stop Me (Stop You)” (Future Classic) was named best independent dance, electronica or club single; and Friendships’ Nullabor 1988-1989 (Dot Dash/Remote Control), honored for best independent dance/electronica album.
AIR GM Maria Amato commented, “It was great to see the Industry turn out in droves to celebrate the success of the Independent sector at the 11th AIR Awards in Adelaide. So proud of the collaborations with the South Australian Government and our supporting partners that helped us make this all happen.”
Performers at the 2017 ceremony included Henry Wagons, Russell Morris and Elizabeth Rose.
With support from the South Australian Government’s newly-established Live Music Events Fund, the annual AIR Awards and inaugural two-day Indie-Con Australia conference will be held in Adelaide for the next three years (2017-2019).
Check out the 2017 winners below:
Best Independent Label — Pieater
Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year — A.B. Original (Golden Era Records)
Best Independent Artist — A.B. Original (Golden Era Records)
Best Independent Single — A.B. Original – ‘January 26 Feat. Dan Sultan’ (Golden Era Records)
Best Independent Album Or EP — A.B. Original – Reclaim Australia (Golden Era Records)
Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy Or Punk Album — Violent Soho – Waco (I Oh You)
Best Independent Dance, Electronica Or Club Single — Nick Murphy – ‘Stop Me (Stop You)’ (Future Classic)
Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album — Friendships – Nullabor 1988-1989 (Dot Dash/Remote Control)
Best Independent Hip Hop Album — A. B. Original – Reclaim Australia (Golden Era Records)
Best Independent Blues And Roots Album — Julia Jacklin – Don’t Let The Kids Win (Liberation Music)
Best Independent Country Album — Henry Wagons – After What I Did Last Night (ABC Music)
Best Independent Jazz Album — James Morrison & Don Burrows – In Good Company (ABC Jazz)
Best Independent Classical Album — Slava Grigoryan – Bach Cello Suites Vol 1 (ABC Classics)