Independent SA artists win big at national awards ceremony
Three South Australians took home coveted awards, alongside the likes of Amyl and the Sniffers and Alice Ivy, at the AIR Awards last night.
The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) Awards were held last night at the Adelaide Town Hall, with South Australians Parvyn, Kasey Chambers and Electric Fields taking home coveted awards.
The AIR Awards highlight the success of the Australian independent music sector and are held yearly in Adelaide; a UNESCO City of Music.
Kasey Chambers won the award for Best Independent Country Album or EP for album Backbone, and Best Independent Jazz Album or EP went to Parvyn for her album Maujuda.
Electric Fields took out Best Independent Classical Album or EP for a collaborative live album with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
The only other South Australian-related nomination was LA-based Bonnie Knight in the independent producer category for her work on Coldwave’s The Ants/Italia ’06.
Since 2023, pressures on the local music scene have intensified with venue closures, a lack of local representation on music festival lineups, and festival cancellations, which have impacted emerging artists’ performance experiences and ability to grow within the local scene.
The two top honours – Independent Album of the Year and Independent Song of the Year – both went to Amyl and the Sniffers for their album Cartoon Darkness and song ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’.
Amyl and the Sniffers bagged three awards in total, also taking out Best Independent Rock Album or EP with album Cartoon Darkness.
Alice Ivy also took home three awards for Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album or EP and Independent Producer Team of the Year for album Do What Makes You Happy, as well as Best Independent Dance/Electronica or Club Single for ‘Do I Need To Know What Love Is?’ featuring Josh Teskey.
Local Parvyn performed her song ‘New Game’, which made CityMag’s best new music column in November last year.
AIR CEO, Maria Amato recognises the “hardworking sector” and is “especially grateful to the South Australian Government through the Music Development Office for their continued support”.
“The Malinauskas Government is proud to host the wonderful artists and music businesses that make up the independent music sector on their night of nights,” Arts Minister Andrea Michaels says.
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The full list of award winners is:
Best Independent Blues and Roots Album Or EP:
Emma Donovan – Til My Song Is Done
Best Independent Jazz Album or EP:
Parvyn – Maujuda
Best Independent Classical Album or EP:
Electric Fields X Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Live In Concert
Best Independent Children’s Album or EP:
Teeny Tiny Stevies – The Green Album
Best Independent Country Album or EP:
Kasey Chambers – Backbone
Best Independent Soul/R&B Album or EP:
Ella Thompson – Ripple On The Wing
Best Independent Pop Album or EP:
Good Morning – Good Morning Seven
Best Independent Rock Album or EP:
Amyl And The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness
Independent Marketing Team of the Year:
Ourness, The Annex – Royel Otis, Pratts & Pain
Independent Music Video of the Year:
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Nick Rae, Jordan Ruyi Blanch – ‘Won’t Stop’ by 3%, featuring Jessica Mauboy
Independent Producer of the Year:
Alice Ivy – Do What Makes You Happy
Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year:
Miss Kaninna
Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP:
Miss Kaninna – Kaninna
Best Independent Dance or Electronica Album or EP:
Alice Ivy – Do What Makes You Happy
Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single:
Alice Ivy – ‘Do I Need To Know What Love Is?’ featuring Josh Teskey
Best Independent Punk Album or EP:
Gut Health – Stiletto
Best Independent Heavy Album or EP:
The Amity Affliction – Let The Ocean Take Me (Redux)
Independent Album of the Year:
Amyl And The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness
Independent Song of the Year:
Amyl And The Sniffers – ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’
Independent Label of the Year:
ABC Music
Independent Publicity Team of the Year:
Thinking Loud – Royel Otis, Pratts & Pain
Independent Mix, Studio or Mastering Engineer of the Year:
Nick Herrera – Miss Kaninna, Kaninna
