AIR AWARDS WINNERS 2008

The winners of the 2008 Jagermeister AIR Awards are:

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Gurrumul

Best New Independent Artist
Best Independent Release
Best Independent Blues & Roots Release

Gurrumul [his traditional name] is a member of the Gumatj clan of north east Arnhemland and it is the songs and stories of the Gumatj clan that Gurrumul sublimely adapts into contemporary song styles. At the age of 15 he was identified as a young and extremely talented multi-instrumentalist and joined the ARIA Award winning band Yothu Yindi where he played an integral role until 1992. Currently a member of the hugely talented Saltwater Band he has contributed greatly to the Indigenous music industry which was recognised again this year at the NT Indigenous Music Awards where he was awarded the Album of the Year and Song of the Year 2008.

Recently he has earned the attention of the mainstream music scene in Australia winning two ARIA Awards, a stack of deadly awards, three NT Music Awards to add to his three AIR Awards. His debut self-titled album Gurrumul released in February 2008 has received exceptional worldwide reviews and recenty achieved  platinum status in Australia, remarkable considering Gurrumul is a non-english album released by an independent label. Gurrumul has come onto the international music industry radar where he has received an abundance of media interested and recently the album entered the European World Music Chart at number 8 – September 2008.

The Herd - Summerland

Best Independent Artist
Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Release

The Herd formed in 2000 when the collective behind the independent Sydney-based record label Elefant Traks decided to collaborate on a release rather than work as individual producers and MCs.
In winter 2007 The Herd focused on their most ambitious album to date – returning to the Central Coast A-frame house where they’d written much of their previous albums - for an extended period of writing. The resulting album, Summerland, was completed in early 2008, and features the acclaimed singles ‘The King is Dead’.  The Herd have a reputation as one of the country’s best live acts. An unconventional set-up, they perform with two MCs, two singers, an acoustic and an electric guitar, bass, piano accordion, clarinet, laptops and MPC.

Taking out the coveted award for Best Independent Artist coincides with The Herd's self managed label Elefant Traks celebrating it's tenth birthday over weekend and topped off a magnificent evening for the 8 piece collective after they gave a showstopping performance and took out the award for Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album.

Best Independent Hard Rock/Punk Release: Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours

Eddy Current: “Eddy Current Suppression Ring started around 4 years ago in the office of my old work… We recorded some songs, put out a 7” and played a show. People liked it more than we thought and when people like what you do and you like what you do, it makes sense to keep doing it. So we played more, recorded more, put out some 7”s and an album, made some friends, played some festivals and toured interstate and overseas. During this time we managed to write a bunch of new songs...

Our new LP Primary Colours was recorded in early August last year in Melbourne on our trusty 1/2 inch 8-track tape machine with the help of our pal, Lachlan Wooden… A few songs were recorded late on the Friday night, with the rest on the Saturday. We even went in and did some ‘overdubs’ on the guitar, the piano and the synthesizer on the Sunday… We then toured the US for three weeks and came back and I mixed it over the first half of the summer in my bedroom”

Eddy Current Suppression Ring's DIY attitude, lo-fi production techniques and cranking live garage rock and punk shows have seen them build a manic   cult following over the past 4 years but didn't have a huge impact nationally until they released their second album Primary Colours. Track after track of great Rock, hooks and energy made them a crowd favorite at the AIR Awards and a popular choice for Hard Rock/Punk Album of the hear.

Best Independent Country Release: Bec Willis - Bec Willis

Despite stiff competition from fellow nominees The Noll Brothers, Davidson Brothers, The Flood and Felicity Urqhuart, Bec's wonderful self titled debut album, produced by Kasey and Bill Chambers took out the award for Australia's Best Independent Country Album. The album focusses on Bec's emotional honesty and pop songwriting sensibilities. Bec wasn't able to attend the event at the corner hotel but due to giving birth to a bouncing baby boy just weeks before but her manager Paul Minshull was on hand to accept the award on her behalf.

Best Independent Jazz Release: Tina Harrod - Worksongs

Tina Harrod’s stunning second solo album Worksongs proves she is equally at home channelling the power and emotion of jazz greats like Nina Simone and Billie Holiday as she is in more familiar soul terrain. And she does so with such impeccable intuition and raw feeling that it takes your breath away.

Tina and her stellar band bring the same approach to the varied collection of songs on this album – from the excellent jazz spin on Stevie Wonder’s ‘Big Brother’ to her beautiful rendition of Nick Drake’s ‘Riverman’ or her sophisticated and revelatory take on Portishead’s ‘Glory Box’. Two of her own songs from her acclaimed debut album Shacked up in Paradise are also reinvigorated here as are a definitive collection of jazz classics such as ‘Comes Love’, ‘Round Midnight’ and ‘Feelin’ Good’.

Best Independent Dance / Electronic Release: Peret Mako - The Devil Is In The Detail

Recorded earlier this millennium, Sydney producer PERET MAKOs debut album The Devils In The Detail inexplicably sat on a shelf for years. Over that time it has gained near legendary status amongst Australian producers and DJs when word spread from the few people lucky enough to hear it. Finally this amazing record gets a full release!
Peret Mako's music is highly textured, crafted with a love of detail and subtlety. Fans of artists such as Matthew Herbert (who is a fan himself) and Henrik Schwarz will appreciate this rich, orchestral album - like Ravel and Mingus having a sound system battle over what oceans sound like. The influences of hip hop, techno, jazz and deep house, amongst many others, are woven into a highly personalised style. The sounds cascade over each other causing the album to reveal itself over multiple listens; the details coming to life under the warm hug of a nice set of headphones!

The album was selected as best Dance/Electronic album by an esteemed panel of Australia's leading dance media and promoters. It beat out more fancied artists Grafton Primary and Sneaky Sound System as well as label mates Jamie Lloyd and Theatre of Disco.


Best Independent Single/EP: The Getaway Plan - Where The City Meets The Sea

2008 has been a wild ride for The Getaway Plan. Since the release of their debut, acclaimed album 'Other Voices, Other Rooms' and this breakthrough hit single 'Where The City Meets The Sea', these four Melbourne boys have sold out two national tours, become one of the most played Australian acts on radio and TV, and made themselves a household name with their unique brand of alternative rock.

No one could have predicted the attention the band would draw upon the release of the album's second single 'Where The City Meets The Sea'. It's anthemic chorus (and as the rest of their album shows these boys can have no problem writing a damn fine chorus) made the song the standout independent single of the year. 

AIR AWARDS WINNERS 2006

Best Performing Independent Album

Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road
Debuting in April this year, and the fourth LP for this Adelaide hip hop crew, Hilltop Hoods has
spent over 24 weeks in the top 5 of the V Energy AIR Charts this year, and a staggering 22
weeks at #1. This was a release that broke new ground for the genre, being the first Australian hip hop album to debut at #1 in the ARIA charts, securing Gold status in less that 3 weeks; an amazing achievement for an independent label in Australia.

Best Performing Single / EP

Blue King Brown - Blue King Brown
A testament to their grass roots following, percussive roots act Blue King Brown spent some 42 weeks in the V Energy AIR Charts top 20 with their self-titled EP this year. This included 21 weeks in the top 5 and a week at #1. In a little under two years of gigging, the act is an established name in the Australian indie scene, with their grassroots approach also a strong part of their touring ethos. The single 'Water', off this EP, broke new ground for the band, earning high rotation on Triple J as well as an APRA songwriter award.

Independent Artist of the Year

Hilltop Hoods
The lead up to the recent success of Hilltop Hoods has been a long, rewarding road allowing them to develop as artists and hone their performance skills while always upholding their integrity. A band that set a new benchmark for Australian independent music in 2006, this stellar year for the Hilltop Hoods included the amazing success of LP The Hard Road, the sold out grass roots "stopping all stations" national tour, and a swag of awards. Released and distributed by Obese Records, Hilltop Hoods have cemented their status at the forefront of Australian hip hop and earned respect and accolades both nationally and internationally.

Most Outstanding New Independent Artist

Gotye
A break through artist of the Australian independent scene in 2006, Gotye is 26-year-old Wally DeBacker, who plays drums, percussion and piano, writes, sings and produces Gotye tracks at home in his bedroom. His most recent releases Like Drawing Blood and the remix/covers album Mixed Blood, are distributed through Creative Vibes and have achieved phenomenal independent success including Triple J album of the weeks, and an ARIA nominations and ARIA Awards.
 

AIR AWARDS WINNERS 2007

Perth blues and roots outfit the JOHN BUTLER TRIO was presented with the award for Best Performing Independent Album for their ‘Grand National’ release. From an incredible six nominations, SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM was presented with the awards for both Best Performing Independent single for ‘UFO’, and Best Independent Artist.

The Best New Independent Artist Award went to Melbourne act, BRITISH INDIA. The act followed up their win with an amazing live performance to close the event’s formal proceedings.

C.W STONEKING was awarded the Best Independent Blues and Roots Release for ‘King Hokum’.

After taking out the award for Best Independent Jazz Release, The BEN WINKELMAN TRIO performed for the packed crowd.

In attendance was the cream of the crop of Australian independent artists, including Hilltop Hoods, Gotye, Ricki-Lee, Birds Of Tokyo, Muph & Plutonic, Blue King Brown, British India, Urthboy, Greg Meyer, Paul Costa, FourPlay, and many more of Australia’s finest independent artists, over a variety of genres.

The 2007 JAGERMEISTER AIR AWARDS also featured live performances by Blue King Brown, and Urthboy!

The Awards represent the hard work and sheer passion needed to make it as an independent artist. This year’s nominees reflect the width and breadth of independent Australia music, from some of the biggest names in music today (John Butler Trio, Hilltop Hoods and Sneaky Sound System), to the next crop of artists who will shape the industry in the coming years (Wolf & Cub, The Cops, British India), who came together to celebrate the work of the most innovative and hard working record labels in the business.

The winners of the 2007 Jagermeister AIR Awards are:

Best Independent Country Release: Gina Jeffries - Walks Of Life

It’s now more than a decade since Gina Jeffreys won the Toyota Star Maker Quest, marking the start of a remarkable career that’s not only taken Gina to the top of the country music industry — where she still reigns supreme — but continued to bring new surprises and successes for this talented and vivacious woman.

Gina won the 2007 Independent Country album of the year against an incredibly strong field with her magnificent recent album Walk's of Life. Congratulations

Best Independent Jazz Release: Ben Winkelman Trio – The Spanish Tinge
The Ben Winkelman Trio is an innovative and dynamic contemporary jazz piano trio, playing original repertoire that draws on diverse influences. These range from Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music to stride piano and Jelly Roll Morton’s “Spanish tinge”, to Argentinean tango and contemporary classical music.

The trio has released two albums on Jazzhead to critical acclaim (Stomps, Pieces & Variations 2005, nominated for a Bell award, and The Spanish Tinge 2007), and toured to every part of Australia in 2006 and 2007. In 2006 the trio appeared on ABC TV’s Sunday Arts program and played at some of the major national jazz festivals. Ben Winkelman was a semi-finalist in the 2006 National Jazz Awards, and was shortlisted for an APRA Professional Development Award in 2006 for his compositions on “Stomps”.

Best Independent Blues & Roots Release:  C.W Stoneking – King Hokum
He's been called a hobo, local time traveler, fake and authentic; and with a reputation that travels faster than the man himself. Everyone from Art of Fighting and Sodastream to Ian Collard and Jeff Lang rave about the incredible talent that colours C.W.'s recordings and live performances. "He's a national treasure," says J. Walker. "The first time I met him," he recalls, "I was amazed because he had a fob watch in his waistcoat and I remember thinking, this guy's straight out of the dust bowl of the 1930s. I think that style of music that he does is the bedrock of everything that came afterwards," he continues, "I'm just amazed that he exists because I never thought I'd see anything like it."  C.W Stoneking wins an AIR Award for the album ‘King Hokum’ in 2007.

Best Independent Dance / Electronic Release: Midnight Juggernauts – Dystopia
At the beginning of 2007 Midnight Juggernauts had already released two critically acclaimed EPs: ‘Raised By Wolves’ in 2005 and 2006’s ‘Secrets Of The Universe’. In that time the original duo of Vincent (keys/vox) and Andy (guitars/vox) toured the UK and Europe in Oct 2006, attracting raves from the BBC1, NME and MTV2 UK/Europe, the latter marking them as "artists we're tipping for the top in 2007". Upon entering the studio to record their debut album Dystopia, Vincent and Andy made the decision to invite a third member into the fold; Daniel Stricker (drums/vox) accepted the challenge. The band's live show has reaped the rewards, now an even more dynamic and energetic experience. Despite major label interest, Midnight Juggernauts opted to remain independent, releasing their first complete studio album through their own label Siberia Records.

Best Performing Independent Single / EP, and Best Independent Artist: Sneaky Sound System
The past 12 months for Australia’s numero uno dance act Sneaky Sound System, have been nothing short of hectic. After supporting Jamiroquai on a their national tour of Australia, the core trio of MC Double D, Miss Connie and Black Angus took off to Miami, New York, Italy, London and Hong Kong for a bunch of shows. They toured Australia with their six piece band as part of the Good Vibrations Festival, released their super debut album, and went on three more sold-out, crazed tours of the country. They went top 25 with two singles I Love It and Pictures, top 20 with their album,  spent more than 3 months at number 1 in the club charts, and capped it all off by winning two ARIA’s (Best Dance Release and Breakthrough Artist).

Think stiff beats, thick bass lines, lush melodies, haunting vocals, rolling guitar licks and urban tales of love and loss. It is part-melancholic beauty but for the most part, it's party mayhem. Topping off an amazing year is the 2007 AIR Award for Best Performing Independent Single  ‘UFO’, and the coverted Best Independent Artist Award.

Best Performing Independent Album: John Butler Trio – Grand National
Since he started out busking at Fremantle markets back in the early 90’s John Butler has become one of Australia’s most highly respected truly independent artists. Having released several EP’s, a live album and four studio albums including their most recent ‘Grand National’ which debuted at number one on the Australian Record Industry Awards (ARIA) charts, the John Butler Trio has received several industry accolades for their work including the prestigious Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA) song of the year for the single ‘Zebra’ and three ARIA Awards for the 2003 release ‘Sunrise Over Sea’ Best Independent Release, Best Blues and Roots Album and also Best Male artist.

At the recent ARIA Awards the John Butler Trio took out two gongs for Best Independent release and Best Blues and Roots release. 

Best New Independent Artist  - British India

There’s a certain brashness and confidence that comes with youth. Unbridled by the pains of experience and wounds of excess, youth is the fountain of energy and enthusiasm that underpinned the emergence of the rock’n’roll genre. And it’s that energy, combined with attitude, poise and posture that characterises Melbourne indie-pop band, British India.
From the band’s first appearance on the Melbourne live scene, critical interest has swept up over the band like monsoonal floods in the sub-continent

In 2006 British India headed into Harry Vanda’s Flashpoint Studio to record its eagerly awaited debut album. The result of the band’s time in the studio is Guillotine, produced by Harry Vanda and Glenn Goldsmith. The success of British India’s studio endeavours was immediate. The first single from the album, the incendiary Black and White Radio, released in January 2007, was promptly afforded high rotation on triple j, with the video to the single quickly becoming a regular highlight on Rage.

Guillotine is an album that celebrates the straight-up guitar pop that’s characterised British India’s initial success. While the refined sound and astute lyrics on the album suggests aplomb beyond the band members’ years, scratch the surface and there’s still the same youthful ferocity that propelled British India into the consciousness of the Australian music scene. From the freewheeling Britpop melodies of Tie Up My Hands, to the acute social commentary of Teenage Mother and Council Flat to the rollicking garage pop of Russian Roulette, this is music to which everyone can relate. British India is here to stay.