Australia’s independent artists and labels converged at the Freemasons Lodge in Adelaide to celebrate the best in the business at the 2019 AIR Awards on Thursday 25 July.
Clapping sticks set the scene as the Tal-Kin-Jeri Dance Group performed Welcome to country and traditional dances: the Kangaroo (Wongammi); the Kitehawk (Kirriki); and Whale (Kondoli).
From the first hums of Mojo Juju’s powerful song ‘Native Tongue’ I was transfixed and it was clear the crowd was feeling it too, leaning into the message and cheering when she sang, “I will not apologise for taking up this space”.
Mojo Juju - Image © Howard Duggan
MC Dylan Lewis brought kooky and irreverent fun, making sure all presenters and awards recipients felt at home on stage. The formalities were kept quick and Maria Amato, General Manager and CFO for AIR Labels Association, quickly rolled through her thank you list and The Hon. David Pisoni MP welcomed everyone on behalf of the SA Government.
Laura Jean’s performance began with an endearing warning that her 50 dollar keyboard may make a noise before she started the dreamy lo-fi dance beat of ‘Girls On The TV’, delivering a few minutes of atmospheric electro chill.
Beccy Cole’s all-female produced and performed album ‘Lioness’ received the Best Independent Country Album award, which she dedicated as a “win for the girls”.
Emily Wurramara shone in gold as she received the Best Independent Blues and Roots album award for ‘Milyakburra’, sung in both English and Annandilyakwa, saying “it’s beautiful to have this music and language archive for future generations”.
SA Music General Manager Lisa Bishop stepped up to present the Best Independent Classical Album to The Grigoryan Brothers / Adelaide Symphony Orchestra / Benjamin Northey for Bach Concertos arranged for two guitars and orchestra, but not before a quick plug of all of the great events on across the UNESCO City of Music while awards attendees are in town.
B Wise - Image © Howard Duggan
Jonathan Zwarts looked 100 per cent a jazz-man receiving his Best Independent Jazz award by video link, wearing a scarf in front of a bookshelf in his library.
B Wise brightened up the stage with bright yellow pants and not only received Best Independent Hip Hop Album for ‘Area Famous’, performed ‘The Key’, jumping about with faultless rhymes and getting the whole crowd up on their feet.
Janet Planet and Sugar Bones of Confidence Man celebrated the oddballs and originals when accepting the award for Best Independent Electronica Album for ‘Confident Music for Confident People’, saying, “we love people who are into being weird in their own way”.
Best Independent Single winner Mojo Juju spoke about how she had written 'Native Tongue' something really personal and “the most rewarding thing is seeing how many people related… I realise that everybody feels that way sometimes”.
Confidence Man - Image © Howard Duggan
Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year, G-Flip, told a story about how she hustled to get into the AIR Awards two years prior and spent the time telling everyone about how to find her on Soundcloud and leaving with a mission to actually get invited to attend in future. She’s certainly achieved that and more, and treated us to a flawless, stripped-back piano and vocal performance of ‘Without You’ that left the room breathless.
Sweetie Zamora from Remote Control Records stepped up to accept the Best Independent Artist award on behalf of Courtney Barnett, who was also awarded the Best Independent Album or EP for ‘Tell Me How You Really Feel’, in a tied vote with Gurrumul for ‘Djarimirri’.
Mark Grose of Skinnyfish Records accepted the award on behalf of Dr G. Yunupingu with a speech about the importance of keeping art that is so precious independent, using ‘Djarimirri’ as an example that success can be achieved if you “believe in your work and have faith in artists”.
G-Flip - Image © Howard Duggan
Guy Blackman and Ben O’Connor of Chapter Records received the award for Best Independent label with great speeches quoting the Lovely Girls, highlighting the importance of Community radio and speaking about art over commerce.
Gerry McKenna from White Sky Music Business and Accounting received the Outstanding Achievement Award with a gorgeous speech about her experience of over four decades, saying “I’m the lucky one, working in this industry for 42 years”.
Last on stage for a suitably energetic finale to the night, West Thebarton, performed ‘Bible Camp’ while wearing matching ribbed turtlenecks. They’re always so fun to watch as they bounce around the stage and it was a fitting and fun way to wrap things up.
The AIR Awards highlighted just how many excellent independent artists and labels we have here in Australia as well as how strong the community is. There was a lot of love in the room.
