After taking a year off last year, the AIR Awards return in 2017. The Music consult their (broken) crystal ball and attempt to foresee what the future holds while fully appreciating our track record in predicting such matters is fairly grim.
Best Independent Artist
Nominees: AB Original, Alex Lahey, Ali Barter, DD Dumbo, Flume
Who will win: AB Original
Who should win: AB Original
Why? The AIR Awards are usually pretty on-the-ball in terms of dishing out accolades in a timely fashion (for example Flume took out this category in 2013, the same year he also took home the gongs for Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album and Best Independent Dance/Electronica Or Club Single). But historically this category favours artists with at least one album under their belt - after all, there's always a lot of nominee crossover between this category and Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year (this year, AB Original, Alex Lahey and DD Dumbo are shortlisted for both of these awards). Come to think of it, back-to-back winner in this category Courtney Barnett (2014, 2015) didn't release her debut album until 2015 but there's an exception to every rule, right? Anyway, we're tipping AB Original will take this one out and it'd be a popular choice.
Best Independent Album Or EP
Nominees: AB Original (Reclaim Australia), Alex Lahey (B-Grade University), Big Scary (Animal), DD Dumbo (Utopia Defeated), Ngaiire (Blastoma)
Who will win: DD Dumbo (Utopia Defeated)
Who should win: Big Scary (Animal)
Why? Prior to this year, the accolade for Best Independent EP used to be grouped together with Best Independent Single, so it'll be interesting to see whether an EP (Alex Lahey's B-Grade University) can get up. Soz, Alex, we do reckon you'll get to take a gong home at the ceremony this year, but also think DD Dumbo will deliver the acceptance speech for this one. And, sure! Utopia Defeated is an awesome listen, but geez, have you given Big Scary's Animal a spin lately? Percussively brilliant and with lyrics that'll make you nod your head in appreciation while you dance, we're really rooting for this one.
Best Independent Single
Nominees: AB Original (January 26 ft Dan Sultan), Alex Lahey (You Don't Think You Like People Like Me), Big Scary (The Opposite Of Us), DD Dumbo (Satan), Flume (Never Be Like You ft Kai)
Who will win: AB Original (January 26 ft Dan Sultan)
Who should win: AB Original (January 26 ft Dan Sultan)
Why? Once again, this category features a ridiculously strong handful of contenders. But January 26 just can't/won't be beaten. Dan Sultan's hook adds an irresistibly melodic flourish, and Briggs and Trials totally take it there in this one ("Fuck that, homie!"). It's a message we all need to take in. Respect.
Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year
Nominees: AB Original, Alex Lahey, Camp Cope, DD Dumbo, Julia Jacklin
Who will win: Alex Lahey
Who should win: Alex Lahey
Why? Because on the strength of just one EP, this rising star has performed at Splendour In The Grass, scored Pitchfork's Best New Track, dazzled SXSW and supported Tegan & Sara across the UK. And have you met her manager? What a dead set legend!*
(*Lahey is managed by The Music's publisher Leigh Treweek.)
Best Independent Hip Hop Album
Nominees: AB Original (Reclaim Australia), Hau (The No End Theory), L-Fresh The Lion (Become), Milwaukee Banks (Deep Into The Night), Remi (Divas And Demons)
Who will win: AB Original (Reclaim Australia)
Who should win: L-Fresh The Lion (Become)
Why? It's not uncommon for an artist to dominate the AIR Awards, taking home multiple gongs - Gurrumul (2008), Flume (2013) and Courtney Barnett (2015) - and it does feel like AB Original's year. But in the spirit of sharing the love around, we reckon L-Fresh The Lion's Become is a strong contender in this extremely strong shortlist. And obviously the Remi and Milwaukee Banks albums are cracking also. Go Aussie hip hop!
Best Independent Country Album
Nominees: Big Smoke (Time Is Golden), Bill Chambers (Cold Trail), William Crighton (William Crighton), Halfway (The Golden Halfway Record), Henry Wagons (After What I Did Last Night)
Who will win: Bill Chambers (Cold Trail)
Who should win: Big Smoke (Time Is Golden)
Why? Because the Chambers family are Australian country music royalty and as such tend to collect a lot of awards. What we would dearly love to see happen, though, is for Big Smoke's beautiful Time Is Golden set to be honoured.
Best Independent Blues'N'Roots Album
Nominees: Julia Jacklin (Don't Let The Kids Win), Russell Morris (Red Dirt - Red Heart), Archie Roach (Let Love Rule), The Waifs (Beautiful You), The Wilson Pickers (You Can't Catch Fish From A Train)
Who will win: Archie Roach (Let Love Rule)
Who should win: Julia Jacklin (Don't Let The Kids Win)
Why? It's lucky for these shortlisted artists that CW Stoneking didn't release an album in 2016, because he's taken home the trophy in this category three times! Our imaginary crystal ball tells us Archie Roach's Let Love Rule will be victorious here and obviously we love him dearly, but it would be awesome to see talented newcomer Julia Jacklin (who's been taking over the world one enviable European festival slot at a time) take the podium to deliver an acceptance speech for her glorious Don't Let The Kids Win set. (Although, let's face it, she'll probably have to prerecord her acceptance speech direct from Roskilde Festival or something).
Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy Or Punk Album
Nominees: Dead Letter Circus (Aesthesis), Hellions (Opera Oblivia), Luca Brasi (If This Is All We're Going To Be), Twelve Foot Ninja (Outlier), Violent Soho (Waco)
Who will win: Violent Soho (Waco)
Who should win: Luca Brasi (If This Is All We're Going To Be)
Why? King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard dominated this category with their second win in 2015, but we suspect Waco by Violent Soho (which debuted at #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and saw the lads collecting the ARIA for Best Rock Album in 2016) will be honoured this year. Not taking anything away from these Brisbane legends, but it just would just be so heart-warming to see one of Tasmania's finest exports, Luca Brasi, walk away with this trophy for their excellent third long-player, If This Is All We're Going To Be.
Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album
Nominees: Rainbow Chan (Spacings), Flume (Skin), Friendships (Nullarbor 1988-1989), Jagwar Ma (Every Now & Then), Elizabeth Rose (Intra)
Who will win: Flume (Skin)
Who should win: Friendships (Nullarbor 1988 - 1989)
Why? Because Nullarbor 1988 - 1989 is the freshest thing going around and we've had Nullarbor 1988 - 1989 on high rotation religiously. It's not the easiest listen, but farkin' hell it's arresting, dark, innovative and downright tribal at times. Flume's outstanding Skin set (which has achieved Gold status both here and in the US) has pretty much already picked up every award on offer (Album Of The Year at the 2016 ARIA Awards and the Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards, ferchrissakes!) and it really is unstoppable so we're tipping it'll probably win this one as well to complete the set.
Best Independent Dance/Electronica Or Club Single
Nominees: Flume (Never Be Like You ft Kai), Nick Murphy (Stop Me (Stop You)), Starley (Call On Me)
Who will win: Flume (Never Be Like You ft Kai)
Who should win: Nick Murphy (Stop Me (Stop You))
Why? Yeah, we get it, Flume's Never Be Like You ft Kai is a killer track and if you listen to it once you'll be walking around all day practising your falsetto, "I'LL NEVER BE LIKE YOU!" But his trophy cabinet is already groaning so it's time to pass the baton. Starley's Call On Me, while a total banger that showcases some seriously smokin' vocals, kinda calls to mind that Eric Prydz (ft Steve Winwood) track of the same name. Sure, it's taken us a minute to get used to the fact that Chet Faker has reverted to the name his parents gave him, but that voice of an angel remains the same and with Stop Me (Stop You) there's just no stopping him. And, relax! Flume and Murphy are collaborating buddies so it's all good. Just give the man his trophy, already.
The 11th AIR Awards are taking place at Adelaide's Queens Theatre on 27 July; check the AIR website for more info.
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