11 October 2014
Mary Boukouvalas
It was a fresh breath to the sometime stagnant music industry. Now in its ninth year, the AIR Independent Music Awards once again applauded and showcased the best of Australian independent music.
The night saw live performances by REMi, Sheppard, DMAs, Safia and Meg Mac, as well as a passionate, and very honest, address by keynote speaker, Adalita Srsen. Srsen spoke about her 25 years in music, both in Magic Dirt and as a solo artist, and about her “creative cornerstone and buddy” the late Dean Turner.
Multiple award winners of the night were Courtney Barnett, REMi, and Violent Soho. Violent Soho were lucky enough to even make the trip from Sydney to Melbourne after James Tidswell’s Painters & Dockers’ t-shirt was seen as offensive to airport security. REMi was awarded the Global Music Grant of $50,000 in prize money towards taking his music to the international stage.
The full list of 2014 Carlton Dry Independent Music Award Winners:
Carlton Dry Global Music Grant Winner: REMi
Best Independent Artist: Courtney Barnett
Best Independent Album, presented by Rdio: Violent Soho – Hungry Ghost
Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year, presented by PPCA: Sheppard
Best Independent Single/EP, presented by Levi’s: Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener
Best Independent Label: I OH YOU
Best Independent Hip Hop Album: REMi – Raw x Infinity
Best Independent Country Album: Halfway – Any Old Love
Best Independent Blues And Roots Album: Dan Sultan – Blackbird
Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album: Violent Soho – Hungry Ghost
Best Independent Jazz Album: Paul Grabowsky Sextet – The Bitter Suite
Best Independent Dance/Electronica or Club Single: Peking Duk – High
Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: RÜFÜS – Atlas
Best Independent Classical Album: Gurrumul / Sydney Symphony Orchestra – His Life And Music
Picture: Mary Boukouvalas
