AIM indie awards highlight sector’s bright lights
Some of the global indie sector’s most exciting names shone at the AIM Independent Music awards in London.
Going into the night with four nominations had been Bristol punk band Idles, hot after their second album Joy As An Act of Resistance from this year lived up to the expectations of the highly acclaimed debut Brutalism from last year.
Other multi-nominee winners were LA singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, English R&B singer-songwriter Jorja Smith and Brit experimental pop duo Let’s Eat Grandma.
Nina Tunes had two wins: independent label of the year, while their signing, Berlin-based Korean artist Peggy Gou took out track of the year.
While the indie community in the room would have had the upcoming EU vote on copyright reform uppermost in their minds, it took Sophie when accepting her innovator trophy to really sum up what the night was about.
“To be truly deserving of this award involved not only changing the sound of today’s music, but also ripping apart a deeply entrenched and deeply flawed patriarchal society,” she said.
“Creating a more diverse, inspiring and meaningful future for us now and the generations whose lives our decisions effect and help shape, thank you for having me.”
WINNERS:
Independent Album of the Year
Nadine Shah – Holiday Destination (1965 Records/[PIAS])
Independent Track of the Year
Peggy Gou – It Makes You Forget (Itgehane) (Ninja Tune)
Best Sophomore Release
Let’s Eat Grandma – I’m All Ears (Transgressive)
UK Breakthrough of the Year
Jorja Smith (FAMM)
International Breakthrough of the Year
Phoebe Bridgers (Dead Oceans)
Best Live Act
Erasure (Mute Records)
Hardest Working Group or Artist
Idles (Partisan Records)
Outstanding Contribution to Music
Tracey Thorn
Pioneer Award
Goldie
Innovator Award
Sophie
Best Creative Packaging
Black Sabbath – The Ten Year War (BMG)
Independent Label of the Year
Ninja Tune
Best Small Label
Black Acre Records
Indie Champion Award
Femi Adeyemi – founder of NTS Radio
PPL Award For Most Played New Independent Act
Dave (Dave)
Independent Video of the Year
Novo Amor – Birthplace (AllPoints) / Directed by Sil van der Woerd & Jorik Dozy
Three Australian bands had been nominated.
Confidence Man were in the international breakthrough of the Year against Cigarettes After Sex, Moses Sumney, Phoebe Bridgers and Zeal & Ardor.
DMAs vied for best live act against Cassia, Erasure, Idles and Steps.
The hardest working group or artist category had King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard alongside DAWN (Dawn Richard), Idles, Mogwai and Tom Misch.