Miiesha & Baker Boy head finalists for Indigenous Music Awards

Following strong releases this year, Miiesha and Baker Boy head the finalists’ list for the 2020 National Indigenous Music Awards with three mentions each.

Miiesha, the 21-year-old Pitjantjatjara/Torres Strait Islander woman from Woorabinda in Central Queensland, received acclaim for the way her Nyaaringu album mixed gospel with poetry.

Baker Boy dropped the ‘Move’ video in April as a tribute to the strong black women in his life.

Today’s announcement honours twenty-four diverse First Nations artists in seven categories.

They also included Jessica Mauboy, Archie Roach, Thelma Plum, Mau Power, Briggs, Electric Fields, Dallas Woods and Kee‘ahn.

The NIMAs, live from Larrakia Country in Darwin,  continue to grow, screened on free-to-air television network NITV.

It’ll also be on Double J on digital radio, National Indigenous Radio Service broadcasters on terrestrial radio and Twitter, Facebook and YouTube across the online world.

The night is hosted by Elaine Crombie (Top Of The Lake, Top End Wedding, Black Comedy) and Steven Oliver (Faboriginal, A Chance Affair, Black Comedy).

“What makes this year so exciting, is that we are able to involve and showcase many more of our First Nation artists & musicians through the virtual platform,” creative director Ben Graetz said.  

“Also to be able to connect regionally and remotely is extremely exciting.”

Producers point out that for the first time, the NIMAs will have a 100% First Nations camera crew for the production and a majority First Nations production crew.

“Here at NITV, the NIMAs always hold a special spot on our events calendar,” NITV channel manager Tanya Orman said.

“In a year that has been particularly challenging, we can’t wait to celebrate the biggest and brightest talents in the First Nations music community and share the experience Australia wide.”

First Nations artists were high profile during the Black Lives Matter rallies, while recent musical achievements include Jessica Mauboy hitting #1 on the ARIA Albums chart with Hilda, and Miiesha’s Nyaaringu chosen a triple j Feature Album and making many critics’ lists for 2020.

Thelma Plum’s Better In Blak was a finalist in the Australian Music Prize while Uncle Archie Roach released his inspirational autobiography and the companion album Tell Me Why.