Tame Impala, Keith Urban and Hiatus Kaiyote land Grammy nominations

Tame Impala, Keith Urban and Melbourne band Hiatus Kaiyote represented Australia in the Grammy nominations.

Tame Impala’s Lonerism is up for Best Alternative Album, against Vampire Weekend, Nine Inch Nails, Neko Case and The National. Fans of Lonerism include Jon Bon Jovi and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys who said, “Man, I really like that Tame Impala record. It’s a great record. Cool sounds.”

Urban is nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance category for his collaboration with Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift, Highway Don’t Care. He has won three Grammys previously.

Melbourne band Hiatus Kaiyote find themselves in the Best R & B Performance category against Tamar Braxton, Anthony Hamilton, Miguel & Kendrick Lamar, and Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway.

The nod is for Nakamarra (featuring Q Tip) from the album Tawk Tomahawk. The band, fronted by singer-songwriter and one time fire dancer Nai Palm, has just returned from an 18-date tour through the US and Europe. In recent years, among those who exalted their talents were Questlove, Erykah Badu and Taylor McFerrin. Stereogum named them a “Band to Watch.” Influential UK radio broadcaster Gilles Peterson named them Breakthrough Artist of 2013.

Apparently Lorde is an Australian, or so the Grammy organisers seem to think. Her Royals is up for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. Interestingly, she is not up for Best Newcomer.

Previous Australian Grammy winners include Keith Urban, Gotye & Kimbra, AC/DC, Wolfmother, Kylie Minogue, Olivia Newton-John, the Bee Gees and Men At Work.