Tkay Maidza, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard nominated for UK AIM Independent Music Awards

Two of Australia’s most prominent musical exports are up for awards at this year’s Association of Independent Music (AIM) Independent Music Awards in the UK.

Zimbabwe-Australian rapper, singer and songwriter Tkay Maidza has been nominated for the International Breakthrough Award off the back of last year’s Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2, while standout single ‘Shook’ is also nominated for Best Independent Track.

Maidza, who is currently based in Los Angeles and is gearing up to release a follow-up effort Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3 next month, garnered widespread acclaim for last year’s release, receiving international exposure from the likes of Pitchfork, The Needle Drop, The Fader, i-D and Paper. 

Last Year Was Weird Vol. 2 was also crowned by Rolling Stone Australia as the best Australian record of 2020 at the Rolling Stone Australia Awards earlier this year over the likes of Tame Impala, The Kid LAROI and Lime Cordiale.

Melbourne rock royalty King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have also found themselves up for a gong at this year’s AIM Independent Music Awards, with the six-piece psych unit being nominated for Best Creative Packaging (via Heavenly Recordings and Flightless Recordings) for the sustainably pressed and printed Eco Wax versions of their recent vinyl reissues.

Other artists to be nominated for AIM’s 2021 Independent Music Awards include Arlo Parks (four nominations), Bicep (two nominations) and AJ Tracey (two nominations).

Check out the full list of nominees here.