News October 27, 2015

Violent Soho, Courtney Barnett big winners at Independent Music Awards

The 2014 Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards have just wrapped up their ninth year handing out multiple awards to Violent Soho, as well as one each for Courtney Barnett and Sheppard, and first time nominee Remi.

The Best Independent Artist award went to singer songwriter Courtney Barnett, who also walked away with the Best Independent Single/EP award for her single Avant Gardener.

Remi’s phenomenal breakout year continues as he took out the award for Best Independent Hip Hop Album for his sophomore release Raw X Infinity. He was also the lucky recipient of the Carlton Dry Global Music Grant.

Rob Elder Brand Manager for Carlton Dry said, “I am really excited to learn that Remi has become the recipient of The Carlton Dry Global Music Grant for 2014. Having seen King Gizzard explode over the last year I have no doubt that this grant will go along way in helping Remi take his music to the next level in 2014. Carlton Dry are firm believers that the music scene here in Australia is world class and are proud to support young Aussie artists who are ready to take their music overseas. I can’t wait to see what the next 12 months entail for this very talented Aussie artist.”

Touted as the new global voice of Australian hip hop, Remi’s $50,000 prize money, which is specifically designed to help musicians boost their profile overseas, will help fund his forthcoming European and US touring commitments over the next few months.

Violent Soho were winners in two categories, picking up key awards for their critically acclaimed album Hungry Ghost. The LP was acknowledged by the industry as the Best Independent Album – the award was presented by the awards’ major partner Rdio – and as the Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album.

Brisbane’s Sheppard were presented the award for this year’s Breakthrough Independent Artist while RÜFÜS were awarded Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album for their debut LP Atlas.

Best Independent Dance/Electronica or Club Single went to Peking Duk for their hit single High, and in an award voted for by their Record Label peers, I OH YOU was acknowledged as the Best Independent Label. The label’s roster features DMA’s, Bleeding Knees Club, City Calm Down, the recently-signed Montgomery, DZ Deathrays and the 2014 dual award winning Violent Soho.

The Award for Best Independent Blues and Roots Album went to Dan Sultan for his third full-length studio album Blackbird, which was recorded with award-winning producer Jacquire King in the Nashville studio whose name it bears.

Gurrumul and The Sydney Symphony Orchestra won the Best Independent Classical Album for His Life And Music and Halfway took out their first Carlton Dry Independent Music Award for the Best Independent Country Album for Any Old Love.

Finally, Paul Grabowsky Sextet took out the award in the Best Independent Jazz Album category for The Bitter Suite.

View the complete list of winners below:

Carlton Dry Global Music Grant Winner – Remi

Best Independent Artist – Courtney Barnett

Best Independent Album – Violent Soho – Hungry Ghost

Breakthrough Independent Artist – Sheppard

Best Independent Single/EP – 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