Over the weekend, under the Larrakia stars, the country’s finest artists were celebrated at the2022 National Indigenous Music Awards.
Island Records Australia would like to congratulate, Baker Boy and BARKAA (via Bad Apples) who took home awards that night.
The night’s big winner was Yolngu man Baker Boy, who took home trophies for the coveted Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for his debut record, Gela.
Five years after he broke out with the empowering ‘Cloud 9’ Baker Boy has become a pop culture phenom, amassing over 55m streams globally. Last year, he received an Order Of Australia (OAM) medal and in October he released Gela – led by the ARIA Gold jam ‘Cool As Hell’. Debuting at #3 on the ARIA Albums Chart, the album was included in prestigious ‘Best Of The Year’ lists (cue: The Guardian Australia, Tone Deaf, NME, Junkee, AU Review, Yamaha, Double J, Beat, Broadsheet) and nominated for the Australian Music Prize. Over summer, the festive ‘My Mind’, featuring G Flip, became Baker Boy’s latest entry in the triple j Hottest 100, while ‘Ride’, with a soulful Yirrmal, was shortlisted for the APRA Song Of The Year.
Producing one of the finest First Nations clips of the year was BARKAA, the Malyangapa and Barkindji woman who was awarded Film Clip of the Year for her banging tune, ‘King Brown,’(out through Bad Apples/Island Records).
On a night full of amazing performances, Bad Apples artist, Birdz along with his cousin Fred Leone, gave a powerful live performance of ‘Bagi-la-m Bargan’. The song is lifted from Birdz second album Legacy which was nominated for Album Of The Year.
Watch Here – https://fb.watch/eOOxZ0OPAE/
Island Records Australia would also like to acknowledge the life and important work of Universal Music recording artist Gurrumul, who was inducted into the NIMA Hall of Fame as a part of the ceremony. He was tributed with a performance by his brother and Saltwater Band co-founder, Manuel Dhurrkay.
Island Records Australia would also like to congratulate all winners and nominees on the night.
2022 National Indigenous Music Awards Winners
Album of the Year
Baker Boy – Gela
New Talent of the Year
Jem Cassar-Daley
Song of the Year
King Stingray – Milkumana
Songwriters: Roy Kellaway / Gotjirringu Jerome Yunipingu
Film Clip of the Year
Barkaa – King Brown
Directed & Produced by: Sonder Films
Executive Producer: Vyva Entertainment
Community Clip of the Year
Numbulwar, NT – Loud & Proud
Directors & Producers: Indigenous Outreach Projects/Matthew Mastratisi /Franceska Fusha / Lesley Phillips/Jordan O’Davis Numbulwar Community & School
Hall of Fame
Gurrumul
Archie Roach Foundation Award
Dobby
