Courtney Barnett Cleans Up Big-Time At 2015 AIR Awards

Ubiquitous Aussie artist and object of pretty much everyone's affection Courtney Barnett has emerged the big winner from today's Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) Awards — in absentia — with three individual gongs as well as a nod for her well-regarded record label, Milk! Records.

Barnett picked up her wins (physically so via partner Jen Cloher) in the category of Best Independent Single Or EP (for Depreston), Best Independent Album (for Sometimes I Sit & Think, & Sometimes I Just Sit), and the granddaddy prize of Best Independent Artist, in which she beat out the esteemed likes of Chet Faker, Hermitude, Vance Joy and #1 Dads. Milk! Records — which Barnett founded in 2012 — received recognition as this year's Best Independent Label.

Also on the winners list this year were #1 Dads, who impressed the judges sufficiently to be named this year's Breakthrough Independent Artist; Seth Sentry, whose acclaimed LP Strange New Past picked up the title of Best Independent Hip Hop Album; veteran and icon Frank Yamma, picking up Best Independent Country Album for his recent full-length Uncle; and C.W. Stoneking, with Gon' Boogaloo emerging as this year's Best Independent Blues & Roots Album.

The ever-prolific King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard saw one of their many albums — in this case, I'm In Your Mind Fuzz — earn the title of Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy Or Punk Album, while Flight Facilities' lauded LP Down To Earth was this year's Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album in AIR's estimation. Hayden James brought the beats with Something About You, picking up Best Independent Dance, Electronica Or Club Single, while pianist and composer Barney McAll released the year's Best Independent Jazz Album in Mooroolbark. Last, but not least, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra picked up recognition for their release Brandenburg Celebrates, which earned Best Independent Classical Album stripes at this year's ceremony.

See those who were nominated here, and the winners' list below.

2015 air awards — winners

best independent artist

Courtney Barnett

best independent album

Courtney Barnett — Sometimes I Sit & Think, & Sometimes I Just Sit

best independent single or ep

Courtney Barnett — Depreston

breakthrough independent artist of the year

#1 Dads

best independent hip hop album

Seth Sentry — Strange New Past

best independent country album

Frank Yamma — Uncle

best independent blues & roots album

C.W. Stoneking — Gon' Boogaloo

best independent hard rock, heavy or punk album

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard — I'm In Your Mind Fuzz

best independent dance, electronica or club single

Hayden James — Something About You

best independent jazz album

Barney McAll — Mooroolbark

best independent classical album

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra — Brandenburg Celebrates

best independent label

Milk! Records