Courtney BarnettUbiquitous 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





