Central Coast producer Ninajirachi takes home $50,000 prize for glitchy, explosive electronic album debut.
Ninajirachi has won the 21st SoundMerch Australian Music Prize (AMP) with I Love My Computer, taking home $50,000 and joining previous winners including Kankawa Nagarra, RVG, King Stingray and Genesis Owusu.
Australia’s most prestigious award recognising creative accomplishments of Australian musicians went to the Central Coast producer for her debut album of catchy, glitchy, sweet yet explosive electronic tunes.
I Love My Computer drew from Ninajirachi’s upbringing on the Central Coast and the Australian dance music she heard during childhood. Tracks like iPod Touch, Delete and All I Am have garnered millions of streams across platforms, while F**k My Computer – the hard-driving electronic precursor to the album – exploded on the Australian music scene earlier this year.
Ninajirachi – SoundMerch Australian Music Prize Winner
- What: 21st SoundMerch Australian Music Prize winner announced
- Album: I Love My Computer
- Prize: $50,000
- Tour: Kicks off end of November across Australia, New Zealand and USA
SoundMerch AMP Finalists:
- Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer (WINNER)
- Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time
- Floodlights – Underneath
- Mudrat – Social Cohesion
- Bleak Squad – Strange Love
- Tropical Fuck Storm – Fairyland Codex
- Ruby Gill – Some Kind Of Control
- Mia Wray – hi, it’s nice to meet me
- Divide & Dissolve – Insatiable
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Ninajirachi has been making music for over a decade, first drawing industry attention with her track Glass as one of the Unearthed High finalists. With eight ARIA Award nominations already under her belt, the Australian Music Prize adds to fast-growing accolades for the producer who set out to sincerely contribute to the story of Australian music.
Prize Director Scott B Murphy noted the judging process favours originality, and Nina’s album certainly delivers that. He thanked the team of judges who put significant effort into choosing I Love My Computer as the 21st winner from a very strong shortlist that wasn’t easy to narrow down.
Beat’s resident album reviewer Bryget Chrisfield praised I Love My Computer upon its August release.
Wilson previously told Chrisfield she “relishes scavenging for offcuts and imperfect textures within audio junk,” describing herself as someone who “creates music for right this minute.” On her relationship with her instrument, Wilson said: “I spend more time with [my computer] than any one person and I don’t know who I would be without it.”
Chrisfield highlighted standout track London Song, where Wilson outlines her creative process.
“Anything is possible with fingers, eyes, a mouse and a screen.”
She described the bass-boosted drop as badass, comparing it to The Prodigy’s Charly. On controversial single F**k My Computer, Wilson declares: “I wanna fuck/ My computer/ ‘Cause no one in the world knows me better.”
Chrisfield praised “Ninajirachi’s sophisticated sonic identity augmented by endearing, cartoonish charm,” noting her “undeniable international crossover potential.”
She described CSIRAC – an ode to Australia’s first digital computer – as “dark, chipmunk techno” that closes out “with chiming bells and stardust sounds.”
On Wilson’s lyrical approach, Chrisfield quoted: “It sounds like high school front gate smoke in my face/ It sounds like dyed frayed high waist bought at Supré…” – noting how Ninajirachi “utilises words as well as crunchy, layered soundscapes” for “engrossing worldbuilding.”
Finalists for the 21st Australian Music Prize included Folk Bitch Trio with Now Would Be A Good Time, Floodlights with Underneath, Mudrat with Social Cohesion, Bleak Squad with Strange Love, Tropical Fuck Storm with Fairyland Codex, Ruby Gill with Some Kind Of Control, Mia Wray with hi, it’s nice to meet me, and Divide & Dissolve with Insatiable.
Australian Music Prize works via a three-stage judging system with a panel of established musicians, music retailers and music media listening to every eligible album. Each judge must listen to randomly assigned albums in full at least once before filing judgment, and must notify administration of any personal or business connections to artists with eligible albums. Stage two sees judges listen to nominated albums and work with the Prize Director to determine the shortlist of nine albums. Finally, judges meet face-to-face to decide on one winner.
Launched in 2005, Australian Music Prize celebrates two decades of discovering, rewarding and promoting new Australian music of excellence. Inaugural winners were The Drones with Wait Long By the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By. This year’s ceremony was hosted by Ryan Clapham from Dobby, himself a previous shortlisted artist and current judge.
Ninajirachi kicks off touring end of November across Australia, New Zealand and the USA, with Coachella locked in for 2026. From Central Coast bedroom producer to Australian Music Prize winner with millions of streams and a Coachella slot ahead, it’s been quite a trajectory for an artist who simply hoped to contribute to the awesome story of Australian music.
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