Are we surprised, though?
The 2019 AIR Awards has come and gone for another year. Taking place in Adelaide, the awards celebrated the music triumphs offered up by independent artists and record labels in the past year.
Courtney Barnett took home the Best Independent Artist title this year, in addition to sharing Best Independent Album alongside the late Gurrumul. Barnett’s most recent record, Tell Me How You Really Feel, was released in May 2018.
Melbourne’s own Chapter Music won the coveted Best Independent Label award, giving the team a handy $20,000 digital marketing package. Attendees were also greeted with performances by Mojo Juju, Laura Jean, B Wise and Adelaide natives West Thebarton.
Check out the full list of winners below:
Best Independent Label — Chapter Music
Best Independent Artist — Courtney Barnett
Best Independent Album or EP — Courtney Barnett (Tell Me How You Really Feel) and Gurrumul (Djarimirri)
Best Independent Single — Mojo Juju (‘Native Tongue’)
Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year — G Flip
Best Independent Hip Hop Album — B Wise (Area Famous)
Best Independent Country Album — Beccy Cole (Lioness)
Best Independent Blues and Roots Album — Emily Wurramara (Milyakburra)
Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album — DZ Deathrays (Bloody Lovely)
Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album or EP — Confidence Man (Confident Music For Confident People)
Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single — What So Not (‘Beautiful feat. Winona Oak’)
Best Independent Jazz Album — Jonathan Zwartz (Animarum)
Best Independent Classical Album — Grigoryan Brothers/Adelaide Symphony Orchestra/Benjamin Northey (Bach Concertos)
Outstanding Achievement Award — Gerarda McKenna
