National Indigenous Music Awards finalists announced

Gurrumul, Dan Sultan, Briggs and Jessica Mauboy have all picked up nominations for this year’s National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs).

ARIA nominees Shellie Morris, Mauboy, Sultan and Gurrumul are up for the Artist of the Year award, while releases from Sultan and Gurrumul are up against Busby Marou’s latest LP for National Album of the Year.

triple j favourite Briggs, who recently penned a track with Gurrumul, The Hunt, is up for New Talent of the Year alongside East Journey and Tjintu Desert Band.

Sultan takes the lion’s share of nominations with five gongs (Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Cover of the Year, Film Clip of the Year), followed by Gurrumul who takes out four (Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year where he’s nominated twice) and Busy Marou and Jimblah who are both up for three.

22-year-old hip hop artist Philly was announced as triple j Unearthed’s NIMAs winner yesterday. The award was previously won by Thelma Plum and Robbie Miller.

“This year’s short-list of finalists exemplify the fact that Indigenous musicians continue to make a mark on the mainstream," said Mark Smith, MusicNT Executive Director. "Most of, if not all names in the national categories require no further explanation. Simply stating the names Jessica, Dan and Gurrumul is enough. Well done to these wonderful artists and to those emerging acts destined to break through following in the footsteps of those that go before them.”

Now in its third year, the MusicNT initiative will take place at Darwin’s George’s Green Amphitheatre on Friday August 15.

The announcement of the NIMAs nominees was postponed last week due to news of the tragic death of Gavin Jones on July 14.

For more information on the NIMAs and to book tickets, head to the official website.

Full List of finalists below

National Artist of the Year

• Jessica Mauboy
• Dan Sultan
• Gurrumul Yunupingu
• Shellie Morris

National Song of the Year

• My Second Mistake, Busby Marou
• Marilitja, Gurrumul
• It’s Like Love, Dewayne Everettsmith
• March, Jimblah
• The Same Man, Dan Sultan
• Get You Out Of Here, Busby Marou

National Album of the Year

• Dan Sultan - Blackbird
• Gurrumul His Life and Music with Sydney Symphony Orchestra (Live)
• Gurrumul His Life and Music Studio album with string quartet album
• Farewell Fitzroy - Busby Marou

National New Talent of the Year 

• East Journey
• Briggs
• Tjintu Desert Band

National Cover Art of the Year 

• Blackbird - Dan Sultan

Cover Art: Ken Taylor

• Beneath the Sun - Tom E Lewis

Cover Art: Michael Hohnen

• Phoenix, Jimblah

Cover Art: Sarah McCloskey & Dale Harrison

National Film Clip of the Year

• Bright Lights Big City - East Journey Director/Film Maker Naina Sen Executive Producer Susan Sandery

• Brotherman - Jimblah Directed by Brendan J Doyle Produced by Navid Bahadori, Natalie Croker

• Under Your Skin - Dan Sultan Directed and Produced by Stephen Page

Community Clip of the Year [now National]

•  Bush Food is Really Really Good [Manmoyi, NT]  Directed by Paul Williams / Terrah Guymala Performed by The Kids of Manmoyi and Nabarlek Band Members Funded by Department of Health

• KNX Respect [Kununurra, WA] Indigenous Hip Hop Projects (IHHP) Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service (OVAHS)

• Fly Back Home [Ampilatwatja, NT] Desert Sevenz Desert Pea Media

• E Girlz  [Wutunugurra] Desert Pea Media