AIR AWARDS WINNERS 2008

The winners of the 2008 Jagermeister AIR Awards are:

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Gurrumul

Best New Independent Artist
Best Independent Release
Best Independent Blues & Roots Release

Gurrumul [his traditional name] is a member of the Gumatj clan of north east Arnhemland and it is the songs and stories of the Gumatj clan that Gurrumul sublimely adapts into contemporary song styles. At the age of 15 he was identified as a young and extremely talented multi-instrumentalist and joined the ARIA Award winning band Yothu Yindi where he played an integral role until 1992. Currently a member of the hugely talented Saltwater Band he has contributed greatly to the Indigenous music industry which was recognised again this year at the NT Indigenous Music Awards where he was awarded the Album of the Year and Song of the Year 2008.

Recently he has earned the attention of the mainstream music scene in Australia winning two ARIA Awards, a stack of deadly awards, three NT Music Awards to add to his three AIR Awards. His debut self-titled album Gurrumul released in February 2008 has received exceptional worldwide reviews and recenty achieved  platinum status in Australia, remarkable considering Gurrumul is a non-english album released by an independent label. Gurrumul has come onto the international music industry radar where he has received an abundance of media interested and recently the album entered the European World Music Chart at number 8 – September 2008.

The Herd - Summerland

Best Independent Artist
Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Release

The Herd formed in 2000 when the collective behind the independent Sydney-based record label Elefant Traks decided to collaborate on a release rather than work as individual producers and MCs.
In winter 2007 The Herd focused on their most ambitious album to date – returning to the Central Coast A-frame house where they’d written much of their previous albums - for an extended period of writing. The resulting album, Summerland, was completed in early 2008, and features the acclaimed singles ‘The King is Dead’.  The Herd have a reputation as one of the country’s best live acts. An unconventional set-up, they perform with two MCs, two singers, an acoustic and an electric guitar, bass, piano accordion, clarinet, laptops and MPC.

Taking out the coveted award for Best Independent Artist coincides with The Herd's self managed label Elefant Traks celebrating it's tenth birthday over weekend and topped off a magnificent evening for the 8 piece collective after they gave a showstopping performance and took out the award for Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album.

Best Independent Hard Rock/Punk Release: Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours

Eddy Current: “Eddy Current Suppression Ring started around 4 years ago in the office of my old work… We recorded some songs, put out a 7” and played a show. People liked it more than we thought and when people like what you do and you like what you do, it makes sense to keep doing it. So we played more, recorded more, put out some 7”s and an album, made some friends, played some festivals and toured interstate and overseas. During this time we managed to write a bunch of new songs...

Our new LP Primary Colours was recorded in early August last year in Melbourne on our trusty 1/2 inch 8-track tape machine with the help of our pal, Lachlan Wooden… A few songs were recorded late on the Friday night, with the rest on the Saturday. We even went in and did some ‘overdubs’ on the guitar, the piano and the synthesizer on the Sunday… We then toured the US for three weeks and came back and I mixed it over the first half of the summer in my bedroom”

Eddy Current Suppression Ring's DIY attitude, lo-fi production techniques and cranking live garage rock and punk shows have seen them build a manic   cult following over the past 4 years but didn't have a huge impact nationally until they released their second album Primary Colours. Track after track of great Rock, hooks and energy made them a crowd favorite at the AIR Awards and a popular choice for Hard Rock/Punk Album of the hear.

Best Independent Country Release: Bec Willis - Bec Willis

Despite stiff competition from fellow nominees The Noll Brothers, Davidson Brothers, The Flood and Felicity Urqhuart, Bec's wonderful self titled debut album, produced by Kasey and Bill Chambers took out the award for Australia's Best Independent Country Album. The album focusses on Bec's emotional honesty and pop songwriting sensibilities. Bec wasn't able to attend the event at the corner hotel but due to giving birth to a bouncing baby boy just weeks before but her manager Paul Minshull was on hand to accept the award on her behalf.

Best Independent Jazz Release: Tina Harrod - Worksongs

Tina Harrod’s stunning second solo album Worksongs proves she is equally at home channelling the power and emotion of jazz greats like Nina Simone and Billie Holiday as she is in more familiar soul terrain. And she does so with such impeccable intuition and raw feeling that it takes your breath away.

Tina and her stellar band bring the same approach to the varied collection of songs on this album – from the excellent jazz spin on Stevie Wonder’s ‘Big Brother’ to her beautiful rendition of Nick Drake’s ‘Riverman’ or her sophisticated and revelatory take on Portishead’s ‘Glory Box’. Two of her own songs from her acclaimed debut album Shacked up in Paradise are also reinvigorated here as are a definitive collection of jazz classics such as ‘Comes Love’, ‘Round Midnight’ and ‘Feelin’ Good’.

Best Independent Dance / Electronic Release: Peret Mako - The Devil Is In The Detail

Recorded earlier this millennium, Sydney producer PERET MAKOs debut album The Devils In The Detail inexplicably sat on a shelf for years. Over that time it has gained near legendary status amongst Australian producers and DJs when word spread from the few people lucky enough to hear it. Finally this amazing record gets a full release!
Peret Mako's music is highly textured, crafted with a love of detail and subtlety. Fans of artists such as Matthew Herbert (who is a fan himself) and Henrik Schwarz will appreciate this rich, orchestral album - like Ravel and Mingus having a sound system battle over what oceans sound like. The influences of hip hop, techno, jazz and deep house, amongst many others, are woven into a highly personalised style. The sounds cascade over each other causing the album to reveal itself over multiple listens; the details coming to life under the warm hug of a nice set of headphones!

The album was selected as best Dance/Electronic album by an esteemed panel of Australia's leading dance media and promoters. It beat out more fancied artists Grafton Primary and Sneaky Sound System as well as label mates Jamie Lloyd and Theatre of Disco.


Best Independent Single/EP: The Getaway Plan - Where The City Meets The Sea

2008 has been a wild ride for The Getaway Plan. Since the release of their debut, acclaimed album 'Other Voices, Other Rooms' and this breakthrough hit single 'Where The City Meets The Sea', these four Melbourne boys have sold out two national tours, become one of the most played Australian acts on radio and TV, and made themselves a household name with their unique brand of alternative rock.

No one could have predicted the attention the band would draw upon the release of the album's second single 'Where The City Meets The Sea'. It's anthemic chorus (and as the rest of their album shows these boys can have no problem writing a damn fine chorus) made the song the standout independent single of the year.