The 2021 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) have partnered with triple j and its First Nations show, Blak Out, to create a two-hour radio special in place of the live event that was scheduled to take place in Darwin.
The reimagined event, which will go ahead on Sunday, November 14, will feature exclusive performances as we celebrate one of the biggest years in First Nations music.
This year’s nominees are led by Sydney’s The Kid LAROI, who now boasts seven weeks at #1 in the US, Baker Boy, who is about to drop his debut album Gela, and 2020 J Award nominee Sycco, each with three nominations.
Also nominated are two-time finalists Birdz, Miiesha and Tia Gostelow, plus first-time NIMA nominees Budjerah, J-MILLA, King Stingray, JK-47 and Chasing Ghosts.
The awards will be emceed by host of triple j’s Blak Out — and proud Yuin man — Nooky, who said in a press statement; “I’m pumped to be hosting the NIMAs and celebrating the mob. It’s been a big year for Blak music and it’s mad we get to celebrate it here on Blak Out. It’s the two-hours of power special and I’m G’d up. Let’s go!”
2020-21 has certainly been a massive year for First Nations artists: from The Kid LAROI’s meteoric rise to global stardom, to Miiesha’s ARIA Award for Best Soul/R&B Release, to JK-47’s triple j Unearthed J Award and Sycco’s QMA Award for Song of The Year.
Meanwhile, established artists continue to break new ground, with Jessica Mauboy taking up a role as a Coach on The Voice Australia and Troy Cassar-Daley using music as his medicine to tackle mental health in his 11th studio album, The World Today.
You can tune in to triple j, Double J and triple j Unearthed to catch the NIMAs all from 5 – 7pm on Sunday, November 14.
Check out the list of finalists below.
Artist of the Year
- Sycco
- Birdz
- Miiesha
- Baker Boy
- The Kid LAROI
- Jessica Mauboy
Album of the Year
- Tia Gostelow – Chrysalis
- The Kid LAROI – F*ck Love
- Leah Flanagan – Colour by Number
- JK-47 – Made For This
- Benny Walker – Chosen Line
Song of the Year
- Baker Boy, Dallas Woods, Sampa The Great – Better Days
- Birdz – Bagi-la-m Bargan
- Miiesha – Damaged
- The Kid LAROI – Without You
- Sycco –Dribble
New Talent of the Year
- J-MILLA
- Beddy Rays
- King Stingray
- Budjerah
- Chasing Ghosts
Film Clip of the Year
- Budjerah – Higher
- Baker Boy – Ride ft. Yirrmal
- Troy Cassar-Daley – Back On Country
- Sycco – My Ways
- Tia Gostelow – Two Lovers
Community Clip of the Year
- Kakadu Collective and Victor Rostron – Mayali
- Dunghutti community in South West Rocks – Fig
- Tree Mob – ‘Barrunba (Dreaming)’
- Gunbalanya School – Stories of the Land
- Gunbalanya School – Talk About Emotions
- Students of Peppimenarti School – Stand Strong
Indigenous Language Award of the Year
- Guwanbal Gurruwiwi and Netanela Mizrahii – The Djari Project
- Shellie Morris and Jason Durrurrnga – Dharuk Gurtha
- Garrangali Band – Tongues of the Fire
- Stuart Joel Nuggett – I Am That Man/Ngaaya-Baaya
- Stuart Joel Nuggett – Monsoon/Kuyubulu
Read more stories from The Latch and subscribe to our email newsletter.
