• Courtney Barnett wins ARIA Award for Best Cover Art and leads the nominations
• Tame Impala front man Kevin Parker wins two ARIA Awards for Producer Of The Year and Engineer Of The Year
• An Australian music awards first – Twitter live vote for Best Australian Live Act
Image: ARIA commemorative poster by Blak Douglas
With just seven weeks until the 2015 ARIA Awards Connected By Telstra, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has announced the nominees in all categories, with the winners to be announced at The Star, Sydney on Thursday, November 26, 2015.
The 2015 ARIA Awards Connected By Telstra are supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, Telstra, The Star, David Jones, Qantas and PPCA, and will be broadcast on TEN on Thursday, November 26.
ARIA Chairman and Chairman & CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand & President, Asia, Denis Handlin, said “On behalf of the ARIA board, congratulations to all of today’s winners in the Fine Arts and Artisan categories. It is a truly excellent group of artists and creative contributors that we celebrate today and an outstanding achievement to win an ARIA Award for their particular genre or craft.
“Each of the nominees and winners truly demonstrate the influence and creativity of Australian music. I would also like to congratulate all of the nominees announced today for the ARIAs on 26 November and we look forward to celebrating a wonderful night of awards, music and performances at The Star Sydney.”
ARIA Awards were presented to the recipients of three ARIA Artisan Award categories (Producer Of The Year, Engineer Of The Year and Best Cover Art) and four ARIA Fine Arts Awards categories (Best World Music Album, Best Jazz Album, Best Classical Album and Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album) at the Nominations Event – they became the first of many artists to be acknowledged by their peers for their creative contributions over the last twelve months.
Coutney Barnett’s sometimes i sit and think, and sometimes i just sit
Highlights of the ceremony included Courtney Barnett who won her first ARIA Award in the Best Cover Art category for sometimes i sit and think, and sometimes i just sit, and secured eight nominations in total, making her the most highly nominated artist at the event.
Kevin Parker from Tame Impala added to his ARIA Award collection by winning both Producer Of The Year and Engineer Of The Year ARIA Awards for his work on the band’s latest #1 ARIA album, Currents.
ARIA Chief Executive Officer, Dan Rosen, added “2015 has been another stellar year for Australian music with 14 Australian artists reaching the top of the ARIA Charts and the likes of AC/DC, Courtney Barnett, Iggy Azalea, Tame Impala and Vance Joy featuring strongly on charts and festival stages around the world. This success is celebrated today with the winners of the Fine Arts and Artisan Awards and the announcement of the nominated artists for the 2015 ARIA Awards Connected By Telstra. We can’t wait for the ARIA festivities to begin.”
In an Australian Awards show first, Twitter Australia will be giving fans the opportunity to vote exclusively in the Best Australian Live Act category. Fans can start voting for their favourite Australian Live Act now by heading to Twitter using the following hashtags:
#ARIAS5SOS, #ARIASCourtneyBarnett, #ARIASGangOfYouths, #ARIASHermitude, #ARIASHillTopHoods, #ARIASNickCave, #ARIASPaulKelly, #ARIASSheppard, #ARIASThePreatures, #ARIASVanceJoy
The 2015 ARIA Awards Connected By Telstra will again give Australian music fans the chance to have their say in who takes home an ARIA Award, with four publicly voted awards: Song Of The Year, Best International Act, Best Australian Live Act and Best Video. For more information on the 2015 ARIA Awards Connected By Telstra publicly voted awards, visit ariaawards.com.au/public-voting
2015 ARIA Awards Connected By Telstra | Thursday, November 26, 2015
The Star, Sydney | Broadcast on TEN
The 2015 ARIA Awards Connected By Telstra Nomination Leader Board
EIGHT NOMINATIONS
Courtney Barnett
It was Courtney Barnett’s moment to shine at the 2015 ARIA Nominations Event where she accepted her first ARIA Award for Best Cover Art for the Top 5 ARIA album ‘Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit’. The album, which went #10 on the Billboard Album Charts and #13 on the UK Album Charts, secured nominations in the following categories: Album Of The Year, Best Female Artist, Best Independent Release, Best Rock Album, Breakthrough Artist and the publicly voted categories for Best Australian Live Act and Best Video for the song, ‘Pedestrian At Best’ which was directed by Charlie Ford. ‘Pedestrian At Best’ has been named by Rolling Stone, Spin Magazine, Mashable and Entertainment Weekly as the best song of 2015.
SEVEN NOMINATIONS
Hermitude
Electronic duo, Hermitude celebrate seven ARIA Award nominations with their #1 ARIA Album, ‘Dark Night Sweet Light’ being nominated in the following categories: Album Of The Year, Best Group, Best Independent Release as well as the publicly voted categories for Best Australian Live Act and Best Video for ‘Through The Roof’ Featuring Young Tapz directed by Kess Broekman-Dattner. The album was also nominated in two Artisan Awards categories: Producer Of The Year for Luke Dubber and Angus Stuart and Engineer Of The Year for Mitch Kenny.
Vance Joy
Vance Joy’s star continues to rise both locally and internationally. His Platinum-selling #1 ARIA Album, ‘Dream Your Life Away’ and Platinum-selling single ‘Georgia’ have garnered Joy seven ARIA Award nominations including Album Of The Year, Best Male Artist, Best Independent Release, Best Pop Release and three publicly voted categories for Best Australian Live Act, Song of the Year and Best Video (directed by Luci Schroder) for ‘Georgia’. Vance Joy’s single ‘Riptide’ set a record on the ARIA Singles Chart, becoming the single to have spent the most weeks in the Top 100 in ARIA Charts’ history.
SIX NOMINATIONS
Tame Impala
After winning Best Rock Album and Album Of The Year ARIAs at the 2013 ARIA Awards for their album ‘Lonerism’, Tame Impala’s winning streak continues in 2015 with Kevin Parker taking out both the Producer Of The Year and Engineer Of The Year ARIA awards in the Artisan Awards categories for Tame Impala’s #1 ARIA Album, ‘Currents’. The album is also nominated in the following categories: Album Of The Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album and Best Pop Release for their single ‘Let It Happen’.
FIVE NOMINATIONS
Gang Of Youths
Gang of Youths’ debut album ‘The Positions’ debuted at #5 on the ARIA Album Chart in May 2015. As well as earning them Feature Album on triple j, FBI and Triple M, the album has also scored ARIA Award nominations in the following categories: Best Rock Album, Breakthrough Artist and the publicly voted category, Best Australian Live Act. Nathan Johnson was nominated for Best Artwork and Adrian Breakspear and Peter Holz were nominated in the Engineer Of The Year category for their work on the single, ‘Radioface’.
Jarryd James
Brisbane singer songwriter, Jarryd James’ double-platinum #2 ARIA single, ‘Do You Remember’ has secured the talented newcomer five ARIA Award nominations in the following categories: Best Male Artist, Breakthrough Artist, Best Pop Release, Best Independent Release and the publicly voted category, Song Of The Year.
FOUR NOMINATIONS
Daniel Johns
Vocalist, composer, guitarist, pianist and producer Daniel Johns released one of the most anticipated debuts this year in Australian music ‘Talk’ which reached #2 on the ARIA Album charts. The album was launched with two sold out shows at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Vivid Festival where Daniel was hailed as one of the most exciting artists in the country. Daniel Johns has received four ARIA Award nominations including Best Male Artist and the publicly voted category, Best Video for the single ‘Aerial Love’ that was directed by Lorin Askill. The album also received nominations in the Artisan award categories for Best Cover Art (Daniel Johns, Aref and Peter Salmon-Lomas) and Producer Of The Year (Daniel Johns and Damn Moroda) for the single ‘Preach’.
THREE NOMINATIONS
Conrad Sewell
Conrad Sewell’s Platinum-selling, ARIA #1 single, ‘Start Again’ has reigned in three ARIA Award nominations for the talented singer songwriter including: Best Pop Release, Breakthrough Artist and the publicly voted category, Song Of The Year.
Flight Facilities
Flight Facilities’ Gold-selling, #3 ARIA debut album ‘Down To Earth’ featuring Brisbane’s Emma Louise, New York’s soulful comedian Reggie Watts, rapper Bishop Nehru, Melbourne’s Owl Eyes, and Australia’s national treasure Kylie Minogue has received three ARIA Award nominations in the following categories: Album Of The Year and Best Dance Release, as well as Timothy Lovett being nominated for Best Cover Art.
Lee Kernaghan
2015 marked the 100th Anniversary of the ANZAC’s landing at Gallipoli. In honour of this landmark occasion, former Australian of the Year and music legend, Lee Kernaghan, teamed up with a host of local artists and musicians to create the ARIA #1 Album, ‘Spirit of the Anzacs’, which held the top spot on the ARIA Album charts for four consecutive weeks. The album is nominated in three categories including: Best Country Album and the publicly voted Best Video for ‘Spirit Of The Anzac’s’ directed by Duncan Toombs. Long-time producer and collaborator Garth Porter received a nomination in the Producer Of The Year category.
Paul Kelly Presents The Merri Soul Sessions
Multiple ARIA Award winner and ARIA Hall Of Fame Inductee, Paul Kelly’s latest album ‘Paul Kelly Presents The Merri Soul Sessions’, a soul album featuring the likes of Clairy Browne, Vika and Linda Bull, Dan Sultan, Kira Puru and himself has secured three nominations in the following categories: Best Adult Contemporary Album, Best Independent Release and the publicly voted, Best Australian Live Act category.
The Preatures
2013 ARIA Award nominated rock band, The Preatures’ debut album, ‘Blue Planet Eyes’ has garnered the group three ARIA Award nominations: Best Group, Best Rock Album and the publicly voted Best Australian Live Act category.
Sia
After scooping 4 ARIA Awards in 2014, Sia returns in 2015 with three nominations for her double platinum single, ‘Elastic Heart’ in the following categories: Best Female Artist, Best Pop Release and the publicly voted category, Song Of The Year.
The Waifs
One of Australia’s most loved touring bands, The Waifs returned in 2015 with their seventh album, ‘Beautiful You’ which has earned them three ARIA Awards nominations for Best Blues And Roots Album, as well as Nick Didia being nominated in the Artisan Awards categories for Producer Of The Year and Engineer Of The Year.
TWO NOMINATIONS
5 Seconds Of Summer – Best Group and Best Australian Live Act (publicly voted category), Alison Wonderland – Best Dance Release and Best Video (publicly voted category), Australian Brandenburg Orchestra – Best Classical Album and Engineer Of The Year, Meg Mac – Best Female Artist and Breakthrough Artist, Peking Duk – Best Dance Release and Song Of The Year (publicly voted category), Shane Nicholson – Best Country Album and Best Video (publicly voted category), The Veronicas – Song Of The Year (publicly voted category) and Best Video (publicly voted category)
ONE NOMINATION
#1 Dads – Best Male Artist, AC/DC – Best Group, Allan Browne Quartet – Best Jazz Album, Amy Dickson – Best Classical Album, Baby et Lulu – Best World Music Album, Barney McAll – Best Jazz Album, Beat The Drum – Celebrating 40 Years Of triple j – Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album, Bondi Hipsters – Best Comedy Release, Born Lion – Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album, Buddy Goode – Best Comedy Release, C.W. Stoneking – Best Blues And Roots Album, Calvin Harris – Best International Artist, Catherine Britt – Best Country Album, Christine Anu – Best World Music Album, Citizen Kay – Best Urban Album, Dead Letter Circus – Best Rock Album, Delta Goodrem – Best Video (publicly voted category), Ed Kuepper – Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album, Ed Sheeran – Best International Artist, Flume – Best Video (publicly voted category), Foo Fighters – Best International Artist, Genevieve Lacey / James Crabb – Best World Music Album, Giggle and Hoot – Best Children’s Album, Grace – Song Of The Year (publicly voted category), Grigoryan Brothers – Best Classical Album, Gurrumul – Best World Music Album, Guy Sebastian – Best Male Artist, Hayden James – Best Dance Release, Hiatus Kaiyote – Best Urban Album, Hilltop Hoods – Best Australian Live Act (publicly voted category), Hozier – Best International Artist, Iggy Azalea – Song Of The Year (publicly voted category), In Hearts Wake – Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album, James Bay – Best International Artist, Jessica Mauboy – Best Female Artist, John Farnham and Olivia Newton John – Best Adult Contemporary Album, Joseph Tawadros – Best World Music Album, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Best Jazz Album, King Parrot – Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album, Mark Ronson – Best International Artist, Marlisa – Song Of The Year (publicly voted category), Marlon Williams – Best Blues And Roots Album, Matt Okine – Best Comedy Release, Meghan Trainor – Best International Artist, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra / Nigel Westlake – Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album, Mustered Courage – Best Country Album, Nathaniel – Song Of The Year (publicly voted category), Nick Cave – Best Australian Live Act (publicly voted category), Northlane – Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album, Oh Mercy – Best Adult Contemporary Album, One Direction – Best International Artist, Opera Australia – Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album, Paul Grabowsky – Best Jazz Album, Play School – Best Children’s Album, Pond – Best Cover Art, Rhys Muldoon – Best Children’s Album, Ronny Chieng – Best Comedy Release, Rüfüs – Best Dance Release, Sally Whitwell – Best Classical Album, Sam Moran – Best Children’s Album, Sam Smith – Best International Artist, Sammy J & Randy – Best Comedy Release, Sarah McKenzie – Best Jazz Album, Seth Sentry – Best Urban Album, Sheppard – Best Australian Live Act (publicly voted category), Szymon – Best Adult Contemporary Album, Tamara-Anna Cislowska – Best Classical Album, Taylor Swift – Best International Artist, The Black Sorrows – Best Blues And Roots Album, The Meeting Tree – Best Urban Album, The Water Diviner (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album, The Wiggles – Best Children’s Album, Thy Art Is Murder – Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album, Tim Rogers & The Bamboos – Best Blues And Roots Album, Troy Cassar-Daley – Best Country Album, Tuka – Best Urban Album
Source: ARIA