The National Indigenous Music Awards took place over the weekend in Darwin, Australia. Check out the winning artists here!
The Medicswent home with the most awards - three in total - including Album of the Year, New Talent of the Year and Song of the Year. Gurrumul Yunupingu was named Artist of the Year for the second year in a row, and East Journey claimed NT Film Clip of the Year and the prestigious G.R. Bururrawanga Memorial Award.
Australian band The Medicsare hot right now - with their recent new album, new videos, and now multiple NIMA nominations.
To get a taste of why this band's "rock songs with a melodic pop heart" are catching on fast, download this track, Joseph. The Medics' passion and drive is infectious - turn it up and enjoy.
Thelma Plum has been making some major noise in Australia after winning the triple j Unearthed competition, and now shares some answers to some questions.
The triple j Unearthed competition for the National Indigenous Music Awards in Australia took place last month, and a surprising winner surfaced from its ranks. Seventeen-year-old Thelma Plum took the judges and audience by storm and took the honors of winning the competition and the opportunity to perform at the National Indigenous Music Awards on August 11th in Darwin.
We got a chance to ask some questions of Thelma and she was kind enough to answer.
RPM: What is your name, location and occupation?
Thelma Plum: My name is Thelma Plum, I am from Brisbane and I am a musician.
RPM: How do you do today?
TP: Very well thank you, recovering from a gig last night!
RPM: After winning the triple j Unearthed competition, congratulations by the way, how have things changed for you?
TP: Thanks so much! Things have changed so much - for the better though! I think this was a great thing for my music as it has now opened lots of doors.
RPM: When you started music, did you ever expect such a great reception?
TP: I started when I was very young, so not really!
RPM: Who were your major influences growing up, musical or not?
TP: As cliche as this sounds, my parents. They have always influenced me for the better and inspired me lots with my music! Paul Kelly has also been a huge musical influence to me my whole life.
RPM: Are there any new artists out there that are on your radar?
TP: So many! Brisbane is thriving with musicians at the moment, Steve Grady and Andrew Lowden are two Brisbane artists who are amazing!
RPM: If you could work with any artist, past or present, who would that be?
TP: Paul Kelly! No questions asked!
RPM: What, if any, challenges have you faced as a young Indigenous woman in the music industry?
TP: I don't think I have really faced too many challenges to do with that so much. Though being so young definitely makes it harder to play gigs sometimes as I'm not old enough to get into the venue!
RPM: Do you have any advice for the youth out there looking to enter the world of music?
TP: Just go for it! You are so young, you have nothing to lose!
RPM: Thanks for your time Thelma!
Watch: Thelma Plum - singing her new untitled song
The 2012 NIMA finalists were announced this week with the awards ceremony set to take place August 11, 2012, in Darwin, Australia.
The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) celebrate Australia's most outstanding Indigenous musical artists, from "the Top End to Tasmania." Young newcomers The Medics have scored three nominations, with multiple noms also going to Troy Cassar-Daley, Busby Marou, Gurrumul Yunupunguand Impossible Odds.
Here are the highlights of this year's finalists:
National Artist of the Year
The Black Arm Band
Gurrumul Yunupingu
Jessica Mauboy
Busby Marou
Troy Cassar-Daley
National Album of the Year
Ngambala Wiji Li-Wunungu – Together We Are Strong - Shellie Morris and the Borroloola Songwomen
Winanjjara - Warren H Williams and the Warumungu Songmen
Watch the video for National Song of the Year finalist Song of Arnhem Land, by East Journey:
RPM Records
Revolutions Per Minute is a global new music platform, record label, and boutique agency for Indigenous music culture. RPM’s mission is to build a visionary community of Indigenous artists and to introduce Indigenous music to new audiences across Turtle Island and around the world. Our main site, RPM.fm, has featured the work of more than 500 Indigenous artists and shared their music across our social networks of more than 275,000 followers.
RPM Records is the first of its kind: a label for contemporary, cross-genre Indigenous music, run by Indigenous people. Selected by The FADER as one of “5 New Canadian Record Labels The Entire World Should Know”, RPM Records artists include Ziibiwan, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Exquisite Ghost, and Mob Bounce.
