East Journey finalists in 2015 NIMAs

17 July 2015

East Journey on stage at last year's Mahbilil Festival in Kakadu. PHOTO: MARK ROY

ARNHEM Land band East Journey will join Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan, maverick hip-hop artist Briggs and former triple j Unearthed NIMA winner Thelma Plum at this year’s National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) on Saturday 25 July.

East Journey featuring Yothu Yindi is in the running for Song of the Year, along with Dan Sultan, Thelma Plum with two songs, Briggs and Emma Donovan. Album of the Year could go to Frank Yamma, East Journey ft Yothu Yindi, Briggs or Emma Donovan. This is certainly one of NIMA's more curious years.

Film Clip of the Year is always a tough decision and this year is no exception with a plethora of entries whittled down to these finalists; Dan Sultan for Dirty Ground, East Journey ft Yothu Yindi Song of Arnhem Land (Salas/Moore Mix), Radical Son Human Behaviour, Briggs Bad Apples and Parlingarri by B2M (Bathurst to Melville).

Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan, Thelma Plum and Briggs are just some of the first-rate finalists in the Artist of the Year category at the National Indigenous Music Awards to be held in Darwin on 25 July.

The same applies to Cover Art of the Year; all feature memorable covers. Frank Yamma’s Uncle, Song of Arnhem Land the single cover by East Journey ft. Yothu Yindi, Cause N Affect by Radical Son and Sheplife by Briggs all feature remarkable artwork.

The short list for New Talent of the Year is always a highly anticipated one. This year three acts have a long road ahead of them but a NIMA win could see them projected further up the path. In the running for a second year is Central Desert’s Tjintu Desert Band, last year’s triple j Unearthed NIMA winner hip hop artist Philly (Phillip Murray) and the wild card Lucky Luke.

Anticipated with as much interest is the annual triple j Unearthed NIMA Competition winner. Zane Francis a young artist from the S.E. QLD border region of Tweed Heads/Coolangatta follows in the footsteps of Thelma Plum, Robbie Miller and Philly.

The 22-year-old says he is stoked to be performing his winning track live at the NIMAs.

"I never would've thought in a million years that my little track would deliver me such amazing global feedback and now this incredible opportunity to perform at the NIMAs," Zane said.

"My performance at NIMA will be the first time ‘Acclimate' has been performed live and I seriously couldn't think of a better place for it to occur."

Music Director Dave Ruby Howe says triple j is "overjoyed" to crown Zane Francis.

"He earned it on the back of his striking tune ‘Acclimate’," Dave says. "While the song only lasts for a shade over two minutes, they’re nonetheless breathtaking with Zane’s rich voice packing a devastatingly powerful emotional punch that grips your ears from the first listen and doesn’t let go."

MusicNT & NIMAs Executive Director Mark Smith says the awards acknowledge the significant and critical role music plays in spreading positive messages throughout Indigenous communities.

"The Community Clip of the Year Award is one they encourage everyone to check, and acknowledge the work happening across remote communities," he said.

This year’s line-up mirrors the confluence of genres represented by 2015 finalists. Gurrumul premieres ‘live’ songs from his new The Gospel album, the largely unknown yet set to be a highlight performance by The Painted Ladies featuring The Medics; the highly anticipated live one-hour performance of The Genesis Project by East Journey featuring Yothu Yindi along with the inimitable Frank Yamma and NT local favourites from the Tiwi Islands B2M.

The last act to join the bill is the legendary Central Australian band Blekbela Mujik. Broadly considered to be one of the most influential of Australia’s Aboriginal rock bands they have had decades of ‘live’ experience and will most certainly blow the audience away as they celebrate 30 years rocking out across the country.

“This years finalists offer a diverse breath of fresh air within the mainstream music industry," Mark says.

"They integrate a rich cultural heritage that illustrates an intimate connection to place and a respect for environment that resonates with the wider community. NIMAs is fast becoming known as the best event in the country for cross-cultural engagement; this is something we can all be very proud of".

National Artist of the Year

Jessica Mauboy
Thelma Plum
Dan Sultan
Briggs

National Song of the Year

How Much Does Your Love Cost? – Thelma Plum
Young In Love – Thelma Plum
Bad Apples – Briggs
Dirty Ground – Dan Sultan
Black Woman – Emma Donovan

National Album of the Year

Sheplife – Briggs
Dawn – Emma Donovan and Putbacks
Uncle – Frank Yamma
The Genesis Project – East Journey featuring Yothu Yindi
National New Talent of the Year
Philly
Lucky Luke
Tjintu Desert Band

National Cover Art of the Year

Song of Arnhem Land – East Journey ft Yothu Yindi
Cause N Affect – Radical Son
Uncle – Frank Yamma
Sheplife – Briggs

National Film Clip of the Year

Bad Apples – Briggs
Song of Arnhem Land (Salas/Moore Mix) – East Journey
Human Behaviour – Radical Son
Dirty Ground – Dan Sultan
Parlingarri – B2M (Bathurst to Melville)