With 2013 drawing to a close, the music awards season is beginning to heat up.
AIR’s Independent Music Awards kicked things off last month, as WAM handed out its Song Of The Year gongs ahead of their annual Awards next month, while Melbourne’s Cherry Bar are even getting in on the action.
Joining the likes of The Age Music Victoria Awards, the 2013 ARIA Awards, and The AMP in announcing their full list of nominees, Tripe J revealed the five artists and their LPs that are up for the coveted Australian Album of the Year category.
Today, the national youth broadcaster expands its nominations pool with the announcement of the Unearthed J Award, which “celebrates the outstanding work of unsigned, up-and-coming Australian musicians,” notes Triple J as it celebrates Aus Music Month.
Awarded every year since 2008, last year’s gong went to swaggering soul-rockers The Rubens, who beat out the likes of Flume, Chance Waters, Kingswood, and Thelma Plum, though all five Aussie acts went on to have a stellar 12 months.
This year, seven Triple J Unearthed acts have been put up for nomination. Leading the pack is Brisbane ‘spy rock’ creator Jeremy Neale, who has just released his debut 6-track EP In Stranger Times and currently touring around the country in support of his new release.
Sydney takes the lion’s share of representation in the Unearthed J Award 2013 nominees, with alt-folk six-piece Tigertown, hip hop duo Jackie Onassis, and producer Wave Racer – the Flume-spruiked, Triple J House Party favourite and The Plot act – all hailing from the NSW capital.
Canberra electro-indie trio Safia are also in the running, having previously taken out Triple J Unearthed’s competition to play a slot on the ACT leg of Groovin’ The Moo. Also scoring a nod from Triple J Unearthed is Melbourne MC Remi, who’s made quite the name for himself and scored several major touring slots as result; including supporting Joey Bada$$ on his debut Aussie tour and playing Falls Festival, The Plot, and NYE On The Hill.
Last but not least is singer-songwriter Dustin Tebbutt, who’s been gaining much radio play with the title track from his recently released EP The Breach. Currently on tour as support for Boy & Bear, Tebbutt’s EP was the result of relocating to Sweden for two years, channeling the wintry sounds and atmospheres of artists like Sigur Rós, Bon Iver, and José Gonzalez.
The Unearthed J Award 2013 nominees follows just after the announcement of the Album of the Year awards, with the likes of Big Scary and The Drones amongst the five nominations for the coveted J Award.
The nominations for the annual Music Video J Awards category are still to be announced, but are expected to be announced in the coming days, (UPDATE 14/11: Triple J have revealed the Music Video of the Year nominations, view the full list here)with the winners of all three major categories to be announced on 22nd November.
The J Awards 2013 follows what’s been a successful year for the national youth broadcaster, which recently revealed they’d be adding a third station to their portfolio; rebranding and relaunching ABC digital radio station Dig Music as a destination for the “30+ discerning music lover.” Designed to deliver music for an older audience that have ‘outgrown’ the youth broadcaster’s music tastes.
The same week as the Dig Music news, Triple J made Aussie chart history, with the ninth edition of the popular Like A Version series becoming the first-ever ARIA #1 for ABC Music and the first compilation release to top the charts in 13 years.
Unearthed J Award 2013 Nominees
Tigertown
Jeremy Neale
Safia
Wave Racer
Dustin Tebbutt
Jackie Onassis
Remi
