Amyl and The Sniffers and Dom Dolla among ARIA winners
William Ton |
Despite performing to more than 30,000 people at two sold-out shows at Madison Square Gardens, Australian DJ and producer Dom Dolla admits he was quite nervous accepting an ARIA award.
“I get quite nervous talking in front of people that aren’t dancing, so forgive me,” he said, after winning the gong for best dance/electronic release.
“I heard that Aussies consume more dance music than anyone per capita on earth, so this is really, really special to me.”
After winning the inaugural global impact award, Dom Dolla, whose real name is Dominic Louis Matheson, gave a tip to young aspiring artists at home.
“Show up every single day and do it because you enjoy it and for no other reason,” he said.
“I played birthday parties, in bowling alleys, and it’s all the f***ing same. Don’t worry about the destination. You’ve just got to really, really enjoy it, and you might be really, really surprised where you end up.”
Indie producer Ninajirachi picked up two awards, including best independent release and breakthrough artist.
“We are independent, and we’re a very small team going up against a lot of big dogs, so I didn’t know if I would win anything tonight,” she said.
Hard rock band Amyl and The Sniffers picked up the first award of the night, best group, before winning best cover art and best rock album.
“We’re a group, even though I want to kill all three of them sometimes. I’m sure it’s likewise,” lead singer Amy Taylor said as the band accepted its first award.
Indigenous artist Thelma Plum won best pop release for her album I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back, telling the audience it felt like a “fever dream” winning the award, having worked in the industry for 13 more than years.
Keli Holiday, one half of the indie dance group Peking Duck, opened the show with his viral song Dancing2, which was awarded best video.
Taylor Swift made an appearance in all but name after winning the best international artist category for the third year running.
Earlier in the evening, the biggest names in the industry and those emerging strutted their the red carpet at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney.
Indie pop darling Missy Higgins, who was up for four gongs, stepped out in a colourful patchwork dress while Ninajriachi, who led the contenders with eight nominations, wore a black lace dress.
Tim Rogers, the frontman of legendary rock band You Am I, dazzled in a purple suit alongside band members Andy Kent, Davey Lane and Russell Hopkinson, who were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Indie techno pop duo 2charm, who also front pop group Cub Sport, turned up in black leather pants, baring their collection of tattoos on their upper body, where they did their red carpet dance to their single, boyfriend.
The biggest prize of the night, album of the year, was led by an overwhelmingly female contingent.
AAP
