Pop duo Lime Cordiale, one-man band Tame Impala and hip-hop powerhouse Sampa the Great are set for a promising awards season, with each raking in multiple Aria nominations in a year that has been anything but ordinary.
The music industry has taken a huge hit as coronavirus restrictions have forced the cancellation of tours, live shows, festivals and even cash-in-hand pub gigs. But the Australian Recording Industry Association says this year’s awards ceremony will still be one to look forward to.
The nominees were revealed on Tuesday morning virtually for the first time, via YouTube. The winners will be announced at a ceremony next month, although it will be a much more subdued event than the usual lavish affair. While it will still be presented on stage at Sydney’s Star casino and broadcast live to air, there will be no physical audience and no red carpet.
Lime Cordiale, comprised of brothers Oli and Louis Leimbach, lead the nominees, having scored a total of eight nominations, including song of the year for their 2019 single Robbery, which was No 7 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 this year.
For the coveted public-voted prize, they are up against last year’s multi award-winner Tones and I’s Never Seen the Rain, along with tracks from Mallrat, 5 Seconds of Summer, Flume and Vera Blue, Hilltop Hoods’ collaboration with Illy and Ecca Vandal, Ruel, Sam Fischer, the Jungle Giants, and the Rubens.
Lime Cordiale are also up for album of the year for 14 Steps to a Better You, along with Tame Impala’s The Slow Rush, Sampa the Great’s The Return, Jessica Mauboy’s Hilda, and DMA’s The Glow (I Oh You).
Tame Impala had the second most nominations with seven, while Sampa the Great had six.
Sampa the Great was nominated for the award for best female artist, facing stiff competition with Sia, Amy Shark, Miiesha and Tones and I.
Neo-soul singer Miiesha, who was awarded best new talent at the 2020 National Indigenous Music awards in August, has had a strong showing in her first Arias, with five nominations including breakthrough artist for her album Nyaaringu – “what happened” in Pitjantjatjara – which came out at the end of May.
The award for male artist of the year, meanwhile, sees beloved music industry veteran Archie Roach up against Guy Sebastian, Ruel, The Kid Laroi and Troye Sivan.
The award for best group is a male dominated affair, with Lime Cordiale and Tame Impala featuring again, along with DMA’s, 5 Seconds of Summer and the Teskey Brothers.
Best pop release sees Lime Cordiale and Tame Impala again in competition, this time with Amy Shark, Sia, and Troye Sivan.
Sampa the Great makes another appearance in the line-up for best hip-hop release, alongside Baker Boy, Briggs, Illy and The Kid Laroi.
There were a couple of curveballs in the less high-profile categories, including an entry from Megan Washington in the comedy nominations for Just Jesus, featuring Chris Ryan, from her comedy musical podcast CrossBread. She is up against Anne Edmonds, Bev Killick, Celia Pacquola and Tom Gleeson.
“It’s been a year we will never forget,” said Dan Rosen, the chief executive of Aria. “Our industry has taken a hit, but the creativity of our local artists has not. Our artists have shown great resilience and their music has helped many Australians get through these tough times.”
The awards will be presented on 25 November. For the full list of award categories and nominees, see the Aria website.
