The 2018 winning legends of the annual J Awards were announced this arvo in a ceremony celebrating the very best in Australia‘s music industry.
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The awards were presented at Melbourne‘s Howler bar in Brunswick as triple j, Double J, triple j Unearthed, and Rage gathered ’round to celebrate the ripper achievements.
Among the winners was Middle Kids for the triple j Australian Album of the Year. Their work or art Lost Friends gave us ‘Mistake’ and ‘On My Knees’ – ’nuff said.
triple j Music Directo Nick Findlay described the album as “a rich sonic palette that traverses anthemic rock, alt-country and bitter sweet indie ballads.”
No easy feat, Middle Kids beat out Amy Shark‘s Love Monster, DMA’s For Now, and Tash Sultana‘s Flow State for the gong.
The legendary late Gurrumul was named Double J Artist of the Year. Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) debuted at the No. 1 spot on the ARIA charts after being released nine months after the artist died in July 2017.
Since his death, a self-titled documentary has gone on to become the seventh highest-grossing Aussie doco of all time, Film Victoria tweeted back in August.
Absolute young gun Kwame took out the Unearthed Artist of the Year award, beating out Angie McMahon and Kian.
And finally, the gong for Australian Music Video of the Year went to Mojo Juju for Native Tongue, directed by Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore.
The title track “explores her Wiradjuri and Filipino heritage, and themes of identity, displacement, and belonging.”
For the full list of incredible nominees, peep the below.
triple j Australian Album of the Year
Winner
Middle Kids, Lost Friends
Nominees
Amy Shark, Love Monster
Camp Cope, How to Socialise & Make Friends
Courtney Barnett, Tell Me How You Really Feel
DMA’S, For Now
Hockey Dad, Blend Inn
Ocean Alley, Chiaroscuro
Polaris, The Mortal Coil
RÜFÜS DU SOL, Solace
Tash Sultana, Flow State
Double J Artist of the Year
Winner
Gurrumul
Nominees
John Butler Trio
Mojo Juju
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
Sampa the Great
Unearthed Artist of the Year
Winner
Kwame
Nominees
Angie McMahon
G Flip
Kian
Slowly Slowly
Australian Music Video of the Year, co-presented by Rage
Winner
Mojo Juju ‘Native Tongue’ directed by Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore
Nominees
B Wise ‘Feel Something’ directed by JÁEN Collective
DZ Deathrays ‘Like People’ directed by Guss Mallmann
Golden Vessel ‘Bigbright (feat. Elkkle, E^st & Duckwrth)’ directed by Harry Deadman
Sampa The Great ‘Black Girl Magik (Feat. Nicole Gumbe)’ directed by Sanjay De Silva
