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Six-time 2016 ARIA nominee Sia Furler performs during the opening night of her ‘Nostalgic for the Present’ tour in Seattle, Washington
Credit: Mat Hayward/Getty Images
This year’s newly released list of Aria Award nominations has elicited much applause for Australian acts including Flume, Troye Sivan, RÜFÜS, Sia, The Avalanches and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, whose multiple nominations are spread across 12 different categories combined. This year’s list also includes a list of acts who have been making their presence felt across both Australian and international charts, such as Hilltop Hoods, Illy and L D R U.
Big categories like Best Pop Release are also going to be a close call, with Flume’s Never Be Like You ft. Kai up against the likes of Illy, Sia, Troye Sivan and The Veronicas. Some more established artists made multiple appearances on the nominations this year as well – providing a gentle reminder that it’s not all about the new kids on the block – with the likes of Tina Arena, Katie Noonan, Delta Goodrem and Jessica Mauboy featuring across categories including Best Video and Best Female Artist.
The ARIA awards are a great celebration of the increasingly diverse and talented Australian music industry, so naturally it came as a surprise that two of our most dynamic female acts didn’t make the cut.
TKAY MAIDZA
The 19-year-old rapper from Adelaide has been on the rise in the Australian music scene for the last few years, with her debut album Tkay slated for release on October 28. She would have been a great choice for a breakout artist nomination, as her collaboration with French DJ Martin Solveig on Do It Right only peaked at 56 on the Australian charts, six positions away from the requirement that breakout artist nominations must not have previously appeared in the Top 50.
Her latest song Carry on feat. Killer Mike has been making its circulation on Australian radio as the first single from the highly-anticipated album.
WAFIA
Another ascendent young musician who didn’t make the Breakout Artist category, Wafia released her first EP XXIX in 2015 along with her most popular track Heartburn. In 2016 she also released a joint EP with New Zealand producer Ta-ku called (m)edian featuring notable tracks like Love Somebody and Treading Water.
The musician has been honing her craft and live performances for the last year, so perhaps next year we’ll see her name on the list.
The nine nominees for Best International Artist were also filled with some of our favourite pop musicians from the United States and England, (sans Rhianna though). With One Direction having won this category for four consecutive years, is it any wonder that the boy band’s name yet again appears on the list?
Below, a list of the major contenders to watch out for at the 2016 Aria Awards.
Best Breakthrough Artist
DMA’s – ‘Hills End’
L D R U – ‘Keeping Score (feat. Paige IV)i
Montaigne – ‘Glorious Heights’
Olympia – ‘Self Talk’
SAFIA – ‘Make Them Wheels Roll’
Best International Artist
Adele – ’25’
Beyoncé – ‘Lemonade’
Coldplay – ‘A Head Full of Dreams’
Drake – ‘Views’ & ‘If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late’
Meghan Trainor – ‘Title’ & ‘Thank You’
Justin Bieber – ‘Purpose’
One Direction – ‘Made in the A.M.’ & ‘Four’
Taylor Swift – ‘1989’
Twenty One Pilots – ‘Blurry Face’
BEST POP RELEASE
Flume – ‘Never Be Like You (feat. Kai)’
Illy – ‘Papercuts (feat. Vera Blue)’
Sia – ‘This Is Acting’
The Veronicas – ‘In My Blood’
Troye Sivan – ‘Blue Neighbourhood’
BEST ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
Jarryd James – ‘Thirty One’
Matt Corby – ‘Telluric’
Peter Garrett – ‘A Version Of Now’
Sarah Blasko – ‘Eternal Return’
The Temper Trap – ‘Thick as Thieves’
BEST VIDEO
Courtney Barnett – ‘Elevator Operator’
Delta Goodrem – ‘Dear Life’
Flume – ‘Never Be Like You (feat. Kai)’
Guy Sebastian – ‘Black & Blue’
Hilltop Hoods – ‘1955 (feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum)’
Illy – ‘Papercuts (feat. Vera Blue)’
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – ‘People-Vultures’
Sia – ‘Cheap Thrills’
Troye Sivan – ‘Youth Acoustic (Sydney Session)’
Violent Soho – ‘Like Soda’
BEST DANCE RELEASE
Flume – ‘Skin’
Hayden James – ‘Just a Lover’
L D R U – ‘Keeping Score (feat. Paige IV)’
RÜFÜS – ‘Bloom’
The Avalanches – ‘Wildflower’
BEST GROUP
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity
RÜFÜS – Bloom
The Avalanches – Wildflower
The Veronicas – In My Blood
Violent Soho – WACO
Tile image: Mat Hayward/Getty Images
Cover image: Ollie Millington/Redferns/Getty Images
