As anticipation grows for the UK’s biggest night in independent music, the Association of Independent Music (AIM) have revealed the winners of the Innovator and Outstanding Contribution to Music Awards alongside performers for the upcoming ceremony at London’s iconic Roundhouse on 26th September.
Soulwax will be taking home the legendary ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music award in association with Merlin’ in recognition of their outstanding work and musical influence. The Belgian electronic band and DJ/production collective were formed by brothers Stephen and David Dewaele in 1995 and have consistently pushed the boundaries of music into new and innovative territory- spinning grooves as 2manydjs, forming the DEEWEE record label and sound system Despacio with James Murphy.
The duo gained notoriety for both official and unofficial remixes of tracks by the likes of Daft Punk, Robbie Williams, Gorillaz and The Rolling Stones, with recent credits including Wet Leg and Charlotte Adigéry. 2manydjs, meanwhile, is credited with taking club-ready remixes to dance floors globally. With their 2002 2manydjs album As Heard on Radio Soulwax Pt 2 they created a new remixing style that set the template for imitators ever since.
The ‘Innovator Award in association with Amazon Music’ is given to Speedy Wunderground co-founder and legendary producer Dan Carey. A visionary and driving force behind some of the most impactful debuts in recent years, Carey’s production skills have glowed on releases from the likes of Fontaines DC, Squid, Kae Tempest and Kylie Minogue. With four Grammy nominations under his belt, Carey’s signature style and his continued dedication to his label has had undeniable influence across the independent music community.
Concluding the nominee list, this year’s ‘Independent Champion in association with Downtown’ contenders see broadcaster and BBC Radio 1 DJ Jaguar Bingham joined by buzzing independent record shop Resident Music and home for creative new music Cafe OTO.
Björk will be crowned with the the coveted Best Live Performer award after fighting off fierce competition from Beabadoobee and MUNA, surpassing Japan’s kawaii-metal girl band BABYMETAL at the eleventh hour to clinch the publicly-voted award.
As 2023 marks 50 years of Hip Hop, the evening’s ceremony will celebrate this landmark occasion, supported by BBC 1Xtra.The show will feature a unique dedication to the genre, highlighting both its influence in the UK’s independent Hip Hop community and lasting impact on the emergence of various musical genres.
Adding to the anticipation, AIM have announced the first exclusive and intimate live performances taking place across the ceremony.
Taking to the iconic stage, the evening will play host to one of the most exciting crossover acts in the underground music scene; P Money, a veteran grime MC and Whiney, a DJ on the rise signed to ‘Best Independent Label’ nominee, Hospital Records. With a string of projects behind them, the revered duo have received acclaim for their blend of grime and drum & bass. Fresh off the back of their sixth collaborative single ‘Junkyard’ ft Ocean Wisdom, the pair are currently touring the UK.
Also tipped to appear at the ceremony, British-Lebanese rapper/producer and ‘One To Watch in association with BBC Music Introducing’ nominee Laughta will bring her distinctive fusion of cultural influences to the stage.
For the first time, the AIM Awards will be offering a limited number of balcony seats for industry guests – a more inclusive and affordable option for members of the independent community who wish to join the celebrations. To book balcony tickets or tables, please email [email protected].
Newly announced winners and nominees
Innovator Award in association with Amazon Music
Dan Carey
Outstanding Contribution to Music in association with Merlin
Soulwax / 2manydjs
Independent Champion in association with Downtown
Jaguar Bingham
Resident Music
Cafe OTO
Previously announced winners and nominees
Diversity Champion
WINNER: Charisse Beaumont – Black Lives in Music
Best Live Performer
WINNER: Björk: (One Little Independent)
PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist
AntsLive (Payday Records, Trademark Records)
John Summit (Off The Grid Records)
Surya Sen (Skint Records)
Vibe Chemistry (DnB Allstars Records)
Wet Leg (Domino Records)
Music Entrepreneur of the Year
Alex Brees – Un:hurd
Caius Pawson – Young / Space
Jess Kangalee – Good Energy PR
Keturah Cummings – Forward Slash
Yasin El Ashrafi – HQ Familia
Best Boutique Label
Chess Club
Glasgow Underground
Houndstooth
Rough Bones
So Young Records
Best Independent Label
Defected Records
Forever Living Originals
Hospital Records
One Little Independent
Transgressive
Best Creative Campaign in association with Able
Because Music (Shygirl – ‘Nymph’)
Dirty Hit (Rina Sawayama – ‘Hold The Girl’)
Human Re Sources (RAYE – ‘My 21st Century Blues’)
Ninja Tune (Young Fathers – ‘Heavy Heavy’)
Partisan Records (Ezra Collective – ‘Where I’m Meant To Be’)
XL Recordings (Yaeji – ‘With A Hammer’)
UK Independent Breakthrough
Ezra Collective (Partisan Records)
I.Jordan (Ninja Tune)
Overmono (XL Recordings)
Shygirl (Because Music)
Suki Waterhouse (Sub Pop)
Best Independent Track in association with Meta
Connie Constance – ‘Hurt You’ (Play It Again Sam)
ENNY – Charge It (FAMM)
Four Tet – ‘Three Drums’ (Text Records)
Makaya McCraven – ‘Dream Another’ (XL Recordings)
Overmono – ‘Good Lies’ (XL Recordings)
RAYE, 070 Shake – ‘Escapism’ (Human Re Sources)
Shygirl – ‘Shlut’ (Because Music)
Sudan Archives – ‘Selfish Soul’ (Stones Throw Records)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – ‘Spitting Off The Edge of The World’ feat. Perfume Genius (Secretly Canadian)
Yves Tumor – ‘Echolalia’ (Warp Records)
Best Independent EP/ Mixtape in association with BBC 1Xtra
Bellah – ‘Adultsville’ (Base ‘N’ Rebulz X Marathon Music Group)
ENNY – ‘We Go Again’ (FAMM)
Jessica Winter – ‘Limerance’ (Lucky Number)
Saint Joshua – ‘EP2’(Ditto Music)
yunè pinku – ‘BABYLON IX’ (PLATOON)
Best Independent Album in association with Spotify
Avelino – God Save The Streets (More Music Records/ OddChild Music)
Kelela – Raven (Warp Records)
Little Simz – No Thank You (Forever Living Originals)
Nova Twins – Supernova (Marshall Records)
Obongjayar – Some Nights I Dream of Doors (September Recordings)
Oliver Sim – Hideous Bastard (Young)
RAYE – My 21st Century Blues (Human Re Sources)
Rina Sawayama – Hold The Girl (Dirty Hit)
Shygirl – Nymph (Because Music)
Wu-Lu – LOGGERHEAD (Warp Records)
Best Independent Remix
Sega Bodega Remix (One Little Independent) – Björk – ‘Ovuke (feat. Shygirl)’
Soulwax Remix (Deewee / Because Music) – Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul – ‘Cliche’
Nu:Tone Remix (Hospital Records) – GLXY – ‘Butterfly Effect (feat. Hugh Hardie & Visionobi)’
Jamie XX remix (Young) – Oliver Sim – ‘GMT’
Boys Noize (Secretly Canadian) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – ‘Wolf’
One To Watch in association with BBC Music Introducing
Jessica Winter (Lucky Number)
Juice Menace (Supernature)
FLOWEROVLOVE (FAE GRP)
Laughta (MDLBEAST)
Master Peace (PMR)
Best Independent Video in association with Vevo
Ezra Collective – ‘No Confusion ft. Kojey Radical’ (Partisan Records)
Kelela – ‘Enough For Love’ (Warp Records)
Obongjayar – ‘I Wish It Was Me (Live)’ (September Recordings)
RAYE, 070 Shake – ‘Escapism.’ (Human Re Sources)
Wesley Joseph – ‘MONSOON’ (EEVILTWINN)
