The AIM Independent Music Awards have announced their 2021 nominees.
London singer-songwriter Arlo Parks is ahead of the group with four nominations in total, for Best Independent Track in association with Facebook, Best Independent Album in association with Spotify, and Best Independent Track in association with Facebook, Best Independent Video in association with Vevo and UK Independent Breakthrough in association with YouTube Music. Parks is closely followed by Yorkshire band Working Men’s Club, who are also nominated for UK Independent Breakthrough and Best Independent Album; the indie band has also picked up a nomination for Best Creative Packaging.
Meanwhile, critically acclaimed North London rapper AJ Tracey is up for Best (Difficult) Second Album for his record “Flu Game.” Fellow rapper and rising star Enny has also been at the forefront of nominations, including for BBC Music Introducing’s One To Watch and for her track “Peng Black Girls ft. Amia,” she said on her nominations: “Such an honour to be nominated for one award let alone two, it’s exciting to see your art getting recognition especially so early on!’”
Hosted by Radio 1 Xtra’s Tiffany Calver and Jamz Supernova, this year’s AIM Independent Music Awards will take place virtually on 25 August 2021. Calver said: “To be able to celebrate the innovators and independent artists that flourished through such a challenging period is a true honour. I’m so excited to be co-hosting alongside Jamz this time, and continuing to champion great music as we have both done on a weekly basis with our individual shows and channels.”
Paul Pacifico, AIM CEO, commented on the highly anticipated awards ceremony: “Every year I find myself saying how exciting and diverse the list of nominees is at the AIM Independent Music Awards, and 2021 is no exception. These awards genuinely represent the incredible array of talent and breadth of success in our community.” He continued: “The artists and creative entrepreneurs we recognise are innovators at the cutting edge of culture. Building on our first ever virtual event last year, we’ve got some very special plans for the show in August and look forward to delivering a dynamic and spectacular interactive show.”
Two winners have already been announced for the Indie Champion Award in association with MCPS. AIM wrote on their official Instagram page: “Due to their amazing support for artists, labels and record stores during a difficult year, for the first time ever we have two winners of Indie Champion in association with MCPS! Congratulations to both! @bandcamp@loverecordstores.”
The AIM Independent Music Awards 2021 will be free to watch this year via On Air, YouTube and Facebook.
Votes are also currently open now up until 5 July 2021 for Best Live (Streamed) Act in association with On Air.
Full List of Nominees
UK Independent Breakthrough in association with YouTube Music
Arlo Parks (Transgressive Records)
Conducta (Kiwi Rekords)
India Jordan (Ninja Tune)
Rina Sawayama (Dirty Hit)
Working Men’s Club (Heavenly Recordings)
International Breakthrough in association with Deezer
Bicep (Ninja Tune)
Fontaines D.C. (Partisan Records)
Jayda G (Ninja Tune)
박혜진 Park Hye Jin (Ninja Tune)
Tkay Maidza (4AD)
Best Independent Track in association with Facebook
Arlo Parks – Hope (Transgressive Records)
Bonobo & Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Heartbreak (OUTLIER – Ninja Tune)
ENNY – Peng Black Girls ft. Amia Brave (FAMM)
Katy J Pearson – Take Back The Radio (Heavenly Recordings)
Lava La Rue – Magpie (Marathon Artists)
Mustafa – Air Forces (Young)
serpentwithfeet – Fellowship (Secretly Canadian)
Shygirl – TASTY (Because Music)
Squid – Narrator ft. Martha Skye Murphy (Warp Records)
Tkay Maidza – Shook (4AD)
Best Independent Album in association with Spotify
Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams (Transgressive Records)
Che Lingo – The Worst Generation (7Wallace Music)
Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg (4AD)
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra – Promises (Luaka Bop)
Krust – The Edge of Everything (Crosstown Rebels)
Moses Sumney – græ (Jagjaguwar)
Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher (Dead Oceans)
Speaker Music – Black Nationalist Sonic Weaponry (Planet Mu)
Rian Treanor – File Under UK Metaplasm (Planet Mu)
Working Men’s Club – Working Men’s Club (Heavenly Recordings)
Best [Difficult] Second Album in association with BBC Radio 6 Music
AJ Tracey – Flu Game (Revenge Records)
Bicep – Isles (Ninja Tune)
Dream Wife – So When You Gonna… (Lucky Number)
Fontaines D.C. – A Hero’s Death (Partisan Records)
Leon Vynehall – Rare, Forever (Ninja Tune)
Best Independent Remix in association with SoundCloud
Bon Bon (Mike Lindsay Remix) – Songhoy Blues (Transgressive Records)
Fair Chance ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Lil B (Floating Points Remix) – Thundercat (Brainfeeder)
megapunk (Elkka Remix) – Ela Minus (Domino)
soulboy (IZCO Remix) – p-rallel, Greentea Peng (Different Recordings)
Sweat ft. LIZ (SOPHIE Remix) – Sonikku (Bella Union)
One To Watch in association with BBC Music Introducing
Che Lingo (7Wallace Music)
ENNY (FAMM)
Lava La Rue (Marathon Artists)
Nova Twins (Nova Twins Ltd)
TSHA (Ninja Tune)
Best Creative Packaging
AJ Tracey – Flu Game (Special Edition) (Revenge Records)
Figaro de Montmartre – Emotion Soap (Figaro de Montmartre)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Eco Wax Editions (Heavenly Recordings and Flightless Records)
Sleaford Mods – Spare Ribs (Rough Trade Records)
Working Men’s Club – Working Men’s Club (RAW Edition) (Heavenly Recordings)
Best Independent Video in association with Vevo
Arlo Parks – Hope (Transgressive Records)
Julien Baker – Hardline (Matador Records)
Kojaque – No Hands (Different Recordings)
Novo Amor – If We’re Being Honest (AllPoints)
Wesley Joseph – Thrilla (EEVILTWINN)
Best Independent Label in association with [Integral]
4AD
Dead Oceans
Forever Living Originals
Partisan Records
Transgressive Records
Best Small Label in association with Believe
Athens of the North
Finesse Foreva
Killing Moon
Sonic Cathedral
Strut Records
Indie Champion in association with MCPS
Bandcamp
Love Record Stores
Diversity Champion
Paulette Long
