Originally written by Sean Adams · 6 August 2013
The UK's Association of Independent Music (AIM) have revealed the nominees for their 2013 awards.
AIM's Independent Music Awards shine a spotlight on records and achievements which are likely to be overlooked by the likes of the BRIT awards or who wouldn't really be right for something like the Mercury Music Prize.
As a judge for these awards, it's incredibly inspiring to see not just the sales figures (some of them were eye-popping), but to explore little known records in far-flung genres on the long list and to read the tales of DIY labels (Alcopop released an album as a download code with a Mountain Bike?!). This year's nominees should give you a taste of the fabulous health that Independent record labels, especially the ones based in the UK, are in at moment. It therefore seems fitting that the daddy of the all, Rough Trade's Geoff Travis, will be recognised for his lifetime of toil and risk-taking, putting out records by everyone from The Smiths and The Strokes to lesser known wonders like Life Without Buildings and The Veils.
Now in its third year, the AIM Awards is proud to have honoured a fantastic array of independent artists, labels and industry figures such as: Björk, Adele, Edwyn Collins, 4AD, The Prodigy, Stolen Recordings, Frank Turner, Enter Shikari, Black Butter Records, First Aid Kit, Alt-J, SBTRKT, John Robb, Daniel Miller (Mute), Laurence Bell (Domino), 65daysofstatic & many, many more.
The 2013 AIM Independent Music Awards will take place on 3rd September, at The Brewery in London, hosted by indie champions Steve Lamacq (BBC 6Music) and Huw Stephens (Radio 1).
To give you a taste of this year's nominees, we've compiled this Spotify playlist (also exported to RDIO), including tracks released by the nominated labels - the full list of nominees follow below.
Tracklisting:
The Radio Dept. – Mad About The Boy John Grant – GMF Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Mermaids Daughter – Youth The National – Fake Empire (Live) Enter Shikari – Sorry You're Not A Winner - Live In Hatfield The Rift Valley Brothers – Mu Africa David Byrne & St. Vincent – Who Vampire Weekend – Diane Young Villagers – The Bell Billy Bragg – A New England Interpol – PDA (First Demo) Bonobo – Heaven For The Sinner Jon Hopkins – Open Eye Signal Grimes – Genesis Jagwar Ma – Man I Need Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Thrift Shop - feat. Wanz TNGHT (Hudson Mohawke x Lunice) – Higher Ground The 2 Bears – Be Strong Major Lazer – Get Free - feat. Amber of Dirty Projectors alt-J – Tessellate Public Service Broadcasting – Inform - Educate - Entertain The Horrors – I Can See Through You (Blanck Mass Remix) Django Django – WOR The Fall – Totally Wired Violent Femmes – Ugly [1983 Rough Trade UK Single] The Strokes – The Modern Age Palma Violets – Best Of Friends The Smiths – This Charming Man - John Peel session 9/14/83 Burial – Truant Ghostpoet – Dial Tones The xx – Unfold God Is An Astronaut – Frozen Twilight Department M – The Second Prize The Computers – Love Triangle, Hate Squares Johnny Foreigner – Johnny Foreigner vs You That Fucking Tank – Wonderful World Of Howling Bells – Setting Sun - Ulrich Schnauss Remix Bellowhead - Roll the Woodpile Down Passenger – Let Her Go
WINNERS
Pioneer Award: Geoff Travis (Rough Trade) Outstanding Contribution To Music: Billy Bragg (Cooking Vinyl)
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THE NOMINEES
Independent Album of the Year
Daughter - If You Leave (4AD) David Byrne & St Vincent - Love This Giant (4AD) Ghostpoet - Some Say I So I Say Light (PIAS) Jagwar Ma - Howlin' (Marathon Artists) John Grant - Pale Green Ghosts (Bella Union) Jon Hopkins - Immunity (Domino) Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away (Bad Seed) Public Service Broadcasting - Inform - Educate - Entertain (Liquid Management) Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City (XL) The xx - Coexist (XL)
Best Difficult Second Album
Ghostpoet – Some Say I So I Say Light (PIAS) John Grant – Pale Green Ghosts (Bella Union) Major Lazer – Free The Universe (Because Music) Villagers – Awayland (Domino) The xx - Coexist (XL Recordings)
Special Catalogue Release of the Year
Bonobo – The North Borders (Ninja Tune) Interpol – Turn On The Bright Lights 10th Anniversary Edition (Matador) The Horrors – Higher (XL) Various – Kenya Special (Sound Way Records) Various Artists – Scared to Get Happy: A Story of Indie Pop 1980-89 (Cherry Red)
Independent Track of the Year
Daughter - Youth (4AD) Jagwar Ma – The Throw (Marathon Artists) Palma Violets – Best of Friends (Rough Trade) Passenger – Let Her Go (Nettwerk) TNGHT – Higher Ground (Warp Records) Vampire Weekend – Diane Young (XL Recordings)
Independent Video of the Year
Childhood - Solemn Skies (Marathon Artists) David Byrne & St Vincent (4AD) Django Django - WOR (Because Music) Grimes - Genesis (4AD) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop (Macklemore/ADA) The Ramona Flowers – Lust & Lies (Distiller Records)
Best Live Act
Bellowhead (Navigator) Bonobo (Ninja Tune) Enter Shikari (PIAS) Johnny Marr (ADA) The National (4AD)
PPL Award for most played new independent act
Alabama Shakes (Rough Trade) Alt-J (Infectious) Django Django (Because Music) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (ADA) The 2 Bears (Southern Fried)
Independent Label of the Year
Bella Union Cooking Vinyl Matador PIAS Warp
Best Small Label
Alcopop! Records Gringo Records Hyperdub Rocket Girl Too Pure Singles Club
Hardest Working Band or Artist
Alt-J (Infectious) The Computers (One Little Indian) Enter Shikari (Ambush Reality/PIAS) Frankie & the Heartstrings (Wichita) Sam Lee (Nest Collective)
Indie Champion Award
Gilles Peterson – BBC Radio 1 Joe Sparrow – A Band A Day John Kennedy - XFM Lauren Laverne – BBC 6Music Lawrence Montgomery – Rise Music
Best Independent Festival
Hebridean Celtic Festival In The Woods Leefest Truck Festival Y Not Festival
Independent Breakthrough of the Year
The 1975 (Dirty Hit) Daughter (4AD) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (Macklemore/ADA) Palma Violets (Rough Trade) Passenger (Nettwerk) Public Service Broadcasting (Liquid Management)
More info: musicindie.com/awards
DiScuss: Who do you think could/should/will win when the awards take place on September 3rd?