The nominations are in for Australia’s NIMAs! These are the National Indigenous Music Awards, which have been running for 16 years. They’re dedicated to showcasing First Nations talent across Australia, from up-and-coming grassroots artists to chart-toppers.
Australia’s NIMAs 2020 nominees
The NIMAs will be held on Saturday 8 August, and a lot of the names on the 2020 list of nominees will be very familiar to Eurovision fans. Nominated acts include Australia’s 2018 representative Jessica Mauboy, as well as national finalists Electric Fields (2019) and Mitch Tambo (2020).
Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Mauboy is up for Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for her 2019 LP Hilda. Jessica’s fourth studio album topped the charts and was dedicated to her mother and grandmother. The title came from Jessica’s own middle name.
Upon receiving the nominations, Jessica wrote: “So honoured to be nominated in two categories at this years @the.nimas for Album Of The Year and Artist Of The Year. So very proud to be amongst super talented artists who Work so hard to be seen and heard. Thank you #NIMA2020 and a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS and good luck to all the artist nominated. Keep doing what you do to be great!”
Mitch Tambo
Mitch reached the final of Australia’s Got Talent in 2019 and earlier this year he placed fifth in Eurovision — Australia Decides. The award show has noticed his ascent, nominating the “Together Singer” for New Talent of the Year.
“Stoked to receive the news that I have been nominated in the New Talent Of The Year category 2020 at the NIMA awards. Congratulations to those nominated across all categories this year. Gaba nginda to all my supporters, family and team for being on this journey with me and of course to the @the.nimas for this acknowledgement”, says Mitch on his nomination.
Electric Fields (and KEiiNO)
Electric Fields, that’s Zaachariaha Fielding and Michael Ross, receive nods in two categories. The “2000 and Whatever” pair join Jessica Mauboy on the nominations list for Artist of the Year.
Meanwhile, their collaboration with Norway’s Eurovision 2019 representatives KEiiNO, “Would I Lie”, is up for Song of the Year.
National Indigenous Music Awards
The awards ceremony is usually held under the stars at Darwin’s historic Amphitheatre. However, as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, a full-scale production with an audience cannot take place this year.
But that doesn’t mean that broadcaster NITV doesn’t have an incredible online ceremony planned. Ben Graetz, the show’s creative director, actually sees advantages to hosting the show online, “what makes this year so exciting, is that we are able to involve and showcase many more of our First Nation artists & musicians through the virtual platform. Also to be able to connect regionally and remotely is extremely exciting.”
The awards ceremony will be hosted live from Larrakia Country in Darwin, and artists will join in virtually from locations across Australia to perform live and accept awards. The awards will be broadcast on TV, as well as via radio, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, making this a real multi-platform event.
Organisers hope the NIMA awards will bring Australians together, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, during these uncertain times for a national celebration of Indigenous music.
Will you watch the NIMAs? Are you familiar with any of the other nominees? Let us know below.
NIMA’s are brilliant! I host ‘The Yarning Circle’ at Cairns FM 89.1, a show dedicated to providing a platform for our First Nation musicians. Without the supports and acknowledgement of bodies such as the NIMA’s it’s a hard industry to crack. I believe Electric Fields will have their moment at Eurovision and do Australia proud. I’ll be biased here and hope to see my ‘brother’ Patrick Mau take out Artist or Album of the year (music fact, Patrick’s Grandad is Uncle Seaman Dan, two time ARIA award winner, Best World Music Album). Congratulations to all finalists. If the Covid fog… Read more »
How wonderful! Jessica Mauboy always seems lovely and has been a joyful representative for Australia at Eurovision. Electric Fields are awesome, I adore their music, I really hope they get more support and encouragement to keep making music and to represent Australia at Eurovison in the future!
I would love for Electric Fields to represent Australia at Eurovision someday