The Kid LAROI & Barkaa Lead National Indigenous Music Awards Nominations

The finalists announcement for this year’s National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) is here, with The Kid LAROI and Barkaa leading with the most nominations. This year’s awards will be held at the Darwin Amphitheatre, Larrakia Country, on Saturday, 10 August.

The Kid LAROI has been nominated for Album of the Year for his 2023 album, The First Time, and his single BLEED is up for the Song of the Year and Film Clip of the Year categories. Meanwhile, Barkaa has also received nominations in three categories: Artist of the Year, and her song We Up will compete with The Kid LAROI in the Song of the Year and Film Clip of the Year categories.

Artists up for two categories include Budjerah (Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for Video Game), Electric Fields (Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for One Milkali (One Blood), and 3% for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for OUR PEOPLE, which samples The Presets.

In the New Talent of the Year category, some of our finest up-and-coming First Nations artists have received some love, and the nominees are Jada Weazel. Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, South Summit, James Range Band, and Becca Hatch.

You can find the complete list of nominees for this year’s NIMAs below.

In a statement, Barkaa said of her three nominations, “So honoured to be nominated again this year for three NIMAS! It’s always such an honour to be recognised for your work especially when it’s from your people. Thankful to be nominated amongst my peers, my mob, my people. Blakfullas don’t just make Blak music, we make THE BEST MUSIC.”

The 2024 NIMAs also mark the 20th anniversary of the awards. The event will be celebrated with a special one-off performance starring Jessica Mauboy, 3%, Dan Sultan, Miss Kaninna, Emily Wurramara, Birdz and Fred Leone, Arrkula Yinbayarra (Together We Sing) feat. Dr Shellie Morris AO, and Eleanor Dixon Trio.

Amazon Music returns as a sponsor for the NIMAs this year, which will air on NITV from 8 pm on Saturday, 10 August. You can find tickets on the Darwin Festival website to attend the award ceremony.

2024 NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARDS NOMINATIONS

Artist of the Year

Electric Fields

3%

King Stingray

Budjerah

BARKAA

Emma Donovan

New Talent of the Year

Jada Weazel

Andrew Gurruwiwi Band

South Summit

James Range Band

Becca Hatch

Film Clip of the Year

Andrew Gurruwiwi Band - ‘Yaa Djamarrkuli’

BARKAA - ‘We Up’

Emily Wurramara - ‘Magic Woman Dancing’

RONA. - ‘aperleye’

The Kid Laroi - ‘BLEED’

Album of the Year

The Kid Laroi - THE FIRST TIME

Emma Donovan - Til my song is done

Dan Sultan - Self-titled

Jessica Mauboy - Yours Forever

Troy Cassar-Daley - Between the Fires

Song of the Year

Christine Anu - ‘Waku - Minaral A Minalay’

BARKAA - ‘We Up’

Electric Fields - ‘One Milkali (One Blood)’

The Kid Laroi - ‘BLEED’

3% - ‘OUR PEOPLE’

Budjerah - ‘Video Game’

Community Clip of the Year

Broome Youth and Families Hub - ‘BME YOUNGNZ’

Cabbo Crew & Desert Pea Media - ‘Wanna Go Home’

Miihi Mirri-Dha & Desert Pea Media - ‘Diamond In The Rough’

Bulman School & Community - ‘Nidjarra’

Bulman School & Community - ‘Malnganarra’

The Hill & Desert Pea Media - ‘Butterfly’