The Medics win big at National Indigenous Music Awards

Up and coming Aboriginal rock band The Medics.

NATIONAL: Aboriginal rock band The Medics have won the top honour at the 2012 National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin.

The four-piece band have taken out the Album of the Year, for their debut record Foundations, New Talent of the Year and Song of the Year (For Griffin).

Acclaimed Aboriginal artist Gurrumul Yunupingu won Artist of the Year for the second year in a row. His collaboration with talented singer/songwriter Sarah Blasko won the Cover Art of the Year – which was a second NIMA for artist/designer Carlo Santone from Blue King Brown.

East Journey, a new Arnhem Land band guided by Mandawuy Yunupingu from Yothu Yindi won NT Film Clip of the Year for Ngarrpiya and the prestigious G.R. Bururrawanga memorial Award for outstanding contribution to the NT music industry.

The Traditional Music Award went to two different collaborations for the Song People’s Sessions. Warren H Williams and the Warumungu Songmen and Shellie Morris and the Borroloola Songwomen have composed new arrangements with ancient languages to preserve language and stories to share with future generations.

Legendary singer Jimmy Little was recognised in the 2012 NIMA Hall of Fame posthumously.

Music NT General Manager Mark Smith said the awards were becoming an important celebration for Indigenous music.

“With finalists from across the country I can confidently say that NIMA 2012 have arrived on a national scale. The goal of a truly national event celebrating the achievements and
talents of Indigenous musicians is being realised,” Mr Smith said.

New Talent of the Year
The Medics

Song of the Year
‘Griffin’ – The Medics
Written by J Lawrie/ C Thomas/ A Thomson/ K Wallace

Album of the Year
Foundations – The Medics
Label: Footstomp/Warner

Artist of the Year
Gurrumul Yunupingu

Hall of Fame
Dr James Oswald Little, AO aka Jimmy Little
Sunrize Band
Lajamanu Teenage Band

NT Film Clip of the Year
‘Ngarrpiya’ – East Journey
Director/Producer: Naina Sen + Susan Marawili

G.R. Bururrawanga Memorial Award
East Journey

NT Cover Art of the Year
‘Bayini’ – Gurrumul Yunupingu & Sarah Blasko
Label: Skinnyfish Music
Artist/Designer: Carlo Santone

Traditional Music Award of the Year
Song Peoples Sessions
Shellie Morris and the Borroloola Songwomen – ‘Ngambala Wiji Li-Wunungu’
Warren H Williams and the Warumungu Songmen – ‘Winanjjara’

NT School Band of the Year
NEAL Boys – Yirrkala CEC