Hip-hop artist Genesis Owusu has dominated nominations for the 2023 Aria awards, receiving nods in seven categories, closely followed by Troye Sivan, G Flip and Dom Dolla.
As Australia’s premier music prize prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of global hip-hop, Aria nominees across 29 musical categories were announced on Thursday morning ahead of the official ceremony in Sydney on 15 November.
The Ghanaian-Australian rapper and vocalist, born Kofi Owusu-Ansah, who released his hotly anticipated second album, Struggler, last month, is up for album of the year. He is also competing for best hip-hop/rap release, best independent release, best solo artist, best video for Stay Blessed, best engineered release and best produced release.
Owusu took home four Aria awards in 2021 for his debut LP – the genre-defying Smiling With No Teeth – which encapsulates his struggles as a black man growing up in majority-white Canberra.
Hot on Owusu’s heels are house music producer Dom Dolla, pop sensation Troye Sivan and non-binary multi-instrumentalist G Flip, with six Aria nominations each. They will compete with Owusu, Budjerah, Dan Sultan, Jen Cloher, Kylie Minogue, Meg Mac and the Kid Laroi for the coveted best solo artist award.
In 2021, the Arias abolished gendered categories in an effort to remove barriers for non-binary artists and recognise female musicians as equal to men.
Two-time Aria winner Budjerah, who supported Ed Sheeran on his latest Australian tour, and Sydney indie rock trio DMA’s, who released their fourth album, How Many Dreams?, in March, both picked up five nominations.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, the Teskey Brothers and Kylie Minogue each scored four nominations, with the latter recognised for best independent release, best pop release, best solo artist and song of the year for the global earworm Padam Padam. Minogue’s recognition comes ahead of the release of the 55-year-old pop superstar’s 16th studio album, Tension, on Friday.
Amy Shark, Brad Cox, Cub Sport, Dan Sultan, Matt Corby and Peach PRC each received three Aria nominations.
A 1,000-strong industry voting panel decides the majority of the Aria nominations and winners.
Nominees for best Australian live act – a publicly voted category – include Baker Boy, Brad Cox, Budjerah, DMA’s, Dom Dolla, G Flip, Julia Jacklin, King Stingray, Rüfüs Du Sol and Tame Impala.
In the running for most popular international artist – also a publicly voted category – are Beyoncé for Renaissance, Drake and 21 Savage for Her Loss, Ed Sheeran, Luke Combs for Gettin’ Old, Metro Boomin for Heroes & Villains, Morgan Wallen for One Thing at a Time, Nicki Minaj for Queen Radio, Pink for Trustfall, SZA for SOS and Taylor Swift for Midnights.
Melbourne rockers Jet will be inducted into the Aria Hall of Fame, a mere two decades after the release of their debut album Get Born, which spawned international hits such as Are You Gonna Be My Girl, Look What You’ve Done and Rollover DJ.
The band have reunited for a national reunion tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of Get Born, launching in Melbourne on Friday.
The Aria CEO, Annabelle Herd, said on Thursday: “With over 60% of this year’s nominees coming from independent labels, we’re excited to celebrate success stories from across the Australian music industry, and showcase exactly what we’ve got to the rest of the country and the world.”
The Aria awards will take place on 15 November at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, with a live broadcast on Stan from 5pm, on Channel Nine from 7.30pm and some of the event streamed on Aria’s official YouTube channel.
The 2023 Aria nominees
For the full list of 29 categories, head here
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Album of the year
DMA’s – How Many Dreams?
G Flip – Drummer
Genesis Owusu – Struggler
Matt Corby – Everything’s Fine
The Teskey Brothers – The Winding Way
Best solo artist
Budjerah – 2step – Ed Sheeran (feat Budjerah)
Dan Sultan – Dan Sultan
Dom Dolla – Eat Your Man
G Flip – Drummer
Genesis Owusu – Struggler
Jen Cloher – I Am the River, the River Is Me
Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam
Meg Mac – Matter of Time
The Kid Laroi – Love Again
Troye Sivan – Rush
Best group
Cub Sport – Jesus at the Gay Bar
DMA’s – How Many Dreams?
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth…
Parkway Drive – Darker Still
The Teskey Brothers – The Winding Way
Michael Gudinski breakthrough artist award
Charley – Timebombs
grentperez – When We Were Younger
Pacific Avenue – Flowers
Royal Otis – Sofa Kings
Best pop release
Amy Shark – Can I Shower at Yours
Budjerah – Therapy
Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam
Peach PRC – Perfect for You
Troye Sivan – Rush
Best dance/electronic release
Fisher & Aatig – Take It Off
Golden Features – Sisyphus
Lastlings – Perfect World
MK and Dom Dolla – Rhyme Dust
Pnau and Troye Sivan – You Know What I Need
Best hip-hop/rap release
Genesis Owusu – Struggler
Kahukx – Nothing to Something
Kerser – A Gift & A Kers
ONEFOUR feat CG – Comma’s
Tkay Maidza and Flume – Silent Assassin
Best soul/R&B release
Chanel Loren – Rollin’
Forest Claudette – Mess Around (feat Earthgang)
Jade Weazel – Skin
Kye – Ribena
Pania – P Stands 4 Playa
Best independent release
Cub Sport – Jesus at the Gay Bar
Dan Sultan – Dan Sultan
G Flip – Drummer
Genesis Owusu – Struggler
Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam
Best rock album
Bad//Dreems – Hoo Ha!
DMA’s – How Many Dreams?
G Flip – Drummer
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushroom and Lava Pacific Avenue – Flowers
Best adult contemporary album
Alex Lahey – The Answer Is Always Yes
Dan Sultan – Dan Sultan
Kate Ceberano – My Life is a Symphony
Mo’Ju – Oro, Plata, Mata
Tina Arena – Love Saves
Best country album
Brad Cox – Acres
Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley – Up, Down & Sideways
Fanny Lumsden – Hey Dawn
Henry Wagons – South of Everywhere
The Wolfe Brothers – Livin’ the Dream
Best hard rock/heavy metal album
DZ Deathrays – R.I.F.F
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth…
Parkway Drive – Darker Still
The Amity Affliction – Not Without My Ghosts
These New South Whales – TNSW
Best blues & roots album
Cash Savage and The Last Drinks – So This is Love
Katie Wighton – The End
The Bamboos – Live at Hamer Hall with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
The Teskey Brothers – The Winding Way
Ziggy Alberts – Dancing in the Dark
Best children’s album
Emma Memma – Memma
Peter Combe – Planet Earth 3rd from the Sun
Play School – Very Jazzy Street Party
The Wiggles – Ready, Steady, Wiggle!
Whistle & Trick – Bananas and Other Delicious Things
