Flying Lotus, Arlo Parks, Little Simz, FKA twigs and more all picked up awards last night’s (August 12) AIM Independent Music Awards.
In its first ever virtual ceremony, the tenth AIM Independent Music Awards demonstrated that independent music is as vibrant and resilient as ever.
Twigs was awarded Best (Difficult) Second Album in association with Proper Music, for her ambitious, panoramic second full-length LP MAGDALENE, which was met with widespread critical acclaim.
Flying Lotus won Best Independent Track in association with Facebook for his dream-like collaboration with Anderson .Paak More from the epic 27-track album Flamagra.
Little Simz picked up the Pioneer Award, referring to her musical journey in an acceptance speech as ‘the stairs and not the escalators’ and calling herself a ‘one-woman army’.
Arlo Parks won the One To Watch award.
Mercury Prize nominee and PRS Foundation supported jazz artist Moses Boyd took home UK Independent Breakthrough in association with YouTube Music, in recognition of his status as a breakout star of the London jazz scene.
Meanwhile, having dominated the airwaves, Freya Ridings bagged the PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist.
The late Tony Allen also picked up the Outstanding Contribution To Music award at the virtual ceremony.
Other winners include Digga D, Yaeji, Nídia and Lafawndah, The Howl & The Hum, Five Finger Death Punch, Speedy Wunderground and Jazz re:freshed.
Little Simz and AJ Tracey gave compelling live performances, after picking up the Pioneer Award in association with Evoke Studios and Innovator Award in association with Amazon Music, respectively. Leading the way for virtual awards, these performances took place in a state-of-the-art extended reality studio, immersing performers in a unique, interactive environment brought to life by the addition of 3D graphics.
Flying Lotus said: ‘It feels like a true blessing to be able to receive an award and to be acknowledged in these times, when they make us feel like our work isn’t essential and what we do is just, whatever. So, thank you for the reminder that what we do is very important.’
Moses Boyd said: ‘I’m really privileged for this particular award because I pride myself on being an independent artist and I think it’s really important in 2020 that artists coming up understand what it takes to make a product, what it takes to make a record, what’s required of an artist. I think the industry has changed so much. A lot more control and freedom is being handed back over to creatives, so I think it’s important that musicians and artists understand that, and hopefully this can be some sort of inspiration for those trying to follow in the sort of path of the independent artist.’
