King Stingray
King Stingray | Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

King Stingray and Genesis Owusu Win Big at 2023 AIR Awards

King Stingray have continued the victory lap for their 2022 self-titled debut album, taking out three gongs at the Australian Independent Record Awards on Thursday night. The surf-rock crew took out three awards out of their four nominations, including Best Independent Rock Album or EP, Independent Album of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

Genre-bender Genesis Owusu took out Independent Song Of the Year for ‘Get Inspired’, while acts like Dope Lemon, Jesswar, Andy Golledge, and Donny Benét cleaned up in their respective genre categories. Chapter Music were the deserving winners of Independent Label Of The Year.

Genesis Owusu: ‘Get Inspired’

Elsewhere, Cub Sport picked up the trophy for Best Independent Dance/Electronica or Club Single with ‘Always Got The Love’, while Confidence Man won the Album/EP category for the same genre with Tilt.

Canberra’s Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers also had a good night, winning Best Independent Punk Album Or EP for Pretty Good For A Girl Band. Their publicist Genna Alexopoulos took out the industry award for Independent Publicity Team of the Year.

The awards took place in Adelaide’s Freemasons Hall, with acts like Jem Cassar-Daley, Golledge, and Sydney pop-punk outfit Yours Truly delivering performances. “It was a great night of celebration and recognition for the talented, and resilient Australian independent artist and label community,” AIR’s CEO Maria Amato said in a statement.

See the full list of winners below.

AIR Awards 2023 Winners

Best Independent Blues And Roots Album Or EP

  • Dope Lemon – Rose Pink Cadillac

Best Independent Hip Hop Album Or EP

  • Jesswar – Life’s Short, Live Big

Best Independent Country Album Or EP

  • Andy Golledge – Strength Of A Queen

Best Independent Jazz Album Or EP

  • Donny Benét – Le Piano

Best Independent Classical Album Or EP

  • William Barton / Veronique Serret – Heartland

Best Independent Children’s Album Or EP

  • Teeny Tiny Stevies – How To Be Creative

Best Independent Dance, Electronica Or Club Single

  • Cub Sport – Always Got The Love

Best Independent Punk Album Or EP

  • Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers – Pretty Good For A Girl Band

Best Independent Heavy Album Or EP

  • Northlane – Obsidian

Best Independent Dance Or Electronica Album Or EP

  • Confidence Man – Tilt

Best Independent Rock Album Or EP

  • King Stingray – King Stingray

Best Independent Soul/Rnb Album Or EP

  • Felivand – Ties

Best Independent Pop Album Or EP

  • Daniel Johns – Futurenever

Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year – Presented By Ppca

  • King Stingray 

Independent Song Of The Year 

  • Genesis Owusu – Get Inspired

Independent Album Of The Year

  • King Stingray – King Stingray

Independent Marketing Team Of The Year

  • I Oh You, Mushroom Marketing – Confidence Man, Tilt

Independent Publicity Team Of The Year

  • Genna Alexopoulos – Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers, Pretty Good For A Girl Band

Outstanding Achievement Award – Sponsored By Merlin

  • Dr. Catherine Crock 

Independent Label Of The Year – Sponsored By Moshtix

  • Chapter Music

Further Reading

Flume, RÜFÜS DU SOL and Sampa the Great the Big Winners at the 2023 APRA Music Awards

Flume, Tash Sultana and Mo’Ju Among Finalists for the 2023 Environmental Music Prize

APRA AMCOS Announces It Will Pay Artists Performance Royalties For Gigs Cancelled Due To COVID

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