2008
J AWARDS WRAP-UP
November
is triple j's Ausmusic month. A time when the blossoming talent of the Australian
music industry is paid its dues and nominations for the quaintly prestigious J
Awards are finalised. For the first time in 2008, an additional award for Music
Video of the Year was added to the Album of the Year and Unearthed categories.
The afternoon of Friday 5th December was the finale to the showdown that had everyone's
ears pricked and pointed.
There is something special about
the J Awards ceremony. It's got that friendly, relaxed feel to it that makes you
forget you are in the presence of some of the industry's most outstanding performers.
After all these years, we can still count on triple j to keep it real. The 2008
gathering was held underground at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory - a dark cavern
tinkering with the rising and shining stars of Australian music. The red carpet
rolled out for the likes of The Presets, the gorgeously attired lead singer of
the Cassette Kids Katrina Noorbergen and her boys, Sparkadia, Josh Pyke, The Grates,
Art vs Science, Bliss and Esso and Harlequin League just to name a few!
Kicking
off at 4pm, it was set to become a well spirited event - in atmosphere and over
the bar. Host Robbie Buck crossed over to radio announcers Dools and Linda and
it sounded live across the airwaves. The format of the awards was a little unusual,
being fashioned for a radio audience but the crowd managed to keep it together
long enough for the broadcast to make it smoothly to listeners nationwide.
The
first award for the Unearthed Band of the Year was taken out by The John Steel
Singers. In an incredibly thick competition, the vibrant signature melodic pop
tunes of the band won it over. The Brisbane boys who managed to break away from
touring furor to accept the award are credited with adding a fresh and fun mark
to Australian music. They are remarkably well grounded about their rise to fame
and, as intended, this award is merely a sign of things to come.
Trophy
number two, the very first award for Music Video of the Year, went out to director
Mike Daley for his work on the film clip for '2020' by the Herd. The ingenious
video takes us on a dynamic journey through the pages of our history with conflict
- an ideal compliment to its musical counterpart. Adding a new visual dimension
to the J awards, it serves to remind us that there are unseen creative masterminds
behind these captivating musical minutes on our screens.
The
Presets made yet another meal of an award taking out the third category of Album
of the Year with their monster release 'Apocalypso' - an absolutely iconic contribution
to Australian music. In their warmly delivered acceptance speech, they expressed
their fandom to fellow contenders most amiably. The boys hung around long enough
to share a drink or two - then hit the road. Amid the latest controversy surrounding
their private gigs, who can blame them? When it comes down to it though, they
can certainly put their music were their mouths are. Another well deserved award
for the boys!
Looking at the nominations this year, the sheer
quality of the music industry in Australia is striking. With tough times predicted,
it would seem our talent is already proving to be tougher. The evidence was in
this room.
An early start led to an early finish and I think
we all wound up in bed at a rather respectable hour (and not such a respectable
state). Good times! Congratulations to all the J Awards contestants and winners
and a big cheers to triple j for their continuing support of Australian artists.
Keep it coming Australia!
Jordan Faires
