From the suburbs of Western Sydney to leading sets on stages across the country, BARKAA is turning heads.
The rising rap star is the 2022 National Indigenous Music Awards leading finalist, with four nominations.
A Malyangapa and Barkindji woman, BARKAA is nominated for New Talent of the Year, Film Clip of the Year for EP title track Blak Matriarchy and hit single King Brown, which is also up for Song of the Year.
Barkaa is the NIMA's leading finalist, with four nominations to her name. Source: Luke Currie-Richardson/Instagram
The Finalists
Fan favourite Baker Boy follows with three nominates. With slick moves and sick beats, the Yolngu man is up for Artist of the Year, Film Clip of the Year for My Mind and Album of the Year for his deadly debut Gela.
The finalist list is dotted with familiar names, including The Kid LAROI, Jessica Mauboy, Electric Fields, Miiesha, Mo Ju, Emma Donovan & the Putbacks, Birdz, Dallas Woods, Tasman Keith, Tilly Tiala Thomas, Thelma Plum and Uncle Archie Roach.
Dobby, dameeeela, Xavier Rudd, Lil Kootsie and Jem Cassar-Daley are making their NIMAs finalist debut.
Artist Dobby is up for his first NIMA nomination. Source: Renae Saxby as supplied by Dobby
Back on Country
For two years the NIMAs have carried on without live performances, but this year that changes.
This will be the first year since 2019, that the NIMAs return in person to Darwin.
“After a two-year hiatus it’s very exciting to be bringing the NIMAs back to the Darwin Amphitheatre on Larrakia Country,” said NIMA Creative Director Ben Graetz.
The boys from Arnhem Land, Yolngu surf rock band King Stingray Source: Supplied
The acts on show
The awards will see performances by the boys from Arnhem Land, King Stingray and the nation’s favourite girl next door, Thelma Plum.
They’ll be performing alongside Emma Donovan & the Putback, Birdz and Fred Leone, Yirrmal and J-MILLA.
“I’m thrilled to see such an extraordinary list of finalists this year and cannot wait for live performances from some of our most powerful First Nations musicians such as Thelma Plum and Emma Donovan & the Putbacks," said Ben Graetz.
This year is all about coming together and celebrating as one big community.”
The NIMAs are supported by the Northern Territory government and Australia Council for the Arts alongside Darwin Festival.
Emma Donovan & the Putbacks will perform at the NIMAs. Source: Supplied
The award ceremony will be broadcast on NITV on August 6.
Finalist list
Artist of the Year
The Kid Laroi
Jessica Mauboy
Baker Boy
Electric Fields
Thelma Plum
King Stingray
Song of the Year
Backseat of My Mind - Thelma Plum
Made For Silence - Miiesha
Milkumana - King Stingray
Sometime - Mo Ju
King Brown - Barkaa
Ball and Chain - Xavier Rudd
Album of the Year
Baker Boy – Gela
Emma Donovan & the Putbacks – Under These Streets
Jem Cassar-Daley – I Don’t Know Who to Call
Birdz – Legacy
Dallas Woods – Julie’s Boy
Archie Roach – My songs 1989 - 2021
Film Clip of the Year
Love Too Soon - Tasman Keith
King Brown - Barkaa
Blak Matriarchy - Barkaa
My Mind - Baker Boy
Automatic - Jessica Mauboy
New Talent of the Year
Barkaa
Jem Cassar-Daley
Lil Kootsie
Tilly Tjala Thomas
Dobby
dameeeela
Community Clip of the Year
Koori Mob - Our Country, Our Life - Desert Pea Media
Gumbaynggirr Collective - Through the Smoke - Desert Pea Media
Doomadgee, QLD - Where We Wanna Be - Indigenous Outreach Project
Numbulwar, NT - Loud & Proud - Indigenous Outreach Project
Ballarat, VIC - Don’t Give Up On Yourself - Indigenous Outreach Project
