{"id":795070,"date":"2026-07-31T08:35:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T08:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/795070\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T08:35:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T08:35:10","slug":"ninajirachi-dominates-2026-air-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/795070\/","title":{"rendered":"Ninajirachi Dominates 2026 AIR Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tWith five wins, Ninajirachi<\/a> was untouchable at the 2026 AIR Awards<\/a>, presented Thursday evening (July 31) at Adelaide Town Hall.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe EDM producer and DJ (real name: Nina Wilson) scooped the night\u2019s big categories<\/a>, including independent album, independent producer, and best independent electronic album or EP for I Love My Computer, while her breakthrough song \u201ciPod Touch\u201d took out best independent electronic single and independent song of the year.<\/p>\n

\n\tCo-written with Darcy Baylis, \u201ciPod Touch\u201d took shape in 2024 and was \u201cone of the hardest songs to finish, ever,\u201d Ninajirachi explained in a taped acceptance speech. \u201cA lot of my album tracks just fell from the sky and they were so easy. \u2018iPod Touch\u2019 had 100,000 versions and at a point I really didn\u2019t think it was going to make it onto the album. But I\u2019m so happy it did. It\u2019s a real lesson in persistence and I\u2019m so grateful that it\u2019s won.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tExplore\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

See latest videos, charts and news<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tNinajirachi has been an all-conquering force on the awards circuit since I Love My Computer dropped a year ago. In the months since, she bagged three ARIAs, the Australian Music Prize for album of the year, J Awards, the NSW Music Prize for breakthrough artist, and took out second place in the Vanda\u00a0&\u00a0Young\u00a0Global Songwriting Competition<\/a>\u00a0for \u201ciPod Touch.\u201d Prior to Thursday evening, she had never won an AIR Award.<\/p>\n

\n\tAfter attending last year\u2019s ceremony, Ninajirachi had an excellent reason to miss the AIR Awards this time; she\u2019s currently touring the United States<\/a>, with a show a Lollapalooza in Chicago on the same day as the indie awards. \u201cIf I could teleport, I would,\u201d she insisted in a precorded bit.<\/p>\n

\n\tI Love My Computer also swept the industry segment of the 20th annual AIR Awards, with the independent mix, studio or mastering engineer of the year honor (Thomas Purcell PKA Wave Racer), independent publicity team of the year (Melody Forghani\u2019s Twnty Three) and independent marketing team of the year (NLV Records, The Orchard).<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe good times didn\u2019t end there. Nina Las Vegas (real name: Nina Agzarian) and her team at NLV Records snagged the last of 24 awards announced on the night, independent label of the year. In her victory speech, Las Vegas recounted a grumpy email sent five years ago to the team at The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR)<\/a>, producers of the awards and the annual Indie-Con, also presented this week in the South Australian capital.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI just work really hard to get what I wanted, and I really wanted this,\u201d she told the full house of industry guests. Earlier in the week, Las Vegas and her team launched the latest Ninajirachi single, \u201cWannaCry,\u201d a collaboration with Porter Robinson.<\/p>\n

\n\tWith a trio of trophies, the ceremony was a massive success for Folk B*tch Trio. The rising act won for best independent blues and roots album or EP, breakthrough artist of the year and independent music video of the year for \u201cCathode Ray\u201d (Bridgette Winten).<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tOther artist winners included Wilsn (best independent soul\/RNB album or EP), Devaura (best independent hip hop album or EP), Ruby Gill (best independent country album or EP), Way Dynamic (best independent pop album or EP), Playlunch (best independent rock album or EP), Thornhill (best independent heavy album or EP) and These New South Whales (best independent punk album or EP).<\/p>\n

\n\tMeanwhile, Sebastian Chase, founder of MGM Distribution, earned the outstanding achievement award. The industry veteran\u2019s son Michael Chase was on hand to read a speech prepared by his dad. <\/p>\n

\n\tThe awards were first established in 2006 as an effort to \u201crecognize, promote, and celebrate the success of Australia\u2019s Independent Music sector.\u201d AIR itself was founded 30 years ago to the month, in July 1996.<\/p>\n

\n\tAt the top of the 2026 edition, Hilton Gumbys, a Labor member of the Legislative Council in the South Australian Parliament, announced two additional years of state funding for the awards and Indie-Con, to secure the event in Adelaide until at least 2028.<\/p>\n

\n\tPerformers including The Tullamarines, Cookin\u2019 on 3 Burners, Georgia Knight, and Elsy Wameyo, and Dylan Lewis and Jessica Braithwaite were back on hosting duties.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cTonight we\u2019re celebrating you,\u201d AIR CEO Maria Amato told guests at the invite-only gathering. \u201cThe independent artists that do things that you love, on your own terms, and don\u2019t let anyone stand in your way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tCheck out all the winners here<\/a> and below. Listen to AIR\u2019s nominee playlist on its supporting partner platforms YouTube\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0and Amazon Music\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tBest Independent Blues And Roots\u00a0Album Or EP
John Butler \u2013\u00a0Prism
Folk Bitch Trio \u2013\u00a0Now Would Be A Good Time (WINNER)
Liz Stringer \u2013\u00a0The Second High
Melbourne Ska Orchestra \u2013\u00a0The Ballad Of Monte Loco
Sons Of The East\u00a0\u2013 Sons<\/p>\n

Best Independent Jazz Album Or EP<\/p>\n

Natalie Gauci\u00a0\u2013 Pictures Of Mars
Phia\u00a0\u2013 When I\u2019m Holding You, I\u2019m Holding Me
Temporary Blessings\u00a0\u2013 Sumbisori (WINNER)
The Cat Empire\u00a0\u2013 Bird In Paradise
Touch Sensitive\u00a0\u2013 In Paradise<\/p>\n

Best Independent Classical Album Or EP<\/p>\n

Andrea Lam\u00a0\u2013 Piano Diary
Australian String Quartet\u00a0\u2013 Vanessa Perica, String Quartet No.1 No Feeling Is Final
Joseph Tawadros \u2013\u00a0The Forgotten Path To Humanity
Rose Riebl\u00a0\u2013 Dust
William Barton, Omega Ensemble\u00a0\u2013 Gift \u2013 Our Breath Of Life (WINNER)<\/p>\n

\n\tBest Independent Children\u2019s Album Or EP<\/p>\n

Diver City\u00a0\u2013 Weekend Baby
Emma Memma\u00a0\u2013 Dance Island Party
Justine Clarke\u00a0\u2013 Mimi\u2019s Symphony
Teeny Tiny Stevies\u00a0\u2013 Brain Fart (WINNER)
The Wiggles, The Tree Of Wisdom\u00a0\u2013 The Tree Of Wisdom<\/p>\n

Best Independent Country Album Or EP<\/p>\n

\n\tEmily Lubitz\u00a0\u2013 Two Black Horses
Hayley Jensen\u00a0\u2013 Country Soul
Imogen Clark\u00a0\u2013 Choking On Fuel
Ruby Gill\u00a0\u2013 Some Kind Of Control (WINNER)
Wade Forster\u00a0\u2013 Gooseneck Party<\/p>\n

Best Independent Soul\/RnB Album Or EP<\/p>\n

Bumpy\u00a0\u2013 Kanana
Cookin\u2019 On 3 Burners\u00a0\u2013 Cookin\u2019 The Books
Don West\u00a0\u2013 Give Me All Your Love
Felivand\u00a0\u2013 My Body\u2019s My True North
Wilsn \u2013\u00a0Bloom (WINNER)<\/p>\n

Best Independent Pop Album Or EP<\/p>\n

Georgia Knight\u00a0\u2013 Beanpole
Montaigne\u00a0\u2013 It\u2019s Hard To Be A Fish
Stella Donnelly\u00a0\u2013 Love And Fortune
The Tullamarines\u00a0\u2013 Safety Blanket
Way Dynamic\u00a0\u2013 Massive Shoe (WINNER)<\/p>\n

Best Independent Rock Album Or EP<\/p>\n

Playlunch\u00a0\u2013 Sex Ed (WINNER)
Spacey Jane\u00a0\u2013 If That Makes Sense
Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers\u00a0\u2013 Glory
The Belair Lipbombs\u00a0\u2013 Again
The Southern River Band\u00a0\u2013 Easier Said Than Done<\/p>\n

Independent Marketing Team Of The Year<\/p>\n

Mushroom Music\u00a0\u2013 Bliss N Eso, The Moon (The Light Side)
Nlv Records, The Orchard\u00a0\u2013 Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer (WINNER)
Playlunch, Abc Music\u00a0\u2013 Playlunch, Keith
Secretly Group\u00a0\u2013 Folk Bitch Trio, Now Would Be A Good Time
The Annex\u00a0\u2013 Ocean Alley, Love Balloon<\/p>\n

Independent Music Video Of The Year<\/p>\n

Ball Bass John\u00a0\u2013 Ninajirachi, Fuck My Computer
Bridgette Winten, Folk Bitch Trio\u00a0\u2013 Folk Bitch Trio, Cathode Ray (WINNER)
Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore\u00a0\u2013 Miss Kaninna, Backstreets
Tas Wilson, James Adams\u00a0\u2013 Jem Cassar-Daley, Kiss Me Like You\u2019re Leaving
Jasper Van Daatselaar \u2013\u00a0Way Dynamic, People Settle Down<\/p>\n

Independent Mix, Studio Or Mastering Engineer Of The Year<\/p>\n

Becki Whitton, Timothy Harvey, Hannah Cameron\u00a0\u2013 Ruby Gill, Some Kind Of Control
Leon Zervos\u00a0\u2013 Ocean Alley, Love Balloon
Michael Carpenter\u00a0\u2013 Imogen Clark, Choking On Fuel
Stephen Mowat\u00a0\u2013 Wilsn, Bloom
Thomas Purcell Pka Wave Racer\u00a0\u2013 Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer (WINNER)
\u00a0
Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Presented By PPCA<\/p>\n

Folk Bitch Trio (WINNER)
Georgia Knight
Rageflower
Rona.
Yes Boone<\/p>\n

Best Independent Hip Hop Album Or EP<\/p>\n

Bliss N Eso\u00a0\u2013 The Moon (The Light Side)
Devaura\u00a0\u2013 Vol 1. Learning In Public (WINNER)
Elsy Wameyo\u00a0\u2013 Wameyo
Jamaica Moana\u00a0\u2013 Bud & Deni
Teether & Kuya Neil\u00a0\u2013 Yearn Iv
\u00a0
Best Independent Electronic Album Or EP<\/p>\n

Essendon Airport\u00a0\u2013 Mor
Mel Blue\u00a0\u2013 No More Jackets Please
Ninajirachi\u00a0\u2013 I Love My Computer (WINNER)
Rona. \u2013 It\u2019s All Here (EP)
Shouse\u00a0\u2013 Collective Ecstasy<\/p>\n

Best Independent Dance\/\u00a0Club Single
Confidence Man, Jade\u00a0\u2013 Gossip
DJ Pgz And Yikes\u00a0\u2013 Ouss Ouss
Fisher\u00a0\u2013 Stay
Shouse\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Sunrise
Vv Pete\u00a0\u2013 Wassa Feat. Utility, Formation Boyz (WINNER)<\/p>\n

Best Independent Electronic\u00a0Single<\/p>\n

Cosmo\u2019s Midnight\u00a0\u2013 45
Keanu Nelson \u2013\u00a0Place Where I Go \/ Kapi Ngalyananni
Ninajirachi\u00a0\u2013 Ipod Touch (WINNER)
Robert Baxter & Sweatbaby\u00a0\u2013 Icy (Take It Off)
The Superjesus & The Journey\u00a0\u2013 Something Good<\/p>\n

Best Independent Punk Album Or EP
Press Club\u00a0\u2013 To All The Ones I Love
Private Function\u00a0\u2013 \u00af\\_(\u30c4)_\/\u00af
Radio Free Alice\u00a0\u2013 Empty Words Ep
These New South Whales\u00a0\u2013 Godspeed (WINNER)
Wet Kiss\u00a0\u2013 Thus Spoke The Broken Chanteuse<\/p>\n

Best Independent Heavy Album Or EP<\/p>\n

Battlesnake\u00a0\u2013 Dawn Of The Exultants And The Hunt For The Shepherd
Hands Like Houses\u00a0\u2013 Atmospherics
Npcede\u00a0\u2013 Npcede
The Maggie Pills\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Hearts Induring Lingering Loss
Thornhill\u00a0\u2013 Bodies (WINNER)<\/p>\n

Independent Album Of The Year<\/p>\n

Folk Bitch Trio\u00a0\u2013 Now Would Be A Good Time
Ninajirachi\u00a0\u2013 I Love My Computer (WINNER)
The 046\u00a0\u2013 Legacy In Motion
The Belair Lipbombs\u00a0\u2013 Again
Way Dynamic\u00a0\u2013 Massive Shoe<\/p>\n

Independent Song Of The Year<\/p>\n

Jem Cassar-Daley\u00a0\u2013 Kiss Me Like You\u2019re Leaving
Keli Holiday\u00a0\u2013 Dancing2
Ninajirachi\u00a0\u2013 Ipod Touch (WINNER)
Playlunch\u00a0\u2013 Keith
Way Dynamic\u00a0\u2013 Miffed It<\/p>\n

Independent Label Of The Year<\/p>\n

ABC Music
Astral People Recordings
College Of Knowledge
Mushroom Music\u00a0
NLV Records (WINNER)<\/p>\n

Independent Publicity Team Of The Year<\/p>\n

Cult Logic\u00a0\u2013 Ocean Alley, Love Balloon
Mushroom Music\u00a0\u2013 Bliss N Eso, The Moon (The Light Side)
Mushroom Music\u00a0\u2013 Wilsn, Bloom
Twnty Three\u00a0\u2013 Folk Bitch Trio, Now Would Be A Good Time (WINNER)
Twnty Three\u00a0\u2013 Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer<\/p>\n

Independent Producer Of The Year<\/p>\n

Angus Stone\u00a0\u2013 Dope Lemon, Golden Wolf
Benjamin Stewart\u00a0\u2013 Slowly Slowly, Forgiving Spree
Dylan Young\u00a0\u2013 Way Dynamic, Massive Shoe
Nick DiDia\u00a0\u2013 Ocean Alley, Love Balloon
Nina Wilson\u00a0\u2013 Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer (WINNER)<\/p>\n

\n\t2026 Outstanding Achievement Award<\/p>\n

\n\tSebastian Chase (WINNER)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With five wins, Ninajirachi was untouchable at the 2026 AIR Awards, presented Thursday evening (July 31) at Adelaide…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":641864,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[10546,74839,88,216],"class_list":["post-795070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-awards","tag-bbnews","tag-entertainment","tag-music"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/795070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=795070"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/795070\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/641864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=795070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=795070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=795070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}