ARIA Awards 2011 Recap
The 2011 ARIA Awards were presented last night in a star studded ceremony held at Allphones Arena in Sydney Olympic Park before a capacity audience comprised of members of industry heavy weights and music fans.
The event kicked off with a “hair raising” performance by West Australian MC, DRAPHT and included stunning performances by GOTYE and KIMBRA, BOY & BEAR, ART vs SCIENCE, GURRUMUL with MISSY HIGGINS, CUT COPY, THE LIVING END and GUY SEBASTIAN, as well as a surprise appearance by DELTA GOODREM who performed a moving tribute to those artists who have passed away over the ARIA AWARDS’ 25 year history.
It was a special night for ARIA HALL OF FAME recipients, KYLIE MINOGUE and THE WIGGLES, both of whom shared the night with their family and friends. PRIME MINISTER JULIA GILLARD inducted our international pop princess, KYLIE MINOGUE, while Killing Time star, DAVID WENHAM took on the induction duties for THE WIGGLES. It was a double celebration for THE WIGGLES who also took out BEST CHILDREN’S ALBUM, their tenth, for Ukulele Baby!
Sydney quintet, BOY & BEAR, capped off a busy year by winning five ARIA AWARDS for their critically acclaimed, self-produced, debut album, Moonfire. The band, who has already won accolades like Rolling Stone’s Artist to Watch of 2010 and triple j’s Unearthed Artist of the Year, won BEST ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST – SINGLE, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST – ALBUM, BEST GROUP and the coveted ALBUM OF THE YEAR for 2011.
Capping off an extraordinary year, GOTYE has taken out the much coveted ARIA AWARDS in the categories of SINGLE OF THE YEAR, BEST POP RELEASE and BEST MALE ARTIST adding to the three Awards (PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, BEST VIDEO and ENGINEER OF THE YEAR) already bestowed at the ARIA Awards Nominations Event in early October, all for the hit single, Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra).
New Zealand born, KIMBRA, who rose to fame in 2011 for her work with GOTYE, has taken out her first solo ARIA AWARD as BEST FEMALE ARTIST for her debut album, Cameo Lover.
Singer/songwriter KASEY CHAMBERS has proven that she is Australia’s official Queen of Country Music taking out her ninth BEST COUNTRY ALBUM Award for her 5th solo album, Little Bird.
In an ARIA AWARDS first, the legendary BILLY THORPE has posthumously won an ARIA AWARD for his final masterpiece, Tangier. Collecting the ARIA AWARD on the night were Billy’s wife, Lynn, and daughters Lauren and Rusty.
Two-time ARIA AWARD winners, THE AUDREYS, collected their third BEST BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM, for their third album, Sometimes the Stars.
Sydney three-piece, ART VS SCIENCE, who in 2008 were named triple j’s Unearthed Artist of the Year, tonight added their first ARIA AWARD to their mantles for their debut album, The Experiment, taking out the Award for BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE.
West Australian MC, DRAPHT, whose album The Life of Riley debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Album Chart, has taken out his first ARIA AWARD for BEST URBAN ALBUM.
Three time ARIA Award winners, THE LIVING END, added two more pointy trophies to their collection taking out the hotly contested BEST ROCK ALBUM Award for their 6th long player, The End is Just the Beginning Repeating. The hard-rocking threesome also took out the inaugural ARIA Public Voted Award, presented by HP and Intel, in the category of MOST POPULAR AUSTRALIAN LIVE ARTIST.
Radio and TV funny men, and all round nice guys, HAMISH & ANDY have won their second BEST COMEDY RELEASE ARIA Award, this time for their Celebrating 50 Glorious Years Album.
Sydney hard rock outfit, FRONT END LOADER, won their first ARIA Award today taking out the BEST HARD ROCK/HEAVY METAL ALBUM AWARD and Melbourne dance outfit, CUT COPY, also took out their first Award for BEST DANCE RELEASE.
Taking out the Awards for HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM of 2011 was ALTIYAN CHILDS for his self titled debut album and four-time ARIA No. 1 Chart Award and ARIA Award winner, GUY SEBASTIAN took out the HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE Award for Who’s That Girl?
Last year’s BEST ROCK ALBUM winner, BIRDS OF TOKYO, took out the Award for MOST POPULAR AUSTRALIAN ARTIST, and (almost) honorary Australian, P!NK, took the honours as MOST POPULAR INTERNATIONAL ARTIST as voted by the Australian public.
See the full list of 2011 ARIA Award winners after the jump: Continue reading »
Video: Timomatic – “Set It Off”
This is the moment Timomatic has been toiling towards for years now. Beginning his journey on So You Think You Can Dance, Timo parlayed the momentum from the talent show in to a lead role in Fame The Musical, before popping-and-locking his way back on to television as a finalist on Australia’s Got Talent 2011.
Now signed to Sony Music, the dancer/singer is finally set to realise his dream with the release of his debut single “Set It Off” – set for release this Friday. Check out the official music video for “Set It Off” below:
Nike Sportswear Housewarming Party
An oceanfront mansion in Bronte played host to Nike’s recent Housewarming Party where the sportswear brand previewed its Winter12 collection and celebrated the iconic Air Force 1 sneaker – which will clock its 30th anniversary next year.
Tacos, burgers and beers were ferried around to guests – which included NBA baller Patty Mills, footy star Jarryd Hayne and Sydney FC’s marquee player Brett Emerton – while artful product displays fuelled conversation and DJ Nino Brown weaved the night’s soundtrack.
A mammoth pair of sculpted legs, sporting equally huge AF1s, dwarfed party-goers in the courtyard and an oversized Nike shoebox played display table to a colourful showcase of the classic sneaker. Then there were the comically large AF1s guests were invited to slip on for an awesome photo opp…
Nike sure have made an art out of the media preview. Check out photos from the night after the jump: Continue reading »
Audio: Awa – “Midnight” [Surreal Remix]
Awa is a Maori musician bringing the indigenous sounds of Maori show bands, Poly funk and urban Pacific music into the future with his smooth blend of R&B, soul and hip hop flavours.
His Manuka honey-sweet vocals were first heard with his group Nesian Mystik, the six-strong collective that emerged from the Smokefree Pacifica Beats competition and went on to storm the New Zealand pop charts. Now, Awa is taking the bold step of introducing himself as a solo artist, with two box-fresh releases set to drop in 2011.
First up is Native Intel, a bilingual EP that explores Awa’s deepening relationship with Te Reo Maori, set to a 21st century backdrop of R&B, hip hop and funk. Native Intel will be followed by Awa’s debut album, which sees him join forces with a who’s who of Aotearoa talent.
Stream or download Awa’s latest track “Midnight” [Surreal Remix] below:
Mixtape: Jupiter ENT – ‘Brown’s The New Black’
Perth duo Jupiter ENT – who have toured with everyone from Akon to Eve – today release their debut mixtape Brown’s The New Black. Download the project here and check back next week for our interview with the boys from Jupiter ENT.
PUMA Ink On Suede
PUMA have dropped a new collection of cool kicks with a limited edition tattoo artist collection on their classic Suede edition. The PUMA Ink On Suede collection features three styles created by Italian tattoo artists – Davide De Stefano, Heinz and Rino Valente - who were given free range to design what they wished.
Davide draws from a black and gold world. The graphic sockliner motif carries through to the lining and laces, which feature a gold foil application. Heinz’s take is an ivory Suede with a black pop Formstrip and graphic laces and lining. The sockliners feature his namesake against multi-colored skulls and dragons, floral motifs and spray paint effects. And Rino mashes up symbols, skulls, and foliage effects. His Suede is grey with graphic laces and brown laces, complemented by a graphic lining and fully coloured sockliner.
Browse these limited edition kicks after the jump: Continue reading »
WIN TICKETS to THE NEW MOTION PARTY powered by HYUNDAI ACCENT!
We are giving YOU and 3 friends the chance to catch ALOE BLACC, MARVIN PRIEST and RUBY ROSE live at THE NEW MOTION PARTY powered by HYUNDAI ACCENT. With the promise of some additional, mysterious highlights and an exclusive venue still to be announced, THE NEW MOTION PARTY will be a guaranteed gig-to remember for the launch of the Hyundai Accent.
To win your way in and take three of your mates to a new style of party, email your name and postal address to comps@rhymeandreason.com.au by midday 25th October 2011 [Sydney residents only].
Read more about THE NEW MOTION PARTY powered by HYUNDAI ACCENT after the jump: Continue reading »
Exclusive: Israel Cruz Interview
Australia’s go-to R&B hit maker discusses signing with U.S. rap behemoth Cash Money Records, cultivating Australia as an urban music hot-spot, his partnership with Ministry of Sound, and the politics behind the music. Interview by Dominic Di Francesco.
You’ve been spending quite a bit of time in the US over the past few years. What have you been up to over there?
At first I was writing and producing for other artists, mainly for Jay Sean, and then during that process I got interest as an artist to sign over there. We had a few different labels bidding for me and ended up doing a deal with Cash Money. However, at this time I think I’m going to try and get the whole NuFirm set-up [in Australia] and go back over there and try to sell off the whole thing as a label. There’s a lot of interest at the moment, so it’s a good time. So rather than just doing the artist thing I might try to do the label thing.
Your contract with Cash Money is an artist deal?
It’s me as an artist, but Cash Money are signing everyone right now. It’s still the same two people running the show – that’s Slim and Baby – that are signing off on everything. So it’s hard at this point in time. Even Jay’s finding it hard. I don’t think they expected to be as big as they are now and, for me, they don’t have the infrastructure to cater for all the artists. If you’ve only got one big artist, then that’s fair enough. But when you’ve got Nicki Minaj, Drake, Tyga, and you’ve got only two people signing off on all the deals… it’s kind of hard. It’s like a jungle over there at Cash Money.
So the artists are fighting for the attention of their own label…
Exactly. So the artists do mixtapes and stuff like that [to create their own momentum], but I want to take a different route because the mixtape circuit is crazy. I was like, well, let me just go back home and get a label set-up and focus my attention and energy towards building that.
Have you had much interaction with Baby and Slim at Cash Money?
Yeah, of course. Slim and Baby, they both love what I do and I’m tight with a few of the other guys like Corey Gunz and Jay Sean, obviously, who is one of my closest friends. So we’re right in there in the family, it’s not just some affiliation.
I obviously take my music seriously and at this point in time, the move that I’m making – focusing on Australia and the talent that we’ve got here – is the best move. Then we can start a movement from here and take it international. My main aim is to make Australia one of the key places for artists to come for production and songwriting.
What insights have you taken away from your experiences in the US that you are trying to implement with NuFirm?
Not many people have that luxury to write with a lot of the guys over in the States, the top-liners, the guys that are making the hits. So I’ve been fortunate and blessed enough to surround myself with them. It’s worked in my favour spending half the year there and the other half here. I’m able to go over there and listen to what’s going on then come back here and create stuff without the pressure of being a producer trying to make it over there.
The joint venture that I have right now with Ministry of Sound is perfect because we can release whenever we want. With Elen Levon, I just signed her and recorded “Naughty” in April, so we were able to push her out straight away.
You’ve done the major label and independent thing – and now you’ve partnered with Ministry of Sound. How did your situation with Ministry of Sound come about and what prompted you to take that route?
When I was with Sony/Roadshow, there were a lot of problems during that era. The powers that be, the people that made the decision, weren’t really fans of urban music – as you also found out – and we tried our best to try and cater to the fans. But people were under too much pressure to make the bosses happy and they weren’t able to take risks. So back then I was making music that I was dumbing down. All the stuff that I thought was dope, that I thought was on par with the US, just got locked away. I could never release that stuff over here because the people who were calling the shots wanted to play it safe.
Ministry of Sound are the leaders in dance music in Australia and across the world, and music has come to a point where dance, R&B and hip-hop have all combined. So as I was progressing with the music and that change in climate, Tim McGee, the head of Ministry of Sound in Australia, was into the idea of joining forces with R&B and hip-hop and he had wanted to do that for a while. So when we crossed paths I showed him everything we were doing and he was like, “Let’s do it!”
It’s cool because we’re like the first official R&B/hip-hop label out here that’s properly funded, has distribution, marketing… everything that we need. So it’s really exciting times, especially for us. You’ve been around for a while and I’ve been around for a while and we’ve always looked towards this time. Back then I was just the kid trying to do stuff and I kept approaching people like, someone should do this properly – a properly funded label – but no one was willing enough, no one was brave enough. And we all had that syndrome of, ‘Oh, it’s too hard’. So I decided I’d take it in my stride and try to make it happen. And thank God that it has come around now.
So you’re perfectly happy with the music you’re now making under Ministry of Sound? You don’t feel as though there is any compromise?
Man, I love all sorts of music – R&B, hip-hop, pop, dance – that’s the thing. A lot of the purists out there, musicians and stuff, I could school them on a lot of music. When I was 15 years-old I used to listen to Tchaikovsky going to sleep. This is something people don’t understand or don’t realise about me because I make “Freak Tonight” and “Party Up” and what not. But I really am the sound of music. My fan base is so broad and they’ve just come around to liking the fact that I do a lot of different styles. So I make the commercial records, the pop records I love and would want to listen to myself, then I put it out into the mainstream. But then I also make a whole bunch of mixtape records that I’ll give out for free to fans that really, really want it – so they can hear all my R&B and hip-hop stuff.
Tell me about your latest single, “Party Up”. How do you feel about the reception to the song?
I feel like it’s been good. For me, it’s not about having a #1 record. I focus on making good music that the people like. I’ve seen so many artists have so much more than me [with regards to] the deals that they get. But I haven’t needed a job since about 2004. I’ve learnt how to make money off music. I just love putting out records and I love the response “Party Up” has been getting. I feel like I’m always going to be the guy who makes these street anthems. One day, if it crosses over, thank God. But my thing is making music I like, putting it out and if the people love it – great!
Is an album currently in the works?
I want to do things a bit different. I’m aiming to do 10 singles. Unless you’re Lady GaGa or Chris Brown and flash your penis on the Internet, it’s hard to sell an album nowadays [laughing]. Because of the fact that I have the freedom to do different things within this company and infrastructure, I’m going to take advantage of that and do 10 ten singles. Let’s just do the best that we can and hopefully, for Ministry and the ones funding it, that will equal the same amount in sales as putting out an album. But they’re used to that anyway [in dance music], they’ve been doing that for years and now the industry has come around to that. While everyone else is firing people, [Ministry] is hiring more staff because they’ve learnt to live off that [structure].
Prior to signing teen sensation Elen Levon [click here to read our interview with Elen], you were developing another promising Sydney artist by the name of Miracle. However, the momentum around that project seems to have faded in recent months, despite Miracle securing a deal with Sony Music. What happened?
I don’t know if you know, but Jay Dee Springbett, the Senior Director of A&R at Sony passed away [Ed's Note: 36 year-old Springbett was found dead in his Sydney apartment this July]. In the last three months of his life he was basically trying to sabotage what I was trying to do because he wanted to sign me and sign [NuFirm]. He was kind of messing around and stuff, doing his A&R thing and I was like, ‘Nah,don’t worry about it.’ Then I signed the Ministry of Sound deal and during that time he kind of got in Miracle’s ear and was like, “Hey, you should sign with me. Don’t sign with Iz.” So he got in there and basically convinced Miracle to sign directly to Sony. There was no straight-forward reason why Miracle should do that, but he decided he was going to. Obviously, he didn’t expect Jay Dee to die in between time.
So back in April, Miracle asked to sign directly with Sony – and get off NuFirm – and I agreed because you have to want to leave or do something wrong by me in order for me to let you go. And Mircale hadn’t done anything wrong, he just wanted to leave, so I let him go. But between then and now, Sony’s been taking their time with their paperwork and all that, and the poor dude isn’t able to do anything until that paperwork [is finalised]. But it was his own decision. I don’t like starting careers off and then seeing them go this way. It’s happened a few times before and it’s not a fulfilling thing.
Watch Israel’s “Party Up” music video below:
Win an Autographed Jason Derulo Album!
Rhyme & Reason Magazine and Warner Music Australia are giving 3 lucky readers the chance to win an autographed copy of Jason Derulo‘s new album Future History. For your chance to win, simply email your name and postal address to comps@rhymeandreason.com.au by the 21st October 2011.
Jason is heading back to Australia and will be entertaining his fans with a special one off in-store appearance and performance at Westfield Parramatta on Sunday October 16. He will be performing five of his chart-smashing hits and then conduct a signing where fans will have the chance for Jason to sign their very own copy of his brand new studio album “Future History”, which features the hits “Don’t Wanna Go Home” and “It Girl”.
As part of Derulo’s Australian promo tour he will also be performing on X-Factor on the 18th of October and Sunrise on the 19th of October.
Future History is in stores now.
Exclusive: Elen Levon Interview
“There’s no play time,” says Elen Levon of life since releasing her debut single “Naughty”. “You wake up in the morning and you’re on, it’s go time, there’s no time to breathe,” she notes of her relentless recording, performing and promotional duties.
The ambitious 17 year-old is juggling a budding music career with her high school studies – torn between the two but insistent on conquering both. “It’s hard to be devoted to both because you can’t give half-half to either,” laments the Sydneysider. “You’ve really got to be devoted to school, especially in Year 12, and it’s not that fun when you really want to be on stage. I want to give my all to being an artist, but education is so important.
“It’s been hard to adjust to this new lifestyle, and I guess I will at some point, but I’m not used to it yet.” In a move to better manage the balancing act between school and music, Levon this month left her friends at Reddam House School in Bondi to begin home schooling.
Chaperoned by her mother [“My mum’s very supportive of everything I do”], the pint-sized performer is determined to make the most of her career momentum despite the inherent strains of its lifestyle. “I’m definitely still having fun with it and staying focused and ambitious,” reassures the teen.
Fueling that ambition is the fact Levon is on the precipice of realising a dream she has been inadvertently preparing for since a toddler – to be a superstar. “I’ve been training since I was about 3 years old, going to ballet classes and things, so I guess I’ve always been working towards this.”
Landing a management deal at age 13 and signing a recording contract with dance powerhouse Ministry of Sound [via singer/songwriter/producer Israel Cruz’s NuFirm label], the songbird this week debuted at #5 on the ARIA Australian Singles Chart with “Naughty”.
“It’s not really about being raunchy or crazy,” insists Elen of her electro-pop lead single, quashing any innuendo its title may lend itself to. “It’s more about expressing yourself – being that fun girl or fun guy. It’s about letting go of your inhibitions, not caring what other people think. I call it a care-free song.”
“Naughty” – while definitely carefree and catchy – wildly understates Levon’s talents. A trained pianist, budding songwriter and powerful vocalist, there is more to this teenager than the choreographed moves and autotuned vocals of her first impression. “I definitely write. I love writing,” shares the songbird. “And I started playing piano when I was about 6 or 7 years-old. I did all the grades. I haven’t input a lot of that into my music yet, but I definitely will when I get the chance.
“At the moment [my sound is] R&B/Pop, but progressively it will change into all different styles, as I really do love all genres of music. I definitely just want to make timeless music and I think timeless music consists of all genres.”
According to Israel Cruz, who signed Elen to his NuFirm imprint earlier this year, the youngster is a natural in the recording studio. Learning of the up-start through her management team, Cruz recalls their first encounter with excitement. “I wrote a record and asked [Elen's manager] if she can come in to sing the hook. He said she’ll be there in 30 minutes. She arrived in 30 minutes and 30 minutes later the hook was done – and she got it perfect, ad-libs and all, in 30 minutes,” remembers Cruz, who has written and produced hit records for the likes of Jessica Mauboy and Jay Sean.
“I told her manager, ‘Shit bro, you’ve got something really, really special here – and for her to be just 17 is amazing.’ There are alot of 17 year-old girls that look pretty, that can sing and can move, but when I press record will they get nervous? Will they understand timing? That’s what I look for.”
In addition to working with Israel, who crafted “Naughty”, Elen has also hit the studio with James Ash of the Rogue Traders, Brian McFadden, Robert Conley, and has writing sessions scheduled with Kylie Minogue collaborator Luciana next month. “I’d love to work with Tinie Tempah,” she adds, noting an appreciation for Hip-Hop. “I love a lot of MCs.”
Interview by Dominic Di Francesco.
Watch Elen Levon’s “Naughty” music video below:
