Triple J have announced the winners of their annual J Awards, and local star Stella Donnelly is among the winners, adding yet another trophy to her expanding shelf.
A.B. Original took out the prestigious Album of the Year category for their debut album Reclaim Australia. Reclaim Australia documents the problems facing Australia’s Indigenous peoples with ferocity. Drawing on their heritage as proud Yorta Yorta and Ngarrindjeri men, Briggs and Trials don’t mess around, their aim is to educate as well as agitate. Reclaim Australia challenges you and makes you see the world in a different way.
Triple J’s music director, Nick Findlay, has said of the record, “Every year we are lucky enough to experience a swathe of incredible Australian records, but the last 12 months in particular has seen some of the finest local releases in years. Despite this, it’s hard to look past the raw, confronting and empowering energy that Briggs and Trials have mastered on Reclaim Australia; it’s impact has been long-standing, incredibly significant and long overdue.”
Double J Artist of the Year went to Jen Cloher. Double J have said “Jen Cloher is more than just a singer-songwriter. She’s a mentor, business owner, champion for up-and-coming artists and a voice of reason in an often complex industry. With I Manage My Music, she helps artists navigate making a living through their music. With Milk! Records, she’s released albums from Fraser A Gorman, The Finks and more. As an advocate for the visibility and success of women in the music industry, she’s a trailblazer. Let’s not forget she also released a truly brilliant record, her fourth and finest work to date. Self-titled, it’s a deeply personal record about long-distance relationships and a love-letter to this country and the many fine artists who work here. There was simply no way we couldn’t acknowledge Jen Cloher’s services to Australian music in 2017.”
Perhaps most controversially, Client Liaison grabbed the award for Music Video of the Year beating Kirin J Callinan‘s Big Enough. Their video for A Foreign Affair (feat. Tina Arena) scored them the award. Directed by Tim White, it’s the ultimate in-flight video, from the cinematic style of the sky-high opening credits, the clip takes you away for four-and-a-half minutes of first-class luxury, with the gloriously vibrant aesthetic pairing perfectly with Client Liaison’s signature cool.
Unearthed Artist of the Year went to our very own Stella Donnelly, who’s had a massive year this year. Things have gone from zero to 100, and as well as booking in support sets with heavy hitters like San Cisco, Ali Barter and Polish Club, Stella put in a star-making turn on the Unearthed stage at BIGSOUND, wowing the crowd of industry bigwigs and punters with her ability to dissect raw subject matter with wit and breathtaking incisiveness. This is no more apparent than on her momentous song Boys Will Be Boys, where Stella’s timely confrontation of toxic masculinity and sexual predation has earned her international praise. We think Stella will be needing a bigger shelf!
Congratulations to A.B. Original, Jen Cloher, Client Liaison and Stella Donnelly, winners of the 2017 J Awards.
