AIM Awards Announces 2023 Nominees

Returning to London on September 26th, the AIM Independent Music Awards return this year with a vibrant breadth of new talent across the UK’s independent scene. Spotlighting the stars of the future ahead of other ceremonies, the 2023 edition boasts a stellar line-up of exciting nominees. 

Among this year’s star-studded list are several multiple nominees, with pop act RAYE and experimental dance artist Shygirl leading the pack at three nods apiece. Storming in with an impressive two nominees are British jazz quintet Ezra collective, genre-defier Kelela, London-based musician Obongjayar, and indie newcomer Jessica Winter. Previous award winner, Little Simz returns to battle it out for the coveted ‘Best Independent Album’ against industry frontrunners Rina Sawayama and Nova Twins.

Bringing attention to this year’s rising names, AIM’s ‘One To Watch’ award (in association with BBC Music Introducing) returns with nods to Notion 92 cover star FLOWOVLOVE, MasterPeace, and Jessica Winter. 2021’s ‘OTW’ winner ENNY will be back this year in the running for ‘Best Independent EP/ Mixtape’ alongside yunè pinku, Saint Joshua, and Bellah. 

Once again, the decision for ‘Best Live Performer’ will be put to music lovers around the world, who can cast their vote for their favourite act here. 

See below for AIM Awards 2023 nominees:

UK Independent Breakthrough

Ezra Collective (Partisan Records)

I.Jordan (Ninja Tune)

Overmono (XL Recordings)

Shygirl (Because Music)

Suki Waterhouse (Sub Pop)

Best Independent Track (Meta)

Connie Constance – ‘Hurt You’ (Play It Again Sam)

ENNY – Charge It (FAMM)

Four Tet – ‘Three Drums’ (Text Records)

Makaya McCraven – ‘Dream Another’ (XL Recordings)

Overmono – ‘Good Lies’ (XL Recordings)

RAYE, 070 Shake – ‘Escapism’ (Human Re Sources)

Shygirl – ‘Shlut’ (Because Music)

Sudan Archives – ‘Selfish Soul’ (Stones Throw Records)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – ‘Spitting Off The Edge of The World’ feat. Perfume Genius (Secretly Canadian)

Yves Tumor – ‘Echolalia’ (Warp Records)

Best Independent EP/ Mixtape 

Bellah – ‘Adultsville’ (Base ‘N’ Rebulz X Marathon Music Group)

ENNY – ‘We Go Again’ (FAMM)

Jessica Winter – ‘Limerance’ (Lucky Number)

Saint Joshua – ‘EP2’(Ditto Music)

yunè pinku – ‘BABYLON IX’ (PLATOON)

Best Independent Album 

Avelino – God Save The Streets (More Music Records/ OddChild Music)

Kelela – Raven (Warp Records)

Little Simz – No Thank You (Forever Living Originals)

Nova Twins – Supernova (Marshall Records)

Obongjayar – Some Nights I Dream of Doors (September Recordings)

Oliver Sim – Hideous Bastard (Young)

RAYE – My 21st Century Blues (Human Re Sources)

Rina Sawayama – Hold The Girl (Dirty Hit)

Shygirl – Nymph (Because Music)

Wu-Lu – LOGGERHEAD (Warp Records)

Best Independent Remix 

Sega Bodega Remix (One Little Independent) – Björk – ‘Ovuke (feat. Shygirl)’

Soulwax Remix (Deewee / Because Music) – Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul – ‘Cliche’

Nu:Tone Remix (Hospital Records) – GLXY – ‘Butterfly Effect (feat. Hugh Hardie & Visionobi)’

Jamie XX remix (Young) – Oliver Sim – ‘GMT’

Boys Noize (Secretly Canadian) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – ‘Wolf’

One To Watch (BBC Music Introducing)

Jessica Winter (Lucky Number)

Juice Menace (Supernature)

FLOWEROVLOVE (FAE GRP)

Laughta (MDLBEAST)

Master Peace (PMR)

Best Independent Video (Vevo)

Ezra Collective – ‘No Confusion ft. Kojey Radical’ (Partisan Records)

Kelela – ‘Enough For Love’ (Warp Records)

Obongjayar – ‘I Wish It Was Me (Live)’ (September Recordings)

RAYE, 070 Shake – ‘Escapism.’ (Human Re Sources)

Wesley Joseph – ‘MONSOON’ (EEVILTWINN)