Fontaines D.C., Ezra Collective, Shygirl and Wet Leg are among the big names leading the charge at this year’s 15th edition of the AIM Awards.

Since its debut, the AIM Independent Music Awards has been a love letter to the UK’s independent music scene; the artists making noise outside the major label machine, shaping culture on their own terms. This year’s edition, landing on September 23rd, promises the same mix of breakout brilliance and established icons, with south London jazz trailblazers Ezra Collective, experimental electronic duo Fcukers, R&B wordsmith Hope Tala and French-Senegalese innovator anaiis all bagging two nominations apiece.

 

If the Best Independent Album shortlist is anything to go by, it’s going to be a fiercely contested night. Bon Iver’s Sable, Fable and Fontaines D.C.’s Romance bring big, critically adored energy, while Ezra Collective’s Dance, No One’s Watching keeps the jazz momentum going after their Mercury Prize win. Hope Tala’s Hope Handwritten is in the mix alongside Maverick Sabre’s soulful Burn The Right Things Down, Moonchild Sanelly’s club-ready Full Moon, and genre-bending releases from Nala Sinephro, Oklou, John Glacier, and TAAHLIA.

The Best Independent Track category doubles down on variety, from anaiis and Grupo Cosmo’s ‘B.P.E’ to Ezra Collective’s collab with Yazmin Lacey, ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’. There’s indie grit from Wunderhorse, bittersweet lyricism from Orla Gartland, alt-rock chaos from Wet Leg, and Yannis & The Yaw linking with the late Tony Allen for ‘Rain Can’t Reach Us’.

 

If you’re looking for the next big thing, One To Watch is where it’s at. This year’s tips range from the genre-fluid poetry of anaiis, to BINA’s neo-soul jazz inflections and Chloe Qisha’s glossy alt-pop. Brixton’s Cristale brings razor-sharp wordplay to the list, while NYC duo Fcukers inject some anarchic club energy to the nominations.

EPs and mixtapes get their flowers too, with nominations for Fcukers’ Baggy$$, MRCY’s VOLUME 1, Nectar Woode’s Head Above Water, Shygirl’s Club Shy Room 2, and Zino Vinci’s The Late Bloomer making the cut. 

 

Once again, the decision for ‘Best Live Performer’ will be put to music lovers around the world, who can vote for their favourite act here. Additionally, following its introduction at last year’s awards, the ‘Best Independent Record Store’ is also open to public vote, allowing fans to have their say on their favourite grassroots venues. Entries can be submitted here. 

See below for AIM Awards 2025 nominees:

 

Best Independent Track

anaiis, Grupo Cosmo – ‘B.P.E’ (5dB Records)

Ezra Collective, Yazmin Lacey – ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’ (Partisan Records)

JIALING – ‘Freaky Horns’ (Clasico Records)

Jim Legxacy – ‘father’ (XL Recordings)

Jorja Smith, Maverick Sabre – ‘Loving You’ (FAMM)

Miso Extra, Metronomy – ‘Good Kisses’ (Transgressive Records)

Orla Gartland – ‘Mine’ (New Friends Music)

Wet Leg – ‘Catch These Fists’ (Domino Recording Co.)

Wunderhorse – ‘The Rope’ (Communion Records)

Yannis & The Yaw, Tony Allen – ‘Rain Can’t Reach Us’ (Transgressive Records)

 

Best Independent Album

Bon Iver – Sable, Fable (Jagjaguwar)

Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching (Partisan Records)

Fontaines DC – Romance (XL Recordings)

Hope Tala – Hope Handwritten (Big Family Music)

John Glacier – Like A Ribbon (Young)

Maverick Sabre – Burn The Right Things Down (FAMM)

Moonchild Sanelly – Full Moon (Transgressive Records)

Nala Sinephro – Endlessness (Warp Records)

Oklou – Choke Enough (Oklou / True Panther Records)

TAAHLIA – Gramarye (untitled (recs))

 

UK Independent Breakthrough (in association with Amazon Music)

corto.alto (Ninja Tune)

Fat Dog (Domino Recording Co.)

Glass Beams (Ninja Tune)

Hope Tala (Big Family Music)

Sara Landry (HEKATE Records)

 

Best Independent EP/Mixtape

Fcukers – Baggy$$ (Technicolour Records)

MRCY – VOLUME 1 (Dead Oceans)

Nectar Woode – Head Above Water (Communion Music)

Shygirl – Club Shy Room 2 (Because Music)

Zino Vinci – The Late Bloomer (Bawne London / Believe)

 

Best Independent Remix

Aluna – ‘Heatstroke’ (Paul Woolford remix) (Mad Decent / Because Music)

Home Counties, TATYANA – ‘Uptight’ – TATYANA remix (Submarine Cat Records)

Koreless – ‘Seven’ (Jorg Kuning Bicton Barns Remix) (Young)

Nilufer Yanya – ‘Just A Western’ (Boy Harsher Remix) (Ninja Tune)

Rosie Lowe – ‘Gratitudes’ (D’Monk remix) (Blue Flowers Music)

 

One To Watch

anaiis (5dB Records)

BINA. (TLD Records)

Chloe Qisha (VLF Records / Believe)

Cristale (Believe)

Fcukers (Ninja Tune)