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Ninajirachi could fill her boots at the 2026 AIR Awards, for which the EDM star and her support cast are shortlisted in 10 categories included the coveted independent album and single of the year.
With the release last year of her debut full-length album, I Love My Computer, the electronic music producer and DJ has been flying high both on the international festivals and awards circuits. Along the way, Ninajirachi (real name: Nina Wilson) nabbed three wins at the 2025 ARIA Awards, won 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 & Young Global Songwriting Competition for “iPod Touch.” On the live front, she realized a dream by performing at Coachella 2026, with another North American tour to come.
Expect another gold rush at the AIR Awards, to be presented Thursday, July 30 at Adelaide Town Hall, for an invite-only industry event.
Also on the night, Ninajirachi’s label home, Nina Las Vegas’ NLV Records, is shortlisted for independent label of the year, one of the top categories. NLV Records will square off with ABC Music, Astral People Recordings, College Of Knowledge and Mushroom Music.
Other nominees, announced today, May 14, include Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers, Spacey Jane, Jem Cassar-Daley, Confidence Man, FISHER, John Butler, Keli Holiday, and Stella Donnelly.
The trophies will once again be handed out on the penultimate evening of AIR’s Indie-Con Australia Conference and A2IM’s Indie Week Australian Edition, presented this year at Mercury Cinema and Nexus Arts from July 29 – 31.
“The South Australian Government is proud to support Indie‑Con Australia and the AIR Awards,” comments minister for arts Kyam Maher MLC, “and to welcome nominees, industry leaders and delegates from across Australia and around the world to South Australia.”
As previously reported, AIR has, for the first time, split its dance and electronic recognition into more clearly defined lanes. A new best independent dance/club single category will spotlight club-driven tracks — including house, techno, trance, drum & bass and garage — with eligibility requiring a DJ service component.
Meanwhile, best independent electronic single fetes electronic releases not designed primarily for club settings, separating festival-floor material from broader electronic artistry.
The category formerly known as best independent dance or electronica album or EP category has been renamed best independent electronic album or EP to align with the updated single framework.
John Butler – Prism
Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time
Liz Stringer – The Second High
Melbourne Ska Orchestra – The Ballad Of Monte Loco
Sons Of The East – Sons
Best Independent Jazz Album Or EP
Natalie Gauci – Pictures Of Mars
Phia – When I’m Holding You, I’m Holding Me
Temporary Blessings – Sumbisori
The Cat Empire – Bird In Paradise
Touch Sensitiive – In Paradise
Best Independent Classical Album Or Ep
Andrea Lam – Piano Diary
Australian String Quartet – Vanessa Perica, String Quartet No.1 No Feeling Is Final
Joseph Tawadros – The Forgotten Path To Humanity
Rose Riebl – Dust
William Barton, Omega Ensemble – Gift – Our Breath Of Life
Best Independent Children’s Album Or EP
Diver City – Weekend Baby
Emma Memma – Dance Island Party
Justine Clarke – Mimi’s Symphony
Teeny Tiny Stevies – Brain Fart
The Wiggles, The Tree Of Wisdom – The Tree Of Wisdom
Best Independent Country Album Or Ep Emily Lubitz – Two Black Horses
Hayley Jensen – Country Soul
Imogen Clark – Choking On Fuel
Ruby Gill – Some Kind Of Control
Wade Forster – Gooseneck Party
Best Independent Soul/Rnb Album Or EP
Bumpy – Kanana
Cookin’ On 3 Burners – Cookin’ The Books
Don West – Give Me All Your Love
Felivand – My Body’s My True North
Wilsn – Bloom
Best Independent Pop Album Or EP
Georgia Knight – Beanpole
Montaigne – It’s Hard To Be A Fish
Stella Donnelly – Love And Fortune
The Tullamarines – Safety Blanket
Way Dynamic – Massive Shoe
Best Independent Rock Album Or EP
Playlunch – Sex Ed
Spacey Jane – If That Makes Sense
Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers – Glory
The Belair Lipbombs – Again
The Southern River Band – Easier Said Than Done
Independent Marketing Team Of The Year
Mushroom Music – Bliss N Eso, The Moon (The Light Side)
Nlv Records, The Orchard – Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer
Playlunch, Abc Music – Playlunch, Keith
Secretly Group – Folk Bitch Trio, Now Would Be A Good Time
The Annex – Ocean Alley, Love Balloon
Independent Music Video Of The Year
Ball Bass John – Ninajirachi, Fuck My Computer
Bridgette Winten, Folk Bitch Trio – Folk Bitch Trio, Cathode Ray
Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore – Miss Kaninna, Backstreets
Tas Wilson, James Adams – Jem Cassar-Daley, Kiss Me Like You’re Leaving
Jasper Van Daatselaar – Way Dynamic, People Settle Down
Independent Mix, Studio Or Mastering Engineer Of The Year
Becki Whitton, Timothy Harvey, Hannah Cameron – Ruby Gill, Some Kind Of Control
Leon Zervos – Ocean Alley, Love Balloon
Michael Carpenter – Imogen Clark, Choking On Fuel
Stephen Mowat – Wilsn, Bloom
Thomas Purcell Pka Wave Racer – Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer
Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year – Presented By PPCA
Folk Bitch Trio
Georgia Knight
Rageflower
Rona.
Yes Boone
Best Independent Hip Hop Album Or EP
Bliss N Eso – The Moon (The Light Side)
Devaura – Vol 1. Learning In Public
Elsy Wameyo – Wameyo
Jamaica Moana – Bud & Deni
Teether & Kuya Neil – Yearn Iv
Best Independent Electronic Album Or EP
Essendon Airport – Mor
Mel Blue – No More Jackets Please
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer
Rona. – It’s All Here (EP)
Shouse – Collective Ecstasy
Best Independent Dance/ Club Single
Confidence Man, Jade – Gossip
DJ Pgz And Yikes – Ouss Ouss
Fisher – Stay
Shouse – Sunrise
Vv Pete – Wassa Feat. Utility, Formation Boyz
Best Independent Electronic Single
Cosmo’s Midnight – 45
Keanu Nelson – Place Where I Go / Kapi Ngalyananni
Ninajirachi – Ipod Touch
Robert Baxter & Sweatbaby – Icy (Take It Off)
The Superjesus & The Journey – Something Good
Best Independent Punk Album Or EP
Press Club – To All The Ones I Love
Private Function – ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Radio Free Alice – Empty Words Ep
These New South Whales – Godspeed
Wet Kiss – Thus Spoke The Broken Chanteuse
Best Independent Heavy Album Or EP
Battlesnake – Dawn Of The Exultants And The Hunt For The Shepherd
Hands Like Houses – Atmospherics
Npcede – Npcede
The Maggie Pills – Hearts Induring Lingering Loss
Thornhill – Bodies
Independent Album Of The Year
Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer
The 046 – Legacy In Motion
The Belair Lipbombs – Again
Way Dynamic – Massive Shoe
Independent Song Of The Year
Jem Cassar-Daley – Kiss Me Like You’re Leaving
Keli Holiday – Dancing2
Ninajirachi – Ipod Touch
Playlunch – Keith
Way Dynamic – Miffed It
Independent Label Of The Year
ABC Music
Astral People Recordings
College Of Knowledge
Mushroom Music
NLV Records
Independent Publicity Team Of The Year
Cult Logic – Ocean Alley, Love Balloon
Mushroom Music – Bliss N Eso, The Moon (The Light Side)
Mushroom Music – Wilsn, Bloom
Twnty Three – Folk Bitch Trio, Now Would Be A Good Time
Twnty Three – Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer
Independent Producer Of The Year
Angus Stone – Dope Lemon, Golden Wolf
Benjamin Stewart – Slowly Slowly, Forgiving Spree
Dylan Young – Way Dynamic, Massive Shoe
Nick DiDia – Ocean Alley, Love Balloon
Nina Wilson – Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer
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