Snubs and Surprises at the 2023 ARIA Awards

Troye Sivan owned the night at the ARIAs, signing autographs on the red carpet, presenting an award and snagging four of his own.

The 2023 ARIA Awards are in the history books, and the winners’ pointy trophies are en route to their new homes, soon to be tucked away. Any bubbly spilled on the floors of Sydney’s Hordern Pavillion (or the various afterparties) has surely evaporated as the mercury climbs.

Held Wednesday Nov. 15, the ARIAs caps a busy year in music, and for its winners and nominees, a launch pad into the summer festivals and gig circuit.

Troye Sivan cleaned up with four awards, extending his career tally of ARIA wins to six. On Nov. 10, the international hitmaker received his first two Grammy nominations – best pop dance recording and best music video, both for “Rush.” The song reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart in September. The Grammys will be presented on Feb. 4, 2024.

Genesis Owusu nailed another hat trick, converting three of seven ARIA nominations. Owusu wasn’t in the room, but he had a solid excuse: The Canberra native is touring the U.K. and Europe, reaching new audiences on the other side of the world – fulfilling the ambition of every artist whose name is called out on the Australian recording industry’s big night.

Though ratings were down, again, no one is sounding the alarm. After a period of socially distanced events, and a coolly received show last year at the same venue, this year’s ARIAs hit the right notes, at least according to many in attendance.

Here are the biggest snubs and surprises at the 2023 ARIA Awards.

Snub: OneFour

OneFour is the most controversial act in Australia. Hailing from Mt Druitt, in the west of Sydney, and comprised of Pacific Islanders, the group began recording drill rap as a means to avoid life of crime. Their music caught fire on YouTube, and caught the attention of the New South Wales police — who, two years into OneFour’s extraordinary rise, established a task force to shut down any and all tour dates, arguing that the music would incite gang violence. OneFour captured a nomination for best hip-hop/rap release (for “Comma’s” featuring featuring CG), a category that featured good friend and collaborator The Kid LAROI. A win would have propelled them into the mainstream. Ultimately, Genesis Owusu took the crown. OneFour’s story is captured in the Netflix documentary Against All Odds, directed by Gabriel Gasparinatos.
Surprise: The more exclusive vibe

Australia’s music industry loves to put the boot into the ARIAs. It’s a national pastime, along with eating pies at the footy, hitting the beach at summer, and engaging in lengthy, life-affirming chats with your barista. If last year’s ARIAs felt like a gig, this year’s show had an air of exclusivity — industry tables, food, booze, mingling at every opportunity. Viewing numbers were down on the free-to-air Channel 9 network, but many of those in the room who spoke with Billboard said it was the best ARIAs experience in recent memory.
Snub: Budjerah

Budjerah, the man with the golden voice, was expected to collect at least one piece of silverware. The Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter from Fingal Head, New South Wales had five chances at the 2023 ARIAs, but went home empty handed. The youngster won’t lose much sleep over it: During the Rolling Stone Australia Awards in April, also held in Sydney, he collected best newcomer honors, and shared the stage with “Icon” Tina Arena. In 2021, Budjerah was the inaugural winner of the Michael Gudinski breakthrough artist award, named in honor of the late, great Mushroom Group leader.
Surprise: G-Flip

This has been G-Flip’s year, the year they cracked the mainstream, both on the charts and at the ARIAs. The singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist found a unique path into the public consciousness, by posting videos of their eye-popping talents behind the drum kit. The G-Flip story grew over the years, as G-Flip landed a combined 11 tracks in the triple j Hottest 100 countdown and earned spots performing at the nationally televised Logie Awards, and AFL and AFLW Grand Finals. Before this year, G-Flip (real name Georgia Claire Flipo) had never secured an ARIA Award. Now, they have two – both publicly voted categories — along with a first ARIA No. 1 album for Drummer, released in August through via Future Classic/Universal. Their debut from 2019, About Us, had peaked at No. 6.
Snubs: Amy Shark, Brad Cox, Cub Sport, Matt Corby and Peach PRC

Each artist entered the 2023 ARIAs with three nominations, each went home empty-handed. Still, Brad Cox and Peach PRC had nights to remember, with performances on the ARIAs’ twin stages. Cub Sport just might have had the rawest of deals: The Brisbane band’s blissful pop record Jesus at the Gay Bar debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in April, beating titles by major American artists NF, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, and (of course) Taylor Swift, and scooped the best independent dance/electronica or club single honors with “Always Got the Love” at the 2023 AIR Awards in Adelaide.
Surprise: Troye Sivan

It wasn’t so much Sivan’s four wins that were the surprise here — after all, the kid is undeniably scorching right now. The surprise, a pleasant one, was more that the Perth-raised pop artist, model, and outspoken advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, took some time out from a busy schedule to dominate the ARIAs. Sivan, who signed autographs on the red carpet, also presented an award, and of course snagged four of his own.

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Link to the source article – https://www.billboard.com/lists/2023-aria-awards-snubs-surprises/

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Snubs and Surprises at the 2023 ARIA Awards

Snub: OneFour

Surprise: The more exclusive vibe

Snub: Budjerah

Surprise: G-Flip

Snubs: Amy Shark, Brad Cox, Cub Sport, Matt Corby and Peach PRC

Surprise: Troye Sivan

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