2016 ARIA AWARD WINNERS

This year’s ARIA awards ceremony had its moments.

It started with an overdose of red glitter body paint, then went on to Montaigne’s obscure acceptance speech, and Flight of the Conchords trying to rescind Crowded House’s Hall of Fame induction to buoy NZ’s own “doorway of fame”. Of course, Aussie talent was showcased in droves with stunning performances from the likes of Jimmy Barnes, Jessica Mauboy, Violent Soho, Troye Sivan, and a cracking finish to the night with John Farnham belting out You’re The Voice.

While we at AudioTechnology want to congratulate the artists on their wins, it’s of huge importance to us to recognise the hard work of the producers and engineers who helped make the songs and albums of the past year all that they are. As it turns out, we had the privilege of writing feature articles on several of this year’s award-winning albums while they were still cooking in studios throughout our country.

We’ve compiled five of these stories below that we reckon are worth revisiting — testaments to the diversity and raw talent found in Australia, and the world-class standard of our producers and engineers.

TROYE SIVAN

Best Video — Youth Acoustic (Sydney Session) (EMI)
Apple Music Song Of The Year — Youth (EMI)

Earlier this year we caught up with one of Sivan’s co-writers, Pip Norman, who showed us his vocal production methods on Troye’s song Fools. Read about it here.

HILLTOP HOODS

Best Australian Live Act — The Restrung Tour (Golden Era Records/Universal Music Australia)

Mixing an orchestra was new territory for Hilltop Hoods — but how hard can it be? Read AT’s feature on the making of the Hoods’ album Drinking from the Sun/Walking Under Stars: Restrung.

SARAH BLASKO

Best Adult Alternative Album — Eternal Return (EMI)
Produced & Engineered by Burke Reid
Mastered at Alchemy Mastering

Read AT’s feature on the making of Eternal Return here.

VIOLENT SOHO

Best Rock Album — Waco (I Oh You)
Best Group — Waco (I Oh You)
Engineered & Produced by Bryce Moorhead
Mastered at Sterling Studios

AT goes behind the scenes with Bryce Moorhead and Violent Soho on the making of Waco.

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD

Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album — Nonagon Infinity (Flightless Records/Remote Control Records)
Recorded by Paul Maybury/Michael Badger/Wayne Gordon
Mastered by Joe Carra

From modding microtonal guitars to scrunching up a VHS master tape, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard searched high and low for creative inspiration for Nonagon Infinity. Read all about it in AT’s feature here.

SIA

Best Female Artist — This Is Acting
Produced by Greg Kurstin/Jess Shatkin/Kanye West/Jack Antonoff/88-Keys/Jake Sinclair/T-Minus/Nikhil Seetharam/Chris Braide/Josh Valle/Cameron Deyell/Alan Walker/Oliver Kraus
Engineered by Alex Pasco/Greg Kurstin/Jesse Shatkin/Jamie Wosk/James Brown/Julian Burg
Mixed by Manny Marroquin
Mastered by Emily Lazar

FLUME

Album Of The Year — Skin (Future Classic)
Best Male Artist — Skin (Future Classic)
Best Dance Release — Skin (Future Classic)
Best Pop Release — Never Be Like You (feat. Kai) (Future Classic)
Best Independent Release — Skin (Future Classic)
Engineered by Eric J Dubowsky
Mastered by Matt Colton

MONTAIGNE

Breakthrough Artist — Glorious Heights (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Produced by Tony Buchen
Mastered by Leon Zervos

DRAPHT

Best Urban Album — Seven Mirrors (The Ayems/Sony Music)

BERNARD FANNING

Best Adult Contemporary Album — Civil Dusk (Dew Process/Universal Music)
Produced by Nick DiDia
Mastered by Leon Zervos

SARA STORER

Best Country Album — Silos (ABC Music/Universal Music)
Produced by Matt Fell

RUSSELL MORRIS

Best Blues & Roots Album — Red Dirt Red Heart (Chugg Music/MGM)
Produced & Engineered by Mitch Cairns at ToneHub Studios
Mastered at Crystal Mastering

ARIA Awards: www.ariaawards.com.au