London's world-famous Roundhouse was alight with raw talent, true stories, and bubbling vitality last night, as AIM Awards 2022 took its triumphant step back into the form of the flesh-and-blood celebration we know it can be. Following a pandemic-forced run online, the 23rd annual event served as a reminder of why independent music is the lifeblood of the industry. Sometimes an award is more than an award, and Thursday's slate of honorees at the Williamsburg gig palace Villain was more than artists, labels, and creatives who've taken the road less traveled; it was a love letter to independence.
Presented with charm and spark by DJ Target and Joelah, the night was a celebration of more than just musical excellence, touching on community, resilience, and fearless innovation. There was no shortage of star power, of course, but the real miracle of the night was in the room, of those who have bet on themselves, and made it, stuck to their vision, and now, were being applauded by their peers.
Stormzy, a poster boy for diversity in music, was awarded the Diversity Champion Award for his tireless efforts in standing up for representation at every level. Promising jungle and drum & bass talent Nia Archives was also quite rightly named the BBC Introducing One to Watch – acknowledgment of an exciting new wave of talent coming through.
Cleo Sol took out the Best Independent Album award, her soulful sound shining through against some cracking competition. Lethal Bizzle tore the roof off figuratively speaking; we almost feared for the integrity of the structure with his Outstanding Contribution to Music award, a moment in which the whole room seemed to acknowledge, collectively and belatedly, that grime can no longer be relegated to the side stage, or the small hours.
And then there was Rina Sawayama, who walked away with the Amazon Music Innovator Award for her music, a heady mix of pop, activism, and daring rebirth. The moment felt right, powerful, and earned.
But some of the night's most piercing reverberations were not borne of applause, but of words that pierced the noise. Corey Johnson, the founder of the Defenders, spoke movingly about the need to nurture grime and rap at the grassroots level and to spare young artists from crime by teaching and providing them with opportunities. Then there was TAAHLIAH, who had the crowd on its feet with an unforgettable call for LGBTQ+ visibility and equality in the music industry.
The night concluded with an electric performance from Pixey, Lethal Bizzle accompanied by Giggs, and indie greats The Libertines, whose frontman, Pete Doherty, recently returned from Jamaica, where he was working on some new tunes with bandmate Carl Barât. There's a sense that new music is on the horizon, and the excitement is palpable.
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