Fontaines D.C., Wet Leg, Bon Iver, Ezra Collective and Aluna make Independent Music Awards shortlists 05 Aug 2025
The Independent Music Awards has revealed its first nominees, marking the event’s 15 year anniversary of celebrating the achievements of the UK’s independent music community.
This year’s milestone edition sees double nominations for South London jazz innovators Ezra Collective (Partisan) widely recognised for steering the genre into the mainstream, genre-smashing electronic duo Fcukers (Ninja Tune), West London songwriter Hope Tala (Big Family Music), and French-Senegalese experimental artist anaiis (5dB).
More big names among the shortlists include Fontaines D.C. (XL)following one of the band's most sophisticated albums in ‘Romance’, folk experimentalists Bon Iver (Jagjaguwar), and Wetleg (Domino) for overcoming the “difficult second album” cliche. Others include the soul-stirring Maverick Sabre (FAMM), self-defined future-ghetto-funk star Moonchild Sanelly (Transgressive), and the voice behind countless era-defining club hits, Aluna (Mad Decent / Because).
Ninja Tune, Transgressive and Believe bag the most nominations, with three each. 5dB, Communion, Domino, FAMM, Partisan, Technicolour, XL and Young also welcome double nods. This year also sees a host of labels making their debut appearance on the shortlists, highlighting a wave of entrepreneurs coming into prominence.
Returning to London’s Roundhouse, the Awards are known for earmarking future stars well ahead of mainstream acclaim. They recognise a mix of cultural impact and commercial success, a combination that epitomises the independent sector and often defies the size of labels or teams behind releases. The full shortlists are outlined below.
’Best Independent Album’ Award category contenders include Bon Iver’s ‘Sable, Fable’, Ezra Collective’s ‘Dance, No One's Watching’, Fontaines D.C.’s ‘Romance’, Hope Tala’s ‘Hope Handwritten’ (Big Family Music) and JohnGlacier’s ‘Like A Ribbon’ (Young), alongside Maverick Sabre’s 'Burn The Right Things Down' and Moonchild Sanelly’s ‘Full Moon’. Topping off the shortlist are Nala Sinephro’s ‘Endlessness’++ (Warp), Oklou’s ‘Choke Enough’ (Oklou / True Panther) and TAAHLIA’s ‘Gramarye’ (untitled (recs)).
Seeing first time nominations, anaiis and Grupo Cosmo’s ‘B.P.E’ (5dB)are in the running for ‘Best Independent Track’ along with Ezra Collective and Yazmin Lacey for ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’ and JIALING’s ‘Freaky Horns’ (Clasico). Jim Legxacy’s ‘father’ (XL) also gets a nod, along with Jorja Smith and Maverick Sabre’s ‘Loving You’ (FAMM) and Miso Extra and Metronomy’s ‘Good Kisses’ (Transgressive). Also in the running is Orla Gartland’s ‘Mine’ (New Friends Music), Wet Leg’s ‘Catch These Fists’, Wunderhorse with ‘The Rope’ (Communion), and Yannis & The Yaw and Tony Allen with 'Rain Can't Reach Us' (Transgressive).
The ‘UK Independent Breakthrough’ shortlist includes Glaswegian composer, producer and multi-instrumentalistcorto.alto (Ninja Tune & New Soil)and South-London’s genre-blending post-punks Fat Dog (Domino). Glass Beams (Ninja Tune), the mask-adorned project of Indian-Australian multi-instrumentalist and producer Rajan Silva, also received a nod, alongside British-Jamaican R&B singer-songwriter Hope Tala and California-born hard techno DJ Sara Landry (Hekate).
The ‘Best Independent EP/Mixtape’ categoryonce again reflects growing appreciation for these formats, with nominations for Fcukers with ‘Baggy$$’ (Technicolour) and MRCY with VOLUME 1 (Dead Oceans), plus nods for soul singer Nectar Woode’s ‘Head Above Water’ (Communion), Shygirl’s explosive ‘Club Shy Room 2’ (Because) and experimental rapper Zino Vinci’s genre-bending ‘The Late Bloomer’ (Bawne London / Believe).
This year’s ‘One To Watch’ shortlist is as exciting as ever, featuring French-Senegalese singer-songwriter anaiis tipped alongside neo-soul and jazz artist BINA (TLD)and rising pop artist Chloe Qisha (VLF Records / Believe). Rounding off this year’s nominations are Brixton rapper Cristale (Believe) and NYC duo Fcukers (Ninja Tune).
The ‘Best Independent Remix’ category also returns to showcase the art of adaptation, with nominations going to Paul Woolford’s remix of Aluna’s ‘Heatstroke’ (Mad Decent / Because), TATYANA’s mashup of Home Counties’ ‘Uptight’ (Submarine Cat Records) and Jorg Kuning Bicton Barns’ take on Koreless’ ‘Seven’ (Young). Boy Harsher’s remix of Nilufer Yanya’s ‘Just A Western’ (Ninja Tune) is also in the running, as well as D’Monk’s remix of Rosie Lowe’s ‘Gratitudes’ (Blue Flowers).
Following its introduction at last year’s Awards, the ‘Best Independent Record Store’ category will this year be nominated by the public, allowing fans to have their say on the importance of these cultural hubs. Entries can be submitted here.
The ‘Best Live Performer’ category will once again invite the public to vote for their favourites – open here. Nominations for other categories including ‘Best Independent Label’, ‘Best Boutique Label’, ‘Music Entrepreneur of the Year’ and ‘Best Creative Campaign’ will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Awards have long played a key role in amplifying future stars, with previous winners Adele, Arlo Parks, Dave, Ezra Collective, FKA Twigs, IDLES, Little Simz, RAYE and Stormzy, all having gone on to receive widespread acclaim, including accolades at the Ivors, Mercurys, MOBOs, BRITs or GRAMMYs.
Gee Davy, CEO of AIM, commented: “As we celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Independent Music Awards, I’m inspired by the extraordinary creativity flowing from the UK’s independent music community.
“Every year, our sector delivers music that speaks to hearts, minds and dancing feet – and this year’s nominees are no exception. Our panel of tastemakers has curated a spectacular selection from the vast array of submissions. This is only a glimpse of the immense talent and variety within the scene, but showcases the fearless artistry that defines this community.
“Independence in music means freedom to create, innovate and build careers and businesses on our own terms. The independent sector is where culture meets commercial success, and our 2025 nominees perfectly embody that intersection. I look forward to celebrating their achievements at what promises to be a truly special edition of the Awards.”
The Awards is organised by the Association of Independent Music (AIM), the industry body which exclusively represents and champions the UK’s independent music community. Tickets are now available, with full dining options through to low cost balcony seats, to ensure the entire community can celebrate together. For table and ticket enquiries, email awards@aim.org.uk.
AIM thanks its partners and sponsors who help to make The Independent Music Awards possible: BBC Introducing, Merlin, PPL, Amazon Music and VEVO.
See below for AIM’s Independent Music Awards current 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)
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THE HEADLINES
The life of a cultural narrative: Where are 2025’s iconic moments? (see Comment)
Anthropic settles authors’ copyright lawsuit after piracy claims (see News)
Mercury Prize details announced (see News)
Robbie Williams faces royalties challenge against 'Angels' (see News)
Drake gets ahold of Kendrick Lamar's UMG contract as ugly 'Not Like Us' battle intensifies (see News)
Spotify has signalled further price rises (see Digital)
The unflattening of streaming (and the case for friction) (see Comment)
Ghost artists and the rise of Perfect Fit Content on streaming (see Comment)
How music-backed securitisation can strike a bum note (see Comment)
Taylor Swift: What we lose in the gamification of music (see Features)
Is Taylor Swift’s Showgirl era set to propel her to even greater heights? (see Features)
Why aren’t all songwriters being paid for their songs in live concerts? (see Comment)