SINGER-SONGWRITER/PRODUCER JERRY LI WINS BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR
JAPANESE MUSICIAN MICKIE YOSHINO WINS BEST ASIAN CREATIVE ARTIST
ARTISTS FROM JAPAN, HONG KONG AND SURROUNDING COUNTRIES IN ATTENDANCE
Taiwan’s 13th annual Golden Indie Music Awards (GIMA) ceremony took place on November 5 at the Taipei Music Center. Each year, the awards connect the surrounding Asian music communities, and celebrate the diversity of sounds created by the country’s domestic artists. This year’s ceremony marks the first time Taiwan’s borders have opened to international visitors since 2020, with many artists traveling from abroad to be in attendance as presenters and accept awards.
The winners at this year’s ceremony represent a snapshot of the sounds and cultural movements taking place in Taiwan and neighboring countries. Pop r&b singer Karencici, Argentinian-Taiwanese jazz musician Musa, rap prodigy Kumachan, and alternative band Undecimber Fin. were the biggest winners of the night, each taking home two awards. The Best Album award went to versatile singer-songwriter Jerry Li, who also contributed to Kumachan’s winning album in the hip-hop category. Best Asian Creative Artist, the most coveted award among international artists, was given to 70-year-old Japanese musician Mickie Yoshino. His winning 2021 album Keep On Kickin’ It was produced by Seiji Kameda, the bassist of Japanese rock band Tokyo Jihen.
Other winners at the ceremony included LÜCY taking home Best New Artist for her debut album and Oberka, Taiwanese producer and owner of local label Dark Paradise Records, winning in the Best Electronic Album category for BELTA. Although the world-renowned math rock trio Elephant Gym went home empty-handed as a band, the bassist KT Chang won as one of the three Best Instrumentalists.
The Japanese band ALI, who are behind the ending theme of the popular anime Jujutsu Kaisen, were also in attendance to deliver a performance with Karencici. Other international appearances at the ceremony included the chart-topping Japanese rock band King Gnu and Hong Kong indie duo Running Youth (aka half of the rock outfit GDJYB). King Gnu appeared in a pre-recorded video as presenters, promising to perform for Taiwanese fans in the future. Meanwhile, Running Youth recently moved to Taiwan to pursue “the adventures of their lives,” and served as presenters at the ceremony.
13th Annual Golden Indie Music Awards Winners
Best Album
AI-CHING - Jerry Li
Best Band
WONFU - Hello Everybody
Best Singer-Songwriter
Leaf Yeh - Live Like Me
Best New Artist
LÜCY - LÜCY
Best Instrumentalist
KT Chang – Dreams (Vocal, Bass, Piano)
Musa – ON (Piano)
Diao Peng - Rise & Shine (Dizi)
Best Live Performance
Paige Su
Best Asian Creative Artist
Mickie Yoshino - Keep On Kickin’ It
Best Rock Album
UNDO - Wild Thing
Best Rock Song
“Romance and Poems” - Modern Cinema Master
Best Folk Album
Waiting a present for - Chiu Shu
Best Folk Song
“Lao Tzu Said” - Chico(Tsai Kun Chi)
Best Hip-Hop Album
PRO - Kumachan
Best Hip-Hop Song
“Zenfire” - Kumachan
Best Electronic Album
BELTA - Oberka
Best Electronic Song
“ASIA STRIKER (Original mix)” - SALAMANDER
Best Jazz Album
Fusion World - Tonic 5
Best Jazz Song
“On Truth” (feat. Wei Chih Chang) - Musa
Best R&B Album
99% Angel - Karencici
Best R&B Song
“99% Angel” - Karencici
Best Alternative Pop Album
One that reminds me of you - Undecimber Fin.
Best Alternative Pop Song
“You Look Quite Similar” - Undecimber Fin.
Jury Prize
Collage - MEmento・MORI
Outstanding Contribution Award
Sie, Ming- Tong
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