Winners, as we know, are grinners. Ninajirachi had every reason to wear the brightest of smiles when she visited the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s studios on Friday morning, Nov. 7.
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The previous evening, the songwriter, producer, DJ and artist collected the coveted Australian Music Prize for I Love My Computer (via NLV Records), her debut album.
The AMP is essentially the Australian album of the year, and is selected by a music industry panel for its artistry, over commercial success. In addition to a trophy, the winner collects a A$50,000 check.
“I feel so awesome,” she said on the ABC’s News Breakfast. “Nothing like this has ever happened to me. It’s kind of crazy, but it’s really awesome.” Even to be shortlisted was “so flattering. But no, I didn’t expect this to happen.”
The AMP win is just the starting point for what should be a thrilling ride for the 26-year-old.
Later this month, Ninajirachi (real name: Nina Wilson) competes for two J Awards, including the triple j album of the year, and she’s in the hunt for a leading eight trophies at the annual ARIA Awards, where she’s nominated for album of the year, best solo artist, the Michael Gudinski breakthrough artist, best independent release, best dance/electronic release and more.
From Nov. 28, she hits the road for an Australia tour, including one-off shows and festivals. The world awaits. First, New Zealand in early January, then a U.S. run starting Jan. 15 with a sold-out show at Holocene in Portland, OR, plus a spot on the Coachella bill, and “some other countries that haven’t been announced yet.”
Ninajirachi will tick off a bucket list next April, when she visits, and plays, the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA for the very first time. “I’m so excited for Coachella,” she enthused. “I can’t wait.”
She’s buckled up and ready for what’s next. “I really just had a good time making an album. I hope I can keep making albums that feels as good as this one did,” she explained. “I’ve been making music for a long time and I could have never predicted what this year would look like. So it’s hard to say (what the future holds). I just hope it keeps feeling as fun as it has been recently.”
