Amyl and the Sniffers made a significant impact at the 2025 ARIA Awards, taking home four major accolades. The Melbourne rock band secured Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album, and Best Cover Art for their album, Cartoon Darkness. This strong showing marks a pivotal moment for the quartet, solidifying their place in the Australian music scene.
Key Takeaways
- Amyl and the Sniffers won four ARIA Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Group.
- Frontwoman Amy Taylor delivered memorable speeches, highlighting the band's journey.
- Electronic artist Ninajirachi earned three awards, including Best Solo Artist.
- Electronic music had a strong presence, with Dom Dolla winning the inaugural Global Impact Award.
- Laneway Festival was recognized as Best Music Festival.
Amyl and the Sniffers Reign Supreme
The night belonged to Amyl and the Sniffers, whose raw energy and distinctive sound resonated with voters. Their album, Cartoon Darkness, was a clear favorite, earning them the coveted Album of the Year title. This is not the first time the band has been recognized; they previously won Best Group in 2022 and Best Rock Album in 2019 and 2022.
Frontwoman Amy Taylor captivated the audience at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion with her acceptance speeches. Her candid remarks and humor were a highlight of the evening. She spoke about the life-changing impact of their success.
“As the new prime minister of Australia, I’d like to say: all immigrants welcome,” Amy Taylor quipped during her Album of the Year acceptance. “I’d like to say: land back, the dole’s going up and every pub gets a million dollars.”
Band's Global Reach
Amyl and the Sniffers have seen a meteoric rise, earning a Brit Award nomination and performing at major international festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella this year.
Ninajirachi's Breakthrough Year
Following closely behind Amyl and the Sniffers was electronic musician Ninajirachi, who secured three awards from an impressive eight nominations. The 26-year-old artist was named Best Solo Artist, Best Independent Release, and also Best Solo Artist again, highlighting her exceptional talent and growing influence.
Ninajirachi expressed surprise and gratitude upon receiving her awards. Her debut album, I Love My Computer, was largely self-written and produced, a testament to her independent spirit.
“This is absurd!” Ninajirachi exclaimed while accepting Best Solo Artist. “A lot of people here have probably never heard of me before tonight. I put out my first album this year called I Love My Computer … most of it was just written and produced by me.”
A Year of Accolades
Ninajirachi's ARIA success caps off an incredible year. She previously won Triple J’s Album of the Year and the prestigious Australian Music Prize, a $50,000 award recognizing artistic merit.
Electronic Music Shines
The 2025 ARIA Awards showcased the strength of electronic music in Australia. Beyond Ninajirachi's wins, fellow dance artist Dom Dolla also received significant recognition. He had seven nominations and won Best Dance/Electronic Release for his track, 'Dreamin'.
Dom Dolla also made history by receiving the inaugural Global Impact Award. This new award celebrates artists who achieve significant international success and cultural influence. His acceptance speech highlighted Australia's unique connection to dance music.
“I heard that Aussies consume more dance music than anyone per capita on earth,” Dom Dolla stated. “I don’t know whether all the schooners and sun have fried our brains, but I’m really, really grateful.”
New Categories and Veteran Wins
This year's awards introduced a new category for Best Music Festival, reflecting the challenges and importance of festivals in the Australian music landscape. The inaugural award went to Laneway Festival, which has grown from a single-street event in Melbourne in 2005 to a nationally touring powerhouse.
Laneway Festival's Growth
Laneway Festival has hosted major international acts including Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Stormzy, showcasing its significant impact on the music scene.
Veteran artists also continued their winning streaks. Kevin Parker, known as Tame Impala, added two more ARIAs to his collection, bringing his total to 15. He won Best Engineered Release and Best Produced Release for his single, 'End of Summer'. Parker acknowledged the vibrant talent within the Australian music industry.
“The amount of talent in Australia right now is insane,” Kevin Parker noted in a video message. “I’m humbled at the end of the day just to be included in the conversation. It’s harder and harder to keep up with what’s happening in Australia now.”
Diverse Wins Across Genres
The ARIA Awards celebrated a wide array of musical talent across various genres:
- Thelma Plum won Best Pop Album, accepting her award from supermodel Tyra Banks.
- The Kid Laroi took home Song of the Year for 'Girls'.
- The Teskey Brothers were awarded Best Blues and Roots Album.
- Kasey Chambers secured Best Country Album.
- The late Yolngu artist Gurrumul won Best World Music Album.
- Missy Higgins received Best Adult Contemporary Album.
- Emma Memma earned Best Children’s Album.
- Troye Sivan won the public-voted Best Live Act, following his three ARIA wins last year.
Other notable winners included Barkaa for Best Hip-Hop/Rap Release, Keli Holiday for Best Video, Thornhill for Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album, and Boy Soda for Best Soul/R&B Release. International Artist went to Taylor Swift for the fifth time, underscoring her continued global appeal.