Baker Boy, also known as Danzal James Baker, delivered his album of the year acceptance speech in his native language Yolgnu Matha, who hails from northeast Arnhem Land.
He rapped Meditjin for the crowd at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, then returned to the stage moments later to receive the gong for best hip hop/rap release.
“It’s crazy!” he exclaimed, dedicating the gong to his family and the young people in his home.
“We can achieve this success…I’ve done it, I’ve been there and I know you can,” he said.
Baker Boy also won Best Solo Artist, while his album Gela won Best Cover Art and Best Mixed Mix Engineer Album.
Tones And I won Song of the Year for their track Cloudy Day, their fifth ARIA award, and said the awards have an impressive lineup in 2022.
“It’s pretty cool to see the future of Australian music represent tonight,” she said.
Rock band Amyl and the Sniffers won two ARIAs: Best Group and Best Rock Album, and got the crowd going with a performance by Guided By Angels.
The Wiggles won Best Children’s Album and Best Australian Live Band, while Best Pop Release went to The Kid LAROI.
The first in-person ARIA party since 2019 was hosted by eight-time ARIA Award winner Natalie Imbruglia, who is also celebrating the 25th anniversary of her chart-topping album Left Of The Middle.
Tributes were also paid to the late Olivia Newton-John, Archie Roach and Judith Durham, all of whom were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Casey Donovan and Dami Im paid tribute to Judith Durham of The Seekers.
The late Archie Roach received the Best Independent Release award for One Song, which Budjerah, Thelma Plum and Jess Mauboy performed in his memory.
ARIA PRIZE 2022
* Album of the Year: Baker Boy – Gela
* Best Solo Artist: Baker Boy – Gela
* Song of the Year: Tones And I – Cloudy Day
* Best Group: Amyl and The Sniffers – Comfort To Me
* Michael Gudinski Revolutionary Artist: King Stingray – King Stingray
* Best pop release: The Kid LAROI – Thousand Miles
* Best Dance/Electronic Release: Luude – Down Under
* Best Hip Hop/Rap Release: Baker Boy – Gela
* Best Soul/R&B Release: Budjerah – Conversations
* Best Independent Release: Archie Roach – One Song
* Best Rock Album: Amyl and The Sniffers – Comfort To Me
* Best Adult Contemporary Album: Julia Jacklin – PRE PLEASURE
* Best Country Album: Casey Barnes – Light It Up
* Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album: The Chats – Get F**ked
* Best Blues and Roots Album: William Crighton – Water and Dust
* Best Children’s Album: The Wiggles – ReWiggled
* Best Video: Every Side Of You – Vance Joy, William Bleakley
* Best Australian Live Act: The Wiggles – The OG Wiggles Reunion/Fruit Salad TV Big Show Tour
* Most Popular International Artist: Harry Styles – Harry’s House
* Music Teacher Award: Matt Orchard – Apollo Bay P-12 Colleg
* Best Classical Album: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Sir Andrew Davis – The Enchanted Loom: Orchestral Works by Carl Vine
* Best Jazz Album: Mildlife – Live From South Channel Island
* Best Soundtrack: Australian Chamber Orchestra & Richard Tognetti – River
* Best World Music Album: Joseph Tawadros with William Barton – History Has A Heartbeat