Empire of The Sun

Empire Of The Sun has taken home a swag of awards at this year’s Australian music awards, the ARIAs.

The Aussie act of Luke Steele (Sleepy Jackson) and Nick Littlemore (Pnau) took home four awards including best group, album of the year and single of the year.

The pair scored the awards for their debut album, Walking On A Dream.

Despite the awards having a mainstream flavour, a number of fellow indie artists took home top gongs.

Sydney singer Sarah Blasko took out the best female artist category for her latest album, As Day Follows Night.

Bertie Blackman won the best independent release for her latest album, Secrets and Lies.

The contentious New Zealand nominee of Ladyhawke took home two ARIAs, one for breakthrough artist single for My Dellirium and breakthrough artist album for her self-titled album.

In a strange case of category placing, Josh Pyke took out the best adult contemporary award for his album, Chimney’s Afire.

South Australian hip hoppers Hilltop Hoods won an award for best urban release for their record, State Of The Art.

Last year’s dream team, The Presets, took home the award for best dance release for their single, Talk Like That.

Meanwhile, AC/DC scored a number of awards for their new record Black Ice.

The Aussie veterans claimed the award for highest selling album and best rock album.

See below for a full list of winners.

2009 ARIA Awards Winners

Album of the Year
Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Single of the Year
Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Breakthrough Artist Album
Ladyhawke – Ladyhawke (Modular Recordings)

Breakthrough Artist Single
Ladyhawke – My Delirium (Modular Recordings)

Best Group
Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Best Female Artist
Sarah Blasko – As Day Follows Night (Dew Process)

Best Male Artist
Daniel Merriweather – Love & War (Universal Music Australia)

Best Rock Album
AC/DC – Black Ice (Albert Productions/Sony Music Entertainment)

Best Pop Release
Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Best Urban Release
Hilltop Hoods – State of the Art (Golden Era/Universal Music Australia)

Best Dance Release
The Presets – Talk Like That (Modular Recordings)

Best Blues & Roots Album
C.W. Stoneking – Jungle Blues (King Hokum Records/Shock)

Best Country Album
Troy Cassar-Daley – I Love This Place (Liberation Music)

Best Independent Release
Bertie Blackman – Secrets and Lies (Forum 5/MGM)

Best Adult Contemporary Album
Josh Pyke – Chimney’s Afire (Ivy League Records)

Best DVD
Sia – TV is my Parent (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)

Best Children’s Album
The Wiggles – The Wiggles Go Bananas! (ABC Music)

Best Comedy Release
Hamish and Andy – Unessential Listening (Roadshow Music/Sony Music Entertainment)

Highest Selling Single
Jessica Mauboy – Running Back (Sony)

Highest Selling Album
AC/DC – Black Ice (Albert Productions/Sony Music Entertainment)

2009 ARIA Awards Artisan Winners

Best Cover Art
Aaron Hayward & David Homer – Debaser – Empire Of The Sun, Walking On A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Best Video
Josh Logue for Mathematics – Empire Of The Sun, Walking On A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Engineer of the Year – * Note two equal winners *
DJ Debris – Hilltop Hoods, State Of The Art (Golden Era/Universal Music Australia)
Greg Wales – You Am I, Dilettantes (Virgin/EMI Music Australia)

Producer of the Year
Empire Of The Sun and Donnie Sloan with Peter Mayes – Empire Of The Sun, Walking on A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

2009 ARIA Fine Arts Awards Winners

Best Classical Album
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra/Paul Dyer – Handel: Concerti Grossi Opus 6 (ABC Classics/Universal Music Australia)

Best Jazz Album
Katie Noonan – Blackbird (Sony Music Entertainment)

Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album
Soundtrack – Balibo (ABC Music/Universal Music Australia)

Best World Music Album
Seaman Dan – Sailing Home (Steady Steady Music/MGM)

Tags | Aria Awards, Empire Of The Sun, Luke Steele