MIN Awards semi-finalists announced
Euskara. Kultura. Mundura.
The top fifteen artists or groups in each category have been selected by the public, and the jury of experts will now choose the final five in each category. The awards ceremony will take place on 17 May in Voting has ended for the MIN Independent Music Award nominees and the semi-finalists have been announced Palma de Mallorca, hosted by artist and musician Samantha Hudson.
Competing for the Award for Best Album in Basque, granted by the Etxepare Basque Institute, are Arima Soul, Bulego, Eñaut Elorrieta, Esti Markez, ETS (En Tol Sarmiento), Ezpalak, Goxua´n salsa, Ilargi, Ines Osinaga, Merina Gris, Mikel Urdangarin, Niña Coyote y Chico Tornado, Olaia Inziarte, Vulk and Zea Mays. The aim of this award is to raise the profile of independent music written in Basque and give exposure to Basque musicians.
Many of these musicians are also candidates in other categories, including awards for different musical styles (best jazz album, best flamenco album, best rock album, etc.), languages (Basque, Catalan, Galician), as well as more general categories (best album, best video clip, best song...).
A considerable number of Basque artists were present in this year’s MIN Awards, several of whom were voted semi-finalists across different categories.
Belako, Bulego, ETS (En Tol Sarmiento), Izaro and Zea Mays are up for the Best Album of the Year award. Chica Sobresalto, ETS (En Tol Sarmiento) and Zetak are in the running for Best Song of the Year.
Among the nominees for Best Artist are ETS (En Tol Sarmiento) and Izaro and in the Best New Artist category, Chica Sobresalto and Zetak are among the nominees.
Chica Sobresalto, Zea Mays and Zetak will compete for Best Video; Bulego and Izaro for Best Live Performance; Bulego, ETS (En Tol Sarmiento) and Izaro for Best Pop Album; Belako and Zea Mays for Best Rock Album; and Goxua´n Salsa for Best Traditional Music Album.
Andoni Martínez Barañano and Sofía Esparza Jauregi are in the running for Best Classical Music Album.
Green Valley will compete for the Year’s Best Urban Recording, and Merina Gris for the Year’s Best Electronic Recording.
The bands Willis Drummond and Ødei will vie for the Best International Artist award.
ETS (En Tol Sarmiento) is one of the semi-finalists hoping to clinch the Award for the Best Musical Production.
Finally, ETS (En Tol Sarmiento) and Chica Sobresalto will compete in the Best Original Lyrics category.
The MIN Awards were created in 2009 to give visibility to national artistic creation, cultural diversity, talent and the work of small and medium-sized music companies, and to promote independent music nationally and internationally.