Ninajirachi Wins Five Awards at 2026 AIR Awards

Views 5 Published by July 31, 2026

EDM producer Ninajirachi dominated the 20th annual AIR Awards on July 31, winning five prizes including independent album of the year for I Love My Computer and independent song of the year for iPod Touch.

Ninajirachi (real name: Nina Wilson) won five awards at the 2026 AIR Awards, presented Thursday, July 31, at Adelaide Town Hall in South Australia. The EDM producer and DJ took home independent album, independent producer, and best independent electronic album or EP for I Love My Computer, while her breakthrough song “iPod Touch” won best independent electronic single and independent song of the year.

Co-written with Darcy Baylis, “iPod Touch” took shape in 2024. “A lot of my album tracks just fell from the sky and they were so easy,” Ninajirachi said in a taped acceptance speech. She said the song went through “100,000 versions” and at one point she didn’t think it would make the album, calling its inclusion “a real lesson in persistence.”

Ninajirachi was unable to attend in person, currently touring the United States with a performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago scheduled for the same day. “If I could teleport, I would,” she said in a precorded message.

I Love My Computer also swept the industry categories, with Thomas Purcell (Wave Racer) winning independent mix, studio or mastering engineer of the year; Melody Forghani’s Twnty Three winning independent publicity team of the year; and NLV Records and The Orchard winning independent marketing team of the year.

Nina Las Vegas and NLV Records won independent label of the year. Folk B*tch Trio earned three trophies: best independent blues and roots album or EP, breakthrough artist of the year, and independent music video of the year for “Cathode Ray” (directed by Bridgette Winten). Other winners included Thornhill (best independent heavy album or EP) and These New South Whales (best independent punk album or EP).

The AIR Awards, first established in 2006, celebrate Australia’s independent music sector. The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) was founded 30 years ago in July 1996. South Australian Parliament member Hilton Gumbys announced two additional years of state funding for the awards and Indie-Con, securing the event in Adelaide until at least 2028.