Japanese Breakfast Leads Nominations at the A2IM Libera Awards

Japanese Breakfast is already looking to capture another remarkable year in music. The band fronted by Korean-American Michelle Zauner is nominated for a whopping seven nominations at the A2IM Libera Awards, the most by any artist.

The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) has announced the nominees for the 2022 A2IM Libera Awards, marking a 17-year tradition. The organization, A2IM, “is a not-for-profit trade organization headquartered in New York City that works to support the independent recorded music sector. Membership includes nearly 700 independently-owned American music labels.”

& a special shout out to @Jbrekkie for her 7 nominations, the most of any artist this year 🪨⭐ pic.twitter.com/jK7mpw0csA

— Dead Oceans (@DeadOceans) March 23, 2022

Zauner’s band had a breakout year in 2021. Her band released their third studio album, Jubilee, an EP for Spotify, the Sable video game soundtrack, and embarked on a North American tour promoting her album. After all these incredible accomplishments, she also published her memoir, Crying in H Mart, telling a powerful story of forging an identity as a Korean-American and losing her mother.

Japanese Breakfast’s Jubilee era continues to be celebrated. After garnering seven nominations at this year’s A2IM Libera Awards, the band also managed to score two Grammy nominations: Best New Artist and Alternative Album.

.@Jbrekkie Releases New Album ‘Jubilee’ https://t.co/2Z5TOjb6by #JapaneseBreakfast #Jubilee pic.twitter.com/wdj4vgWwk2

— Glitter Magazine (@glittermagazine) June 5, 2021

Of the 33 categories, the indie band is up for the following seven awards:

Best Alternative Rock Record

• Cautious Clay – “Wildfire” (Cautious Clay)
• Courtney Barnett – Things Take Time, Take Time (Mom + Pop Music)
• Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg (4AD)
• girl in red – if i could make it go quiet (AWAL)
• Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee (Dead Oceans)
• Low – HEY WHAT (Sub Pop Records)
• Snail Mail – Valentine (Matador Records)

Best Live/Livestream Act

• Amyl and The Sniffers – Live on KEXP at Home
• Black Pumas – “Colors” – Biden Inauguration Performance
• Japanese Breakfast  – “Be Sweet” – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
• Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – “Driver 8” – Live from Athens, GA
• Mdou Moctar – “Live at the Niger River”
• St. Vincent – “At the Holiday Party” – Austin City Limits

Breakthrough Artist/Release, Presented by Ingrooves

• Black Country, New Road – For the first time (Ninja Tune)
• girl in red –  if i could make it go quiet (World in Red/AWAL)
• Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee (Dead Oceans)
• Mdou Moctar – Afrique Victime (Matador Records)
• Wet Leg – “Chase Longue” (Domino)

Creative Packaging

• Buzzcocks – Complete UA Singles 1977-1980 (Domino)
• Erroll Garner – Liberation in Swing: Centennial Collection (Mack Avenue Music Group / Octave Music Licensing, LLC)
• Fela Kuti – Box Set #5 Co-Curated by Chris Martin & Femi Kuti (Knitting Factory Records)
• Gang Of Four – 77-81 (Matador Records)
• Gary Numan 45X15 – The Singles Collection 1978-1983 (Beggars Arkive)
• Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee (Dead Oceans)

Marketing Genius

• Bicep – Isles (Ninja Tune)
• Various Artists – Death Row Records 30th Anniversary (Death Row Records)
• Eyedress – Mulholland Drive (Lex Records)
• Helado Negro – Helado Negro Ice Cream Tricycle (4AD)
• Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee (Dead Oceans)
• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Official Bootlegger Series (ATO Records)

Record of the Year

• Arlo Parks – Collapsed In Sunbeams (Transgressive/[PIAS])
• Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg (4AD)
• Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee (Dead Oceans)
• Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Georgia Blue (Southeastern Records/Thirty Tigers)
• Low – HEY WHAT (Sub Pop)
• Snail Mail – Valentine (Matador Records)

Video of the Year, Presented by YouTube Music

• Danny Elfman – “True” (Epitaph Records)
• IDLES – “CAR CRASH” (Partisan Records)
• Japanese Breakfast – “Savage Good Boy” (Dead Oceans)
• Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen – “Like I Used To” (Jagjaguwar)
• Wet Leg – “Chaise Longue” (Domino Recording Co.)
• Yves Tumor – “Jackie” (Warp Records)

We cannot be more excited for Michelle Zauner’s band, Japanese Breakfast. The A2IM Libera Awards will include both a virtual broadcast exclusively streamed on YouTube and an in-person ceremony held on June 16 in New York City. In the meantime, Jubilee is available to stream on all major music platforms.