In recognition of the finest releases by local indie artists and labels, the winners of the 2023 AIR Awards, presented by the Australian Independent Record Labels Association, were announced at a ceremony in Adelaide last night. 

William Barton and Véronique Serret have won Best Independent Classical Album or EP for Heartland. Heartland received its world premiere at the 2019 Canberra International Music Festival. It was developed further into as an hour-long work which received a five-star review for its performance in the same festival in 2021.

William Barton and Véronique Serret perform Heartland.

“Heartland leaves room for anyone else calling Australia their home… this piece creates, for all, a strong sense of belonging. [It] is the most extraordinary musical expression of the Dreamtime,” said Limelight reviewer Clinton White.

In an interview with Limelight earlier this week, Barton said collaborating with Serret and with his mother, Aunty...