South Korean indie rock band Silica Gel and Thai rapper AUTTA (featuring Taiwanese trio The Chairs) are both set to deliver distinct showcases
On Saturday, November 1, 2025, the Taipei Music Center will hold The Golden Indie Music Awards (GIMA), Taiwan’s leading independent music award-giving organization. The event will be livestreamed in Thailand and South Korea.
This year’s event highlights international guest artists, such as emerging Thai rapper AUTTA and South Korea’s top indie rock band Silica Gel, who will perform alongside Taiwan’s folk-pop group The Chairs in a rare cross-border partnership. With a focus on this year’s theme, “Brave,” the eagerly awaited collaboration will include four additional performers from throughout Asia whose music exemplifies a fearlessness in facing expectations and expressing uncompromising truth.
On the Asian front, GIMA will be honoring the “Best Asian Creative Artist Award,” whose nominees illustrate the breadth of Asia’s independent music scene, crossing languages and genres while sharing a commitment to authenticity.
From 60 submissions across Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, the shortlist features South Korean electro-punk duo Fat Hamster and KANG New, rising South Korean R&B and neo-soul artist Jacqui, Indonesian indie group Lomba Sihir, socio-politically charged rock band. Feast, and Tokyo-born, Melbourne-based violinist, producer, and vocalist ELLE SHIMADA.
Now in its 16th year, the GIMA drew a record 4,052 submissions from across Asia.
Nominee Best Asian Creative Artist Award Lomba Sihir scaled
Among the nominees, rapper and songwriter Hsien Ching (陳嫺靜) has emerged as one of the most talked-about figures, securing seven nominations for her twin albums, 《If we can be happy happy every day, who wants to be sad:))》and《If we can be happy happy every day, who wants to be sad:＊》. Her work, defined by a non-conventional approach to hip hop and a distinctly female perspective, has made her a unique voice in Taiwan’s independent music scene. Close behind is the band Lilium (百合花), which blends Taiwanese language, traditional instruments, and rock elements in their album,《Everything Will Go Wonderfully》, earning six nominations and demonstrating the vibrancy of Taiwan’s cultural roots within modern music. The nominations also include works by prominent and emerging artists such as Enno Cheng (鄭宜農), Modern Cinema Master (當代電影大師), YELLOW (黃宣), Dinosaur’s Skin (恐龍的皮), and Andr, whose creations have likewise drawn significant attention.
Please visit the 16th Golden Indie Music Awards’ GIMA’s official website or follow on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for additional information and a full list of nominees.
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