The Golden Indie Music Awards (GIMA), Taiwan’s premier celebration of independent music, returns for its 16th edition at the Taipei Music Center, with the grand ceremony set for Saturday, November 1, 2025. This year’s event will also be livestreamed in South Korea and Thailand, marking a continued effort to connect Asia’s diverse and thriving indie scenes.
In line with its theme, “Brave,” the 2025 GIMA will spotlight international collaborations that embody artistic courage and authenticity. Among the evening’s highly anticipated performances is a rare cross-border collaboration featuring South Korea’s acclaimed indie rock band Silica Gel, Thai rapper AUTTA, and Taiwan’s beloved folk-pop trio The Chairs. They will be joined by four more acts from across Asia whose music exemplifies fearless expression and individuality.
This year also introduces the Best Asian Creative Artist Award, recognizing boundary-breaking artists across languages and genres. From over 60 submissions spanning Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, finalists include South Korea’s Fat Hamster and KANG New, R&B and neo-soul artist Jacqui, Indonesian indie collective Lomba Sihir, politically charged rock band .Feast, and Tokyo-born, Melbourne-based artist ELLE SHIMADA.
Leading the local nominations is rapper-songwriter Hsien Ching (陳嫺靜), who garnered seven nods for her twin albums exploring unconventional hip-hop through a bold female lens. Close behind is Lilium (百合花), whose fusion of Taiwanese roots and rock earned six nominations. Other notable nominees include Enno Cheng, Modern Cinema Master, YELLOW, Dinosaur’s Skin, and Andr—each representing the vibrant creativity of Taiwan’s indie landscape.
For the full list of nominees and updates, visit GIMA’s official website or follow on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
