Jazz musician Yuhan Su swept three awards, while Japan’s Tempalay delivered an electrifying finale and Balming Tiger’s Wonjin joined forces with Taiwan’s Elephant Gym for a cross-border performance
The 17th Golden Indie Music Awards (GIMA) was held on October 31, 2026, at the Taipei Music Center, recognizing outstanding independent and original music from Taiwan and across Asia.
Among this year’s notable winners were Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster, which took home Best Album for 《QUIT QUIETLY》, and Japanese-Filipino artist ena mori, who received Best Asian Creative Artist for her EP 《Ore》. Taiwanese jazz musician Yuhan Su emerged as the night’s biggest award winner, earning three honors for her internationally acclaimed project 《Over The Moons》.
The ceremony also featured standout performances from Japan’s Tempalay and a special collaboration between Wonjin of South Korea’s alternative music collective Balming Tiger and Taiwanese math-rock trio Elephant Gym, further highlighting GIMA’s growing cross-border appeal.
Sunset Rollercoaster, known internationally for their dreamy fusion of indie rock, soul, and retro pop, won Best Album for 《QUIT QUIETLY》. The band has recently attracted further global attention through 《AAA》, their collaborative album with South Korean indie group HYUKOH.
Born in Tokyo and raised in the Philippines, ena mori is a Japanese-Filipino singer-songwriter and producer whose sound blends classical piano influences with experimental pop. Her 2022 album 《DON’T BLAME THE WILD ONE!》 topped NME Asia’s list of the best Asian albums of the year. She has also performed at major international events, including SXSW and Japan’s Summer Sonic Festival. Her latest EP, 《Ore》, earned her this year’s Best Asian Creative Artist award, underscoring the growing recognition of cross-cultural voices in Asia’s independent music scene.
Yuhan Su secured three awards for 《Over The Moons》: Best Jazz Album, Best Jazz Song for 〈Genius and Dumb〉 (天才與笨蛋), and the Jury Award. Other notable winners included Outlet Drift, which won Best Band for 《Masonolay i Cepo’》; Panai, who received two folk music awards for her album 《Minsumin》 (來了) and the song 〈A Bird Without Feathers〉 (是誰); and Malpace, whose debut album 《((No wool. No hump))》 took home Best R&B Album.
One of the ceremony’s standout live performances was ODD WAVES, a special collaboration between Wonjin, a member of South Korean alternative music collective Balming Tiger, and Taiwanese math-rock band Elephant Gym. Their set featured Elephant Gym’s 〈鏡子 Mirror〉 and 〈中途 Midway〉, Wonjin’s 〈겨울왕자 Ice King〉, and collaborative performances of 〈女巫 Witches〉 and 〈캔디가 생각나 Candy〉. The performance brought together intricate instrumental rhythms and distinctive vocal arrangements, creating a memorable cross-cultural musical experience.
Japanese psychedelic rock band Tempalay brought the ceremony to a close with performances of 〈Kaminchi かみんち〉 and 〈Sonatine そなちね〉. Comprising Ryoto Ohara, Natsuki Fujimoto, and AAAMYYY, the trio delivered their signature mix of psychedelic rock, electronic textures, and experimental pop to the Taipei stage.
Other performance highlights included a collaboration among Paiwan singer-songwriter Sauljaljui (戴曉君), Yuhan Su, and the Taiwu Ballads Troupe (TBT 泰武古謠傳唱), which brought together Indigenous Taiwanese musical traditions and contemporary jazz. Meanwhile, Best Live Performance winner That’s My Shhh showcased the energy of Taiwan’s hip-hop scene with “LIVE A LIFE.”
For the complete list of winners and the latest announcements, follow the Golden Indie Music Awards (GIMA) through its official social media channels.
