Musician Dan Sultan is one of this year's most celebrated Australian artists.
His third album, Blackbird, debuted at No 4 on the ARIA charts and he’s already put out his new release, an EP titled Dirty Ground.
Sultan is up for five ARIA awards including Album of the Year and Best Male Artist.
“It's affirming. It took a lot to write the record. I was in a real rut for a long time and I wasn't feeling particularly confident,” Sultan told SBS.
The 31-year-old said the ARIAs are a good way to celebrate some of Australia’s most talented musicians.
“It's something really nice that we have something like the ARIAs that recognises Australian creativity and Australian artists,” Sultan said.
This year, there are more indigenous artists nominated than ever before.
Jessica Mauboy and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu are in the running for awards, along with Sultan.
But the musician says he wants to be known for his songs - not his heritage.
“You know I'm a musician, who happens to be Aboriginal. I think Aboriginal artists, we have to explain ourselves all the time. You know, and we have to explain where we're from and how it's happening, you know? I think uncle Archie Roach said it best years ago, well, you don't ask Paul Kelly where he's from.”
He'll be performing tomorrow with megastars, including One Direction and Katy Perry.
ARIAs CEO Dan Rosen said the show is expected to draw more viewers overseas, than at home.
“Broadcast for the first time all throughout Asia on Fox international, on Channel V, and Starworld. So, it's very exciting that the ARIAs will be broadcast into millions of homes in Asia,” Mr Rosen said.
Audiences will see a huge range of Australia's top artists including rapper Iggy Azalea, Chet Faker, Sia, Five Seconds of Summer and performances from music legends Paul Kelly and Neil Finn.
Mr Rosen said it’s been a huge year for Australian music, but the country has always had some of the best musicians in the world.
“Sometimes these things go through cycles. It probably started with Gotye we had his number one song smash around the world a couple of years ago, and I think that refocused everybody around the world about how great Australian artists are,” Mr Rosen said.
International attention that Sultan hopes will help them keep doing what they love.
“Write some more music, and release more music and you know, it's pretty simple at the moment. But we'll wait and see.”
Fans gathered early on Wednesday morning outside the AIRAs venue to watch their favourite stars arrive.
Fans gather early to grab a prime spot to watch the red carpet action at the ARIA Awards. (SBS)
