VUT indie awards 2025: The winners: on the inside are certain.
Hamburg was all about independence yesterday: for the 13th time, the VUT indie awards (short via) were awarded at the Reeperbahn Festival. On September 18, 2025, the Association honored independent music companies (VUT) acts, labels and projects that independently create culture apart from the large corporations.
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VUT indie Awards 2025: Emotional acceptance speech by Vandalisbin
The first award of the evening went to the Munich musician Vandalisbin, who was honored as the “best newcomer”. In her speech, she thanked not only friends and companions, but also all those who enable her to make her dream of making professional music through financial support.
Masha Qrella and Ebow triumph
In the main category “Best Act”, the Berlin musician Masha Qrella prevailed against the nominated derya yıldırım & grup Şimşek and Güner Künier.
Rapper Ebow for FC Chaya received the price for the “best album”. Laudator Nebou from the Hamburg rap collective Bangerfabrique described the work as a “manifest” and at the same time as a “soundtrack of the attitude to life, queer migrant life”.
Prices for labels, business and special services
The Hamburg label Grand Hotel van Cleef was recognized as the “best label”. Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst received the title “Best Experiment” for The Call. Aurismatic was also awarded as a “Best New Music Business”.
In addition, the VUT paid tribute to personalities who have shaped the independent music world: the special prize went to Frank Bull, collector, archivist and founder of vinyl-on-demand, which makes Rare music treasures accessible again in small runs. After 14 years, the “indie ax” was also awarded for the first time-it went to Helen Smith, chair of the European Independent Association Impala, which has been taught between politics and scene for years.
All winners: Overview inside
- Best newcomer: Vandalisbin
- Best Act: Masha Qrella
- Best album: EBOW – FC Chaya
- Best label: Grand Hotel van Cleef
- Best experiment: Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst – The Call
- Best New Music Business: Aurismatic
- Special price: Frank Bull
- Indie ax: Helen Smith
“Stay Independent!” Is the leitmotif
“Stay Independent!” This year’s motto run through the entire evening. Moderator Nina “Fiva” Sonnenberg opened the award before Hamburg’s cultural senator Dr. In his speech, Carsten Brosda asked the question of how artistic independence can be shaped today. His answer was programmatic: “Forming gangs!” A call that is entirely in the spirit of this year’s festival motto “Imagine Togenthernness”.