The Californer - Bigfork Bay Music Takes Two Awards and Four Additional Nominations at the 2026 Hollywood Independent Music Awards

Trending...

California: Governor Newsom signs new law to protect workers, require disclosures on AI-generated advertising - 154
California: Governor Newsom signs legislation 9.14.2026 - 141
California: Governor Newsom expands film and TV tax credits with new legislation, creates tax credit to support post-production jobs - 104

"Tunapaa (We Rise)," recorded in Mombasa, Kenya, wins Mixing/Engineering and Afrobeats Special Recognition ahead of its September 27 release

IRVINE, Calif. - Californer -- Bigfork Bay Music LLC, the independent record label based in Irvine, California, received two awards and four additional nominations at the 2026 Hollywood Independent Music Awards, held July 30 at the Avalon in Hollywood.

"Tunapaa (We Rise)," performed by TruRaw featuring Sandriana, won the Mixing/Engineering award for engineers Tokal and Jennifer Ortiz and received the program's Afrobeats Special Recognition. The track was written and produced by label founder Scott R. Hansen. Tokal recorded it in Mombasa, Kenya, in April 2026, and Ortiz mixed and mastered it in Los Angeles. It releases on all major streaming services on September 27, 2026, in stereo and Dolby Atmos.

The label's other nominations spanned four categories. Hansen was nominated in Producer/Production for "El Compás de Don James," a flamenco guitar instrumental performed by Santiago Vasquez of Medellín, Colombia. Vasquez was nominated in the Latin category for the same recording. Aritra C was nominated in New Age/Ambient for "San Joaquin Marsh," recorded in Chhattisgarh, India. Bigfork Bay Music itself, in its first year of operation, was nominated in Record Label/Distributor alongside Thirty Tigers, the Nashville label-services company behind Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson, and Symphonic, the independent distributor that won the category.

More on The Californer

"These recordings were made on three continents by people who have never been in the same room," said Hansen. "Tunapaa was sung in Mombasa and mixed in Los Angeles. Santiago plays in Medellín. The label's job is to find the right player for the song and pay that player upfront."

The Hollywood Independent Music Awards recognize independent artists, producers, engineers, and labels in genre and craft categories. Nominees are selected from submitted work, and each category names a single winner. https://himawards.com/

Music Video: https://filmfreeway.com/projects/4365601

About Bigfork Bay Music LLC
Bigfork Bay Music LLC is a fully independent record label based in Irvine, California, with creative roots in Bigfork, Montana. It produces original music across genres and owns every composition and master it releases. Talent is engaged on a contract basis, and every recording is built to be sync-ready for streaming and licensing. More at Bigfork Bay Music | Independent Record Label