Tasmanian-born producer Luude, Christian Benson, wins ARIA award for Best Dance/Electronic Release

A Hobart-born music producer has taken out a major national award, entertaining the crowd at the 2022 ARIA Awards with his enthusiastic speech. Now he’s taking over the world >>

A Hobart-born music producer has taken out a major national award, entertaining the crowd at the 2022 ARIA Awards with his enthusiastic speech.

Christian ‘Luude’ Benson won Best Dance/Electronic Release for his remix of the Aussie classic ‘Down Under’, by Men at Work, which has gone global with more than 20 million streams.

Accepting his award on stage Thursday night, the music producer said he owed it all to the original song, thanking his “vocalist” Colin Hay.

“Bloody oath you legends, let’s gooooo,” Benson said enthusiastically when handed the microphone and his pointy Aria.

“I just want to say, honestly I owe this all to Colin Hay, the original man who made the Men at Work song. I love that man, I wouldn’t be here without him so shout out to Colin Hay, I love you, everyone have a great night let’s go.”

Luude accepts the ARIA award for Best Dance / Electronic Release during the 2022 ARIA Awards at The Hordern Pavilion on November 24, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brittany Long/Getty Images)

“It’s been so crazy to see this song blowing up around the world,” Benson said earlier this year.

The song is currently sitting at #25 on the UK Singles Chart, #1 on the New Zealand Top 40 Singles Chart, and #19 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

“It’s something I made for a bit of fun so when Colin Hay from Men At Work said he’d actually like to release the tune with me, I couldn’t believe it. Now seeing it hitting the charts in heaps of countries feels surreal, I can’t wait to get out and play it at shows.”

Luude was nominated in four categories — Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist; Best Video; Best Dance/Electronic Release and Song of the Year.

“Finally have settled back in after 40 shows non stop across Europe and the UK, feels unreal to get back to Australia and find out I’ve been nominated for 4 ARIA awards,” he posted to Facebook when the ARIA nomination news came in.

“It’s been bloody craziest year of my life. Massive thanks to everyone who’s come out to a show you’re all legends. Now just happy to be back in the studio making more tunes again getting ready for the Australian summer festival run.”

Music producer Luude – Christian Benson eating a Vegemite sandwich in his bedroom studio where he produced his latest hit track 'Down Under'. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Benson has also signed with Concord Music Publishing ANZ, with the independent publishing business representing Luude on an exclusive global basis.

Luude accepts the ARIA award for Best Dance / Electronic Release during the 2022 ARIA Awards at The Hordern Pavilion on November 24, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brittany Long/Getty Images)

“I have been tracking Christian as a producer for the last couple of years and have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of watching his career reach new heights this year,” Matt Tanner, Concord Music Publishing ANZ, told The Music Network.

His streams have inspired more than 240,000 TikTok videos, with the bedroom-studio producer returning home after playing some the biggest festivals in the UK and Europe.

Luude joins the Festival X line-up in Melbourne, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Sydney and Perth before playing a bunch of New Zealand shows and Japan in 2023.