Following the highly anticipated awards night, West Australian Music (WAM) are excited to reveal the winners of the 2026 Song of the Year Competition presented by Healthway.
Taking out the overall Grand Prize in 2026 was Coco Elise with their song ‘Colour The Stencil’, which also won the Folk category. Crafting a sound that feels equal parts its own thing and familiar, Coco Elise are the genre-blurring local indie project featuring producer and songwriter Josh Ellis. Their live show captivates audiences, carving their own space that feels infectious and impossible to ignore.
Local First Nations artist Phil Walleystack took home Grand Prize Runner Up with ‘Lore of the Land’ which also won the Country category.
Second Runner Up was awarded to 15-year-old Alyssa for ‘Walk With The Elders’ and was the category winning song for Outstanding Indigenous.
The inaugural winner of the Healthway Feel It Write It category was local country artist Codee-Lee with her song ‘Bird in a Cage’. Codee featured in the top 5 of three different categories this year, also taking home the Outstanding Regional category.
Healthway Chief Executive Officer, Colin Smith congratulated Codee-Lee for the two well-deserved awards.
“Song of the Year connects musicians, opening doors for emerging voices while celebrating artists like Codee-Lee and the strength of WA songwriting.”
“It highlights the power of creativity to support mental wellbeing and community connection.”
WAM Chief Executive Officer, Owen Whittle congratulated the winners
“With over 800 submissions across 17 categories from all corners of WA, these awards have shown the depth and breadth of songwriting talent in our state.”
“This year we see several first-time winners from emerging artists including Misticia, Georga Raath and 15-year-old Alyssa, who share the stage with stalwarts of the local music scene such as Phil Walleystack and Codee-Lee.”
“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Healthway for our Song of the Year Awards with the ‘Heathway Feel It, Write It’ category, which is well-complemented by the second year of presenting the ‘Song for Sophie’ Award in memory of young artist Sophie Smith.”
“Song of the Year also shines a light on the producers, writers and recording studios who play a vital role in creating music. This year, local songwriter and producer Calvin Bennett was credited for contributions towards three winning songs and the Grand Prize.”
Congratulations to all winners.
GRAND PRIZE: | 2026 WINNER: |
Winner | Colour The Stencil – Coco Elise Songwriters | Joshua Ellis, Isaiah Quintana Producers | Joshua Ellis, Calvin Bennett Recording Engineer | Joshua Ellis Recording Studio | Calvin Bennett Studio
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Runner Up | Lore of the Land – Phil Walleystack Songwriter | Phil Walleystack Producer | Phil Walleystack Recording Engineer | Peter Oats Recording Studio | Kitchen Cooked Records
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Second Runner Up | Walk With The Elders – Alyssa Songwriter | Alyssa Producers | Robert Lake, Lee Buddle, Charley Caruso Recording Engineers | Lee Buddle, Robert Lake Recording Studio | Crank Studio
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CATEGORY: | 2026 WINNER: | OTHER NOMINEES: |
‘A Song for Sophie’ Award | Little Affliction – Riyana Samrai Songwriter | Riyana Samrai Producer | Ezekiel Padmanbham Recording Engineer | Ezekiel Padmanbham Recording Studio | Tunafish Recording Company | Call Me – Misticia dust mites – Georga Raath Pearl – Anika Lousie Radio National – Streetlights |
Blues/Roots | Call Me – Misticia Songwriter | Misticia Producer | Michael Bono Recording Engineer | Michael Bono | mister – Navy June Redemption Arc – Siobhan Cotchin The River – South 76 Wonderful Wonderful – Unicorn |
Country | Lore of the Land – Phil Walleystack Songwriter | Phil Walleystack Producer | Phil Walleystack Recording Engineer | Peter Oats Recording Studio | Kitchen Cooked Records | Back Roads – Ray Jones Show on the Road – Codee-Lee Time and Time – Harry Foxton Two Feet – Sally Jane |
Electronic | DO YOU EVER – Georga Raath Songwriters | Georga Raath, OJC43 Producer | OJC43 Recording Engineer | OJC43 | Desires – Binary Sunsets Garden of Edie – EDIE Reality Check – Leah McFetridge SUPANOVA Remix featuring KAYPS – Ricky Neil Jr. |
Experimental | fragments II – samarobryn Songwriter | samarobryn
| Black Water – yumyab Clairvoyant, the Owl – Jack Maher RETURN TO THE ROOFTOP – Sleepthink Run – Dan Sutherlan |
Folk | Colour The Stencil – Coco Elise Songwriters | Joshua Ellis, Isaiah Quintana Producers | Joshua Ellis, Calvin Bennett Recording Engineer | Joshua Ellis Recording Studio | Calvin Bennett Studio
| ARMOUR – Georgina Dacheff Like A River – Riley Pearce Lore of the Land – Phil Walleystack Soles – Charlie Daniel |
Global | Pehli Sawan – Avra Banerjee Songwriter | Avra Banerjee Producer | Avra Banerjee
| Lantredé – Salama Romance des vacances – Queency Sambatra – Tchéga Someday soon – Marion Beugels |
Healthway, Feel it, Write It | Bird in a Cage – Codee-Lee Songwriter | Codee-Lee Producer | James Newhouse Recording Engineer | James Newhouse
| Girl in the Mirror – Amberley Maryellen Reality Check – Leah McFetridge Somedays – Danella Traffic Lights – Tanya Ransom |
Heavy/Metal | D1 – Indigo Blaze Songwriters | Levi Gallagher, Rhys Gahan, Ryan Sharp, Matthew Templeman Producer | Matthew Templeman Recording Studio | Hopping Mouse Studio | Cruel is the wheel – Secular Evergreen – Viperchain Ivy – Late 90s Zealot – The Gremlins |
Hip-Hop/RNB | Sanctuary Stay – PERSIA Songwriters | PERSIA, Conor Lawson, Emma Scanlon Producer | Conor Lawson Recording Engineer | Conor Lawson | apathetic – Elianie Living Without You – SHARIN Mama Said – And Beyond New Friends – Kurt Carrera |
Jazz | Saffron Mastadon – Huey Brazadich Songwriter | Huey Brazadich Recording Engineers | Mark McEwen, Brody Simpson Recording Studio | Underground Studios | Jammin’ With Nate – James Colton Morning Star – David Rastrick Never Too Late – Chrissie Pavlovic Sending All My Love – The Matt Cahill Combo |
Outstanding Indigenous | Walk With The Elders – Alyssa Songwriter | Alyssa Producers | Robert Lake, Lee Buddle, Charley Caruso Recording Engineers | Lee Buddle, Robert Lake Recording Studio | Crank Studio | Flames – Bobby Bennell Lore of the Land – Phil Walleystack Ngany Kaartdijin (On my mind) – Boox Kid The Fire – Kenzo |
Outstanding Regional | Bird in a Cage – Codee-Lee Songwriter | Codee-Lee Producer | James Newhouse Recording Engineer | James Newhouse
| Already Gone – Amberley Maryellen Bike Beach Pub – RATSALAD. Don’t Give Me No Work – South 76 Rain Check – Pete Byfield |
Outstanding U18 | you know – Zoevi Songwriter | Zoevi Producer | Calvin Bennett Recording Engineer | Calvin Bennett Recording Studio | Calvin Bennett Studio | Bittersweet Love Ending – Hiru Kodippili Handbrake On My Life – Leroy Harvey OBSESSED – Lily Rawson What Am I Missing? – Violet T |
Pop | Greenhouse – Hollie Isabella Songwriter | Hollie Isabella Producer | Calvin Bennett Recording Engineer | Calvin Bennett Recording Studio | Calvin Bennett Studio | Another Hit – Joel Tane apathetic – Elianie Fallen Angel – Alexandria I never changed – STOW |
Punk/Hardcore | Pump It – Indigo Blaze Songwriters | Levi Gallagher, Rhys Gahan, Ryan Sharp, Matthew Templeman Producer | Matthew Templeman Recording Studio | Hopping Mouse Studio | Art School Drop Out (Jaz Origin Story) – RATSALAD. Autophobia – Ten Cent Tiger Bacon Pig Man – BeefWood Ballet EMBARRASED 4 U – Blush |
Rock | Angels – The Forever Party Songwriter | Finn Alexander Mickle Recording Engineer | Oliver Bodlovich | Public Humiliation – ALEIA Radio National – Streetlights Spirals – Unicorn Standing On The Edge Of The World – Simon London + the Spirits |
