WAM SONG OF THE YEAR 2023 NOMINEES AND AWARDS EVENT REVEALED

11 May

The quest to find WA’s best songwriting talent is well and truly on as West Australian Music (WAM) announce the outstanding list of nominees for the 2023 Song of the Year competition presented by Act Belong Commit.

WAM Song of the Year is the state’s premier songwriting competition, with 2023 nominees in the running for a share of over $40,000 in prizes donated by generous prize and studio sponsors (see below). They’ll also join the formidable company of previous winners such as Stella Donnelly, Beni Bjah, Kučka, Little Birdy, Abbe May, The Waifs, Methyl Ethel and South Summit.

In recent weeks a panel of highly experienced music industry judges listened to and evaluated the multitude of entries received. Many thanks to representatives from Healthway and Act Belong Commit, Andrew Collins, Andy Kelly, Ash McGregor, Ben Jauncey, Claire Pannell, Clive Hodson, Drapht, Hayley Ayres, Helen Townsend, Ivo DaSilva, Jocelle Koh, Jon Cope, Kelly Gudgeon, Kristie McCarthy, Kyron Smithson, Marika Bailey, Marksman Lloyd, Matt Hatton, Matthew Perrett, Olivia Giuffre, Paul Clarke, Peter Emms, Phaedra Watts, Sandy Marwick, Sibylla Stephen, Tenille Elkins, Tony Edwards and Will Marwick.

The shortlist speaks volumes about the talent to be found in WA’s songwriting community, from both emerging and established writers.

Leading the field with three nominations is Jordan Anthony (Hip Hop-New R&B/Pop/Schools 15-18), with two nominations apiece for Siobhan Cotchin (Country/Folk), Daniel Susnjar (Global/Jazz), Joan & The Giants (Outstanding Indigenous/Rock), RATSALAD (Outstanding Regional/Punk-Hardcore), Pot Plant House Party (Heavy Metal/Punk-Hardcore), Elianie (Pop/Schools 14-Under), Warralgurniya (Global/Outstanding Indigenous), S.P.L (Electronic/Hip Hop-New R&B), Georgie Aué (Global/Jazz), Sunny Day (Folk/Outstanding Regional), Iconyx (Act Belong Commit/Outstanding Indigenous), Olive Mae (Country/Outstanding Regional) and RinRin (Heavy-Metal/Punk-Hardcore).

The winners will be unveiled at the 2023 Song of the Year awards event, to be held once again at Freo.Social, June 20 2023.

WAM is proud to promote the Act Belong Commit message for mental and physical health throughout the competition.

SECURE YOUR TICKETS FOR THE AWARDS NIGHT

CHECK OUT THE 2023 NOMINATED SONGS

ACT BELONG COMMIT

Presented by Healthway | Studio Sponsor Vision Studios

Head Above Water – Sophian
Stand Up – Iconyx
Kaya – Dal Jones
Shine – Go Bananas with Lisa and Minky
Talk to a Mate – The M8s

BLUES & ROOTS

Presented by Studios 301 | Studio Sponsor Real2Reel

Fill My Cup – Siobhan Cotchin
Forget What I Told You – Sgt. Hulka
Receiver – Sash Seabourne
Rosy Retrospection – Redcliffe
Sorry – Yo Yo Sun

COUNTRY

Presented by Country Music Club of Boyup Brook | Studio Sponsor John Butler Studio at Fairbridge

Down to the Wild Stuff Now – Bill Lawrie (Sea Swallow)
Girls Like You – Olive Mae
On the Run – Codee-Lee
Rattlesnakes – Steve Gibson
Where the River Meets the Sea – Savannah Solomon

ELECTRONIC

Presented by Will Hear | Studio Sponsor Soundbaker Studio

FADE – Skyuka
I’m Gonna Give You Everything – Kelea
Mind Reader – JADE RICH
Siren Call – S.P.L
We’ve Got Time – Anna O

EXPERIMENTAL

Presented by RTRFM | Studio Sponsor Tunafish Recording Company

A Feeling Apart – Daniel Sutherland/The Arborist
Mall Grabbing – Dead Tooth Hottie
Novae – Matt Tondut
Snake – Mermaid Milk
The Ancients Have Passed Away Like Running Water, Never to Return – Samarobryn

FOLK

Presented by Ditto Music | Studio Sponsor Shanghai Twang Studios

Don’t Wanna Go Home – Sunny Day
Honeymoon Phase – King Ibis
Memory – Sam McGovern
This Storm – Cameron Alexander
When the Curtains Close – Siobhan Cotchin

GLOBAL

Presented by Zaccaria Concerts | Studio Sponsor John Butler Studio at Fairbridge

Desert Cry – Georgie Aué
Here’s to Life – Daniel Susnjar
Jamtown in Mukinbudin FT General Justice – Steve Hensby Band
Karabakh Variations – Mark Cain
Kurrbili Thalu – Warralgurniya

HEAVY/METAL

Presented by XPress Magazine | Studio Sponsor Sumo Sound Studios

Guns and Grenades – RinRin
Relapse – The Harvest Trail
SINNER – MAGE
Still Bleeds My Heart – All this Filth
Worms – Pot Plant House Party

HIP HOP/NEW R&B

Presented by Milk Bar | Studio Sponsor Studio 156

Ain’t Nothing but a cloud FT Drea – Mariah Hlatywayo
Foolish – S.P.L
GOLD  -Jordan Anthony
Own Worst Enemy – Madoc Plane
Yellow ft. Mali Jo$e – Drea

JAZZ

Presented by Bandzoogle | Studio Sponsor Crank Recording

Desert Cry  – Georgie Aué
Junction – Kate Pass
One Planet – Maximillian Wickham
Search for Echoes – Chris Foster Trio
Slippery Slope – Daniel Susnjar

OUTSTANDING INDIGENOUS

Presented by Nannup Music Festival | Studio Sponsor Pavement Studios

Beat the Odds – Inkabee
Kurrbili Thalu – Warralgurniya
Stand Up – Iconyx
The Battle – Boox Kid
The Weekend – Joan & The Giants

OUTSTANDING REGIONAL

Presented by Musible | Studio Sponsor Oracle Sound

Clocks – Kris Nelson
Don’t Wanna Go Home – Sunny Day
Fade Away – RATSALAD
Girls Like You – Olive Mae
Heavy – Oceanique

POP

Presented by Rosemount Hotel | Studio Sponsor Artisan Music

Higher – Jordan Anthony
Hit and Miss – Elianie, Calvin Bennett
Somebody, Nobody – Have a Good Day
Test Drive – Dulcie
Who Are You After Me? – Angie Colman

PUNK/HARDCORE

Presented by City of Melville | Studio Sponsor Poons Head Studio

All or Nothing – Crosscheck
Cyclones with Microphones – Pot Plant House Party
Guns and Grenades – RinRin
Punch in the Face – RATSALAD
Real World – Noah Skape

ROCK

Presented by Sorrento Strategic Music | Studio Sponsor Blondel Recording Studios

Cool Kid – Joan & The Giants
What Have You Done? – Triangle Fight
Immi – Matt Zambon
Town of the Living Dead – ELI GREENEYES
Waiting – Beach Bleach

SCHOOLS 15-18

Presented by Art Gallery of WA | Studio Sponsor Blueroom Sound

80 – Increment
Higher – Jordan Anthony
Illusion – CENTRE
Mirrors – Charli Rose Smith
Sentimental – Rio Berryman

SCHOOLS 14 UNDER

Presented by The Quest | Studio Sponsor The Y HQ

In Your Eyes – Sofia Gale
Life – Skye Colcott
Stop Signs – Elianie
What’s Important – Aerilyn Jones
When She Leaves Me – Luka Babich

WAM RECOGNISES THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR SONG OF THE YEAR PARTNERS AND SPONSORS.

CATEGORY SPONSORS

Art Gallery of WA, City of Melville, Country Music Club of Boyup Brook, Healthway, Milk Bar, Nannup Music Festival, Rosemount Hotel, Sorrento Strategic Music, The Quest

STUDIO SPONSORS

Artisan Music, Blondel Recording Studios, Blueroom Sound, Crank Recording, John Butler Studio, Oracle Sound, Pavement Studios, Poons Head Studio, Real2Reel, Shanghai Twang Studios, Soundbaker Studio, Studio 156, Sumo Sound Studios, Tuna Fish Recording Company, Vision Studios

PRIZE SPONSORS

Ableton, Bandzoogle, Ditto Music, Musible, Perfect Pitch Publishing, RTRFM, Studios 301, The Y HQ, Will Hear, Xpress Magazine, Zaccaria Concerts