With the end of the year fast approaching, it’s time to look back and reflect on what was an incredible year of Australian music with our own small acknowledgment of the artists and releases that made our 2016.
Throughout the week, we’ll be announcing the winners of our Tone Deaf awards over the following categories:
- Track of the Year
- Live Act of the Year
- Breakthrough of the Year
- Act to Watch in 2017
- Act of the Year
- Album of the Year
Today, we’re happy to present our award for Breakthrough of the Year, as well as our Act to Watch for 2017:
Breakthrough of the Year: Tash Sultana
“In a year that saw a wide array of acts translate ‘buzz’ into full-blown success, Melbourne’s Tash Sultana completely jumped the queue, taking her incredible talent as a busker on the streets of Melbourne global in what felt like record time.
Bringing fans into her home studio with a series of self-made live recordings was the first step, broadening her audience from whoever happened to be stopped in the street by her ridiculously varied skillset, to people across the globe. Perhaps owing to the exposure inherent in busking, Tash’s openness didn’t stop there, with a refreshingly honest series of interviews on drug addiction and battles with mental illness further endearing her to the industry as a whole.
Tash’s success extended beyond the intangible victory of virality, though, and saw her completely selling our her national tour, not to mention frequently packing out rooms across Europe. And while some acts sit on their buzz until it deflates, Tash found the time to start up a label and drop her debut EP Notion, bringing together the now-famous tracks that first hit their mark online.
Now, with her name on every festival bill you’d care to mention, and her management Lemon Tree Music Management joining forces with Jaddan Comerford and UNIFIED to take her to the U.S., it’s only going to get bigger for Tash in 2017.
Beyond all else, it’s Tash’s sheer breadth of talent and incredible showmanship that’s allowed her to make her mark this year. In a live setting especially, Tash blows the majority of other acts off the stage – and does it all solo. Her voice is outrageously versatile, dulcet one moment, sharp and rapid-fire the next – and her toolbox of instruments is similarly crammed. Shifting effortlessly from one to the next, Tash can elevate a short burst of pan-flute beatboxing to become just as enthralling as her searing guitar solos, all delivered with an unwavering joy.
2016 was inarguably the year of Tash Sultana and, if the hot streak continues and the music keeps flowing, that year is about to become an era.” – Brandon John
Shortlist:
- Montaigne
- Julia Jacklin
- Tash Sultana
- Alex Lahey
- Vera Blue
- Sampa The Great
Act to Watch for 207: Jack River
“Take a gander at the lineups for the upcoming summer festival season and you may notice one familiar but not recognisable name sitting amongst the Tame Impalas and Violent Sohos – Jack River.
Jack River is the nome de plume of New South Wales singer and songwriter Holly Rankin, who cocked ears earlier this year after she was announced as the latest signing to taste-making Australian record label I OH YOU.
‘Palo Alto’, the lead single taken from her debut EP, Highway Songs No. 2, perfectly encapsulates this poised and singular artist, with its hazy atmospherics that add a shimmering sense of dreaminess to the indie rock skeleton of the track.
It’s this combination of whip-smart, confessional lyrics and beautifully composed indie rock stylings that will ensure Jack River will see nothing short of a meteoric rise in the new year.” – Greg Moskovitch
Shortlist:
- Jack River
- Habits
- friendships
- Gabriella Cohen
- Gretta Ray
- These New South Whales
- Columbus
- Alice Ivy
- Jess Kent
