20 Aussies named winners of US-based international music competition
20 Australian artists are among the winners of US-based Unsigned Only music competition, selected from over 6,000 entries from artists hailing from 95 countries.
Among those honoured are Brisbane singer-songwriter Sahara Beck, who received First Place in the Adult Contemporary category for her track Here We Go Again, and Cairns artist Mayah who took out second place in the R&B/Hip Hop category for XO Girl.
An additional 18 Aussies were awarded an Honorable Mention in their respective categories.
“Australia always produces great independent artists, and this year was no exception,” said UO founders, Candace Avery and Jim Morgan.
“We are always on the lookout for artists who create music that is creative, memorable, and enduring. We are proud to honour so many Aussie artists whose music embodies these traits.”
The competition – open to all unsigned artists – has seen four Grand Prize winners since 2012 go on to sign major label deals.
Winners were selected by a panel of judges comprised of celebrity artists and industry executives, including Aimee Mann, Grouplove, O.A.R., Frank Foster, David Crowder, Aaron Shust, Jack Ingram, Lydia Loveless, and more.
2018 Australian Winners
First Place – Sahara Beck (Fortitude Valley, QLD, Australia) – Here We Go Again – Adult Contemporary
Second Place – Mayah (Cairns, QLD, Australia) – XO Girl – R&B/Hip Hop
Honourable Mentions
Carus Thompson (Fremantle, WA, Australia) – Beach Fires – Folk/Singer-Songwriter
Collegians (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) – Vaccine – Rock
Crawford Brothers (Hinton, NSW, Australia) – You And I – Pop/Top 40
Danielle Deckard (Sydney, NSW, Australia) – Happy – Folk/Singer-Songwriter
Georgi Kay (Perth, WA, Australia – Guilty Pleasures – AC (Adult Contemporary)
Hox Loci (Sydney, NSW, Australia) – Wolves – Rock
Little Quirks (Gosford, NSW, Australia) – Crumbled – Americana
Lostsong Project (Cobram, VIC, Australia) – Carry Me – Christian
MAXO (Canberra, ACT, Australia ) – Never Ever – AAA (Adult Album Alternative)
MAXO (Canberra, ACT, Australia ) – Never Ever – Folk/Singer-Songwriter
MAXO (Canberra, ACT, Australia ) – Never Ever – Screen Shot
Mitch King (Gold Coast, QLD, Australia) – Believe – Screen Shot
Nick de la Hoyde (Sydney, NSW, Australia) – Mirror Mirror – Pop/Top 40
Ralway Bell (Perth, WA, Australia ) – Caught In The Crossfire – Americana
Rory Adams (Adelaide, SA, Australia) – All I Ever Do – Teen
Sahara Beck (Fortitude Valley, QLD, Australia) – Here We Go Again – Vocal Performance
This Way North (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) – Head Above Water – AAA (Adult Album Alternative)
Zjal (Adelaide, SA, Australia) – I Got U – R&B/Hip Hop