News July 23, 2018

Hatchie has taken out the fourth round of Levi’s Music Prize

Brisbane’s Hatchie is undoubtedly on top of the world right now, having taken home a whopping $25,000 after winning the fourth round of the Levi’s Music Prize.

First handed out in September, the quarterly Levi’s Music Prize looks to support artists who have blown up around the world following their appearance at BIGSOUND. Perth’s Stella Donnelly won the inaugural edition of the prize, Alex Lahey took home the award back in January, and the most recent winner was Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, who took out the third round back in May.

Having performed at the 2017 edition of BIGSOUND, Hatchie (whose real name is Harriette Pilbeam) has been going from strength to strength, performing internationally at The Great Escape and SXSW, and scoring plenty of international acclaim thanks to her debut EP, Sugar & Spice.

“I’m so excited and honoured to be receiving the Levi’s Music Prize,” Hatchie said of the award. “Over the next six months, I will be touring the world extensively in support of Sugar & Spice.

“The award will help get me to North America (twice), France and the UK. I can’t thank Levi’s and BIGSOUND enough for supporting me from so early on.”

We fell in love with @hihatchie after her showcases at @SXSW & @TheGreatEscape this year and we're excited that she's won the latest round of the @Levis Music Prize. Congratulations Harriette! @BIGSOUNDtweets @QMusicNetwork https://t.co/03s8mPQc8Q
— Sounds Australia (@SoundsAustralia) July 23, 2018

Speaking to The Courier Mail, Hatchie noted that an award such as this will do wonders for the future of her music career.

“It makes such a big difference, not only for the big things like helping pay for flights and visas and accommodation and everything but even little things, like we can probably afford to get someone to do our sound overseas now, which makes a really big difference,” she explained.

“It’s not just trying to focus on Australia, it’s helping you to take that massive step of getting overseas, which not many bands from Brisbane get a chance to do.”

Artists who have performed at BIGSOUND over the last five years will be eligible for the next round of the Levi’s Music Prize, which is set to be handed out on the last day of the conference this year, on September 7th.

Levi’s also announced recently that future winners of the prize will also receive an extra $5,000 in travel expenses from Stage & Screen, arguably making the gruelling nature of touring that little bit easier on the old wallet.