Sycco Scores a Second Slice of Prime Brisbane Real Estate

Ball Park Music, Beddy Rays, Mallrat and Hatchie are in the hunt for one of the top prizes at the 2023 Queensland Music Awards (QMAs), for album of the year, while Sycco enters the history books for her past deeds.

Sycco, the Brisbane-based bedroom pop producer and artist, bagged another piece of prime real estate last year when she won song of the year for the second consecutive time, with “My Ways” in 2022 and “Dribble” in 2021.

During a ceremony today (March 14), Sycco (real name Sasha McLeod) scores her second plaque on the Walk of Fame in Brunswick Street Mall, one of the unique honours that comes with winning the coveted song of the year category.

No other artist has doubled-up with the top award.  

“I truly believe Queenslanders make the best music and I’m happy to see Sycco celebrated for their great achievements once again,” comments Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, as the Sycco’s second permanent plaque was presented in the heart of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

“It’s a testament to Sasha’s undeniable talent and hard work that’s been put in to earn two consecutive song of the year awards.”

Sycco

It’s also a “moment to recognise the unmatched level of quality and consistency that is coming out of our local music industry,” adds Schrinner.

“Council will continue to proudly support this dynamic industry that adds so much to our economy and culture.”

Meanwhile, organisers QMusic has announced finalists for the people choice award categories, metro venue of the year, regional venue of the year, festival of the year and the inaugural accessible venue of the year.

“The stories told through our music in the last year, particularly through our albums, paint a picture of the depth and history of Queensland life,” comments QMusic CEO Kris Stewart.

“From Ball Park Music’s seventh album Weirder and Weirder to Beddy Ray’s debut self-titled album, the breadth of our state’s experience is on show and it’s brilliant to see.”

Currently, 74 musicians are in the running for awards at the event, which celebrate the Sunshine State’s “brightest emerging artists and established legends,” and is set for Tuesday, March 28 at The Fortitude Music Hall.

Established in 2006 (then known as “QSong”), the QMAs are judged by a panel of music industry professionals. Past winners include Kate Miller-Heidke, Bernard Fanning, Amy Shark, Sheppard, and Violent Soho.

Major partners include Australia Council for the Arts, Brisbane City Council and Paul Bowker’s Brick Lane.

Tickets for the 2023 QMAs can be found here.

2023 Queensland Music Awards – Finalists

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Presented by Brisbane City Council
Ball Park Music – ‘Weirder & Weirder’
Beddy Rays – ‘Beddy Rays’
Mallrat – ‘Butterfly Blue’
Hatchie – ‘Giving the World Away’

BLUES | ROOTS AWARD
Presented by Trentham Estate
Darcy Kate – ‘Blue Cascade’
Jackie Marshall – ‘Chop Wood Carry Water’
Jen Mize & The Rough N’ Tumble – ‘All Riled Up’
Pat Tierney – ‘Shadows’

CHILDREN’S MUSIC AWARD
Presented by The Truss Company
Blue Tac – ‘Jump In The Pool’
Cheeky Monkey Club – ‘Yes or No – A Song About Consent’
Spotty Kites – Donna Dyson – ‘Walk Around Wednesday’
The Mini Moshers – ‘Waterslide’

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL AWARD
Presented by Queensland Conservatorium – Griffith University
Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, Tenzin Choegyal & Katherine Philp – ‘Dolma’
Monique Clare – ‘Downhill Skiing’
Nonsemble – ‘Argentavis’
Tristan Barton – ‘In Time’

COUNTRY AWARD
Presented by ABC Radio Brisbane
Casey Barnes – ‘Small Town’
James Johnston – ‘COUNTRY BOYS’
Sammy White – ‘Love On The Line’
Taylor Moss – ‘What Am I Gonna Do?’

ELECTRONIC AWARD
Presented by The Prince Consort
Confidence Man – ‘Luvin U Is Easy’
dameeeela – ‘The Shake Up’
Nat Dunn – ‘State Of My Heart’
Sycco – ‘Ripple’

FOLK AWARD
Presented by APRA AMCOS
Freight Train Foxes – ‘Fly to You’
Greta Stanley – ‘Keep My Cool’
Miranda vs Arizona – ‘Changin’’
Yb. – ‘Blackphemy’

HEAVY AWARD
Presented by IJS
Citadel – ‘Malignant’
DZ Deathrays – ‘Paranoid’
Greshka – ‘FREEDOM FROM CLIVE’
The Atomic Beau Project – ‘GHOSTS’

HIP HOP AWARD
Presented by NAFA
Day1 – ‘MBAPPE’
JESSWAR – ‘WAVES’
Khi’leb – ‘Cheques’
Siala – ‘Blackout’

INDIGENOUS AWARD
Presented by Anacta
Beddy Rays – ‘Handful’
Sunny Luwe – ‘Double Shot’
William Barton – ‘Kalkani’
Tjaka – ‘Break It Down’

JAZZ AWARD
Presented by Jazz Music Institute
Angela Newcomb – ‘Last Evening’
Sophie Min – ‘Wind and the End’
The Dawn Light – ‘The Moon Was Low’
Trichotomy – ‘Forward Motion’

POP AWARD
Presented by Star Entertainment Group
Asha Jefferies – ‘Tank Tops’
Cub Sport – ‘Always Got The Love’
Mallrat – ‘Surprise Me (feat. Azealia Banks)’
Thelma Plum – ‘Backseat Of My Mind’

ROCK AWARD
Presented by Comiskey Group
Eliza & The Delusionals – ‘Give You Everything’
Hope D – ‘Emerald’
WAAX – ‘No Doz’
Yb. – ‘Sandra’

YOUTH (AGES 10 – 17) AWARD
Presented by SAE
Amy Elise – ‘Kind Of Insane’
FELONY – ‘Anything To Feel Anything’
Lily Grace – ‘The Two Of Us Meet’
Lottie McLeod – ‘Happy Birthday’

SOUL | FUNK | RNB AWARD
Presented by The Sound Garden
Beckah Amani – ‘Waiting on You’
Jordan Briton – ‘Lights Out Feat: Roman MC’
Miiesha – ‘Still Dream’
Pink Matter – ‘Can’t Start’

WORLD AWARD
Presented by MEAA
Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, Tenzin Choegyal & Katherine Philp – ‘Wo La So’
Future Destin – ‘MALANGA’
Innessa – ‘Perekati-pole’
mou and Menaka Thomas – ‘Space’

REGIONAL | REGIONAL AWARD
Presented by Telstra
Greta Stanley – ‘Red Earth Dirt’
High Tropics – ‘Bipolar Disaster’
Miiesha – ‘Everything’
Sahara Beck – ‘Nothing Wrong With That’

VIDEO AWARD
Presented by Creative Productions
Ben Wrigley – Purple Static by Mirrors
Deena Lynch – Cut by Jaguar Jonze
Maeve McKenna & James Greville – Emerald by Hope D
Phoebe Faye – No Doz by WAAX

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALISTS
METRO VENUE OF THE YEAR
Presented by Oztix and The Music
Miami Marketta
The Fortitude Music Hall

REGIONAL VENUE OF THE YEAR
Presented by Oztix and The Music
Tanks Arts Centre
Solbar

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
Presented by Oztix and The Music
Caloundra Music Festival
Gympie Music Muster

ACCESSIBLE VENUE OF THE YEAR
Presented by CPL – Choice, Life, Passion

The Fortitude Music Hall
Kingston Butter Factory

MAJOR AWARDS – WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT THE QUEENSLAND MUSIC AWARDS
SONG OF THE YEAR
Presented by Brick Lane Brewing

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Presented by Brisbane City Council

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Presented by Grant Thornton