Women make up majority of finalists for APRA AMCOS Professional Development Awards

Up-and-comers Tkay Maidza, Julia Jacklin, Montaigne and Kučka are among the female artists announced as finalists in this year’s APRA Professional Development Awards.

A shortlist of 40 Australian songwriters and composers across eight categories have been announced as finalists, with women making up 60% of the names overall.

Country artist and songwriterChristie Lamb is among the finalists named, and found the nomination to be a boost to her confidence.

“When I read the list of finalists, I thought to myself’Are you sure?’; I was still kind of doubting myself,” she said.

“It was super exciting to see my name there, with all of those other great songwriters. It’s a special thing to be recognised for your songs.”

“It was really great to see so many women named, especially with country music,” she added.

“’Bro country’ has been a trend lately, but there’s always been a lot of great female songwriters in country music.”

Held every two years, the APRA initiative creates countless opportunities for emerging songwriters and composers, and looks to support artists across multiple music genres as well as those working in film and television.

Five finalists have also been named for the Indigenous Music and Media Award from Smugglers of Light, and are in the running to receive a grant of $12,000.

A panel of local judges comprising Lior, Mia Dyson, James Blundell, Brooke McClymont and John Ferris and more have determined this group of music creators who are in the running to take home a career-changing cash prize of $15,000.

The complete list of finalists is below, and a playlist featuring the work of the finalists is available onSpotify.

Winners will be announced onJuly 25.

POPULAR CONTEMPORARY (3 Awards will be given in this category including Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Hip Hop, Dance and R&B)
Ainslie Wills, Dave Crowe, Elizabeth Mitchell, Hannah Cameron, Hannah Crofts, Jessica Cerro (pka Montaigne), Julia Jacklin, Peter Harding (pka Thief), Sophie Payten (pka Gordi) and Tkay Maidza

ABORIGINAL TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER
Benjamin Walker, Jess Beck, Joseph Dargan (pka Lucky Luke), Robbie Miller and Zaachariaha Fielding

CLASSICAL
Amanda Cole, Julian Day, Katy Abbott, Nicole Murphy and Tristan Coelho

COUNTRY
Christie Lamb, Danielle Blakey, Fanny Lumsden, Kaylee Bell and Timothy James Bowen

DANCE/ELECTRONIC
Jacob Grant (pka Just a Gent), Laura Lowther (pka Kučka), Nat Conway, Nicholas Drabble (pka Set Mo) and Oscar Key Sung

FILM & TELEVISION
Amy Bastow, Angela Little, Claire Deak, Damien Lane and Pru Montin

JAZZ
Andrea Keller, Daniel Susnjar, Kristin Berardi, Sam Anning and Steve Barry

SMUGGLERS OF LIGHT
Eric Avery, Gina Williams, Jessica Hitchcock, Yirrmal Marika and Zaachariaha Fielding

Image: Julia Jacklin