Alt-country/rock singer-songwriter Siobhan Cotchin has taken out Grand Prize for the 2021 WAM Song Of The Year.
Siobhan’s track ‘Just The Way It Is’ explores the space left at the end of a relationship, and the dualism of sadness and hope which emerges as a result of that. The track also took home the Blues/Roots award, making Siobhan a multi-award winner for the 2021 ceremony.
Second in the Grand Prize category was Timothy Nelson’s Folk category-winning song ‘Biding Time’.
WA’s First Nations songwriters really shone throughout the ceremony – Cyndy Moody and Phil Bartlett took out the Country category with ‘Ngany Koorlangka (My Kid)’ and Kimberley artist Matalja scored Outstanding Indigenous, for her debut release ‘Malu Mabu Liyan’.
Performing live, Global category winners Warralgurniya captured the room with their winning track ‘Warri Yungu, Warri Baba’.
Natasha Eldridge took out the Act-Belong-Commit category with her NAIDOC Week-inspired ‘Always Was Always Will Be’.
“Through our partnership with Act-Belong-Commit, we have been able to recognise inspirational artists such as Natasha,” Healthway A/CEO Jeremy Hubble says. “The song explores her rich and ever-present connection to country, embodying a powerful message of community and belonging.”
Other winners of this year’s awards (full list below) included Adrian Dzvuke, RATSALAD, Brayden Sibbald, Daniel Susnjar, Maver, The Harvest Trail, Jean-Michel Maujean, Pat Chow and Angelina Curtis.
“I have watched with pride as my home state has emerged as one of the country’s cultural superpowers,” WAM CEO Natasha Collier says. “Our songwriters are among the best in the world, and our contemporary artists are an absolute force – with millions of fans globally. The full list of Song Of The Year award-winning alumni is a true testament to the rich song-writing talent West Australian music has to offer.”
2021 WAM Song Of The Year Winners
WAM Song Of The Year Grand Prize
Winner: Siobhan Cotchin - ‘Just The Way It Is’Runner-Up: Timothy Nelson - ‘Biding Time’
Second Runner-Up: Detour - ‘Left Shoe’
