2023 WAMAwards Finalists

A celebration of West Australian artists highlighting the immense and diverse talent the state is home to, the finalists for the 2023 WAMAwards showcase the rich, vibrant indie scene at its finest.

After receiving a glut of public nominations (1,200 across 34 categories), the WAMAwards' 45 invited industry judges have whittled down each category to 5 finalists.

Fresh from a standout showcase at BIGSOUND in Brisbane, Joan & The Giants lead the way with six nominations followed by SUPEREGO (who released their sophomore album 'Who Are You Hiding From?') and Siobhan Cotchin (who won three WAMAwards in 2022: Best Vocalist, Best Country Act and Best EP) with five apiece.

Angie Colman, Ghost Care, Mali Jo$e and Perth's own Eurovision favourites Voyager each received four nominations. Grace Barbé, Grievous Bodily Calm, Adrian Dzvuke, Smol Fish and Yomi Ship earned three nominations apiece.

"Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us, this is absolutely wild! Thank you WAM and to this beautiful community, feeling very grateful to be part of it," shares Joan & The Giants.

"Huge congrats to all the nominees, what an incredible music scene, and so many amazing friends! Can't wait to celebrate you all."



Adds Siobhan Cotchin: "Damn WAM thank you for the 5 noms – feeling blessed to be amongst so much talent and so many friends."

While Angie Colman says: "Feeling extremely grateful for 4 WAMAwards nominations this year! So proud to be nominated amongst my most cherished friends and biggest inspirations. Can't believe the talent this place produces."

Each year, WAM presents the Golden WAMi award to an individual who has demonstrated exemplary service to the WA music community, and this year, the judges have determined that Hayley Ayres, Kylie Thompson, Mark Neal, Luke Rinaldi and Tenille Elkins are the industry's most worthy nominees for 2023.

Rounding off what is shaping up to be a huge night will be a performance by beloved and proud West Australian act Jebediah, who will be inducted into the 2023 WAM Hall of Fame at the event.



"Being nominated for a WAMAward is a testament to the hard work, passion and dedication to their craft by our music community, which is reflected in WA's high level of achievement over the last 12 months," WAM's Executive Director Livia Carré says.

"This year, we had an overwhelming surge in public nominations, and as a result our big team of independent industry judges were presented with an immense task. Thank you to everyone involved and heartfelt congratulations to all the 2023 nominees."

The 2023 WAMAwards ceremony will be staged at Regal Theatre (Perth) on 16 November as part of WA Music Month.

2023 WAMAwards Finalists

Best Album

'Big Star' - Katy Steele
'BREEZECATCHER' - Mali Jo$e
'Nothing Is Personal' - Grace Sanders
'Overgrown' - Sly Withers
'Who Are You Hiding From' - SUPEREGO

Best Alternative/Indie Act

Angie Colman
Ghost Care
Joan & The Giants
Noah Dillon
smol fish

Best Bassist

Grace Barbé
Jade Champion
Shea Moriarty
Tanaya Harper
Zac Grafton

Best Blues/Roots Act

Dan Howls
Datura4
Lincoln MacKinnon & the Wrecking Train
ThornBird
VDELLI

Best Brass/Strings/Woodwind

Bridget Cleary (saxophone)
Gemma Farrell (saxophone)
Jessica Carlton (trumpet)
Josten Myburgh (saxophone)
Miranda Murray-Yong (cello)

Best Country Act

Claudia Tripp
Delilah Rose
Finn Pearson Band
Siobhan Cotchin
The Little Lord Street Band

Best Drummer/Percussionist

Ash Doodkorte
Jamie Gallacher
Luke Del Fante
Madi Hanley
Nick Osborne

Best Electronic/Dance Act

GIA COMO
Grievous Bodily Calm
Myriad Sun
PROJECT BEXX
ShockOne

Best Electronic Producer

Tina Says
Pendulum
PROJECT BEXX
ShockOne
Slumberjack

Best EP

'Cascades' - Grievous Bodily Calm
'Crocodile Tears' - smol fish
'Don't Worry Bout It Sweetheart' - Adrian Dzvuke
'Sick & Tired' - Blue Honey
'Time Will Tell' - DICE

Best Experimental Act

Eduardo Cossio
FILTH GODDESS
Furchick
Great Statue
Grievous Bodily Calm

Best Folk/Singer-Songwriter Act

Anna Schneider
Banjo Lucia
Helen Shanahan
Jack Davies and the Bush Chooks
Mia June

Best Global Music Act

Crucial Rockers
De Cuba Son
Grace Barbe
Kate Pass Kohesia Ensemble
Soukouss Internationale

Best Guitarist

Aaron Birch
Simone Dow
Steve Hensby
Angie Colman
Benjamin Protasiewicz

Best Hip-Hop/ Rap Act

Anesu
Flewnt
Lazer Gator
MALi Jo$e
SUPEREGO

Best Indigenous Act

Boox Kid
Flewnt
Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse
Inkabee
South Summit

Best Jazz Act

Artemis Orchestra
Dan Garner Quartet
Gemma Farrell Quintet
Jessica Carlton Quintet
Kate Pass Kohesia Ensemble

Best Keys/Synth Player

Danny Estrin
Josiah Padmanabham
Josie Offer
Julia Wallace
Kirsty Hulka

Best Live/Streamed Music Event

Fremantle Winter Music Festival
Hyperfest
In The Pines
Nannup Music Festival
Way Way West

Best Live/Streaming Sound Engineer

Chris Wright
James Newhouse
Leah Grant
Rosie Antonas
Willow Fearne

Best Live Music Venue

Fremantle Arts Centre
Freo.Social
Mojos Bar
The Bird
The Rechabite

Best Metal/Heavy Act

Drowning Horse
MAGE
RinRin
Tangled Thoughts of Leaving
Voyager

Best Music Video

'Chrome Face' - SUPEREGO
'Cool Kid' - Joan & the Giants
'Off By Heart' - Dulcie
'Price Up' - MALi JO$E & Tasman Keith
'When The Curtains Close' - Siobhan Cotchin

Best Pop Act

Adrian Dzvuke
Alter Boy
Dulcie
Ghost Care
Joan & the Giants

Best Punk/Hardcore Act

Dennis Cometti
Last Quokka
LATE 90s
RATSALAD.
SWEAT

Best RnB/Funk/Soul Act

Adrian Dzvuke
Drea
MALi Jo$e
Odette Mercy and Her Soul Atomics
Queency

Best Regional Act

Alexia Parenzee
Family Shoveller Band
Grand Casual
Mama Kin
Tanya Ransom

Best Rock Act

DICE
Lonesome Dove
Noah Dillon
Ursula
Yomi Ship

Best Single

'Arcade' - Ghost Care
'Chrome Face' - SUPEREGO
'Cool Kid' - Joan & the Giants
'If God Is A Man' - Siobhan Cotchin
'No Party' - Angie Colman

Best Song Lyrics (Grant Samuels Bequest)

'Big Love' - smol fish
'Chrome Face' - SUPEREGO
'Claws' - Ribs
'Cool Kid' - Joan & the Giants
'If God Is A Man' - Siobhan Cotchin

Best Studio Engineer/Producer

Andy Lawson (Debaser)
Dave Parkin (Blackbird Studio)
Elliot Smith (Sundown Studios)
James Newhouse (Real2Reel)
Sam Ford (Tone City)

Best Vocalist

Angie Colman
Anna Schneider
Grace Newton-Wordsworth
Nicholas Allbrook
Siobhan Cotchin

Label of the Year

Blue Grey Pink
Sidequest
Stock Records
Televised Suicide
Tone City Records

2023 Golden WAMi

Hayley Ayres
Kylie Thompson
Mark Neal
Luke Rinaldi
Tenille Elkins