With a total of seven nominations, Albany singer-songwriter Carla Geneve has found herself the unintentional darling of this year's WAMAwards.
At just 19-years-old, Carla has been nominated in awards for Best Folk Act, Best Rock Act, Best Guitarist, Best Vocalist, Most Popular Act and Most Popular Live Act as well as Best Single for her track 'Greg's Discount Chemist'.
“It's obviously a huge honour because there's so much great music in WA at the moment – my favourite bands and acts are all here – but it's also strange and I don't really know how to deal with it,” Carla says.
“Awards are such a funny thing in music because obviously it's about supporting and appreciating music, so I guess it feels great to be appreciated and supported, but it's also funny,” she laughs.
“I don’t really care about winning them so much; it's cool to be considered and it's enough to be nominated.”
Out of all the awards, Carla says the one that would mean the most to her is the award for Best Guitarist; also nominated in the category are Axel Carrington, Jacob Diamond and Luke Dux.
“I was really stoked to be considered for the guitar one,” she says.
“That was really big for me because I never really saw myself as a guitarist, but this year I've really focused on it and tried to improve.
“Getting nominated for that was such a cool achievement, just personally for myself. The other nominees for guitar are all my favourite guitarists, so it was so sick to be considered even close to those guys.”
As a singer-songwriter from regional WA, Carla says she, along with many of the state's more isolated musicians, wouldn't be where they are without the help of WAM. This year WAM increases its support or regional WA musicians by further expanding the WAMFest live showcase outside metropolitan areas.
“WAM has always been there for regional music,” she says.
“It's hard to play regularly in a small town but WAM were just totally there for everyone playing music, supporting them and giving them opportunities to record; I recorded some songs through WAM for some of their projects.
“I'm stoked that people in Albany and towns like that are getting to see music and getting the opportunity to play at shows like WAMFest, which is awesome. I have so much love for WAM.”
No matter what awards she goes home with, Carla has already secured a strong following with her songcraft and musicianship, and says she's focussed on writing new music that will be released in the very near future.
“Hopefully there's going to be some recording being done,” she says.
“We're just figuring it out at the moment but there will be new music very soon, whether it be a new single or an EP or maybe something else I don't know yet but there will be new music soon.”
Carla Geneve plays the WAMFest Live: North Perth party at Rosemount Hotel 28 October. WAMAwards take place 1 November.
Carla Geneve Tour Dates
23-25 Nov - Queenscliff Music Festival30 Nov-1 Dec - Fairgrounds Festival (Berry)
13-14 Jan 2019 - SummerSalt (Rottnest Island)
With John Butler Trio & Missy Higgins
Fri 25 Jan - Wignalls Winery (Albany)Sun 27 - Leeuwin Estate (Margaret River)
