With 18 major award categories that are voted on by industry members, 2023 South Australian Music Awards spotlight the diverse and incredible local talent on display within the state.
"South Australia is at heart a creative state and the music talent coming out of this state is incredibly exciting and I don't envy the panel of independent judges this year," shares Music SA CEO, Christine Schloithe."MusicSA is very proud to host these awards each year on behalf of the South Australian contemporary music industry and we wish everyone all the best in all categories."
Read the list of 2023 SA Music Award nominees.
We'll be profiling a number of this year's nominees with our Spotlight On series, that continues with Hannah Louise, who is nominated for Best Manager. Hannah is also also a scenestr contributor.
What's the elevator pitch version of your 2023 so far?
2023 started with the band I manage (LOLA) opening for Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and this month I interviewed Fat Mike. In between that, I've toured LOLA through Europe, booked my favourite bands at Groovin The Moo, stage managed 'Made in SA' at BIGSOUND, quit my dream job to go on tour, got my next dream job at Music SA working on Good Music Month, spent (almost) every weekend front row dancing badly to my favourite bands and shared a beer with some of my idols (shoutout Anty Horgan, The Terrys and Jay Whalley).
If we were in an elevator right now, you would probably notice I'm a bit seedy because last night I was moshing at the Descendents, and I would say it was the best night of my life because LOLA were the support act! And I would also tell you that on Friday, I'm heading on a national tour with LOLA to support their EP 'Get Rich Or Try Dying', which is out on the same day.
And then I'd probably keep chatting, but we've arrived at your floor, and you need to leave the elevator. It's already awkward – a random blonde girl has just told you all about 'the best year of her life'.
Biggest moment creatively you have had in 2023?
There's a reason I'm a manager and not in a band, and that's because I don't have a creative bone in my body. BUT the biggest/ best moment of 2023 for me was when we arrived at our first festival in Europe, which we very nearly didn't make in one piece. (Fun fact, Uber drivers in Portugal don't need to have a legal license).
After being treated like royalty from the festival organisers (which I obviously hated), I sat backstage and was handed a little, delicious bottle of local port. It was a full 'I can't believe this is happening' moment. I even got the port logo tattooed on my ankle to remember it forever.
Being a creative, artist, musician can be a lonely existence, so what does it mean to be nominated for a South Australian Music Award?
That I made the right choice to tell my high school career counsellor: "I don't need to go to uni, I'm just going to run away with a band."
Fast forward to the awards ceremony; if your name is read out as winner who are you mentioning-thanking in your speech?
My mum for taking me to Supertramp when I was two years old and showing me that live music really is the most magic thing in the world, the guy that invented coffee (apparently it was a goat herder named Kaldi), and then I would pull out an alphabetical list of every band in Adelaide and read them out as fast as I could. Because without the artists, none of us would even be there.
How can folks best support independent musicians-bands?
GO. TO. SHOWS. Be proud of being a fangirl/ boy. . . If you like an artist or band, TELL THEM. Buy merch (band shirts > brand shirts), next time you're with your mates, show them a local band instead of playing a song they probably just heard being played on the radio for the hundredth time.
2024 is just around the corner; anything special you’re brewing in the background you can share?
Sí ;)
What makes South Australian music unique?
The pure happiness and love you experience when you're at a local gig, watching your favourite band (who also happens to be your best mates) jump around onstage and everyone in the room is screaming the lyrics back at them. There is nothing like it.
The 2023 SA Music Awards will be staged at Woodville Town Hall (Adelaide) on 8 November.
