The South Australian Music Awards (SAM Awards) today reveals the finalists for this year’s event, which will celebrate the best in the South Australian music industry on November 17th, at Hindley Street Music Hall.
Leading today’s announcement as a finalist across six categories is Kenyan-born and Adelaide raised Elsy Wameyo. Elsy is a finalist for Best Song with the track River Nile, Best Release for her ‘Nilotoc’ EP, Best Solo Artist, Best Music Video also for her song Nilotoc, directed by Elsy Wameyo & Richard Coburn, and a People’s Choice Award for Hip Hop artist of the year.
Elsy Wameyo is also the only artist to be nominated for her work both in front and behind the microphone, as she is additionally a finalist in the industry awards for Best Studio Engineer/ Producer.
Closely behind Elsy is Nukunu musician Tilly Tjala Thomas and Electric Fields, who are both finalists in four awards. Tilly Tjala Thomas is up for Best Song for her track Ngai Yurlku Nhiina, Best Regional Artist, Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist, and Best Solo Artist.
Electric Fields are in the running to win Best Music Video for their song Catastrophe, directed by Jack Bielby, Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist, Best Group, and a People’s Choice Award for Pop artist of the year.
Finalists in three categories are The Empty Threats, Best Release for their self-titled EP, Best Group and a People’s Choice Award for Experimental artist of the year. While TOWNS also receive a triple nod for Best Song with Season 5 (Break My Fall), Best Group and a People’s Choice Award for Rock artist of the year.
Adelaide’s punk-rockers LOLA are finalists for Best Release for their album ‘Don’t Tell My Mum’, Best New Artist, Best Music Video for What’s The Point, directed by Jed Newton, and a People’s Choice Award for Punk artist of the year.
Teenage Joans, who took home a record-breaking seven awards at the 2021 SAM Awards, are up for Best Song for Terrible and Best Music Video for the same track, directed by Lemonade City.
MusicSA CEO, Christine Schloithe, said the SAM Awards celebrates the people, venues and industry that make the South Australian Music sector great and offers the chance for the community to collectively celebrate its achievements.
“The depth of the finalists announced for the SAM Awards today is a testament to the health and strength of the South Australian music community. Across all genres and industry fields, the South Australian music sector is challenging the industry leaders and the rest of the country is taking notice.
“This 2022 SAM Awards is set to be the biggest awards yet and will offer the local industry a chance to come together and celebrate the past 12 months of music in our great state.
Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas said that the South Australian Music Industry is leading the way on the COVID bounce back and its economic impact is a true result of the community’s resolve and commitment.
“The music industry is a vital part of our economy and it suffered through the pandemic,” Premier Malinauskas said. “That’s why my government is investing $10 million in grants and vouchers to help cater for live performances. “We’re determined to see the industry recover, rebuild and get back to doing what it does best – delivering $116 million to our economy and supporting more than 1100 full-time equivalent jobs.”
The SAM Awards are separated into three categories. The Major Awards, selected by a panel of national judges including Triple J’s Declan Byrne, front women of The Superjesus Sarah McLeod, First nations singer-songwriter Leah Flanagan, News Limited’s Music Editor Nathan Davies, and founder of Wundenberg’s Recording Studios Lewis Wundenberg.
The Industry Awards, presented by SAE Creative Media Institute, focus on the roles within the music industry that are adjacent to bands and artists, such as festivals, venues and managers.
The People’s Choice Awards, presented by Moshtix, sees the wider Australian music community nominate and vote for their favourite South Australian artist.
The full list of SAM Awards finalists can be seen below.
17th November Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide, South Australia Tickets southaustralianmusicawards.com.au
SAM AWARDS – MAJOR FINALISTS
BEST SONG
Teenage Joans – Terrible
Horror My Friend – Devotion
Tilly Tjala Thomas – Ngai Yurlku Nhiina
TOWNS – Season 5 (Break My Fall)
Elsy Wameyo – River Nile
WANDERERS – Nothing in This World
BEST NEW ARTIST
Ethanol Blend
Molly Rocket
LOLA
The Vains
Twine
BEST REGIONAL ARTIST
Ella & Sienna
Germein
Tilly Tjala Thomas
Ellen Tefanis
PTL
BEST ABORIGINAL OR TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ARTIST
MARLON X RULLA
Tilly Tjala Thomas
Electric Fields
Rob Edwards
DEM MOB
BEST GROUP
Slowmango
SONS OF ZÖKU
The Empty Threats
Electric Fields
TOWNS
BEST SOLO
Elsy Wameyo
Tilly Tjala Thomas
Jess Day
Motez
Lucas Day
BEST RELEASE
LOLA – ‘Don’t Tell My Mum’
The Empty Threats – ‘The Empty Threats’
Elsy Wameyo – ‘Nilotic’
WANDERERS – ‘WANDERERS’
SONS OF ZÖKU – ‘SÜN’
SAM AWARDS – INDUSTRY FINALISTS
BEST STUDIO
Wundenberg’s Recording Studios
Cactus Cactus Sound
Matrix Recording Studio
Palomino Sound Recorders
Finalist Songbird Society
BEST STUDIO ENGINEER/ PRODUCER
Elsy Wameyo
Lewis Wundenberg
Mario Späte
Kiah Gossner
Ryan Martin John
BEST LIVE TECHNICIAN
Lachlan Sheehan
Nathan D’Agostino
Michael Wickens
Ryan Martin John
Luke Hancock
BEST MAJOR FESTIVAL / EVENT
Froth & Fury Fest
Day Dance
Spin Off Festival
Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival
BEST SMALL FESTIVAL / EVENT
Half Strange Festival 5
PAK Music Live at Wundenbergs
SALT Festival
Space Jams
Skate Daze – On The Flip Side
BEST MANAGER
Alexandra Karatassa (Five Four Entertainment)
Sian Walden (Little Acorn Music)
Sue Germein
Rachel Whitford (27 Music)
Sebastian James (27 Music)
BEST VENUE
Grace Emily Hotel
Lion Arts Factory
UniBar ADL
Jive
The Wheatsheaf Hotel
BEST REGIONAL VENUE / ACTIVATION
Adelaide Guitar Festival
Big Easy Radio
Space Jams – Robe
The Three Brothers Arms
Nautilus Arts Centre – SALT Stage
BEST COVER ART
Paloma Ellery (SONS OF ZÖKU – SÜN)
Kyle Woodman (The Vains – Pussy Power)
Zinia King (The Cortex Shift – Magic Bearded Chicken Subverts The System)
Harrison Tomlian (Olyan – Outer)
Tobin Lush (Jen Lush – Let Loose The Beating Birds)
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Elsy Wameyo & Richard Coburn (Elsy Wameyo – Nilotic)
Conor Mercury/House of Spaghetti (The Empty Threats – K)
Lemonade City (Teenage Joans – Terrible)
Jack Bielby (Electric Fields – Catastrophe)
Jed Newton (LOLA – What’s The Point)
Tobin Lush (Jen Lush – Let Loose The Beating Birds)
BEST INNOVATION
Adelaide Guitar Festival – The Backstage Sessions
Andrew Muecke – Happy Ghosts
Porch Records
Rebel Yell
BEST MUSIC EDUCATOR
Adelaide Youth Orchestras
Robert Taylor aka DJ RAGZ
Hayley Wedding
Jenna Miltenoff
Leena Regan
PEOPLE’S CHOICE NOMINATIONS FINALISTS
BLUES AND ROOTS
Cal Williams Jr.
Dojo Rise
Stormhorse
Sue Baker
The Danger Dolphins
COUNTRY
Ella & Sienna
Ellen Tefanis
Matt Ward
Very Jane
Workhorse
ELECTRONIC
Happy Ghosts
Jethro
Motez
Pines
The Lunar Society
EXPERIMENTAL
Adam Page
Slowmango
SONS of ZÖKU
The Empty Threats
Travis Cook
FOLK
Anya Anastasia
Diamond Skies
Kaurna Cronin
Loren Kate
Ukulele Death Squad
HEAVY
Dirty Pagans
KEYAN
Outsider
Scott Reed’s String Theory
SwordfishTrombone
HIP HOP
Ironic
INFINITIES
Elsy Wameyo
DEM MOB
We Move Like Giants
JAZZ
Alexander Flood
Mike Stewart Big Band
Sam Cagney
Soylent Green
The Shaolin Afronauts
POP
Ebony Emili
Electric Fields
Estée
Germein
Mum Friends
PUNK
Agapanther
Church Moms
Lickity Split
LOLA
Teenage Joans
ROCK
Lucas Day
Molly Rocket
Mums Favourite
TOWNS
Wolf & Cub
SOUL/FUNK/RNB
Dino Jag
Lauren Greco
Mum Thinks Blue
Natasha Bianca
Wanderers