As WAM’s Song of the Year Awards 2017-18 draws to a close, we’re excited to reveal singer-songwriter Stella Donnelly claimed the coveted Grand Prize with her song Boys Will Be Boys. For Fremantle’s indie-pop golden girl, the win tops off a massive breakthrough year that saw her pick-up Levi’s Music Prize for most outstanding talent at Bigsound Music Conference, named Triple J’s Unearthed Artist of the Year, earn a whopping 5 WAM Award wins, showcase at WAMFest, and heaps more!
Stella’s award-winning song – which sheds light on how society often shifts the blame of sexual assault from men to women – helped fuel conversations in the year of the #metoo movement and has already been recognised by Rolling Stone magazine, where it was rated fourth-best song of the year, and by APRA, where it was shortlisted for Song of the Year.
While Stella wasn’t in Perth to collect her #WAMSOTY award, she did send her regards; appearing in a cute thank-you video alongside two rather fluffy canine companions, saying “Thank you so so much for my award for Song of the Year… I just want to thank the venues that have always given me shows, the people that book the shows, the amazing staff, and all of the other amazing musicians in Perth and WA. I’m so so lucky to be in such a supportive scene and I can’t wait to see what it looks like next year. Thank you so much.”
The full list of #WAMSOTY winners is a true testament to the rich songwriting talent West Australian music has to offer and includes the likes of John Bennett, who took home 2 awards, Farraday’s Cage, Figurehead, Feels, The Little Lord Street Band, Coin Banks, Helen Shanahan, Intenso, Akolkol Dastan Gesa, Harry Mitchell, Carus Thompson, The Bob Gordons, Bolt Gun, and J.F.K.
Debuting at the iconic Fly By Night Musicians Club in Fremantle, this year’s biggest celebration of homegrown tunes saw over $45,000 in prizes distributed throughout the evening. MC Odette Mercy kept the show rolling all night, with sets from DJ Chicken Wing, award-nominated act The Justin Walshe Folk Machine, and award-winning acts Feels and J.F.K impressing the hundreds that came out to support WA talent.
WAM CEO Mike Harris said, “WAM’s Song of the Year is an important opportunity for artists to showcase their songwriting skills and have their music considered by experienced industry professionals. As ever we are astounded by the quality and breadth of entries, across all genres. Grand Prize winner Stella Donnelly is a WA artist on the move; one with an international profile already. Congratulations to Stella and all the other winners, finalists and all the entrants for talking the time to create the music that makes our local scene so vibrant.”
For a full list of winners, nominees and more head to WAM.org.
