Sydney's SPEED has taken home the top prize at this year's NSW Music Prize, a coveted award that celebrates and inspires local musicians. The hardcore punk band, known for their energetic live performances, will share the $160,000 prize pool with BARKAA and Ninajirachi.
SPEED won the award for their debut album "Only One Mode", which was released in 2024 through Last Ride Records (AANZ) and Flatspot Records (worldwide). The album debuted at number 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart, a significant achievement for the young band. The expert panel deemed it the release that had the most significant impact during the voting period.
"We respect our culture has never been a game nor a competition," said Jem Siow of SPEED in a statement. "But we are honored to receive this recognition and see this as acknowledgment of the values cultivated by the passionate souls around us." The band's $80,000 winner's check was well-deserved, given their impressive performance.
BARKAA took home the NSW First Nations Music Prize for her song "Big Tidda", while Ninajirachi won the breakthrough artist of the year award. Both winners were awarded $40,000 each, a recognition of their outstanding contributions to the NSW music scene.
The awards ceremony highlighted the importance of supporting local musicians and celebrating the unique talent that Australia has to offer. With 15 acts nominated for the prize, it was clear that this year's winners had worked hard to make a name for themselves in the competitive music industry.
The NSW Music Prize is an annual award that aims to celebrate and inspire local musicians, providing them with a much-needed boost as they navigate the cutthroat world of music. With its reputation growing each year, the prize has become a must-attend event for anyone passionate about Australian music.
SPEED won the award for their debut album "Only One Mode", which was released in 2024 through Last Ride Records (AANZ) and Flatspot Records (worldwide). The album debuted at number 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart, a significant achievement for the young band. The expert panel deemed it the release that had the most significant impact during the voting period.
"We respect our culture has never been a game nor a competition," said Jem Siow of SPEED in a statement. "But we are honored to receive this recognition and see this as acknowledgment of the values cultivated by the passionate souls around us." The band's $80,000 winner's check was well-deserved, given their impressive performance.
BARKAA took home the NSW First Nations Music Prize for her song "Big Tidda", while Ninajirachi won the breakthrough artist of the year award. Both winners were awarded $40,000 each, a recognition of their outstanding contributions to the NSW music scene.
The awards ceremony highlighted the importance of supporting local musicians and celebrating the unique talent that Australia has to offer. With 15 acts nominated for the prize, it was clear that this year's winners had worked hard to make a name for themselves in the competitive music industry.
The NSW Music Prize is an annual award that aims to celebrate and inspire local musicians, providing them with a much-needed boost as they navigate the cutthroat world of music. With its reputation growing each year, the prize has become a must-attend event for anyone passionate about Australian music.
I'm so stoked SPEED won the NSW Music Prize!!! They totally deserve it! That debut album "Only One Mode" is fire 
and I've been bumping it nonstop since its release 
. BARKAA and Ninajirachi are awesome too, congrats to them on their wins 
! The whole ceremony was so inspiring, especially with all the talented acts nominated 
. It's amazing to see local musicians getting recognized for their hard work and passion 
. Can't wait to see what the future holds for these Aussie music talents 
... anyway, congrats to SPEED on winning the NSW Music Prize! Their live shows are always so intense 
. But, seriously, have you guys noticed how hard it is to navigate this forum? I swear, every time I try to post a comment about music, there's like 10 spam threads in my way 
. Still, nice work by BARKAA and Ninajirachi too... I mean, who doesn't love an underdog story? 
! their album only one mode is like my jam all day erry day 
. i mean, barkingaa and ninajirachi are awesome too, but there's just something about speed that resonates with me on a deeper level 
. love how jem siow said "we respect our culture has never been a game nor a competition" - so true! the music prize is all about celebrating those who bring their unique energy to the table 
. i'm also loving how the winners are using their platforms to talk about the importance of culture and community, so proud of them for staying true to themselves 
I gotta say, congrats to SPEED on wining that NSW Music Prize! Their album "Only One Mode" was fire 
I mean, don't get me wrong, I love that they're keeping it real about not seeing it as some kind of competition, but also can we talk about how awesome it is to see a prize that's actually making a difference in the music scene? 
Anyway, BARKAA and Ninajirachi too, you guys brought the heat 
. And what's with all these awards? Is it really about celebratin the culture or is it just about gettin free swag and a pat on the back? I'm not sayin they didn't deserve it but let's keep things in perspective, folks 
?
Their album "Only One Mode" was SO good and it's awesome they got recognized by the expert panel 
, and I'm so excited to see what the future holds for these talented artists 
!
What do you think made "Big Tidda" so special for BARKAA that she won the NSW First Nations Music Prize? 
And I'm curious, how does Ninajirachi plan to use their $40k win 
i love how Jem Siow kept it real about not seeing it as a competition or game, more about respecting the culture and values of their community