This year proved to be a pretty great one for new Aussie music, both from the old hands and the new favourites, and we’re already rubbing our hands together thinking about the incoming summer of gigs.
With the year rapidly drawing to a close, let’s take a look back at some of the emerging locals who made a big, sudden splash in 2017.
Jordie Ireland
Jordie Ireland is a 20-year-old Sydney producer who made it count in 2017, his penchant for making electronic bangers with killer toplines seeing him sign to Universal, and knock it out of the park with his debut single ‘Take Cover’.
It’s already become a staple on radio and racked up almost half a million plays plays on Spotify already, tracking to become one of the EDM jams of the summer – now that’s a breakthrough debut.
Polish Club
Polish Club have been around for close to two years now, but until the end of 2016, the band had only a small fraction of the fanbase they do now.
Thanks to the release of their debut record Alright Already earlier this year, the recent release of their Okie Dokie EP, endless touring, and countless brilliant songs, Polish Club have managed to establish themselves as not only one of Australia’s favourite bands of the year, but one of the most hard-working bands too.
Jack River
At the start of the year, Jack River had already released the stunning Highway Songs #2, but was yet to receive the widespread kudos that she deserved for the hard work that she had put into her craft.
Love Ruby Fields?
Get the latest Ruby Fields news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more
Then, a few months later, ‘Fool’s Gold’ was released, catapulting her into the levels of stardom so deserved by a talented muso such as this. Give Jack River only a little bit more time, and you’re looking at a bonafide star of the Aussie music scene right here.
Baker Boy
Danzel Baker, best known as Baker Boy, is the 20-year-old rapper from the Northern Territory who realised his dream to perform in the Yolngu Matha language.
With some amazing tracks to his name that feature some socially conscious lyrics, Baker Boy is undoubtedly one of the biggest names you should remember from the last twelve months.
Winston Surfshirt
Despite having formed a few years ago, 2017 was the year that everything changed for Winston Surfshirt. After releasing a number of brilliant tracks, Winston Surfshirt went on to supporting the likes of Midnight Oil and releasing a debut record that has been considered one of the best albums of the year. Just image what the next twelve months hold for an act that has accomplished this much in just one year.
Gordi
Like many of these artists listed here, 2017 wasn’t the year that Gordi kicked off her career, but it was certainly the year her career kicked into gear. After knocking out listeners with her intoxicating voice, Gordi released her debut album earlier this year.
Despite copies of the record being mispressed with a sneak peak of Queens Of The Stone Age’s Villains, it was still enough for Gordi to be considered one of the breakout acts of the year, thanks to her brilliant songwriting and absolutely stunning performances.
Cable Ties
Melbourne’s Cable Ties first appeared a couple of years ago, but this year’s debut record saw the band tackle “creeps, capitalist propaganda and music industry tastemakers” with their trademark blistering punk sound.
Considered by many to be one of the best punk albums produced in Australia this year, Cable Ties are getting the recognition they truly deserve thanks to this brilliant record.
Stella Donnelly
No list of the best new acts of the year would be complete without Stella. While she’d been rocking Perth for a while with bands like Boat Show, her real emergence came with the release of her debut LP Thrush Metal, which knocked everyone’s socks off.
Her performances at BIGSOUND bumped her even higher in everyone’s estimations, winning her the inaugural $25,000 Levi’s Music Prize, and setting her on the path to take out the triple j Unearthed Artist of the Year at the 2017 J Awards, beating out fierce competition like Ruby Fields, Alex The Astronaut, Confidence Man and the aforementioned Baker Boy. Not a bad year at all
Boo Seeka
Boo Seeka first made an appearance on our radars back in 2015 with a handful of catchy singles, but after that it was basically radio silence for a little while. As it turns out, the group was hard at work on their debut record, which was released just a couple of months ago.
Heartfelt, slick, and catchy, Boo Seeka’s debut has all the hallmarks of a hit record and proves that these two years in the wilderness was enough to kickstart their career in the best way possible.
Jess Locke
Jess Locke is one of those musicians whose name you’ve probably heard around the place for quite some time now. In fact, this Melbourne muso has been doing the rounds for close to a decade, quietly honing her skills as she perfected her craft and slowly made a name for herself in the Aussie music scene.
Now, with praise being heaped upon her from all directions with the release of her newest record, Universe, Jess Locke has proved that 2017 is her year, and the future is all hers. Now that her name is on everyone’s lips, look out for this hugely talented muso in the future – you’ll be glad you did.
