Next Big Thing - who won?
What murmur became a maelstrom in 2009? Which performer, artist or group sank their hooks into your head and converted you to into a diehard F-A-N?
The nominees are:
Danimals mastermind Jonti Danilewitz (also a member of Sherlock’s Daughter) says Danimals “came about when I was really into the aesthetics of beat tapes that hip hop producers like Pete Rock or J Dilla would hand out to MCs. Tracks were really short, instantly engaging and pretty raw. And I wanted to hear that in a pop context with Brian Wilson and Stereolab-like arrangements.” The result? SMAC-tastic!
Perth-born but Sydney-based, Canyons make a version of dubby deep disco house that’s part 70s psych, part acid, part the experimental electronica you’d comfortably posit as Balearic Beat. What makes ‘em most interesting is they’re equally exciting as dance floor fuel at 3am as they are locked down in your room on 12” via headphones.
In 2009 Sherlock’s Daughter have lived and seethed promise. Individually, the dreamy pop outfit’s five members have amazing ability. Collectively, they blow minds. The subtle embellishments they craft both live (a Nintendo DS being used on stage) and on their debut self-titled EP (pocket symphonies nestled between each melody) suggest a maturity well beyond their tender years.
Something happened in 2009. Sydney started splicing pop bands with experimentalists. Danimals. Seekae. Ghoul. Kyü. The list goes on. But somewhere in the “essentials” column are Megastick Fanfare, creating a sound that simulatenously challenge the traditional ideas of 'pop music' while retaining an amazing gift for melody, song writing and an immensely entertaining live show. Put simply, it’s some of the most fun-filled and clever music heard in Sydney for yonks.
It was love at first soundbite for the SMACs panel and Jonathan Boulet. Hunkered down in his garage, 20-year-old Jono recorded, produced and played almost every instrument on his self-titled debut. Not because he’s got no friends, but because he’s awesome. In this Sydney wunderkind’s hands acoustic ditties unfold into pop anthems that warm cockles around campfires and put rockets on ya Blundstones.
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