In a significant boost for the Australian music scene, Sydney hardcore band Speed has been awarded the inaugural $80,000 New South Wales Music Prize. This landmark award, announced by the state government, is a direct response to the challenges local musicians face from international artists dominating streaming platforms.
A Prize for Local Impact
The NSW Music prize was established to support musicians "in the face of increasing competition from overseas artists via streaming platforms". The top award, which Speed won, specifically recognises "a NSW artist or act whose release has had the most significant impact".
The band, comprised of singer Jem Siow, guitarists Joshua Clayton and Dennis Vichidvongsa, bassist Aaron Siow, and drummer Kane Vardon, took the honour for their powerful debut album, Only One Mode.
More Than Just Music: A Band with a Message
Speed has carved out a unique space in the hardcore scene, using their platform to address critical social issues. Their music openly discusses male suicide and anti-Asian racism, and they are known for promoting inclusivity. This commitment is demonstrated through their all-ages shows and donations of profits to various charities.
Their influence has stretched far beyond Australian shores. In a historic moment for the genre, Speed became the first Australian hardcore act to ever perform at the Coachella festival this past April.
Accepting the prize at a ceremony held at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art, the band released a joint statement. "Respectfully, our culture has never been a game nor a competition," they stated. "But we are honoured to receive this recognition and see this as acknowledgment of the values cultivated by the passionate souls around us."
They paid tribute to the "hardcore kids and punks" who build the scene for the love of it, adding that the win "gives us hope that realness can be recognised and wanted out there in the real world."
A Broader Celebration of NSW Talent
Speed was not the only artist celebrated. The awards also recognised other standout NSW musicians.
Electronic producer Ninajirachi won the $40,000 Breakthrough Artist of the Year category, capping off an incredible month where she also secured three ARIA awards and the $50,000 Australian Music Prize.
Additionally, Malyangapa Barkindji rapper Barkaa won the $40,000 First Nations music category for her EP Big Tidda. Based in south-west Sydney, Barkaa takes her moniker from the Barkindji word for the Darling River.
The urgency of such state-level support is highlighted by a recent Creative Australia report. It found that a mere 8% of the top 10,000 artists streamed in Australia in 2024 were Australian. With listeners increasingly defaulting to algorithm-driven American music, the report noted that only one-third of respondents actively seek out homegrown acts.
With a total prize pool of $160,000, the NSW Music Prize is now Australia's largest cash prize for music. NSW minister for music, John Graham, praised the winners as "talented and hard-working" and expressed his hope that the prize will "inspire the next generation to aim high."
"The streaming revolution is pushing more American music to Australian listeners," Graham added. "This award is part of our effort to support local musicians to cut through and build a fanbase."
