Stellie on the upcoming South Australian Music Awards

With just a matter of days to go until the winners of the 2020 South Australian Music Awards (the SAMs) are announced, TIO has spoken to one of this year's nominees to get an understanding of what they mean of the local industry.

Having adopted the name of the South Australian Music Awards in 2015 after a few years as the Fowler's Live Music Awards, the SAMs have since become a way for the South Australian music industry to pay proper tribute to its illustrious scene, and honour the countless artists, managers, venues, and folks behind the scene that help to turn Adelaide into a world-class music destination.

Next week, the 2020 edition of the awards return, with current restrictions requiring the event to be held outside for the first time. Despite this, it remains one of the only awards ceremonies that can take place with an audience during Australian Music Month.

As a result, all eyes will be on the City of Churches, not only due to its status as a UNESCO City of Music, but for the fact that some of the best and brightest Aussie talent will be honoured for their efforts in what has undoubtedly been a rough year.

With things set to kick off in just a matter of days, we were able to chat with Stellie (who is up for two nominations this year) about the importance of the awards, advice for upcoming artists, and more!

Check out 'How Do We Look So Good?' by Stellie:

Can you give us a bit of background on how you got started?

I started singing lessons when I was quite young and fell in love with it right from the get go. I continued lessons all throughout my schooling and as time went on became more and more invested in the world of music.

I actually didn’t start writing music until I was maybe 15/16 – and even then I was really just writing little poems or just trying to create the most perfect chord progression. When I finished high school, I decided that I would give music my all and I’ve never looked back since then.

You released a self-titled EP this year can you talk a little bit about that musically and inspiration wise?

My self-titled debut EP was written over the course of maybe two years. Most of the tracks were written quite recently, but some of the tracks like ‘Bedroom Floor’ was written in my bedroom when I was 18. Musically, I wanted this body of work to sound authentically ‘Stellie’. I spent a few years really trying to perfect my sound and only just while I was writing this EP did I discover what that was.

I've always been inspired by the innocence and beauty of Jazz music and look up to singers such as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Amy Winehouse. I admire their complete honesty in their lyricism and wanted my EP to reflect this – kind of like you are reading my diary (maybe just slightly exaggerated though)

What does the opportunity of winning a SAM Award mean to you?

It's always nice to be acknowledged for something you feel so passionate about. If I was lucky enough to receive a SAM award this year, I would feel so grateful that my music is being loved as much as I love creating it.

Why is it important to forge ahead with the SAM awards with what COVID-19 has thrown at the music industry this year?

This year has been a really tough one for everyone, including people in the music industries. Not being able to travel and play shows I know has taken a toll on many people, including myself. We are so incredibly lucky to be in the position here in SA where we are even able to have an event such as the SAM awards, and I’m so thankful for this.

It is an opportunity for us all to reflect on all the positive things that have come our way this year, and really celebrate each other and all the hard work we have put in, even in a time of such uncertainty.

What's your advice to upcoming musicians?

Just keep working and trying to perfect your craft. I'm still learning things about singing/songwriting every single day. I think knowledge really is key and its always important to keep practicing and creating whenever possible.

Favourite SA acts?:

- EAST AV3
- Jess Day
- Teenage Joans
- Timberwolf
- Towns

And so many more...

Do you have a favourite gig in SA you could reminisce on?

Definitely WOMAD 2020. That was actually the last gig I played before COVID and I wish I could relive that moment forever. It was also my first ever experience at WOMADelaide, and I’m still in awe of the magical atmosphere that this festival creates. Favourite festival in Adelaide hands down.

Anything upcoming that you're stoked about?

Nothing that I can reveal just yet! Theres always new music on the way, but at the moment I’m just enjoying writing and creating. 

Check out highlights of the 2019 South Australian Music Awards:

2020 South Australian Music Awards Nominees

Industry Voted Awards

Best Studio ​(Presented by Adelaide Music Collective)

Adelaide Recording Studios Ghostnote Island Recording Studios Spare Second Studio Stone Shed Studio Wundenbergs Recording and Rehearsal Studio

Best Studio Engineer ​(Presented by SAE Institute Adelaide)

Chris Panousakis Kiah Gossner Jimmy Balderston Lewis Wundenberg Mario Spate

Best Live Technician ​(Presented by Novatech)

Lisa Lane-Collins Luke Hancock Noni Espinosa Patrick Lockwood Peter Wing

Best Major Festival/Event (Presented by Pirate Life)

Day of Clarity Porchland St Jerome’s Laneway Festival - Adelaide Thebartonia

Best Small Festival/Event (Presented by UniBar Adelaide)

Field Good Festival Freefall Festival PAK: Live at Wundenbergs Stonecutters The Porch Sessions

Best Venue ​(Presented by AHA - SA Branch​)

Crown and Anchor Hotel Grace Emily Hotel Jive Lion Arts Factory The Wheatsheaf Hotel

Best Cover Art ​(Presented by Version Design)

Dave Court (DyspOra)- AUSTRALIEN Jack Fenby (Cat Lucky) - Pressure (Everybody Wants To Know You) Jack Fenby (The Empty Threats) - $2 Julie Thornberg-Thorsoe (Kaurna Cronin) - Glitter or Dust Todd Fischer (Lost Woods) - Shaping Distant Memories

Best Manager ​(Presented by Association of Artist Managers)

Alex Karatassa Diana Sautelle Matthew Khabbaz Planet shhh! Sue Germein

Best Music Video (Presented by Channel 44)

Bottleneck Studios (Uomo) - All I Hear EAST AV3 - Le Labo Harry Nelli (Venice Queens) - Punchdrunk Lonelyspeck - My Angel Goes Before Me Motez, Pilot Studio, Mapped Design, Daggers Production, Kelsee Pedler (Motez) - Soulitude

Best Song ​(Presented by APRA AMCOS)

EAST AV3 - Le Labo Jess Day - Affection Naomi Keyte - Travelling Woman Stellie - How Do We Look So Good? St Jacques - In Faith

Best New Artist ​(Presented by WOMADelaide)

Cat Lucky EAST AV3 SEABASS Siberian Tiger Slowmango

Best Group ​(Presented by Derringers Music)

EAST AV3 Slowmango SEABASS TOWNS Venice Queens Wing Defence

Best Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Artist (Presented by Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music - CASM)

J-Milla Jessica Wishart Nathan May Sonz of Serpents Tunu

Best Solo Artist​ (Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre)

Jess Day Kaurna Cronin Lonelyspeck Motez Ollie English Stellie

Best Release ​(Presented by themusic.com.au)

EAST AV3 - Rugrats Lonelyspeck - Abyssal Body Motez - Soulitude Ollie English - Reality of Love Wing Defence - Friends

Best Music Educator (Presented by SAMII)

Grayson Rotumah Kultar Ahluwalia James Alberts Naomi Keyte Nick O’Connor

Best Innovation​ (Presented by CityMag)

Mosaic Audio Visual Play/Pause/Play Space Jams Sunny Side Uploads Thursday Night Knock Offs – Sparkke at the Whitmore WheatyLIVE

People’s Choice Awards Finalists

Blues & Roots ​(Presented by Radio Adelaide)

JimmyBay Lucky Seven Ollie English Rat Tamango The Streamliners

Country ​(Presented by Grace Emily Hotel)

Cassidy Rae Gaiter Cookie Baker Jessica Wishart Matt Ward Nathan May

Electronic (Presented by Moshtix)

Hartway Jethro Lonelyspeck Motez Zac Eichner

Experimental ​(Presented by Ancient World)

Heinous Crimes Slowmango SODA Sons of Zoku The Empty Threats

Folk​ (Presented by The Wheatsheaf Hotel)

Katie Pomery Loren Kate Naomi Keyte Siberian Tiger Tom West

Heavy ​(Presented by Enigma)

Alt. Dirty Pagans Hidden Intent NO NO NO NO NO Terminal Zero

Hip Hop (​Presented by The Gov​)

DyspOra East AV3 Laitisi Diesa Outside Lines We Move Like Giants

Jazz​ (Presented by Elder Conservatorium)

Alex Taylor Django Rowe Er@ser Description Nick Pennington & Angus Mason The Boys Club

Pop ​(Presented by Jive)

Ashton Fraser Germein Jess Day MANE The Montreals

Punk​ (Presented by Three D Radio)

Bitchspawn Chelsea Manor Collateral Damage The Lizards Wing Defence

Rock​ (Presented by Crown and Anchor)

Horror My Friend Oscar the Wild SEABASS TOWNS Venice Queens

Soul/Funk/R&B​ (Presented by Woodville Town Hall)

Elsy Wameyo Isaac Thomas Legs of Ivar Leni Wanderers

2020 South Australian Music Awards

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020 UniBar Adelaide, Cloisters and Lawns, Adelaide, SA Kaurna Land Tickets: Moshtix