The best in Queensland music of the last 12 months was honored tonight (March 29) with the Queensland Music Awards (QMA) 2022 held at Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane.
The scintillating ceremony featured dozens of musicians alongside a who’s who from Queensland’s music industry and a few members of the public (who snagged tickets to the sold-out event), who gathered under the sparkling chandeliers to celebrate and pay tribute to the 2022 QMA Promotion.
There were a number of recipients of last year’s awards, including rising star Sycco, who again took home the Song of the Year and Pop crowns for ‘My Ways’; while Indigenous artist Miiesha dubbed her Soul/Funk/R&B gong from 2021.
Queensland scene stalwarts, the Jungle Giants picked up album of the year for ‘Love Signs’, which includes single ‘Heavy Hearted’ which won song of the year and pop at QMA 2020.
Amy Shark and Keith Urban also swapped their awards from the 2021 results, with Amy winning top-selling album for ‘Cry Forever’, while Keith Urban (who features on ‘Cry Forever’) scoring top-selling single (‘One Too Many’ feat. P!NK) gong.
Last year’s regional award winner, Toowoomba Aboriginal pop artist, Cloe Terare, is this year’s recipient of the Billy Thorpe Bursary presented to him by Billy’s widow, Lynne, and the Minister of Arts, Leanne Enoch.
The scholarship will provide Cloe with $10,000 to support her career with the opportunity to record with a local producer and receive career planning advice from industry experts. QMusic CEO Kris Stewart expressed his delight at Cloe’s scholarship success.
“The Billy Thorpe Fellowship is such an influential project that it gives amazing Queensland artists a platform to start their careers and equips them with the tools they need to get started in the industry.”
Capricornia’s Zheani also picked up two awards with the “fairy-electronica-screamo rapper” winning the Heavy category and Emerging Artist of the Year.
While Nat Dunn also ended the evening as the owner of two QMA gongs – Electronic and Regional/Remote – for his joint with Hayden James C and Gorgon City, “Foolproof”.
Other notable winners include Casey Barnes (Country), Asha Jefferies (Folk) and WAAX (Rock).
The Jungle Giants, Troy and Jem Cassar-Daley (Jem won the Aboriginal award), Sachem, Zheani, Cloe Terare and Felivand all performed live on the night, with father-daughter duo Troy and Jem’s rendition of ‘Brisbane Blacks ‘, an iconic protest song written by Mop and Dennis Conlin of The Dropouts (who received the QMusic Lifetime Achievement Award later that night) receiving a standing ovation.
Metropolitan Venue of the Year and Regional Venue of the Year were awarded to the reigning champions of 2021 – The Tivoli and NightQuarter respectively. Festival of the Year 2022 has been won by a newcomer – Airlie Beach Festival of Music.
“Tonight’s winners, nominees and outstanding performers represent a bright and positive future for Queensland’s contemporary music sector and a celebration of hope, healing and happiness,” said Minister Enoch.
“The Queensland Government recognizes the significant contribution to our state’s diverse arts and culture sector, and the power and value of music that unites our community.
“In response to the challenges of the past two years, our government has invested $13.7 million in the state’s live music sector since March 2020.
“Congratulations to all the nominees and especially to Cloe Terare as the 2022 recipient of the Billy Thorpe Fellowship.”
The Queensland Music Awards are produced by QMusic, which is supported by the Queensland Government.
Winners of the Queensland Music Awards 2022
BLUES / ROOTS
Sue Ray – ‘Take me somewhere else’
MUSIC FOR CHILDREN
The Mini Moshers – ‘New shoes’
CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC
Corrina Bonshek – ‘Dreams of the Earth’
THE COUNTRY
Casey Barnes – “God took his time for you”
ELECTRONIC
Nat Dunn, Hayden James, Gorgon City – “Infallible”
POPULAR
Asha Jefferies – ‘Cry Baby’
HEAVY
Zheani – ‘F… The Hollywood cult’
HIP-HOP
iiiConical – ‘Agreed’
INDIGENOUS
Jem Cassar Daley – “Let go”
JAZZ
Pulse Orchestra – ‘Sound figure’
POP
Sycco – ‘My Ways’
ROCK
WAX – ‘Most Hated Girl’
SOUL / FUNK / R&B
miiesha – “Made for Silence”
WORLD
Matt Hsu’s Dark Orchestra – ‘Welcome to the neighborhood: Taiwan (就當家裡)’
YOUTH (10-17 years old)
Paulina – “Parasite”
REGIONAL / REMOTE
Nat Dunn, Hayden James, Gorgon City – “Infallible”
VIDEO
Macario De Souza & Allan Hardy – ‘Every Single Time’ (Example with What So Not & Lucy Lucy)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Giants of the Jungle – “Signs of Love”
SONG OF THE YEAR
Sycco – ‘My Ways’
EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Zheani
BILLY THORPE SCHOLARSHIP 2022
Cloé Terare
QMUSIC PRIZE FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF A LIFETIME
Denis Conline
BEST SELLING ALBUM
Amy Shark – “Cry Forever”
BEST SELLING SINGLE
Keith Urban feat. P!NK – ‘One too many’
2022 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
METROPOLITAN VENUE OF THE YEAR
The Tivoli
REGIONAL VENUE OF THE YEAR
quarter of the night
PARTY OF THE YEAR
Airlie Beach Music Festival