Australian Pioneers of Music
Three Artists Helping Define A Nation
The music scene in Australia is a lot like its natural landscape: vast and varied, uniquely beautiful and at times even a bit scary. Throughout recent decades, the island nation has exported some of the biggest and best acts the music world has ever known. Going way back, there was INXS and Kylie; both selling out arena tours across the world in their heyday. Then we had Silverchair and later Powderfinger; derivatives of the grunge scene of the early nineties. Then of course there’s AC-DC; basically the Rolling Stones of Australian music: Everyone knows them, they’ve been around forever and somehow they just kept going!
As bands hang up their instruments after their farewell tours and tastes begin to shift, a host of new artists begin to dominate the airwaves. A scene once dominated by Aussie rock; fresh faces are diversifying the sound and putting a new meaning to the words ‘Australian music’. Flume, Tame Impala and Tash Sultana, each given a leg up into the industry by Triple J, are just a few of groundbreaking artists to help reshape the landscape.
In the paragraphs that follow we’ll be taking a look at three pioneers of the Australian music scene. These artists have been chosen not just because they’re successful or because they’re pumping out hits (which they are), but because they each represent a different aspect of the Australian scene.
They’re unique, brave, outspoken artists, each doing something important for the Aussie scene.
Oh, and they’re bloody good!
1. Baker Boy
First on our list is Danzal James Baker aka Baker Boy.
He’s an Indigenous Australian rapper and a proud Yolngu man. He follows in the footsteps of many Indigenous Australians helping to propel the scene in Australia forward. His unique perspective and injection of heritage; blending English and Yolŋu Matha into his music, has made him an important figure, not just in the Australian music scene but to Indigenous Australians everywhere.
He was made Young Australian of the Year in 2019, and his song “Cool as Hell” was nominated in several categories in the 2019 ARIA Awards. In 2018, he won two awards at the National Indigenous Music Awards and was named Male Artist of the Year in the National Dreamtime Awards.
“My dad told me when he goes to work, in the morning, and sees all the kids go to school, they scream out ‘Baker Boy, Baker Boy’! Some of the parents would say to my dad, ‘Your son is like a superhero in this community, everyone wants to be like him’.
Baker Boy
In 2017, Baker Boy attracted national attention as the winner of the Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Music Awards Competition. His singles “Cloud 9” and “Marryuna” both featured in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2017.
Check out some of Triple J’s best unearthed Australian acts
2. ONEFOUR
Love them or hate them, ONEFOUR are one of the most influential groups to come out of Australia in recent years. Though they’re not without their foibles and even a little controversial at times, the influence and impact of the group can’t be denied.
They’re an Australian drill rap group originating from the Western Sydney suburb of Mount Druitt. They are regarded by many as the pioneers of drill-rap in Australia; laying the foundation for the Australian Drill scene and opening the door for future Aussie artists in the genre.
Their 2019 singles “The Message” and “Spot the Difference” caught the attention of rap fans throughout Australia and internationally, thrusting the group into the limelight where they heavily influenced youth and teen culture in Australia. This influence would become the focal point of the group’s legal issues with the Australian authorities and resulted in the group actually being banned from performing live music in Australia.
And despite two of the members currently being incarcerated, ONEFOUR continue to be one of the most influential acts to come out of Australia.
3. Tones And I
We’ve all heard “Dance Monkey”. Maybe more than we’d like to admit! That’s because whether you’re a fan of the Aussie pop-bop or not, after it premiered in May 2019, it reached number one in more than thirty nations worldwide.
Tones and I broke the record for the most weeks at number one on the ARIA Singles Charts (a whopping sixteen weeks) and also won two APRA Awards to recognise song writing skills, sales, and airplay performance out of four nominations.
She’s come a long way since her debut, defying the haters and releasing a new album showing she’s more than a one hit wonder. She brings an honesty to the table that is hard to find and her authenticity to the art is what makes her a pioneer of the Australian scene.
Think there’s an Australian artist that’s crushing it and worthy of a mention? Let us know below!
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