2016 Scene Awards - EP of the Year

So, so, so many EPs, so little time. Actually, all year really, so lots and lots of time to enjoy lots of sweet new music. Choosing our two favourites was hard. But obviously not that hard, because here they are.

EP OF THE YEAR

Runner-up: Let Me Be Clear - Gang Of Youths

Have you ever put an album on for the first time and known from the first note that you're going to love it? One little piano note is all it took as 'The Good Fight' welcomed me to Let Me Be Clear for it to be known that this was going to be oh so very good. Sure, Gang of Youths had earned a whole lot of trust going in after their stellar 2015 LP, The Positions. After something like that comes out you know what comes next will not disappoint. But any lingering doubts (that didn't exist anyway) would have been eliminated with that one little piano note. Over the next six songs, Gang of Youths remind you once more that they are the future of Australian music. A band destined to be known around the world and it's going to happen sooner than later. Frontman, David Le'aupepe, doesn't stray far from the source of the incredibly strong storytelling that drove The Positions, but you shouldn't expect him to only a year later. And you wouldn't want him to when the stories take you to the places they do on tracks like 'Still Unbeaten Life' and 'A Sudden Life'. 'Strange Diseases' and 'Native Tongue' are essentially locks for the Hottest 100. And where do you even start on a cover as perfect as their take on Joni Mitchell's 'Both Sides Now'. Just go listen to it. And love. (Matt Bond) 

Winner: Black Smoke - Emily Wurramara

Finding out who Emily Wurrumarra is has definitely been one of my musical highlights of the year and if my life was a radio station, then the Black Smoke EP would have been considered a high rotation play for the last six months. A masterpiece of sweet indie pop tunes, it's brilliant feel is underlined by Emily's incredible ability to blend her connection to Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia, while creating an emotionally gorgeous sound. Her performance at BIGSOUND this year was an indication of where she will be heading and just how far this EP will take her, her pure joy at performance made it obvious that she was made for music. While I keep reading things about her upbringing, her incredible stories and her heritage which she so perfectly brings to each and every song on Black Smoke, I think her sound is far beyond any political statement; she is clearly an artist doing what she was born to do, which is to create beautiful sounds for everyone and anyone who loves them. I hope I am only one of many, many, many people who will be loving them for a long time to come. (Jo Michelmore)

2015 Winner

Only When Flooded Could I Let Go
by Jack Colwell

Runner-up: Figurine by Tired Lion

2014 Winner

Monsters by Thelma Plum

Runner-up: Little May by Little May

2013 Winner

Rosie by Thelma Plum

Runner-up: The Love Club by Lorde

2012 Winner

Told You So by Cub Sport

Runner-up: Love Lost In Design by Lone Wolf