She might not have taken home the crown when she appeared on “Australian Idol”, but 19-year-old English-born singer Lisa Mitchell is $30,000 richer thanks to winning one of the country’s most coveted music prizes.
The “Coin Laundry” pop star has been named the winner of the 2009 Australian Music Prize, with her debut album Wonder chosen from a field of nine nominees as the best local release of last year. Currently in the UK on tour, Mitchell is the first female artist in four years to land the award, with past winners including the Drones, Augie March, Mess Hall and Eddy Current Suppression Ring.
The winner of the Amp was revealed during a ceremony at Sydney’s Museum Of Contemporary Art on Friday 12 March, which included a speech by former Midnight Oil frontman/politician Peter Garrett, and live performances by Amp nominees Washington, Perry Keyes and Oh Mercy – the latter who were also the recipients of the Amp Red Bull Award for “outstanding potential”.
“From over 200 entries and more specifically, a brilliant shortlist of nine, the Amp’s panel of judges has decided that the best Australian album released in 2009 is Wonder,” said prize director Scott Murphy. “The Australian Music Prize was established to reward Australian music of excellence, and the judges’ choice of winner this year certainly reflects that criteria. My congratulations go to Lisa Mitchell.” The singer accepted the honour via video.
With a handy cash prize courtesy of the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA), Mitchell (who beat out names such as Sarah Blasko, Bertie Blackman and Kid Sam), will be back in Australia is late April to kick off a national tour.