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Australia’s most prestigious music accolade, The Soundmerch Australian Music Prize has been awarded to Melbourne-based Alt band RVG for Brain Worms album, released via Ivy League Records.

Taking home $30,000 thanks to Soundmerch, RVG acclaimed record joins the highly esteemed list of previous award-winning albums including last year’s self-titled album King Stingray and Genesis Owusu – Smiling With No Teeth in 2021.
 
Following a hot performance from brand new hip hop collective 3% Nooky (from Triple J’s Blackout show), Dallas Woods (accomplished writer and rapper) and rising newcomer Angus Field, The Soundmerch AMP was presented to RVG by Soundmerch owner Tim Everist, at the 19th annual ceremony held at APRA AMCOS HQ in Ultimo.

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Fresh from their successful European tour RVG said: “Winning the AMP is a huge honour!I would like to thank everyone from Our Golden Friend, Four Tone Artists and Ivy League Records / Mushroom here in Australia and Fire Records, ATC Live and Sub Pop Publishing overseas for supporting us. I want to also thank all the other nominees, such an amazing group to be included in. I just wanna say that being who I am in music means being subjected to an insane amount of bullshit, and a lot of the songs on this album began as a targeted reaction to the kind of situations that most bands/artists would never have to go through. So to win this award goes a long way and makes me feel less insane and alone in what I do, so thank you!” – Romy Vager, RVG

RVG’s third album, Brain Worms, was recorded in London at Snap Studios with James Trevascus (Billy Nomates, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, The Goon Sax), all ten tracks surge with lush sounds and clear intentions and the magic of an acoustic guitar once owned by Kate Bush, given to her by Tears for Fears (who, legend has it, wrote ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ on it).

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After a momentous first five years, finding critical acclaim for debut, A Quality of Mercy landing on countless end-of-year Best Of lists, and playing alongside some of the world’s biggest acts in Pixies, Kurt Vile, Pete Doherty, Sleaford Mods, Camp Cope, Shame, and more, RVG released sophomore album Feral as the world was locking down and on June 2, 2023 Brain Worms was unleashed receiving critical acclaim.

Originally inspired by the UK’s coveted Mercury Prize, the Soundmerch Australian Music Prize continues to rise above genre, popularity and sales to focus entirely on artistic merit.

RVG was chosen from over 450 eligible 2023 releases (between Jan 1 and 27 Oct) of which the judges chose 107 as official nominations to form the Top 9 Shortlist.

Showcasing the strength of the Australian music landscape with this year’s stellar list of high-calibre releases, the AMP’s diverse judging panel of over 30 industry experts, including artists, music writers, presenters and music retailers respectfully considered and agreed on the standout album choice for 2023.

Says, Scott Murphy, AMP Founder/Director, “From lyrics, to production, to their creative vision, Australian artists are pushing artistic boundaries. The AMP are so excited each year to keep the artist’s music a primary focus as they continue to explore and evolve.  Congratulations to RVG as this year’s well-deserved winner”

Adds Alice Ivy, AMP Judge: “This band took a huge financial and personal risk in making this record, it almost didn’t happen. You can feel the catharsis and honesty yet a sense of humour amongst the pain. It’s a timeless album that myself and my fellow judges spoke so passionately about in a tense meeting. Couldn’t be more deserving. It also has the best Drops of Jupiter reference of all time”.

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RVG was chosen as the winning album of The 19th Soundmerch AMP from the Shortlist of 9 albums – the other 8 in contention were:

Angie McMahon – Light, Dark, Light Again

Floodlights – Painting Of My Time

Genesis Owusu – Struggler

Gretta Ray – Positive Spin

Jen Cloher – I Am The River, The River is Me

Mo’Ju – ORO,PLATA,MATA

Polaris – Fatalism

Troye Sivan – Something to Give Each Other 

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The AMP wishes to thank major sponsor, Soundmerch for their generous contribution to fund the coveted prize, as well as long-term champions, TheMusic,  APRA AMCOS, Mushroom Group, PPCA, Inertia, Universal Music AU, EMI, Virgin Music AU, Island Records, MGM, Sony Music Publishing, Sony Music, Warner Music and Brett Oaten Solicitors. Thank also to our partner The ACE Hotel, Sydney

The prize continues to exist in order to discover, reward and promote new Australian music of excellence.

THE 19th SOUNDMERCH AMP RECIPIENT:
RVG – BRAIN WORMS 

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PREVIOUS AUSTRALIAN MUSIC PRIZE RECIPIENTS

2022 – King Stingray – King Stingray
2021 – Genesis Owusu – Smiling With No Teeth
2020 – The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You
2019 – Sampa the Great – The Return
2018 – Gurrumul – Djarimirri
2017 – Sampa the Great – Birds and the BEE9
2016 – A.B. Original – Reclaim Australia
2015 – Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
2014 – REMI – Raw X Infinity
2013 – Big Scary – Not Art
2012 – Hermitude – HyperParadise
2011 – The Jezabels – Prisoner
2010 – Cloud Control – Bliss Release
2009 – Lisa Mitchell – Wonder
2008 – Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Primary Colours
2007 – The Mess Hall – Devils Elbow
2006 – Augie March, Moo – You Bloody Choir
2005 – The Drones – Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By

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Follow THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC PRIZE
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AMNPLIFY – ML