It’s been a massive year for Canberra’s SAFIA. The three-piece consisting of Michael John, Harry Sayers and Benjamin Woolner has barely stopped to catch their breath. Things started ramping up in the first few months of the year with a number of gigs around town, frequenting Transit and the like and keeping a strong collective of fans excited about things to come.
Early in May, the lads stepped forth with an absolutely stomping set at FashFest, providing a moody though soulful backdrop that complemented the designs up on the catwalk. At the end of the show it was hard to know who got more applause – the designers, the models or SAFIA – hidden down the back behind the keyboards among the sea of mangy photographers.
Next step was a single release – Listen to Soul, Listen to Blues and, if things hadn’t already been going rather well, they were about to step up a whole new level with high rotation on Triple J leading to a pseudo-residency at the top of the iTunes electronic chart and an actual residency at the Beresford Hotel. You’d think they’d won an award or something…
Well, clearly an award is next for these three likely lads – and it could all happen this weekend. On Friday 22 November, the Triple J Unearthed Awards will be announced, and SAFIA is one of the seven national finalists. Then come the big, local gongs with SAFIA nominated for four MusicACT Annual Music Awards at The Albert Hall on Saturday night. SAFIA are nominated in the following categories:
Hotel Hotel’s Best ACT Artist of 2013 (publicly voted)
Hellenic Club’s Best ACT Live Performer of 2013 (publicly voted)
True Jungle Souljahs’ Best ACT Bass Music Producer of 2013
Smiths Alternative’s Best ACT Indie or Alternative Artist of 2013
We wish SAFIA – and the rest of our amazing local music industry – all the best for the coming week. Will SAFIA grab the Unearthed J Award? We like to think so.
Fingers crossed until Friday!
For more information on the MAMAs
