The Amp (Australian Music Prize)

10/11/2025

15/10/2025

14/10/2025

Nominated: 'Patchwork' by . Our judges commented: "Very enjoyable pop-punk with a hint of Gen-Z Missy Higgins with the vocals. Sometimes it's okay to feel like nothing is certain, and Suzi does a great job of capturing that feeling of youth and uncertainty across her debut record."
And -
"If you're looking for a songwriter who can break your heart and simultaneously mend it in under an hour, you need to listen to Suzi. Drawing from emo, pop-punk, and alt-rock styles of songwriting, Suzi wears her personality on her sleeve, offering warmth while singing gut-wrenching tunes, whether acoustic or giant, irresistible pop-punk melodies, sung with a smile and an Australian accent."

13/10/2025

Another album slipping onto 'the list' in the final days is 'Insatible' from Melbourne's self-described "instrumental doom metal band": . One of our judges said "This album scared the absolute s**t out of me. And I loved it. 5 stars."

12/10/2025

We plan to announce our 21st Shortlist (best 9 albums) this week... In the meantime the judges continue to Nominate the albums they love. Could 'What's It Like Down There?' an album by be one of those 9???

09/10/2025

's 7th album, 'Moments' tickles our judges enough to make our 21st list of Nominations. One judge commented:
"Wistful yet danceable, Moments is classic Cut Copy. “I still see love in your heart/ No matter what you do…” – Dan Whitford’s vocals are understated, but also affecting. Lyrics are never schmaltzy, but each carefully chosen word aims straight for the heart."

09/10/2025

Another new nominee is the album 'A Day and Life' by . Here's what one of our judges had to say about it:
"When music is classified as 'New Age', it sometimes can come with a stigma of being boring or uninventive. This Mina Yu album had the new age genre applied to it within Apple Music, but honestly doesn't fit that catergory at all. I found this record to be charming and romantic, with classic arrangements that managed to tell a story with only instrumental music. Won't be for everyone, but definitely one to check out."

08/10/2025

The 30.09 release cut-off has past but the judges are still listening to almost 470 identified eligible albums - their latest pick is the album 'Nightwriter' by . One judge commented -
"Charlie Collins has never shied away from hard-hitting personal lyrics, but with Nightwriter, she’s effortlessly juxtaposed said lyrics with bright, lively instrumentation while also stripping things back when the songs require. She serves the music, and it shows—an emotional LP that’s an honour to listen to."

03/10/2025

Another debut album enters our list of Nominations 'Everything's A Car' by Diver!

A couple of our judges couldn't wait to comment:

"You can tell Cathy Diver’s debut album is lovingly crafted: instrumentation meticulously selected to serve individual songs (slide guitar, cello and mellotron inclusive), lyrics demanding your full attention – each song unfolds like an episode in a series. Broken homes, troubled brows, “curious stingrays”, sharks, sunburnt shoulders, “scoping out bars” and terracotta balconies – listeners are pin-dropped to exact locations whether they’ve been there or not. "

And -

"Cathy Diver's intricate mountain pop glistens like a dewy, perfectly formed spiderweb on the plum tree out in your backyard at dawn. Diver's contemplative lyricism is steeped in wisdom, and even the harshest character observation is delivered with delicacy and warmth. A crisp, sunny winter's morning with a steaming cup of black coffee."

30/09/2025

'Like Plasticine' is an album by (Aussie's fav Dr/musician - Sophie Payten) - it's her 3rd studio album and now has been Nominated by our judges to win the $50,000 cash prize courtesy of . Here's what three of our judges had to say about the album:

"This album is immersive; the verb choices alone take you to another place and the varied songwriting / composition is very special too."
And -
"World-class pop jams that are universal yet personal, and ebullient yet tender. Like the album's title alludes, these are malleable songs that suggest an artist in flux, and have as much in common with the recent giddy, sky-scraping anthems of Indigo De Souza ("Peripheral Lover") to the vulnerable heartbreak folk of Angie McMahon ("Settle"). It's the confidence and charisma to run these spectrums that reveals her vulnerability, but also consummate craftsmanship - and "Diluted" has the best of both worlds, beginning as a fractured piano ballad before exploding into a stadium stomper in its second half. There's also no hiding here, lyrically - included are some real-life tales, delivered from Gordi's day-job as a frontline doctor during COVID ("PVC Divide" pulls no punches as it recounts telling a resigned patient of his incurable diagnosis - "I told him the news - He said he didn't mind - 'I'm used to it'"). A triumph."
And, and -
"Time and time again, Gordi continues to reinvent the public's perception of her and what a Gordi record should be. She continues to produce interesting and textural sounding songs, creating a kind of intimiacy that other Aussie artists can't replicate. These songs are some of her most hauntingly honest and raw yet, but still maintain a hopeful nature about them....which is where I think some of that magic sits."

29/09/2025

'Social Cohesion' by .mp3 is the latest album to join our list of Nominated albums. Mudrat is Sean Thompson and his music has been described as 'a potent fusion of hip hop, punk and nu-metal influences'.

Here's what a couple of AMP judges thought -

"Social Cohesion has the controlled aggro of Rage Against The Machine (LAST NIGHT), the social commentary of Birdz (I HATE RICH C**TS) and the playful poise of The Living End (YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT POOR PEOPLE). Mudrat has arrived and he's ready to kick the pricks...right in the family jewels."

And -

"Punk and hip-hop are sibling genres when you break it down. Both powered by a catchy beat and commanding vocal, plus bonus points for calling out the 1% f*cking up the world, MUDRAT has all of that energy and more. On Social Cohesion, MUDRAT is fierce and angry, he jokes, and he reveals his trauma. Musically, this record is outstanding, a driving punk rock record with spitted-out vocals and elements of hip-hop. From ACKNOWLEDGEMENT to A BEAUTIFUL MESS, MUDRAT takes listeners on a far-reaching journey where he outlines the one war (class war) and reminds us of the power we have when we band together."