Sycco, Missy Higgins Win Huge 2024 J Awards

Yesterday (14 November), triple j’s J Awards winners were announced, spotlighting artists from across all genres who released music and toured throughout 2024.

This year, the J Awards celebrated their 20th anniversary, and like previous years, the impact this year’s winners had on Australian music can’t be underestimated.

23-year-old Queensland-based First Nations singer, songwriter, and producer Sasha McLeod, aka Sycco, won the J Award for the Australian Album of the Year with her bright, futuristic debut album, Zorb.

The album was written and co-produced by Sycco, who shares credits with Chrome Sparks, Flume, Banoffee and Styalz Fuego. On Zorb, Sycco effortlessly blended psychedelic rock and high-energy dance music, with her signature pop flair elevating the album above your typical pop record.

Nick Findlay, Music Director at triple j, described Zorb as a “blissful, psychedelic, and distinct” sonic world that celebrates friendship, explores heartbreak, and highlights the chaos of life in your early twenties.

Findlay added, “It’s a record that perfectly captures Sycco’s incredibly unique take on songwriting and production, which has helped her stand tall as one of Australia’s best young artists.

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“Congratulations to Sasha McLeod, aka Sycco, on an incredibly well-deserved win for this year’s J Award for Album of the Year. 2024 has been another exceptional year for local music, highlighted by the incredibly high calibre of nominees across this year’s J Awards.

“Congratulations to all the winners and all the artists nominated, who help shine a spotlight on the amazing talent we are so lucky to celebrate coming out of this country.”

Sycco wasn’t the only one who received a coveted award. One of Australia’s most popular songwriters, Missy Higgins, took out Double J’s Australian Artist of the Year award after a massive year that included releasing a new album (The Second Act), selling out numerous shows across the country, and next week, her induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Melbourne lo-fi hip-hop artist Lithe was named the Unearthed Artist of the Year after a breakout 2024. His song, Fall Back, became one of the most streamed Australian songs of the year, with the emerging star gaining fans globally.

Elsewhere, Emily Wurramurra’s music video for Lordy Lordy, featuring rapper Tasman Keith and directed by Melbourne-based filmmaker Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore, was named triple j and rage’s Australian Music Video of the Year.

Lastly, celebrating a victory lap behind her latest album, Light, Dark, Light Again, and a successful national tour, Angie McMahon was crowned the Australian Live Act of the Year.