Voice Of Baceprot, DEVAURA Take Out SXSW Sydney's Justin Cosby Music Prize

Just weeks after it wrapped up, SXSW Sydney have announced the winners of the second annual Justin Cosby Music Prize.

Established in 2023 and named for Australian industry legend, Justin Cosby, who passed away in 2021, Cosby was a passionate supporter of independent music and new talent.

A regular attendee of SXSW, his impact and legacy are far-reaching, with the judging panel for the award comprising industry leaders from independent record labels, community radio, venues, festivals, and local and international media.

The awards are handed out in two categories, including Best Emerging Artist, which is awarded to the local or international artist showing the most potential to attain their career goals; and Best Performance, handed out to the local or international artist whose performance impressed the most.

In the case of the latter, all-female Indonesian heavy metal trio Voice Of Baceprot emerged victorious, thanks to their appearance at Rolling Stone House on October 17th as part of their debut Aussie trek.

“From the moment we announced VoB, the anticipation for this mighty trio was huge,” said SXSW Sydney’s Head of Music, Claire Collins. “Their appearance at SXSW Sydney is just one achievement in a blockbuster year, being the first Indonesian artist to ever play Glastonbury, and their years of playing live certainly paid dividends in a completely enthralling live show.

“Whether it was impressing an industry audience at the Music Festival Opening Party, tearing apart the Tumbalong Park mainstage or headlining the Rolling Stone stage, the fiercely feminist heavy metal act surprised and delighted at every turn.”

On the Best Emerging Artist front, the award went to New Zealand-born singer and hip-hop artist DEVAURA.

“For an artist that has only been releasing music and performing for just over a year, DEVAURA came to SXSW Sydney with the songs, the wild performance style and the magnetic energy of a seasoned veteran,” said SXSW Sydney’s Music Program Manager, Reg Harris.

“Watching DEVAURA and her band transform her bouncy, jersey-club inflected hip-hop style into a raucous yet tightly arranged live set was a total pleasure, made even more fun by the various dress-up themes that ran through the shows (pyjama party, office meetup and construction site),” he added.

“She was very deservingly the name on everyone’s lips all week and with just a few songs under the belt so far, DEVAURA’s clearly got a super exciting life in music ahead.”

The inaugural Justin Cosby Music Prize was handed out last year, with Otoboke Beaver taking out Best Performance and Miss Kaninna being named Best Emerging Artist.