NinajirachiThe Music chooses one song every week as its Power Pick, shining a light on ONE Aussie song that we think has the potential to be the next big Australian chart hit.
Our Power Pick committee consists of Richard Kingsmill (consultant and former triple j Group Music Director), Maddy Rowe (Nova nights announcer), Nic Kelly (Hit Network nights announcer), Ash McGregor (host of Listen Up with Ash McGregor), Kent “Smallzy” Small (Host of ‘The Smallzy Show’ on the Kiis Network), Irene Hulme (radio consultant and host of Game Changers Radio podcast), Matty Morris (Super Radio Network nights announcer), and Matt O’Gorman (Triple M Homegrown host).
It probably goes without saying that watching Australian musicians reach dizzying new heights is a majorly exciting experience as a music fan. Even more so is watching them achieve their own dreams as artists.
For the latest example of the latter, we don’t have to look far past NSW’s Central Coast, where Ninajirachi honed her craft which has turned her into one of the country’s most exciting names.
As a budding music fan, Nina Wilson found herself in the audience of Porter Robinson’s 2015 gig at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre. Few could have assumed that over a decade later, the pair would be collaborating on one of the most exciting singles of the year.
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That’s the backstory of WannaCry, the pair’s nascent duet which received its official release after receiving its live debut during Nina’s Coachella set back in April.
Named for the 2017 ransomware virus of the same name, the stellar composition is a dazzling meeting of masterful musical minds that is written from the virus’ point of view, ultimately re-framing its malice as something far more beautiful.
Alongside the role that this song plays within the career trajectory of both artists, and the full-circle moment which saw Ninajirachi returning to the Enmore Theatre for her own headline show this year, the release of WannaCry shows the power of Australian musicians on the global stage, and the importance of following one’s own musical dreams.
"Ninajirachi has undoubtedly cemented herself as Australia’s biggest new dance exports and levelling up with her friend and idol Porter Robinson is a huge moment, coinciding with a performance to a sea of people at Lollapalooza over the weekend,” says Nic Kelly.
“She is so important to the evolution of what Australian music can be, and this edgy song with great pop sensibility deserves the ears of all."
CHART UPDATE
It’s a relatively similar story for Aussie acts at the pointy end of the Radio Monitor Hot 100 chart. While Alex Warren and Taylor Swift swap spots at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, Josh Fawaz once more holds steady at No. 3 with his rework of Madonna’s Like A Prayer holds steady at No. 3, with recent admission of AI usage in the track having not affected airplay at all.
G Flip's Bed On Fire rises two spots to No. 4, while Sonny Fodera’s Let Me Be In Your Arms sneaks into the top ten, as his other big single, Think About Us, falls out of the top 20 to No. 22.
Tame Impala's Dracula continues to fall, dropping eight spots to No. 32. Sadly, that’s where most of the local representation ends for a while, with the next Aussie found by way of DMA’S’ Killing Time at No. 44
They’re in fine company, however, with Genesis Owusu's Big Dog entering the top 50 at No. 46, and Tkay Maidza's Romanticize jumping 26 spots to No. 46.
The Kid LAROI’s Girls follows at No. 47, while Daine closes out Aussies in the top 50 with PQC at No. 49.
It’s a relatively similar story on the ARIA charts this week, with just two homegrown cuts in the top 50. That includes Tame Impala’s Dracula falling out of the top ten to No. 12, and G Flip’s Bed On Fire just sticking in the top 50 at No. 48.
