Pressure On Husky After Award Win

Husky frontman Husky Gawenda has today admitted that there is a “pressure” of album number two as his songwriting talents were recognised by the APRA Professional Development Awards.

One of nine recipients of the award – valued at $30,000 with $12,000 cash included – Gawenda told theMusic.com.au that there was an expectation of award winners, who are decided by an industry panel of 40.

“Its definitely a big honour and its no small thing to receive the cash and the prizes,” he said, “and all of those things are going to go towards developing the writing and developing the songs and ultimately furthering what I'm doing in my music. I definitely feel some pressure to use it wisely and use it well, and I'll definitely try to do that.”

Husky returned to Australia last November and have been writing since (they did take time out to support Neil Young, though). They started demoing new tracks last week and expect to release an album mid-year.

Gawenda said it was hard to ignore the fact they've an existing fanbase for album number two.

“It's something that definitely crosses your mind, on the first record we were completely unknown so that wasn't a consideration at all. There were no expectations and there was not going to be anyone listening to it necessarily, but this time round there will be people who will listen and who will expect certain things.”

He continued, “Look, I try not to think about that when I'm writing. That's not to say I don't want people to dig it, I do, but I think the important thing is that I, and we as a band, make great music and write great music.”

Looking towards his debut album, but already with a strong fanbase, country PDA winner Morgan Evans said the award marks a starting point for hard work, rather than recognition of the past.

“It's so awesome, but I also feel the expectation at what's supposed to come after this,” he said. “No-one can put as much pressure on me than myself, though… This [PDA] is a deeper appreciation of your songs [by] a panel of industry judges, which sounds very serious. To be recognised for songwriting is probably the deepest and most important recognition that a songwriter can get.”

“It's pretty surreal,” fellow winner Georgi Kay said of her past two years, “but it's all I know. It's a nice feeling and it's an awesome opportunity to win one of these. APRA's really supporting and it's really nice to know that the judges – and everyone who entered – is part of a big family. It doesn't feel like a competition, it feels like appreciating everyone's music.”

After winning an ARIA Award for Feenixpawl's In My Mind, which she sings on, she was also nominated for a Grammy after Axwell remixed the same track. She's written with Swedish House Mafia, amongst others, and will travel to the US and UK to generate similar opportunities.

“I like collaborating. I've done a fair bit of it but every time I collaborate with someone I learn something new. If it doesn't work, next time I know what to do and if it does work, great let's work together… it's a good way of exploring and experimenting sounds. The money's definitely going to be going towards travelling and being able to go back the US and UK and do some co-writes there… I love writing and more than happy to write for other artists as well.”

Evans and Kay. Picture by Matt Barber

The full details on all nine winners are here.