She may have lost the public vote in 2006, but former Australian idol contestant Lisa Mitchell today nabbed a far more credible accolade – taking out the 2009 Australian Music Prize at a ceremony held this afternoon at Sydney’s Museum Of Contemporary Art. Interestingly Mitchell’s victory thrusts her into a male-heavy club of past AMP winners including The Drones, Augie March, The Mess Hall, and Eddy Current Suppression Ring and marks the first time an act without a penis has taken out the $30,000 award.
In what many believed to be an upset victory, Mitchell’s debut album “Wonder” beat out the likes of Bertie Blackman, Kid Sam, Sarah Blasko, The Mess Hall and Urthboy while Melbourne duo Oh Mercy took out the Red Bull Award in recognition of outstanding potential for their album “Privileged Woes”.
Following Marcia Hines’ advice to “keep doin’ your thang sugar” Mitchell’s post-idol career arc has included a handful of ARIA nominations, Gold sales and a London relocation. So congratulations doe-eyed songstress because can’t think of any former idol contestant (aka the worst thing to happen to Australian music ever) remotely close to winning what is touted to be Australia’s answer to the Mercury Prize.
