Hit maker to the stars Sarah Aarons, Amy Shark, Dean Lewis and 5SOS win songwriter awards

Amy Shark’s deeply personal song about triumph over rejection has struck a resounding chord with Australia’s songwriters to take out the APRA Song of the Year.

Amy Shark’s deeply personal song about triumph over rejection I Said Hi has struck a resounding chord with Australia’s songwriters to win the APRA Song of the Year.

It was the third year in a row Shark had been nominated for the prestigious award, with previous hits Adore and Weekends missing out before she proved third time lucky with I Said Hi.

The award caps a watershed year for the Australian singer and songwriter who spent more than a decade trying to break into the industry.

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Amy Shark’s triumph over rejection has won the hearts of Australian songwriters. Picture: Luke Marsden.

The 2019 APRA Music Awards, which acknowledge composers, have been dominated by the Los-Angeles based hit maker Sarah Aarons who has become one of the most sought after songwriters in the world.

Aarons was named the Songwriter of the Year and also won two awards for her co-write on the Zedd, Maron Morris and Grey smash hit The Middle and shared Rock Work of the Year for the Rubens song Never Ever which also features her vocals.

LA-based hit maker Sarah Aarons is the Songwriter of the Year. Picture: Supplied.

The 24-year-old writer, who was told she would never have a “normal” job because of a crippling auto-immune disease, has worked with some of the biggest pop stars in the world including Khalid, Dua Lipa, Demi Lovato, Camila Cabello and Australian chart stars Peking Duk.

Another breakout Australian musical export Dean Lewis was recognised for his conquering of the global airwaves and streaming services with his single Be Alright, named the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year.

Australian singer songwriter Dean Lewis has conquered the world with Be Alright. Picture: Supplied.

He also shared an Outstanding International Achievement Award with 5 Seconds of Summer who were at the top of the charts worldwide with their inescapable banger Youngblood last year.

Other Australian artists who won APRA Awards at the Melbourne Town Hall ceremony on Tuesday were hip hop champions Hilltop Hoods, Nashville favourite Morgan Evans and sibling songsmiths Angus and Julia Stone.

5 Seconds of Summer’s global success won them an International Achievement Award. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Sia’s Cheap Thrills picked up the Most Played Australian Work Overseas for the second year running while Ed Sheeran also made it two years running for International Work of the Year, this time with Perfect.

APRA chief executive Dean Ormston said it had been an exceptional year for Australian songwriters on the world stage, with our songs now earning over $420 million in the last financial year.

He said there is a huge buzz for Australian writers such as Aarons, Alex Hope and Jon Hume, who co-wrote Lewis’s hit Be Alright.

“What we are starting to see is the rise of the song as an export product,” he said.

“While the band and artist has always been recognised for their export potential now we are starting to see cut-through of the song on an international level and the songwriter themselves as an exciting export.”

Hilltop Hoods add another APRA to their collection for Urban Work of the Year. Picture: Tim Hunter.

APRA Song of the Year — I Said Hi, Amy Shark

Songwriter of the Year — Sarah Aarons

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year — Dean Lewis

Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music — Rob Potts

Overseas Recognition Award, Lindsay Rimes

Outstanding International Achievement Award — Youngblood, 5 Seconds of Summer

Outstanding International Achievement Award — Be Alright, Dean Lewis

Most Played Australian Work — The Middle, Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey (Sarah Aarons, co-writer)

Dance Work of the Year — The Middle, Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey (Sarah Aarons, co-writer)

Rock Work of the Year — Never Ever, The Rubens feat. Sarah Aarons

Pop Work of the Year — I Said Hi, Amy Shark

Urban Work of the Year — Clark Griswold, Hilltop Hoods feat. Adrian Eagle.

Country Work of the Year — Day Drunk, Morgan Evans

Blues & Roots Work of the Year — Chateau, Angus & Julia Stone

Most Played Australian Work Overseas — Cheap Thrills, Sia

International Work of the Year — Perfect, Ed Sheeran