Sarah Aarons is the young Australian composer behind the big hits and leads this year’s APRA Music Awards nominations

She decided to write songs for other artists when she discovered Sia had penned Rihanna’s hit Diamonds. Now, Sarah Aarons rivals Sia as a global hitmaker.

SARAH Aarons lives by the mantra of only making music with the people you want to celebrate success.

The 24-year-old Australian songwriter, who is now one of the most sought-after hitmakers in America, has several musicians to raise a glass with after scoring four nominations in this year’s APRA Music Awards which recognise the achievements of songwriters.

Aarons received two nods for The Middle, the song she wrote with producer Zedd and recorded with country superstar Maren Morris. It received three Grammy nominations this year as well.

The young composer is also nominated for The Rubens’ hit Never Ever — which she also sings on — and Tell Me You Love Me from Swedish duo Galantis and Melbourne producer Throttle.

Aarons co-wrote and sings on The Rubens’ hit Never Ever. Picture: Supplied.

After a childhood spent in choirs and songwriting competitions, Aarons dedicated herself to composing for other artists behind the scenes as she battled a chronic auto-immune disease, which led to her leg being amputated last year.

In the four years since moving to LA, she has penned songs for a raft of artists including Alessia Cara, Demi Lovato, Peking Duk, Ruel, Khalid and Hilltop Hoods.

Aarons won last year’s APRA award for Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year.

She prefers to write for other people but Aarons still sings when asked nicely. Picture: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for GLAAD.

“I’m really excited to be nominated for the APRAs this year. Going from getting an APRA songwriting prize when I was 12 to being nominated for four awards is crazy,” she said.

American star Morris was so beguiled by the Australian hitmaker after their experience on The Middle that she sought her out to help to write songs for the country artist’s new record GIRL, including the title track.

“She’s very direct and to the point. I’m always refreshed by no bulls … people who say it like it is. I think that’s why her songwriting is connecting so much on all her musical endeavours, not just the work we’ve done together. She’s got such a tone that is much needed in this word right now,” Morris said.

Amy Shark continues to win all the nominations for her awesome songs. Picture: AAP/David Clark

The Song of the Year category this year is dominated by female artists and writers with Amy Shark’s I Said Hi, Mojo Juju’s Native Tongue, Angie McMahon’s Slow Mover and Society by Ainslie Wills up for the major prize. Completing their ranks is a man who has always been a champion of women in music, the evergreen Paul Kelly for his song With The One I Love.

APRA awards nominee Baker Boy is up for three gongs. Picture: Supplied.

The Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year nominees — Baker Boy, Dean Lewis, G Flip, Jack River and Tash Sultana — highlight the next wave of artists creating the sound of now in Australia and overseas.

Shark, who won Pop Work of the Year last year, has three nominations as does Baker Boy, the all-dancing, rapping and didgeridoo-playing alter ego of Danzal Baker.

Other nominees for the 2019 awards to be held in Melbourne on April 30 include PNAU, Peking Duk, Sheppard, Vance Joy and Morgan Evans.

Global artists nominated for International Work of the Year include Camila Cabello, Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line, Ed Sheeran, Pink and Post Malone.

For all nominees, apraamcos.com.au

Originally published as Sarah Aarons is the young Australian composer behind the big hits and leads this year’s APRA Music Awards nominations