Aussie pop star gets candid on how everyone can help support Aus music

We all know that special feeling of when you hear a song for the first time that really hits you. It might remind you of a different time, the lyrics might really resonate with you or it might just sound really bloody good in the middle of the dancefloor you’re killing it on. It’s a different type of euphoria entirely when you find out that the artist is Australian. Not only do you get the W of listening to a banger, but you get the pride of knowing its homegrown.

As both an Australian artist and a fan of Australian artist, pop act Charley knows that feeling all too well.

“For me it's a whole body experience,” she says.

“I usually start with goosebumps but if I love everything that the artist is doing — the lyrics, the melodies, the rhythm of the song etc — I’ll start crying.”

In fact, Charley says that just this week she heard a track by an artist called Dennis at a workshop that moved her so much it “made me want to put it on vinyl and play it while I grow old.”

To think that art like that is coming from Australia, from people you might even know, is an awe-inspiring thing. But, while Australian music itself is thriving, we all need to do more to actually get that music out there, so everyone can experience what Charley experiences.

Johnnie Walker is really stepping up to the plate in that regard. As sponsors of the SXSW Sydney’s Music Festival, hundreds of artists from Australia and beyond are taking on the festival’s 20 stages. But Johnnie Walker sees the value in giving these acts a truly global platform, and will select one Australian act that will be flown to Austin to play SXSW — the OG — in 2026. Plucking a local legend and putting them on a global stage — we love to see it.

Pat Stevenson

“Australia is such a small place, and to really grow your audience and build a team around you, you pretty much have to head overseas,” Charley says of Johnnie Walker’s initiative.

“An opportunity like this could honestly be life-changing for an Aussie artist. It costs a lot to get over to the US, then even more to actually get your foot in the door and start connecting with the right people. The fact that all of that is being made possible for whoever wins this is huge.”

This award is a monumental way that can help an Aussie act overcome some major barriers facing all Aussie musicians right now. Charley says one of those barriers is geography.

“I think one of the biggest barriers is just how small and far away Australia is. It can feel pretty hard to break into the international market from here so most artists end up heading overseas to connect with people and actually get their music heard. And you need the funds to make that happen, and they are hard to come by.”

So, Johnnie Walker’s doing their part with not just this award but helping to showcase so many up-and-coming Aussie acts, but how do we, as fans, help? Well, Charley’s done the hard work for us and given us step-by-step advice.

“1. Buy merch - this is generally the only thing we can get the most money out of and sometimes it goes straight to the artist.”

2. Go to our shows!

3. Like, pre-save and buy the music online as it helps everyone get put into playlisting and get on charts, which, in the end, helps get our music and name out there!

4. Comment and engage on our posts as it helps boost the video to circulate to others!”

Charley also gave us a cheeky bonus tip: “Oh, and keep dating us so we can continue to have juicy lyrical content.”