"In 2025, we have a whole new generation of amazing kids all over the country making Sydney and Australian hardcore the sickest it's ever been,"
"With that being said, this award belongs to them - the people around us who make it what it is - and we'll take some time to think about the best way we can pay that forward to keep growing this the right way."
"The First Test."
Speed, a Sydney-based hardcore band, won the inaugural New South Wales Music Prize and the $80,000 award for their 2024 debut Only One Mode. The state government introduced the prize as part of a 10-year plan to support local musicians amid streaming platforms favoring international artists. Only One Mode mixes harsh hardcore beatdowns with unexpected elements like a trilling flute, showcased on the viral single "The First Test." Band members include vocalist Jem Siow, guitarists Joshua Clayton and Dennis Vichidvongsa, bassist Aaron Siow, and drummer Kane Vardon. Speed opened for Turnstile on a North American tour and advocated for inclusivity, anti-Asian racism awareness, and addressing male suicide. The band framed the prize as belonging to their community and intends to find ways to pay it forward.
Read at Pitchfork
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