Earlier this month, the final four acts which completed the lineup for Australia Decides 2020 was revealed. The reveal also included the release of the first song – Jack Vidgen’s ‘I Am King I Am Queen‘. However, as previously reported, the absence of one widely anticipated name in particular disappointed some fans. No, not Kylie or Delta. Not even John Farnham or Nick Cave. Instead, an Aboriginal Australian electronic duo: Electric Fields.
The Sydney Morning Herald have reported that the eclectic duo – who sing in sing in two Australian aboriginal languages – Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara (alongside English!) were invited to return to the 2020 edition of the national final. However, they turned down the open invitation, citing they felt they did not have a ‘Eurovision-winning song this time around’. Indeed, Australia’s Head of Delegation explained that:
It’s alright to have a year off, have a think about it and then come back
Paul Clarke speaking to Sunday Morning Herald
He continued to tease a little bit of the thinking behind the acts and sounds we can expect from the new exciting lineup for Australia Decides:
We didn’t push hard for there to be exactly the same artists this [time]… We wanted to start with a clean slate. But the spirit of [the previous] year will be there. We will have Kate Miller-Heidke performing as a tribute. In many ways, [next] year is stronger because the points of difference are broader. The songwriting might even be more powerful!
Paul Clarke
I promise that in the first song – it’ll likely be iOTA – we’re going to do something as absolutely off the wall as what we did with Kate. It’ll be dangerous. People watch Eurovision for the spectacle. Having an artist like iOTA in the competition is a licence for mischief
Paul Clarke
2019 for Electric Fields – a year of success!
In Australia Decides 2019, Electric Fields came second with both the jury and Australian public with a total of 114 points. They missed out on the ticket to Tel Aviv by 22 points. However, the duo consisting of vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding and keyboard player/producer Michael Ross have had an incredibly successful year. Apart from being the spokespeople for Australia in the Eurovision 2019 final, the duo had a headline tour across major Australian cities.
The duo also won big in the 2019 National Live Music Awards with no less than three trophies:
- BEST LIVE VOICE – Zaachariaha Fielding (Electric Fields)
- ELECTRONIC ACT OF THE YEAR – Electric Fields
- LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR – Electric Fields
The group also received two nominations for the 2019 National Indigenous Music Awards:
- Artist of the Year
- Song of the Year
Last month, the duo repeated their result in Australia Decides, coming second again in Second Cherry 2019.
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