Are These The Best DJs In Victoria?

Having announced its triumphant return for 2022 earlier in the year, Music Victoria have officially lifted the veil on a huge list of industry-voted nominees who will be vying for awards at this year's ceremony, as Victoria’s music scene once again comes together to celebrate another massive year of artistry.

Hand selected over the past six months, the 2022 award entries were whittled down by a team of more than 200 acclaimed music judges from across the state, including radio announcers, writers, critics, podcasters and festival promoters.

Harvey Sutherland managed to pick up an industry nomination for Best Electronic Work, for his phenomenal work on Boy. As did Melbourne deep-house duo OK EG, experimental artist Papaphilia, ambient artist and film composer Puscha and self described Body Horror artist Various Asses.

Excitingly, the awards have also opened a category of Best DJ, the first category of its kind within Australia. 

The nominees include Jennifer Loveless, Memphis LK, MZ Rizk, Reptant and Simon TK.

Jennifer Loveless has had a huge year, spending the majority of it performing shows right across the Northern Hemisphere. This year she released her EP, Around The World via Butter Sessions which featured standout single Water alongside a trio of club bangers.

Memphis LK has DJed extensively across the country this year, wowing sweaty club rooms with an eclectic mix of breakbeat, garage and techno, crossing genre boundaries with every mix. This year she performed headline sets at XE54, Club 77, huge festival sets at Listen Out as well as looking forward to slots at Beyond The Valley, Wildlands and 121 Festival.

Mz Rizk is a pioneering Lebanese Australian DJ, radio presenter and event curator. She hosts community radio show Boogie Beat Suite on PBS, as well as supported some of the most acclaimed acts in the world, as well as performing at Glastonbury twice. This year alone she's performed at Art After Dark, Strawberry Fields, and many more, solidifying her presence as one of the most respected and acclaimed DJs in so called Australia.

Australian electro artist Reptant also joins the list, with his production taking him to the upper echelons of the genre in Australia. This year he's performed huge sets at Daybreak festival and a slew of spots across European cities including Porto, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Vienna, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Helsinki and many many more.

Closing out the nominees is one half of Wax'o Paradiso, Simon TK. Simon is best known for being one of the best and most diverse selectors in the country, wowing fans with everything from minimal chug, big, downtempo balearic rollers to disco classics. Equal parts DJ, creator and originator, Simon TK's vision has been a driving force in Melbourne’s party scene for over half a decade.

Voting closes today at 5pm HERE, so get behind your favourite selector