Melbourne artist takes home $50,000 for LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW, beating a nine-album shortlist that included Courtney Barnett, Genesis Owusu and Karnivool.
Ecca Vandal has won the 22nd SoundMerch Australian Music Prize for her second album, LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW, collecting the $50,000 first prize after competing against eight other shortlisted Australian releases.
The Melbourne-based artist was announced as the winner after more than 600 albums were considered by the independent judging panel for this year’s award. The prize recognises outstanding Australian albums, with the winner selected through a three-stage judging process.
Released on 22 May 2026, LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW is Vandal’s first album in nine years, following her self-titled debut. The 17-track collection was made largely in a makeshift home studio in the childhood bedroom of longtime collaborator Richie Buxton, where the pair developed a record drawing on punk rock, hip-hop, hardcore and electronic music.
The album takes aim at the pressures of social media, identity and modern expectations, with Vandal exploring independence and self-expression across songs including CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE, SORRY! CRASH!, BLEED BUT NEVER DIE and MOLLY.
“Wow, this is such an incredible honour. To be recognised alongside so many amazing Australian artists means the world to me,” Vandal said.
“Richie and I made this album together in his childhood bedroom, pouring everything we had into it, so to receive an award like this is honestly beyond anything we could have imagined. Thank you to the Australian Music Prize, the judges, and everyone who has supported us and believed in this record. We’re incredibly grateful, and it means so much to have our music recognised in this way.”
Born in South Africa to Sri Lankan Tamil parents and raised in Melbourne, Vandal first attracted attention in 2014 with the single WHITE FLAG. Her career has since taken her onto international stages, including tours with Limp Bizkit and Deftones, and a performance at Coachella in 2026.
The Australian Music Prize win adds to an already significant year for Vandal. LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW received seven nominations at the 2026 ARIA Awards, including Album of the Year, Best Solo Artist and Best Alternative Release.
The nine-album shortlist brought together established Australian acts and emerging artists. Vandal was selected ahead of Baker Boy’s DJANDJAY, Courtney Barnett’s Creature Of Habit, Genesis Owusu’s REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE, Georgia Knight’s Beanpole, Grace Cummings’ Bloodhorse!, Julia Jacklin’s The Gem, Karnivool’s In Verses and Swapmeet’s Mount Zero.
The result also places Vandal among a group of previous Australian Music Prize winners that includes Kankawa Nagarra (2024), RVG (2023), King Stingray (2022), Genesis Owusu (2021) and The Avalanches (2020).
Last year’s winner, Ninajirachi, who received the 2025 prize for I Love My Computer, returned this year as a judge. The judging panel also included previous nominees Ruby Gill, MudRat, Mick Turner of Bleak Squad and Mia Wray.
Prize founder and director Scott B Murphy congratulated Vandal on the result, acknowledging the depth of this year’s field.
“Congratulations Ecca Vandal, you’ve been chosen from 600 albums reviewed by our judges, that’s huge – and well deserved,” Murphy said.
“Many times a judge of late has told me how strong all 9 Shortlisted albums are… and how hard it’s going to be to choose a winner. I thank each of them so much for undertaking a very challenging job and doing so with such passion.”
The Australian Music Prize uses a three-stage selection process. Judges listen to randomly allocated eligible albums in full, declare any connections to the artists and contribute to the formation of the shortlist. The final decision is made following a face-to-face meeting between the judges and the Prize Director.
The 2026 ceremony also introduced a new recognition, the inaugural Prize Director’s Award, presented in partnership with JB Hi-Fi. The $4,000 award, comprising $2,000 in cash and $2,000 in JB Hi-Fi gift vouchers, went to Baker Boy for DJANDJAY.
Murphy explained that his personal selection criteria for a great album prioritise originality, consistency across the complete record and the ability of an album to remain relevant to listeners years after its release.
He named Baker Boy’s DJANDJAY as his choice under those criteria.
The Australian Music Prize was established in 2005, inspired by Britain’s Mercury Prize. The inaugural award went to The Drones for Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By. Subsequent winners have included Hermitude, The Jezabels and Courtney Barnett.
The 22nd SoundMerch Australian Music Prize is supported by JB Hi-Fi, Mushroom Music, Universal Music and Sony Music, with Rocket and Disco joining as new partners in 2026. SoundMerch continues as principal partner, with additional assistance from the Australian Government through Music Australia.
For Vandal, the $50,000 award recognises an album that took nine years to follow her debut and was created through a largely independent recording process with a longtime collaborator. Its recognition by the Australian Music Prize now gives LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW one of the year’s most significant Australian album honours.
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