The Artists That Changed The Game In 2017: AB Original

It’s been a strong year for Australian music, not only release-wise and in terms of international touring success stories, but also for artists choosing to speak out and use their influence to help inspire positive social change. Over the next few days, we'll be sharing the acts and people that changed the game in 2017. We kicked things off with Camp Cope and Tash Sultana, and today we look at just how AB Original have shaken things up this year.

AB Original's 26 January single barnstormed into triple j's Hottest 100 at #16. "Well, it's there every year, you know what I mean?" Briggs chuckles about the fact that this countdown happened on the day about which their song is penned. And our nation's change-the-date conversation definitely intensified thanks to this rallying AB Original track featuring Dan Sultan.

They've picked up nearly every award they've been nominated for throughout 2017 - including five AIR Awards, six SA Music Awards, three The Age Music Victoria Awards and the 12th Australian Music Prize for their debut album, Reclaim Australia - and Briggs reveals he sends all of the trophies to his mum, joking that she probably puts them "in the bin" (we doubt it).

During one of his acceptance speeches at The Age Music Victoria Awards last month, Briggs enthused, "I just love this opportunity to create pathways for other young black artists and change the expectations of what an aboriginal artist can be, because AB Original came out and it wasn't sorry, and it wasn't mournful, it was, 'Fuck you, we're here!'"

When asked to share his personal highlight from 2017, Briggs says it was donating $15,000 (half the amount of the Australian Music Prize) to his local footy club, Rumbalara Football Netball Club in Shepparton.

At the time of our chat, Briggs said he's working his "dream job" as part of the writing team for Disenchanted, Matt Groening's latest project. "I struck up a friendship with one of the ex-writers or co-writers on The Simpsons, Josh Weinstein," he explains of how he came to be involved with the project. "It just grew from that to sitting in a room and pitching jokes, you know, with Matt and everyone around the table - it's good fun!"

On his record label, Golden Records, Briggs says he's "always looking for new artists who have a unique voice and who are already putting the work in". "I'd love to have more focus on a female artist, or a couple of female artists, over the next couple of years," he reveals, "because it's a voice that needs to be supported and nurtured and brought to the forefront."