Sarah McLeod Appointed New Chair Of Australian Women In Music
McLeod’s elevation to Chair of AWM comes after serving on the organisation’s board.
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The Superjesus founding member, Sarah McLeod, has been appointed as the new Chair of Australian Women in Music (AWM).
Dedicated to celebrating and empowering female and gender-diverse artists, musicians and industry practitioners, AWM has been at the forefront of change in Australia’s music scene, helping highlight “female First Nations and multicultural artists, women working in remote and regional communities, female producers, engineers and technicians, emerging artists, and industry leaders.”
This is a great honour for McLeod, who has led the charge for women in music for over three decades. Serving as a member of the board for the past year alongside founder Vicki Gordon, McLeod’s elevation to Chair of AWM is seen as a natural progression for the frontwoman by those involved in the organisation.
“I’ve spent a couple of years watching Vicki Gordon move and shake this industry to provide opportunities for women and gender-diverse folk,” McLeod said in a statement. “Her commitment to inclusivity and equality is nothing short of inspiring! I signed on to the board of Australian Women in Music (AWM) a year ago because I felt it was time to give back to the industry which has kept me afloat for 30 years.”
She adds, “AWM has come a long way, but there’s still so much to achieve. As the new Chair, I will be working with the Board to address the enormous gender research gap across the sector and focusing on opportunities beyond our Award Ceremony, First Nation’s Showcase, and Conference to see where we can provide more support.”
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Originally formed in 1994 and going by the name Hell’s Kitchen, vocalist and guitarist Sarah McLeod, lead guitarist Chris Tennent, bassist Stuart Rudd and drummer Paul Berryman changed their name to The Superjesus on the eve of the Big Day Out in 1996.
It turned out to be a masterstroke, with the quartet dropping their ARIA charting debut EP, Eight Step Rail, a few months later to much fanfare. The EP won the band two ARIA Awards and was followed two years later by their ripping debut album, Sumo, which peaked at #2 on the ARIA Album Chart.
Jet Age arrived in 2000 and Rock Music in 2003 before The Superjesus went their separate ways in 2004. Reuniting for several festivals and tours over the past decade, the SA Music Award Hall of Fame inductees officially got back together in 2022, releasing their long-awaited fourth long player, The Superjesus, earlier this year.
Catch The Superjesus at The Bridgeway Hotel on Saturday, July 5. Tickers on sale now via thesuperjesus.com.
