By Katherine Glass

Winning NAIDOC Perth Artist of the Year came as a shock for young musician ICONYX, who says the award feels like recognition for the years she has spent building her music career.

Speaking after her name was announced, ICONYX said the moment was still sinking in.

She said her first thought was excitement, quickly followed by the realisation she had to get back on stage in a long dress.

“It was really cool,” she said.

“It feels good, but I haven’t really processed it yet.”

For ICONYX, being recognised by her own community carries deep meaning.

She said the award made her feel like she had achieved what she set out to do through her music.

ICONYX’s connection to music began when she was a child. She wrote her first solo song at around 10 or 11 years old, after the end of a friendship.

She said that early experience became a starting point for her songwriting.

Since then, she has built a music career grounded in storytelling, culture and the experiences of people who may not always feel able to speak for themselves.

ICONYX said she wants her music to give voice to stories that others may feel too ashamed or scared to share, while making sure she does not take over someone else’s words.

Culture is also a major part of her work.

She said it sits underneath her music as a message and a theme, shaping the way she writes and performs.

Her debut single, Blak on Track, has connected with audiences across Australia.

ICONYX said part of that connection may come from people finally feeling heard and understood through her songs.

She said the music industry had not been without challenges, particularly around accessibility, but she had support from people around her.

ICONYX said seeing First Nations artists succeed had helped her understand what was possible.

She named artists including Baker Boy, BARKAA and Briggs as examples of musicians who had inspired young Aboriginal people to see themselves in creative spaces.

She said representation mattered because it showed young people they were not limited by stereotypes or other people’s expectations.

“It shows them that they can actually break out of the box that people have put them in and do what they want to do,” she said.

ICONYX said she hoped Aboriginal young people could see there were many paths available to them, whether through school, a trade, music or another career.

Despite already achieving major recognition, ICONYX said she still had big plans.

This year, she is preparing to travel to Timor for a festival and is hoping to build collaborations with major artists.

Looking ahead, ICONYX said she did not necessarily want to be famous, but hoped people in the Aboriginal community would know her name and remember her music.

Her message to young people with a dream was simple.

“Start anyway,” she said.

“Just do it. You’ll overthink it if you don’t just jump and do it.”