Sarah Paige Aarons (born 4 October 1994, previously known as Paige IV and sometimes simply as Sarah) is an Australian songwriter. Originally from Bentleigh, Melbourne, she attended McKinnon Secondary College in McKinnon.[1] Now based in Los Angeles,[2] Aarons is signed to Sony ATV Publishing. She co-wrote "Stay" by Zedd and Alessia Cara[3] and "The Middle" by Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey, which both went to #1 on Mainstream Top 40 and were each certified double platinum in the US. In 2019, Aarons was nominated for Song of the Year at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards for her work on "The Middle".
Sarah Aarons | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Sarah Paige Aarons |
| Born | 4 October 1994 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Songwriter |
| Labels | Sony ATV Publishing |
In Australia, Aarons had acclaimed success with the breakout song "Keeping Score" by LDRU,[4] "Frozen" by Pon Cho and Cosmo's Midnight's "History," which in turn has become the most played song on Triple J in 2017. She has also received three ARIA Awards for her work with LDRU and has gone double platinum in Australia.
In 2017, Aarons was appointed one of APRA AMCOS Ambassadors[5] and was included in LA Weekly's 20 hottest current songwriters.[6] At the APRA Music Awards of 2018 she won Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year,[7][8] she was also nominated for Country Work of the Year for the track, "House", alongside co-writers Brooke McClymont, Mollie McClymont, Samantha McClymont and Michael Fatkin.[9]
At the 2019 APRA Awards, Aarons won Songwriter of the Year as well as Most Played Australian Work, Rock Work of the Year and Dance Work of the Year.[10]
In 2018, Aarons had her right leg amputated due to severe rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition that causes pain and swelling of the joints. The songwriter won Song of the Year at the APRA Music Awards of 2023 for co-writing "Say Nothing" (2022) with fellow Australian (and the song's performer) Flume.
Selected discography
editindicates a background vocal contribution.
indicates an un-credited lead vocal contribution.
indicates a credited vocal/featured artist contribution.
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | APRA Music Awards of 2016 | Best Music for an Advertisement | Rio 2016 Olympics | Nominated |
| 2017 | APRA Music Awards of 2017 | Dance Work of the Year | "Keeping Score" | Nominated |
| 2018 | 61st Annual Grammy Awards | Song of the Year | "The Middle" | Nominated |
| APRA Music Awards of 2018 | Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year | Herself | Won | |
| Country Work of the Year | "House" | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition | Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition | "The Middle" | 2nd |
| APRA Music Awards of 2019 | Dance Work of the Year | "The Middle" | Won | |
| "Tell Me You Love Me" | Nominated | |||
| Most Played Australian Work | "The Middle" | Won | ||
| Rock Work of the Year | "Never Ever" | Won | ||
| Songwriter of the Year | Herself | Won | ||
| 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards | Songwriter of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 53rd Annual Country Music Association Awards | Song of the Year | "Girl" | Nominated | |
| J Awards of 2019 | You Done Good Award | Herself | Nominated | |
| 2020 | APRA Music Awards of 2020 | Most Performed Country Work | "Girl" | Nominated |
| Most Performed Urban Work | "Exit Sign" | Nominated | ||
| Overseas Recognition: Los Angeles | Herself | Nominated | ||
| Songwriter of the Year: Los Angeles | Won | |||
| 2022 | Ivor Novello Awards | Best Song Musically and Lyrically | "Haunted House" | Nominated[12] |
| 2023 | APRA Music Awards of 2023[13] | Song of the Year | "Say Nothing" | Won |
| Most Performed Dance/Electronic Work | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | APRA Music Awards of 2024[14][15] | Song of the Year | "Therapy" (Sarah Aarons, Ajay Bhattacharyya) | Nominated |
| Most Performed Australian Work | Nominated | |||
| Most Performed Pop Work | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ Moran, Robert (9 February 2019). "The unknown Aussie muso who's up for the Grammys' top prize". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "For Sarah Aarons, illness was a 'turning point' on the way to a chart-topping song". ABC News. 14 July 2017.
- ^ "Meet the 23-year-old Melbourne writer behind the biggest pop song in the US". 19 June 2017.
- ^ "The Secrets Behind How Australia's Biggest Pop Tracks Get Made".
- ^ "10 quick questions with Ambassador Sarah Aarons".
- ^ "The 20 Hottest Songwriters in Pop Music Right Now".
- ^ "Full List of Winners". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Country Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Sarah Aarons, Amy Shark, Dean Lewis Win Big at 2019 APRA Awards". Billboard.
- ^ Brereton, Greta (11 June 2021). "Check out Peking Duk's anthemic new single "Chemicals"". NME. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ Flynn, Tilly (7 April 2022). "Nominations announced for The Ivors 2022". The Ivors Academy. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "APRA AMCOS: 2023 APRA Music Awards". APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society). Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "G Flip, Genesis Owusu, RVG & More Shortlisted For 2024 APRA Song Of The Year". The Music. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "2024 APRA Music Awards nominees announced: Paul Kelly, Troye Sivan, Tex Perkins, and more". Mumbrella. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.