Based in Sydney, Australia, Georgia Sallybanks aka “Odette” is an English-born singer/songwriter whose soulful and smart pop songs have earned critical acclaim as well as chart success in her adopted country. The unique blend of confessional piano-led balladry and spoken-word poetry on her 2018 debut, To a Stranger, helped pave the way for 2021’s more experimental Herald. Born in Bath, England, Georgia Odette Sallybanks was largely raised by her mother in Inner-Western Sydney, where she began playing the piano and writing songs while still in primary school. As she grew into her teens, she gravitated toward strong artistic personalities like Joanna Newsom, Laura Mvula, and later Kate Bush and Björk. Her first break came while she was still in her teens through triple j radio’s Unearthed portal. In 2017, Odette released “Watch Me Read You,” a striking single that combined a soulful vocal hook with unique spokenword sections. Her full-length debut, To a Stranger, was released the following year and yielded additional hits like “Collide” and “Take It to the Heart.” The album itself peaked at number 13 on the pop chart and earned the singer a pair of ARIA Music Award nominations. Working again with producer Damian Taylor, Odette recorded her follow-up album, Herald, which drew heavily on themes of growth and mental health. Released in early 2021, the record built on the rhythmic poetry and piano style of her debut while adding more experimental production and electronic elements.
Georgia has continued to achieve success after success. Her singles Collide, Take It To The Heart and Lights Out have all received Gold Certification in Australia. She has been nominated in total for four ARIA awards including Breakthrough Artist. She was also nominated for the Australian Music Prize.
She has been consistently supported by national youth radio station triple j with her album being chosen as feature albums. She’s also played the popular ‘Like a Version’ segments twice with incredible feedback for her renditions of “Magnolia” and “Thunderstruck”. She was also a guest star on ABC music trivia show Spicks and Specks.
When it comes to the live performance arena, Odette is a force to be reckoned with. Due to her high energy and witty banter, she has a naturally charismatic stage presence which often sees her playing for longer than her allotted set times. She has completely sold out all three of her headline tours. She’s played at many major Australian music festivals including Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Yours and Owls and more! She’s also played 2 major international showcase festivals – SXSW in Austin and The Great Escape in the UK as well as a headline European and UK headline tour. She’s supported the likes of Sam Smith, City and Colour, The Teskey Brothers and more.