If you have been keeping your eye on the Australian music scene recently, you may have come across a new indie songbird taking flight: Owl Eyes.

It was around this time last year when I first heard of her, reading a short article about her in a street publication up in Sydney. Since this time, I have watched Brooke Addamo, or stage name Owl Eyes, steadily and slowly rise into a promising artist.

Her dreamy voice first caught attention when she made it to the television appearances of the sixth season of Australian Idol. Much like her fellows in the alternative stream, Lisa Mitchell and Matt Corby, who have also competed in Australian Idol she did not win. This did not destroy her chance of success in the least, as she rebooted her career with her own brand of charming indie electro pop. In addition to this, she leant her sweeping voice to rapper Illy’s song, It Can Wait, giving her darling voice coverage on local airwaves.

I can thank Owl Eyes for my groovy introduction to what has now become one of my favourite bands, Foster the People. She appeared on Triple J’s live music slot, Like A Version – where each selected artist performs their own track and a cover – in June last year. Initially I was drawn to her own track Raiders. But what followed was a cover of the biggest songs of last year. At that point, the little ditty Pumped Up Kicks had had moderate success on alternative stations, and was soon to yet balloon into the mammoth hit it became. Brooke and her band juxtaposed the darkness of the song with bright keys and xylophone, her own voice sweetening up the affair even more. It is, like the original, unbelievably and undeniably catchy, and a riveting near-equal. The track quickly became a success, appearing as the first track on the following volume of Like A Version and popping into the Triple J Hottest 100 at #28, beating Raiders’ position at #64.

So of course, when I found out she was supporting my favourite band, The Wombats on their Australian tour, I was immensely pleased at this choice and couldn’t wait to see her. By this point, she was on her own national tour, had secured spots at various festivals and toured with the wonderful jazz-pop singer, Andy Bull. I promptly went out and bought her second EP, Raiders.

At the Wombats, she did not disappoint. She wafted about the stage, an angel like figure in a white dress, slowing warming up the crowd to her sweet music.  She was comfortable on the stage, dancing in her pretty way whilst luring the impatient crowd who were waiting for the main act into enjoying themselves. Of course, it was the cover of Pumped Up Kicks which sparked the first whole crowd response of the evening, Brooke herself says the song proves to be a “highlight in my live show”. I am so happy to have seen her and after reading some reviews, I believe many people walked away fans.

I am looking forward to seeing the star quality of the lovely Brooke blossom, to hear more of her music and watch her earn more of the success she deserves. If you haven’t heard her tunes already, check out her cover of Pumped Up Kicks here, and if you already love the lady throw her a vote for in Cosmopolitan’s 2012 Fun Fearless Female Awards here.

Here is her new track Crystallised. Tell me what you think!

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