The Australian Music Prize (The Amp) has today announced its shortlist of nine albums its judges consider to be the best of 2011. Akin to the Polaris Prize in Canada or the UK's Mercury Prize, the nine albums are in the running for a $30,000 cash prize thanks to PPCA and they are:

ABBE MAY - Design Desire
ADALITA - Adalita
BOY & BEAR - Moonfire
GOTYE - Making Mirrors
GURRUMUL - Rrakala
JACK LADDER & THE DREAMLANDERS - Hurtsville
THE JEZABELS - Prisoner
KIMBRA - Vows
THE MIDDLE EAST - I Want That You Are Always Happy

Claire Knight catches up with Perth artist Abbe May backstage at the 2012 Sydney Big Day Out, to chat about her 2011 release Design Desire, being featured in Entourage, what 2012 will bring and more.

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Abbe May live at The Astor Theatre in Perth on Saturday the 13th of August with support from fellow local act The Silents.

With her album "Design Desire" hitting stores this Friday and the third single "Taurus Chorus" added today to triple j, Perth's Abbe May is proud to announce her album tour.

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Perth artist Abbe May is a true blues rocker who plays with a fire that is reminiscent of the likes of Adalita and PJ Harvey. The AU review's Kat Mahina had a chat with Abbe to find out what it's all about.

Tell me a bit about your musical background?

Perth based, blues inspired, bona fide rock chick Abbe May impresses with her powerful third album - Design Desire.

For a girl who claims that she doesn't crave the spotlight she proves that she has every right to stake her place in it, with this guitar driven, angsty offering.