Sheppard are an Australian indie pop and pop rock group from Brisbane, active since 2009. The band forms around siblings George Sheppard, Amy Sheppard and Emma Sheppard, and also includes Jason Bovino, Michael Butler and Dean Gordon. They release music through Empire of Song and Decca Records.

Formation and background

Sheppard begin in Brisbane, although part of the family story starts in Papua New Guinea, where the Sheppards live after moving there with their lawyer father. Their home environment centres on music: their father plays Cat Stevens to wake the children, and their mother sends them for piano and music theory lessons. A key early influence is their school music teacher in Port Moresby, Baruka Tau-Matagu, who plays keyboard with Yothu Yindi and works as a session musician for artists including Janet Jackson and Madonna. The group develops a strong interest in harmony from this experience.

The band comes together by accident when Amy, while studying for a music diploma, asks her brother George, then a drama student in Sydney, to help with harmonies on one of her songs, originally titled Cheese on Toast. The two realise they can write together. They then add Jay Bovino, a young composer and producer who has recently been in Sydney band Vienna Circus. Within two months, the trio of Bovino and the Sheppard siblings write 30 songs. Brisbane musicians Michael Butler and Dean Gordon join on guitar and drums, and Emma Sheppard plays bass guitar.

Releases and chart success

Sheppard’s debut studio album, Bombs Away, appears in 2014. It reaches No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart and is certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association. Their single Geronimo becomes their biggest international hit, spending three weeks at No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart and earning 5× platinum certification. The band describes the song as a kind of battle cry, and it becomes closely associated with their early profile. Their single We Belong is released in 2016.

Awards and nominations

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013, Sheppard receive a nomination for Best Independent Release for “Let Me Down Easy”. At the 2014 ceremony, they are nominated for Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Independent Release, Best Pop Release, Song of the Year, Producer of the Year and Best Video.