Australian soul artist Don West has joined the publishing roster at Kobalt, a move that signals his growing presence in the global music scene. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Sydney has been making waves with his throwback, soulful sounds that have drawn comparisons to Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers.
West's breakthrough has been nothing short of remarkable, with close to 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a debut album that cracked the ARIA Albums Chart at No. 25 just last month. His self-titled six-track EP was released last November, followed by a debut national headline tour, including spots on the Spilt Milk festival.
The young artist's success has been recognized with several nominations, including the J Award and APRA Music Awards. He was also shortlisted at the AIR Awards and the inaugural NSW Music Prize in the breakthrough category. In July of this year, he was named to Spotify's RADAR program, a nod to his rapidly growing popularity.
Kobalt's head of creative services Australia & New Zealand, Briese Abbott, praised West's songwriting, saying it "feels instantly familiar, nostalgic yet contemporary, and inherently inviting." The label is thrilled to have West on board, with Max McKeith at FRNDS Management noting Kobalt's international teams had been "hugely supportive of Don's songwriting" and that the artist felt like the right home for his music.
With a network of 10 global offices representing over 1 million songs, including artists such as Max Martin, Stevie Nicks, Phoebe Bridgers, Gunna, Foo Fighters, and Paul McCartney, Kobalt is well-positioned to help West take his music to new heights. The label has already secured deals with several major artists, and it's clear that Don West is a key addition to their roster.
West will continue to tour globally, including a planned 2026 world tour, while he currently takes his music on the road in Australia. With Kobalt behind him, the future looks bright for this talented young artist.
West's breakthrough has been nothing short of remarkable, with close to 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a debut album that cracked the ARIA Albums Chart at No. 25 just last month. His self-titled six-track EP was released last November, followed by a debut national headline tour, including spots on the Spilt Milk festival.
The young artist's success has been recognized with several nominations, including the J Award and APRA Music Awards. He was also shortlisted at the AIR Awards and the inaugural NSW Music Prize in the breakthrough category. In July of this year, he was named to Spotify's RADAR program, a nod to his rapidly growing popularity.
Kobalt's head of creative services Australia & New Zealand, Briese Abbott, praised West's songwriting, saying it "feels instantly familiar, nostalgic yet contemporary, and inherently inviting." The label is thrilled to have West on board, with Max McKeith at FRNDS Management noting Kobalt's international teams had been "hugely supportive of Don's songwriting" and that the artist felt like the right home for his music.
With a network of 10 global offices representing over 1 million songs, including artists such as Max Martin, Stevie Nicks, Phoebe Bridgers, Gunna, Foo Fighters, and Paul McCartney, Kobalt is well-positioned to help West take his music to new heights. The label has already secured deals with several major artists, and it's clear that Don West is a key addition to their roster.
West will continue to tour globally, including a planned 2026 world tour, while he currently takes his music on the road in Australia. With Kobalt behind him, the future looks bright for this talented young artist.
. But let's be real, it also raises questions about the role of record labels in the modern music landscape 
. Are they still relevant or are they just a way for established artists to get a foothold? I mean, think about it, Don West is already getting deals with major artists and labels, but what about the smaller artists who can't afford to have their own teams behind them? How can we ensure that everyone has access to these opportunities? 
It's like the old debate between universal healthcare and a free market economy - do you prioritize the greater good or the individual's freedom to succeed? 
The fact that a global label like Kobalt believes in him is a great sign for his future. And I love that they're recognizing his unique songwriting style - it feels like a perfect fit! 
Can't wait to see what the world has in store for Don West, this talent deserves all the spotlight 
! I mean, can you even imagine how surreal it is to go from playing small gigs in Sydney to having millions of people listening to your music worldwide? 
And the fact that he's got a global record deal with Kobalt now? That's like, a dream come true for any artist 
. His soulful sounds are like a breath of fresh air in this crazy world we live in. And the fact that he's still so young and full of energy? That's something to be excited about for all his fans 
His Spotify numbers are insane! 4 million monthly listeners?! That's crazy fam 
I'm loving how he's already makin' waves in the music scene, gettin' nods from major awards and whatnot. And now he's got a global label behind him, it's gonna be a wild ride! 
Can't wait to see what 2026 brings for Don West, a world tour sounds like a dream come true 
. His EP was fire and his live shows must be even better - can't wait to see what he does next! 
The fact that a major label like Kobalt is supporting him means big things for his career, and I'm excited to see where this journey takes him 
!
And those RADAR program nominations? He's definitely got the stars aligning in his favor.
Can't wait to see what this young man has in store for us!
. Kobalt is making some solid moves adding him to their roster, and I'm hyped to see where his career takes off. Maybe we'll get to experience some classic West vibes on that 2026 world tour 
! And his songwriting skills are straight fire 
... Briese Abbott from Kobalt said his songs feel "instantly familiar" and that's like, the highest compliment ever 
. I'm defo excited to see what the future holds for this talented young artist 
!