Polaris (Australian band)

Polaris are an Australian metalcore band from Sydney. The band consists of vocalist Jamie Hails, guitarist Rick Schneider, bassist/vocalist Jake Steinhauser and drummer Daniel Furnari.

They released their debut album The Mortal Coil on 3 November 2017 to critical acclaim and it was nominated for the 2018 ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock. On 14 November 2019 Polaris announced their second full length titled The Death of Me, released on 21 February 2020 through Resist/SharpTone records subsequently earning their second ARIA Award nomination. Shortly after announcing the upcoming release of their third studio album, Fatalism, the band confirmed via social media platforms that lead guitarist Ryan Siew had died on 19 June 2023.

Polaris are known for blending elements of metalcore with progressive/post-rock soundscapes, electronics and melodic hooks, intertwined with personal lyrics – often dealing with anxiety, depression and loss.

Early career and Dichotomy (2012–2013)
Polaris was formed in 2012 by drummer Daniel Furnari and Jake Steinhauser on guitar after meeting at their high school battle of the bands, quickly discovering a mutual love for metal and alternative music. Josh oloughlin waa the first main vocalist. The two then recruited guitarist Rick Schneider and vocalist Jamie through mutual friends and word of mouth. Matt Steinhauser, Jake's brother, was brought on board to handle bass duties and completed the line-up with James West on synth/keys. The group began working on music together writing and recording their first single "Summit" and the majority of the Dichotomy EP in early 2012. In late 2012, Polaris announced the departure of both Matt Steinhauser and West. Guitarist Jake then switched onto bass to focus on his singing, as the band was pushing towards a more progressive sound.

The band began looking for a new guitarist, holding public auditions. On 18 November 2013, the band announced Ryan Siew, as their new guitarist, who was 15 years old at the time. Shortly after joining the Dichotomy EP was released on 29 November 2013 independently.

The Guilt and The Grief (2014–2016)
On 3 March 2015, the single "Unfamiliar" was released; it was the first track to feature Siew as lead guitarist. Polaris continued to write and finished an additional 5 tracks to complete their second EP titled The Guilt & The Grief. The EP was recorded with Sonny True Love and Evan Lee at STL studios on the North Coast of NSW, and it was mixed by Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland of Atrium Audio in Pennsylvania, USA. The Guilt & The Grief was released independently by the band on 29 January 2016 and landed at No. 34 on the ARIA charts.

The Mortal Coil (2017–2018)
On 3 November 2017, Polaris released their first studio album The Mortal Coil through Resist Records and Sharptone Records. The album was nominated for the 2018 ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album as well as for the Australian Album of the Year award at the J Awards.

The Death of Me (2019–2022)
On 21 February 2020, Polaris released their second studio album The Death of Me, also through Resist Records and Sharptone Records. The album was nominated for the 2020 ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album. On 3 July 2020, the band released the instrumental editions of their albums, The Mortal Coil and The Death of Me.

In an interview with Wall of Sound, Jamie Hails confirmed the band have been working on new material during the pandemic, which they would not be releasing until they have toured The Death of Me internationally.

On 27 July 2022, Australian electronic artist and producer PhaseOne released a collaboration track with the band entitled "Icarus", marking the first time the band have collaborated with another artist on new music.

On 4 November 2022, Polaris announced via social media "We have entered the studio to begin assembling our next body of work" with their live sound engineer Lance Prenc at Kinglake Studios in Melbourne.

Fatalism and Siew's death (2023–present)
On 24 May 2023, Polaris announced on social media that their new song "Inhumane" would debut on radio station Triple J on 25 May at 4:30 pm. The song had previously been played live on their ten-year anniversary Australian tour. Upon "Inhumane"'s release, the band announced their third studio album Fatalism, which was set to be released on September 1. The following week, a headlining Australian tour was announced with August Burns Red, Kublai Khan Tx and Currents. The band then headed to Europe for a run of festival dates; on 20 June, however, Polaris announced via social media that they were "withdrawing from all remaining dates" of their tour due to a "serious personal crisis". On 27 June 2023, the band confirmed via social media platforms that guitarist Ryan Siew had died on the morning of 19 June.

The following month, on July 24, the band announced that they would be going forward with the release of Fatalism and its accompanying tour in honour of Siew, after lengthy discussions between the band and Siew's family. "This is the last set of complete songs that we wrote together with Ryan," the band said, "and though the circumstances of their release are now framed by this tragedy, the meaning of the songs and the love we have for them has not changed." The album's second single, "Nightmare", was released later that week on 26 July. On 24 August, the band released the album's third single, "Overflow", ahead of the album's official release on September 1. Fatalism debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart the week of its release, marking the band's first-ever chart-topping album.

On March 23, 2024, the band announced that drummer Daniel Furnari was withdrawing from the European leg of the Fatalism tour due to ill health and replaced by Conjurer drummer Noah See. Furnari would return to the lineup for the band's tour of regional Australia with Ocean Grove, as well as Sydney bands Bloom and Inertia.

Members
Current members
 * Daniel Furnari – drums (2012–present)
 * Jamie Hails – vocals, percussion (2012–present)
 * Rick Schneider – lead guitar (2012–2013, 2023–present), rhythm guitar (2013–present)
 * Jake Steinhauser – vocals (2012–present), bass (2013–present), rhythm guitar (2012–2013)

Current touring musicians
 * Jesse Crofts – lead guitar (2023–present)

Former members
 * James West – synthesizer, keyboards (2012–2014)
 * Matt Steinhauser – bass (2012–2013)
 * Ryan Siew – lead guitar (2013–2023; died 2023)

Former touring musicians
 * Plini Roessler-Holgate – lead guitar (2020)
 * Noah See - drums (2024)

AIR Awards
The Australian Independent Record Awards (known colloquially as the AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

! Ref.
 * 2021
 * The Death of Me
 * Best Independent Heavy Album or EP
 * Won
 * rowspan="1"| 2024
 * rowspan="1"| Fatalism
 * Best Independent Heavy Album or EP
 * Pending
 * rowspan="1"|
 * }
 * Pending
 * rowspan="1"|
 * }

APRA Awards
The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.

! Ref.
 * 2021
 * "Masochist" (Jamie Hails, Daniel Furnari, Rick Schneider, Ryan Siew, Jacob Steinhauser)
 * Song of the Year
 * rowspan="2"| 2024
 * rowspan="2"| "Inhumane" (Daniel Furnari, Jamie Hails, Rick Schneider, Ryan Siew, Jacob Steinhauser, Shawn Mayer)
 * Song of the Year
 * Most Performed Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Work
 * Nominated
 * rowspan="1"|
 * Song of the Year
 * Most Performed Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Work
 * Nominated
 * rowspan="1"|
 * Most Performed Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Work
 * Nominated
 * rowspan="1"|

ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.


 * 2018
 * The Mortal Coil
 * Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
 * 2020
 * The Death of Me
 * Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
 * 2020
 * The Death of Me
 * Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album

Australian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. It exists to discover, reward and promote new Australian music of excellence.

! Ref.
 * 2023
 * Fatalism
 * Australian Music Prize
 * Australian Music Prize

J Awards
The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

! Ref.
 * 2018
 * The Mortal Coil
 * Australian Album of the Year
 * Nominated
 * 2023
 * Fatalism
 * Australian Album of the Year
 * Nominated
 * Fatalism
 * Australian Album of the Year
 * Nominated

National Live Music Awards
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.

! Ref.
 * rowspan="1" | 2023
 * Polaris
 * Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Act
 * Nominated
 * rowspan="1" |
 * rowspan="1" |

Rolling Stone Australia Awards
The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.

! Ref.
 * 2021
 * The Death of Me
 * Best Record
 * Nominated
 * Nominated