How fans helped us name an official playlist
Saving Abel has always shared a tight bond with the people who press play, and that connection feels especially loud across Australia. Whether you are blasting "Addicted" on a road trip down the Great Ocean Road or spinning our older tracks during a Friday night session at a Melbourne pub, our music lives in the everyday moments of Aussie life.
When we decided to roll out an official playlist on every major streaming platform, we wanted the title to mean something real. Names like "Saving Abel's Rockstar Picks" or "The Abel Collection" floated around early meetings, but nothing clicked. So we did the only thing that made sense and we asked the fans.
The response was overwhelming. Within 48 hours of posting the question on our social channels, suggestions poured in from Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. One entry even came from a listener who was tuned in during triple j's Hottest 100 countdown, which felt like a sign we were on the right track.
What began as a quick story poll turned into a full-blown community project. We sorted through hundreds of submissions, debated the finalists over late-night calls, and slowly realised the perfect name was already out there waiting.
The spark behind the search
The idea first came up backstage at a venue in Brisbane when our bassist Jared noticed how differently fans described our sound. Some called it "the late-night highway anthem," others "the pub playlist." The variety was striking, and it made us wonder if the fans collectively held a better title than anything our team could invent in a studio.
We drafted a simple social post asking supporters to drop their best playlist name ideas in the comments. No prizes, no gimmicks, just an open invitation. Within an hour the comment section filled up with energy, chaotic, creative and full of heart, just like a留言 wall before a headliner takes the stage.
A few days later we shortlisted the top entries and opened a second poll to let the wider community vote. The rules were simple: one vote per person, no bots, and no band interference. That transparency mattered to us, because Australian listeners have a sharp eye for anything that feels manufactured.
How the voting unfolded in Australia
Our supporters in Australia have always shown up in big numbers, and this campaign was no different. We saw surges of votes after mentions on community pages in Sydney and after a local radio segment in Melbourne highlighted the poll. The turnout reminded us of the energy we feel at venues like The Corner Hotel or The Tivoli when the room is packed and humming.
One of the more charming details came from a fan in Adelaide who organised a listening party with mates at a local bar, casting their votes together between sets. That same week we were prepping for a Denver show, and we ended up checking Denver restaurant tips to plan our pre-gig meal, which felt oddly parallel to fans sharing their favourite tracks from their own hometowns.
The voting window stayed open for ten days, and we watched the numbers shift daily. Some names held steady at the top, while a few dark horse entries surged after being shared on Aussie music forums. By the final weekend it was clear we had a winner that resonated with the whole community.
The winning name revealed
The title that took the crown was "Abel's Backseat Anthems," submitted by a fan from Perth who said the name came from her habit of queuing up our songs on long drives through the Pilbara. The story behind it was so genuine that the other band members backed it unanimously the moment we read it out loud.
Out of 1,243 verified votes, the regional breakdown looked like this:
| Playlist Name | Votes | Percentage | Region of Top Supporter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abel's Backseat Anthems | 412 | 33.1% | Perth, WA |
| Southern Highway Sessions | 298 | 24.0% | Melbourne, VIC |
| The Corner Hotel Cuts | 211 | 17.0% | Sydney, NSW |
| Outback Static | 184 | 14.8% | Brisbane, QLD |
| Long Drive Salvation | 138 | 11.1% | Adelaide, SA |
The runner-up, "Southern Highway Sessions," came from a Melbourne listener who tied the name to her favourite weekend drives along the coast. Even though it did not win, the imagery stuck with us and ended up shaping the playlist's cover art and the colour palette we used in the launch graphics.
Building the final tracklist
Once the name was locked in, we turned our attention to the actual songs. We asked fans to share the three Saving Abel tracks they wanted on the playlist most, and the results shaped the sequencing in ways we never expected.
We also wanted the playlist to feel like a real Aussie road trip soundtrack, so we polled supporters on the moods the tracklist should hit. Their answers helped us decide the order, the pacing, and which deep cuts deserved a spot alongside the radio singles.
The tracks that received the most requests included:
- "Addicted" - the obvious anchor, requested by listeners from every state
- "18 Days" - a deeper cut that resonated with longtime supporters in Hobart and Cairns
- "Staring at the Sun" - a fan favourite for sunset playlists on Bondi Beach
The moods fans wanted the playlist to capture included:
- Late-night drives on empty outback highways
- Pre-game warm-ups before weekend footy matches
- Backyard barbie soundtracks during the long Aussie summer
- Acoustic singalongs at regional campgrounds
What this means for our community
Naming the playlist through fan input was a small experiment that turned into something bigger. It showed us that our audience does not just consume music, they help shape it. The collaboration mirrored how Australian broadcasters operate under local content guidelines that prioritise homegrown voices, giving listeners a real seat at the creative table.
We have already started saving suggestions for a follow-up vote on which deep cut we should dust off for the next Australian tour. The response from regional towns like Cairns and Hobart reminded us that our reach goes far beyond the major capitals, and that smaller communities often bring the most thoughtful ideas to the table.
Head to our merch store, grab the tee, and tell us which Saving Abel song deserves the next spotlight. Drop your track picks in the comments, share the playlist with a mate who needs a new road trip soundtrack, and stay tuned for more fan-led projects rolling out later this year.
