As with her global success so far, it was inevitable and surprising that Courtney Barnett would win the prestigious Australian Music Prize.

The 11th AMP was awarded to Barnett for her debut album, Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit, at a ceremony in Sydney.

Courtney Barnett has won the prestigious Australian Music Prize. Credit:Edwina Pickles

It was the culmination of a year which saw her droll, observational songs of ordinary lives nominated for a Grammy, win three ARIA Awards, become the darling of day and late-night chat shows in the US, and feature in album-of-the-year lists from Scandinavia to South Africa.

Having also survived the weird and wonderful world of the Grammys red carpet in February, the famously shy Barnett was in more comfortable surroundings at the Basement.