Situated in the heart of Melbourne, AWME is a three-day music conference and expo set to foster industry connections for up and coming roots artists, that occurs annually in November. Dedicated fans flock into various venues across Melbourne, as the intimate lineup of artists perform various evening shows in front of industry professionals to help showcase their talent.
Boasting multiple days of music conference sessions, workshops, as well as various national and international guest speakers from leading festivals, booking agencies and record labels, the Australasian Worldwide Music Expo is rife with testimonials from artists and fans alike, praising the establishment of network connections as well as opportunities for fresh faces to network with industry associates and play in front of eager fans.
We caught up with exciting local talent HOWQUA, the Melbourne based artist has been turning heads with his undeniable talent for crafting raw, emotional indie gems. The past few months has been a bit of a whirlwind for the songwriter who played BIGSOUND and just recently got back from playing CMJ festival. He’s now gearing up for an incredibly exciting show as part of AWME. We spoke to him about his recent achievements, favourite local acts and what’s on the cards for 2016.
The Birth Of HOWQUA
“I was pretty lost at the time and I had travelled across Australia to try and work out my life. I ended up in Margaret River in Western Australia and was looking for a way to really let my guard down and express my thoughts and feelings as honestly as I could. HOWQUA became a great way for me to do this.”
“I had played some music before but had been pretty safe with my writing process. Besides that I had been working in several bars and doing labouring jobs to get by.”
Playing CMJ
“It was incredible to experience New York for the first time and to be a part of CMJ. I ended up playing four shows cases throughout the week; my official CMJ showcase, the United Talent Agency showcase, the Aussie BBQ and the Communion showcase at Brooklyn Bowl. I met a bunch of great new people and got to share what I do with some fresh ears of punters and industry folk.”
Looking Forward To AWME
“After playing Canadian Music Week (Toronto), BIGSOUND (Brisbane) and now CMJ (New York) it will be great to perform at a showcase in my hometown of Melbourne. I’m just hoping to play my music to people who connect, and hoping to get a real honest vibe in the room. What comes out of that, time will tell.”
Future Plans
“I will be releasing my EP internationally and looking forward to continue to build a great team around me. There will be new songs, more tours and a whole world of unknowns.”
HOWQUA Recommends:
“In Australia I’ve been losing my mind over Methyl Ethyl and Crooked Colours (both WA acts). In regards to Melbourne artists I saw Owen Rabbit at CMJ and he was really something special.”
Career Highlights
“The last 18 months has been a real whirlwind of an adventure. It’s hard to say a specific thing as I keep getting blown away by new opportunities that are arising. Most recently to be invited to play Brooklyn Bowl last Saturday night for the official Communion CMJ showcase with just three other acts was pretty damn surreal.”
AWME Show
Thursday, Nov 12
The Toff In Town
Howqua
Anna O
Yirrmal
Info: www.awme.com.au
