There’s no business quite like show business. Getting a leg up, well, that’s the hard bit.
In the age of on-demand, all-you-can-eat music at your fingertips, and bedroom producers tucked away in every neighbourhood, taking that leap forward in your music career has never been as challenging. The rewards are there, but navigating the tools and complexities of the music industry in 2019 isn’t child’s play.
The GRID Series connects the dots
In recent months, a string of aspiring artists from around the country have plugged into the GRID (Grass Roots Indie Development), a programme shaped to lift talented newcomers to the next level.
Launching back in 2013, the GRID Series is a collaboration-rich initiative teaming the next-generation of artists with the industry’s brains trust, a cadre of veterans and industry experts keen to give back and share wisdom.
Over time, the likes of Daniel Elia, Alana Wilkinson, Manorism, and The Fabric have tapped in and learned from the best through one-on-one song development sessions with celebrated musicians, business mentoring with pros, in-studio recording sessions, and more.
The GRID is on the go, and with the support of telecommunications provider Belong, in 2019 the programme expanded from its base in Melbourne, taking on talent in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, enabling artists from around the country to shoot big and hit their target.
So far, through the initiative, four successful applicants from Western Sydney, Brisbane and Perth scored the opportunity to further develop their craft with experienced players and, ultimately, make sweet, sweet music. Applications for the final program of the year, Outer South East Melbourne, will be opening shortly.
For GRID Series, Brisbane is a no-brainer. The home of Bigsound and a hotbed of talent, the Queensland capital has a rich history for taking talent to the world, from The Go-Betweens to The Saints, Powderfinger, The Veronicas, DZ Deathrays, Violent Soho and many more. The program sought to shift the spotlight on the more under-represented parts of town, namely Logan and the Outer Southwest of the city.
GRID Southwest Brisbane has come online, with four of the brightest musicians from these outer areas selected for the mentoring and development programme: Chong Ali, Syrup, Jade Not Jane and Katherine Waria.
The four came with fire that shows up in spades on their brand new material. During the sessions, each artist crafted new tracks which will be released on July 26, to coincide with a single launch show at Bloodhound Bar
Today, Tone Deaf gives you an early spin! Read on…
Chong Ali, a sharpshooter emcee cowboy, teamed up with song development mentor, the multiple QMA-winning, ARIA nominated Emily Wurramarra on ‘Laughing Buddha,’ which carries the listener through traditional Vietnamese folk song samples, staccato synths, crisp production and knocks you out with Ali’s unmistakable left hook verbal delivery. Such was their deep connection when developing the song that Emily shows up in the chorus offering luscious back-up vocals.
Listen to Chong Ali feat. Emily Wurramarra’s ‘Laughing Buddha’
Electro duo Syrup, (Harry Anderson on vocals, Harry Pratt on keys) dish up something sweet with ‘Collision Course,’ a tune which hits that spot between indie and dance, with a fair side of swagger.
Listen to Syrup’s ‘Collision Course’
Jade Not Jane effortlessly whip out a tune that’s both simple in structure yet hard to turn off. ‘Nothing Like This Feeling’ pays attention to detail; featuring a glorious chorus, the song does exactly what it says in the title. Tune.
Listen to Jade Not Jane’s ‘Nothing Like This Feeling’ below
Striking and delicate, Katherine Waria’s ‘Love Isn’t’ is a balancing act. A proud Woppaburra and Badu Island vocalist, Waria’s voice is the winner, surrounded by a support cast of rhythms and synthetic textures. It’s both stark and rich.
Listen to Katherine Waria’s ‘Love Isn’t’
Western Sydney Wrap Up…
Brisbane isn’t the only music hotspot. Since wrapping up in June with a sold-out show at Beat Discs Records in Parramatta, the four special artists from GRID Western Sydney shared what they soaked-up in those sessions.
For a quick refresher: GRID Western Sydney welcomed Srisha, Clarissa Mei, Chris Neto and hygge to their ranks.
They’ve been making waves locally with their brand new tracks, honed during those intensive workshops with Ngaiire, Middle Kids, Melody Forghani and Ben Pierpoint.
With those new skills put into action and supported by track production from two heavyweight producers (Antonia Gaucci and Ariel Blum) the action is coming hard and fast for the four emerging artists. Srisha released a banging video clip to accompany her hip-hop release ‘Euphoria.’ Since its premiere on Tonedeaf in May, her track has been added to rotation on FBi, Apple Music’s ‘The New Australia’ playlist on Beats 1, and the clip added to rotation on ABC’s Rage.
Watch ‘Euphoria’
Meanwhile, Clarissa Mei’s single ‘Woman’ was added to Spotify’s New Music Friday and Unwind playlists, racking up strong numbers and confirming the singer as an artist on the rise.
There’s a whole lot more to come for these four artists in the second half of the year. Next month, GRID Series will be releasing 4 x short documentaries that take a deep look into what makes these artists tick, what inspires them to create and will give an intimate insight of life as a musician out in Western Sydney.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, GRID Outer Perth launched in recent weeks, with four artists spending time with song development mentors Jamilla and Beni Bjah and managers Hayley Ayres and Matt Johnson.
So, who exactly are these musicians who’ve landed these career-changing opportunities?
The lucky artists taking part in GRID Outer Perth are:
Flewnt, a Koreng Noongar rapper from the south of Western Australia. He’s an artist to watch with a growing collection of plaudits, having already collected a pair of WAM awards (Hip Hop/Urban category and the Outstanding Indigenous award) for his song ‘Kya Kyana.’
Bellamore, a singer and songwriter who wears her emotions for the rest of us to feel. She’s recorded and released more than 20 songs. Her works touch on topics relevant to the youth of today; resilience, emotional struggles, staying positive amongst negativity, family problems, facing your fears and many more.
Tina Muzondo is a Zimbabwean born songwriter with smooth vocals, big ambitions and gospel in her DNA. The well-travelled artist was raised in the U.K. where she was exposed to the artistry of Corinne Bailey Rae, Lianne La Havas, Adele, Sam Smith and others.
Betr In Black, the Perth-based producer, rapper and storyteller, has been in the flow in recent months with a handful of releases to his name. Betr has a habit of surprising the naysayers. And he lets his music do all the talking.
Next month, the four GRID Outer Perth artists will be heading to Rada Studios to have their new tracks produced by Anna Laverty (Courtney Barnett, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds) and Ariel Blum (St.Ives, Daniel Elia).
Watch this space.
