STEP YA GAME UP GET YA NAME UP
Meet the 4 artists/bands and 4 hype people who have been invited to participate in our carefully curated program, which includes intensive mentoring, song development, recording sessions, video content, and live performance opportunities.
Our free program is an end-to-end process, cutting through the noise to provide artists with access to a huge range of resources, activities and connections that will expand their creative work and remove barriers for them to realise your artistic ambition.
Each artist will receive:
a fully produced, mixed and mastered track, made in collaboration with one of the program’s producers. Across 4 x full day studio sessions, they will be working closely with their producer to craft a song and sound that best represents them and their story;
intensive one-on-one mentoring with the music industry’s sharpest minds to help them build pathways for their work to connect with audiences;
an artist documentary film, made in collaboration with a collective of the industry’s most in-demand directors to deep dive into their personal story as an artist, providing audiences a window into their creative world;
live performance opportunities in Geelong and beyond
ARTISTS
Isabella Khalife
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Isabella Khalife's voice is one reminiscent of incense. A master melody shaper, she tells emotion-filled stories inspired by the array of beautiful and heartbreaking experiences life gives us.
Madeliene Cope
Madeliene Cope is an indie/folk artists from Geelong who is completely in control of her craft. With influences like Ry X, Ben Howard and Dustin Tebbutt, Mads' music takes listeners on a journey, telling stories from her day to day life incuding feelings of love & loss, confidence & self worth
Wild Natives
Proud Maori men on Wathaourong land, seeking light amongst a dark art form, placing hope & positivity over violence and ego. "Knowledge is power. wisdom over weightlessness. Culture over everything."
Emilia Fol
Spanish-Australian singer-songwriter Emilia Fol creates a unique fusion of Spanish folk and soul. Deeply inspired by the art, music and poetry of her culture, she preserves and radiates the timeless traditions down through generations.
HYPE PEOPLE
Coming on the 6 -month journey are the 4 hype people, friends/family/community members nominated by the artists in their applications, who will be working behind the scenes to support them them through the program by creating additional content, learning music business skills and working with our mentors to create the best plans for the artist buddies. Meet Lionel, Amber, LT and Trent!
PRODUCERS
Joel Ma
Producer, rapper, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist, Joel Ma is recognised as a unique voice in the Australian music scene with a reputation for innovation and sonic experimentation.
Beatrice
Electronic music producer, Beatrice is one of the most exciting multifaceted artists artists in the current Australian music landscape. She is a songwriter, performer and producer of one of Australia’s most electrifying dance acts, Haiku Hands; a songwriter and producer for award- winning indigenous band Kardajala Kirridarra, and is enjoying a flourishing career as a solo artist.
Anthony Liddell
Multi-instrumentalist and producer Anthony Liddell has been the backbone of many groundbreaking acts, known for his compelling bass lines, deep grooves. Touring worldwide, he has worked alongside award-winning artists such as Kimbra, Kaiit, and Opiuo, & producing for KEE’AHN, DRMNG NOW, WILD GLORIOSA, KAIIT while recording lush bass and guitar tones in the studio.
MENTORS
Sweetie Zamora
Sweetie Zamora is a music industry management professional with over 15 years of experience at independent record labels, music festivals, publicity services and specialist radio. As Director of Labels & Project Management at Remote Control Records she manages relationships between label partners, artists, managers and external stakeholders.
Since 2007 Sweetie has worked for the likes of Bossy Music, Laneway Festival, Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House, Warner Music Australia and FBi Radio. She is a board member of AIR (Australian Independent Record Label’s Association), plays violin, bass guitar and is a Ken Done enthusiast.
Anika Luna
Anika Luna is a Triple J Unearthed Community Producer who has spent countless years volunteering, and interning in various industry strongholds including, youth-centric radio station SYN Media, 3RRR, Here For Good, The Push, while studying a Bachelor of Professional Media & communications at RMIT broadening her skill sin the areas of PR, Media, Journalism and advertising. Anika prides herself in avid enthusiasm and infectious energy passion and creativity.
Adam “Weez” Booth
Adam Booth (Weez) is the co-founder of Melbourne based music management firm Calibre Music Management and A&R Consultant for EMI Records Australia. Weez was previously an A&R Consultant at the The Mushroom Group and Sony/ATV Publishing Australia.
Calibre guides the careers of artists Telenova, Chillinit, KYE and Maina Doe, plus Grammy nominated, multi platinum ARIA/APRA award-winning producers Styalz Fuego, 18YOMAN, UNO Stereo and LEN20 and a revered roster of producers, songwriters and mixing engineers.
Monique Matosic
Monique Matosic is the Director of Broken Leg, a Melbourne-based PR agency renowned for delivering tailor-made campaigns for artists and creative brands. Her resolute belief in the power of real connections and real communities serves as the foundation of the agency's approach, solidifying its reputation as a catalyst for meaningful engagement.
Her artists have been featured on the pages and airwaves of prominent platforms worldwide, including BBC Radio, Complex, triple j, Wonderland, Okayplayer, Acclaim Magazine, MTV, and Apple Music. Beyond her professional achievements, Monique is a fierce advocate for the artists she partners with, championing their unique visions and safeguarding their creative journeys.
N’fa Forster-Jones
N'fa F-Jones is an Australian/Sierra-Leonean music artist, university lecturer, workshop facilitator, documentary producer, and CLOCK sector expert. N'fa's journey in the music industry began with his 2002 ARIA award-winning Hip Hop band “1200 Techniques,” which played a crucial role in solidifying the Australian Hip Hop movement. Touring both locally and internationally with his multi-award nominated Afro-beat group “Cool Out Sun”, N'fa has gathered a wealth of experience and cultural insight. His commitment to the local musical community aims to inspire and nurture the diverse landscape of Australian music and industry experts.
FILM MAKERS
Paul Huynh
Paul’s background in anthropology and his love of visual arts allows him to explore stories and culture through a creative lens. As a founding member of iconic film collective 76m, his career as a director and cinematographer has led him to work with some of Australia’s most talented artists, as well as a few international names, creating music videos, documentaries and short films. With a borderline addiction to hummus, you can find him in search of good food, good books and good conversation with people from all walks of life
Emily Seif
Emily Seif is a multidisciplinary artist, working as a Film Director and Photographer based in Melbourne.
Driven by love for people, culture and diverse art forms, Emily's portfolio celebrates the richness of everyday characters & vibrancy of communities. From documentary to commercial projects, her work is underpinned with an infectious energy whilst holding space for intimacy, inviting viewers to connect.
Nick Rae
Nick Rae is a film maker known for uniting diverse talents and spearheading impactful projects.
His focus is on empowering youth through film, highlighting mental health journeys. Nick's work exemplifies the positive synergy between art, mental health, and community support."
Sam Biddle
After dropping out halfway through a master's in International Development Sam got his start in the non-for-profit space working at Oxfam. He then transitioned to ASRC as a content producer, directing visual campaigns and producing a photobook titled, 'Seeking Asylum: Our Stories'.
For the past two years, Sam has freelanced full-time as a photographer, videographer and communications specialist in the the non-profit space.
GRID Series Geelong is proudly supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and the Community Support Fund, in partnership with City of Greater Geelong.