Five local musicians are gearing up for an exciting journey in the music industry after being selected from a competitive pool of 50 applicants for the GRID Series (Grass Roots Indie Development) program.
This innovative initiative is designed to empower emerging artists and provide them with a comprehensive development program. It includes one-on-one mentoring, collaboration with a producer to create a new track, recording sessions, live performance opportunities, and the creation of a captivating artist documentary.
The Geelong GRID Program is proudly supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, in partnership with the City of Greater Geelong and the Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO).
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The launch event, held last night, revealed the successful artists chosen for the program, which will run until March 2024. The selected artists are:
- Ridzyray: Ridzyray is a First Nations hip hop artist hailing from the Windermere Ward.
- Baraka The Kid: Fiston Baraka is a Congolese artist who now resides in the Windermere Ward.
- Wild Gloriosa: Gloria is a South Indian neo-soul creative from the Kardinia Ward.
- Elena Nichols: Lenny is a young Samoan musician from the Bellarine Ward.
- Daisy Kilbourne: Daisy is an impressive singer who calls the Kardinia Ward home.
This year’s team of producers and mentors includes renowned figures like award-winning songwriter and producer Joel Ma, known as “Joelistics” (associated with Haiku Hands and Moju); ARIA-nominated engineer, songwriter, and producer Becki Whitton; acclaimed producer Ariel Blum (associated with NIASHA and St.Ives); music festival programmer Rich Moffat (known for his work with Groovin’ the Moo, Falls Festival, and Splendour in the Grass); and director of Broken Leg PR, Monique Matosic.
Notable alumni of the GRID Series include artists like Jacki Tut, Kill The Darling, Manorism, Matt Katsis, and Stripping on Sunset.
Mayor Trent Sullivan expressed enthusiasm about the program, stating that the Geelong GRID Program offers the tailored support that most musicians starting out dream of receiving. He said, “We are always looking to provide performers with the opportunities to develop their skills and reach wider audiences. Congratulations to Ridzyray, Baraka The Kid, Wild Gloriosa, Elena Nichols, and Daisy Kilbourne – your talent hasn’t gone unnoticed, and we look forward to seeing you develop your craft and understanding of the industry. As music can be a tough business to navigate, we are thrilled to be able to support these local musicians through one-on-one mentoring with some of Australia’s industry experts.
Christine Couzens, Member for Geelong, spoke about the State Government’s pride in supporting young Geelong musicians through the Geelong GRID program. She noted, “That young musicians, from different cultural backgrounds, can receive support and mentoring from experienced industry professionals gives them the opportunity to grow as music professionals. Congratulations to the successful artists; that there were 50 competitive applicants is testament to Geelong’s vibrant and diverse music culture.”
To find out more about the GRID program, head here.
