BLAKSOUND 2021 presented by Digi Youth Arts and Vyva Entertainment. Supported by BIGSOUND and QMusic.

BLAKSOUND, a 100% First Nations youth-led music conference is scheduled to broadcast globally online from Meeanjin. 

Presented by Digi Youth Arts and Vyva Entertainment and supported by QMusic and BIGSOUND, the virtual event will take place from September 6-8 with young First Nations musicians Sycco, Jem Cassar-Daley, DOBBY and Loki Liddle co-curating the event, supported and mentored by Alethea Beetson, Lead Artistic Director of Digi Youth Arts. 

Alethea Beetson, Lead Artistic Director of Digi Youth Arts. 

“BLAKSOUND provides a sovereign platform for conversations that need to be heard by the wider music community, said Alethea Beetson. “Digi Youth Arts invites the music industry to listen to our community, and then respond or where required step aside so we can continue the work of carrying on our stories through song.” 

Renowned artist and keynote speaker Naomi Wenitong leads the inaugural line up in 2021, and will be joined by fellow speakers Emily Wurramara, rising rapper BARKAA, Bianca Hunt, song writer, hip hop artist and producer DRMNGNOW and radio & podcast personality Rhianna Patrick. 

Artist Barkaa, joins the BLAKSOUND speaker line-up. Image credit: Luke Currie-Richardson.

In addition to delivering powerful conversations from some of Australia’s most important, young First Nations voices, BLAKSOUND will also host a series of workshops, aimed at providing first-hand, invaluable insights into the music industry at large. 

A Spotify Masterclass presented by Jono Harrison (Artist & Label Partnerships Lead, Spotify Australia & New Zealand) will address navigating the platform as a young First Nations musician and demonstrate how to make the most of Spotify, while triple j’s Karla Ranby and Nooky will host a virtual networking opportunity for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young people, where they can meet and yarn with the faces of triple j’s Blak Out program. 

Ditto Music’s Jinaya Walford will also discuss distribution, DSPs and playlisting, providing a behind the scenes look at how DSP’s work, and offering a how-to for First Nations artists who want to make the most of Ditto to distribute their music. 

“BLAKSOUND is an opportunity for First Nations youth to talk back and challenge the music industry at large. It is charged with powerful conversations that will shine a light on the issues we face, and the future we plan to create.” Co-curator Loki Liddle. 

Through thought-provoking panel discussions and hands-on workshops, BLAKSOUND invites the music industry to listen and explore how the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural and arts leaders can be placed at the forefront of industry conversations. 

BLAKSOUND is free to register click here (with payment options available for those who can).

To learn more about the speakers, workshops and curators visit the website.

Feature image: Naomi Wenitong. Supplied image.