What do you do if you can’t be at an industry event in Australia but you really need to stay in the loop?
You team up with someone to be your eyes and ears there. Easy!
So this week, BELLA DEER reports on what went down at BIGSOUND 2024 from the perspective of an independent muso attending the conference as a delegate.
PART 196 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE
BELLA DEER (real name Isabella Losi) is an indie/pop artist, hailing from Geelong, VIC.
She debuted in 2022 with the very well-received song “Bloom”. Since then, she’s garnered a devoted following and entranced audiences across regional Victoria and beyond (as far as South Korea and Italy), confidently sharing her heartfelt narratives on stage. Seamlessly blending captivating vocals and raw songwriting, she breathes fresh life into the music scene.
Her expansive sound and soul-stirring vocals define the unique style she’s developed. Although it often defies sonic comparisons, hints of artists like Mia Wray, HAIM, and Florence and the Machine occasionally surface in her music as well.
Her latest release, “Care Too Much”, was shortlisted amongst the 40 finalists in the esteemed APRA AMCOS Vanda and Young Global Songwriting Competition, placing her among Australia’s finest songwriters. This is another proof that her captivating artistry and magnetic stage presence are set to leave an indelible mark, making her a thrilling Australian artist to watch.
Here’s what she had to say about BIGSOUND 2024.
This was my 3rd Bigsound having also attended in 2017 and 2019.
Not being from Queensland, I felt that I knew what to expect much better this time.
My key takeaway from Bigsound is that seeing live music is still the most important factor. My absolute favourite act was Playlunch. It was their musicianship, great crowd participation and authenticity in their style. Their best set was the free stage in the middle of the Brunswick Street Mall.
Other fantastic bands and artists that were very polished were Peptalk, Juno, Lyric, and Lottie McLeod. It definitely depends on your personal taste though!
Something that left a sour taste in my mouth was when another act I specifically went to see said “Bookers and promoters, stand forward. If you’re a fan, I guess stand back there.” Not something fans want to hear!
Regarding the conference, it may have been the sessions I chose, however I didn’t feel overly inspired by industry talks this year. In my opinion, it was probably the least useful regarding building your career as an artist.
In saying that, the roundtable event was a great way to ask questions to people who you may never get a chance to chat with face to face normally. I think in future, sessions should be smaller and perhaps some digital questions could be asked in real time. I would also love to see the Bigsound conference opened up to an online format for those who cannot make it to Brisbane for the week.
It is also very difficult to network with industry professionals when you are not showcasing because you cannot invite them to see your live set.
I was chatting to a few people about past events in Melbourne like Face the Music. I think we need similar events or at least more conference-style events in other capital cities around Australia.
All in all, I think it’s still a great idea to head to Bigsound and build your network of people. It is the connections and relationships made at Bigsound that I continue to be involved with in both my personal and creative life that give me the drive, support and motivation to continue in this very tricky thing called the music industry.
Big shout out to Aubrielle, Amelia Kase, James Purnell-Tran, Mitch Hagger and Tam to name just a few for making my Bigsound particularly fantastic.
See you there next year, hopefully!
Listen to a conversation with BELLA DEER about what it’s like to be an indie muso in Australia:
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