A training & development program for emerging SA First Nations and multicultural artists, developed in collaboration with the City of Playford’s Northern Sound System.
- Applications for the next round are open now, closing 27 May. For more information and details on how to apply see HERE -
The Program
The WOMADelaide x NSS Academy is an artist development initiative launched in 2021 to support emerging First Nations and multicultural artists each year to engage in a tailor-made professional development program of events and masterclasses, including development of song writing and release strategy, branding concepts, small business skills and stage performance craft.
A joint initiative of WOMADelaide and Northern Sound System (NSS), the 10 selected artists have been working within the NSS’s outstanding youth-focused music venue and industry training hub in Elizabeth, with professionally staged performance outcomes for selected Academy artists through programming at WOMADelaide.
Drawing on a strong history of artist development at the NSS (who have supported the likes of Tkay Maidza, Teenage Joans, George Alice, TOWNS and many more) and industry experience, together with mentoring relationships with artists through the multi-award winning WOMADelaide festival, the Academy is an exciting partnership providing a hyper-fertile environment for First Nations and multicultural artists to grow in a supportive environment with a real world pathway.
“Over many years we have nursed an ambition to help build the future careers of young musicians, not only through experiencing the extraordinary artists who perform at the festival but through a tailor-made development program. We are thrilled that the Academy will combine professional mentors with NSS’s acclaimed training initiatives, further building WOMADelaide’s connection with local emerging talent and audiences across the community” - WOMADelaide Director, Ian Scobie
“NSS is passionate about supporting emerging original contemporary musicians in South Australia. The Academy enables us to deliver a hyper-fertile environment for SA First Nations and multicultural artists to be able to access the information and resources they need to activate their visions. This is a very exciting initiative for all of us!” - Nick O’Connor, Northern Sound System
Read the 2021 press release here.
Pictured: Elsy Wameyo.
The Artists
MRLN x RKM were selected as the opening act for Vika & Linda and Midnight Oil at WOMADelaide 2021 and WOMADelaide 2022 will feature performances from Academy artists Sokel, Sonz of Serpent and Elsy Wameyo.
Previous and current Academy artists include:
Barnaba$ (Spotify | Instagram)
DEM MOB (Instagram)
Elsy Wameyo (Instagram | Spotify)
Estee Evangeline (Instagram | Youtube | Spotify)
Katie Aspel (Instagram)
Marlon Motlop [AKA MRLN] (Instagram)
Rulla Kelly-Mansell [AKA RKM] (Instagram)
Sandy Abbott (Youtube)
Sokel (Instagram | Spotify | Youtube)
Sonz of Serpent (Spotify | Facebook | Instagram)
Tilly Tjala Thomas (Instagram)
Academy artists engage in a tailor-made program of events and masterclasses that sees them being matched with high-profile Australian music industry mentors. Artists such as Felix Riebl (The Cat Empire); Carlo Santone (Blue King Brown manager, co-founder and bass player and founder of OnePageLink promo kits); N’Fa Jones (1200 Techniques and Cool Out Sun), Brian Dubb (CEO and founder of artist management application Centralized.me) have contributed their time or services so far, as have Habit Music and Memphis LK.
They also receive ongoing training via songwriting intensives with leading SA artists such as singer-songwriter Nancy Bates, Grayson Rotumah (Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music), Midnight Hustle, 27 Music, Jimblah, Lonelyspeck, Stellie, Jeff Serafin, Dec and Fazz, Luke Million, Bethan Madison, Nathan May, Mind Trix Media, Munya Maidza, Far From Studios, Alex Mader, Daniel Steinert and Renegade Records. They aim to build a 45-60 minute ‘gig ready’ set of original music.
Pictured:
Sokel (WOMADelaide 2022 artist), Rulla (on stage @ WOMADelaide 2021), The NSS Studio (activation @ WOMADelaide 2020)
The WOMADelaide x NSS Academy is a WOMADelaide Foundation project receiving assistance from the Government of South Australia, the Federal Government’s Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund, with support from the City of Playford and NSS.