APRA AMCOS partners with Mardi Gras to find the next Troye Sivan

APRA AMCOS and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras are on the hunt to present Australia’s next generation of queer music artists.

With a joint goal of fostering emerging queer creatives, the two organisations have joined forces to feature rising music talent across three events in the coming months.

The new initiative, dubbed Express Yourself – Queer Discovery, is a showcase series.

The series will see two emerging LGBTQI+ artists perform at each showcase alongside an established headliner to a room of industry heavyweights and the general public.

A panel of guest judges from the LGBTQI+ community and the music industry will select two of the emerging artists to perform at a Mardi Gras event next year.

“Mardi Gras is invested in the development of LGBTQI+ artists,” its CEO Albert Kruger said.

“We’re incredibly excited to be teaming up with APRA AMCOS to host the Express Yourself – Queer Discovery showcases and present new queer performers directly to industry leaders.

“We hope the experience has a lasting impact on the careers of the performers.”

If you’re a budding Troye Sivan, can sing with the quiet sincerity of Courtney Barnett or spit rhymes like Miss Blanks – now is your chance to perform alongside a queer superstar.

APRA AMCOS chief Dean Ormston said Mardi Gras’ reach goes well beyond the Sydney event.

“At a time when there is great intolerance in the world we need to lean in and demonstrate the enormous potential of diversity and inclusion in our industry, and the wider community,” Ormston said.

Emerging artists from across Australia are encouraged to fill out an application here.