News May 27, 2022

SOUND WEST and Sony Music Australia to uncover new talent in debut fest

Image: SOUND WEST

With the inaugural SOUND WEST music and technology festival just a few months away, the team have joined forces with Sony Music Australia to actively uncover exciting new talent when it kicks off this August.

First announced back in November, the first-ever SOUND WEST event is set to take place in Parramatta this August, when it takes over the Greater Western Sydney suburb from August 23rd until the 28th. In addition to performances from a strong list of artists, the event will also ensure it caters for the industry-minded folks in attendance, with workshops, panels, mentoring, and networking all on offer.

Now though, SOUND WEST is set to get even better, announcing a partnership with Sony Music Australia to uncover fresh and exciting new talent. Aimed at boosting career opportunities for local artists, the new initiative will see one emerging artist receive an extensive six-month A&R mentorship program with Sony.

The nascent initiative is built around the idea of developing emerging artists, focusing on creative and business mentoring, while also offering studio time to help hone those killer tracks. Interested creatives are able to submit their work for consideration via the SOUND WEST website, with entries closing at 11:59pm AEST on Thursday, July 14th, 2022.

Once submitted, a panel of industry representatives will then choose ten semi-finalists who will be invited to attend SOUND WEST on August 25th. This will facilitate a mentorship session with Sony Music Australia’s Senior Director of A&R and Creative Development Alexander Franco, in addition to a 30-minute listening and A&R session with Sony Music experts and an artists and repertoire creative and business session with experts.

The winning artist will then receive a free six-month A&R mentorship program with Sony Music Australia which includes four free studio sessions at Sony Music studios with an in-house engineer, two in-person mentoring sessions with Sony Music Australia A&R, and support with building their networks in the music industry through introductions to local producers that suit the artist and genre.

Stuart Ayres, the Minister for Tourism and Minister for Western Sydney explains that an event such as SOUND WEST is an integral feature for Greater Western Sydney, and will continue to see the NSW Government continuing their commitment to support businesses and industries as they continue to recover from the impact of COVID.

“Western Sydney is a hub for great ideas, food, creativity and music, so it’s fitting that this will be where we uncover Australia’s next big musical talent,” Mr Ayres said.

“SOUND WEST will be a fantastic celebration in Western Sydney, and as we continue on our roadmap to recovery it will provide a significant boost to the local visitor economy – attracting performers, organisers and fans to local businesses.”

As Sony Music Australia’s Alexander Franco adds, their partnership with SOUND WEST is set to provide a crucial pathway for one emerging artist, potentially even uncovering the next big chart-topping Aussie export, such as Amy Shark, The Kid LAROI, or Tones And I.

“SOUND WEST presents a great opportunity to find emerging talent from Western Sydney,” Franco explains.

“This partnership is a great way for our team to help emerging Australian talent by giving them access to our global reach and decades of expertise to help kick-start their music careers.”

For more information regarding the full itinerary of events at the inaugural edition of SOUND WEST, be sure to check out the official website. Meanwhile, full information regarding entries for the new partnership and mentorship program with Sony Music Australia can also be found via the SOUND WEST website.