You live in Brisbane. You are a young singer-songwriter wanting to learn more about protecting your work, copyright and publishing. You and your friends are ready to move your band out of your parent's garage and start gigging. You also have no idea about how you're going to release your music. Physical? Digital? A saucy cassingle like those crazy kids in Texas Tea? You're going to want to read up on Little BIGSOUND.
Youth Music Industries and QMusic have taken over the Judith Wright Centre in the Valley on Saturday September 15 (the weekend following BIGSOUND!) for aspiring 14-25 year old artists to listen to industry professionals and performing artists and learn everything they'll need to know to get a start in the business. You'll also be able to hear acoustic sets from Triple J Unearthed stars Sahara Beck and Thelma Plum, as well as performances from Oh Mercy's Alexander Gow, Brisbane's own Hey Geronimo and Canadian outfit Your Favorite Enemies.
The day runs from 9:00 - 6:00pm, so it's like an extended day at school (on a Saturday), but you'll be listening to speakers like Ian Haug (Powderfinger), Tom Larkin (Shihad), Sam Hales (Jungle Giants) and Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music). Much better than Friday's double Modern History class, yes? Yes. There will also be representatives from Spotify, Triple J, Mucho Bravado Management, 4ZZZ, APRA and QMusic.
Get the full list of times for speakers and sessions on the day over at QMusic! Don't forget to get all of your friends involved. Little BIGSOUND will be an excellent opportunity for you to learn as much as you can about how to succeed (and survive) in the music industry.
Not too shabby at all for a day completely run by high school students and alumni from the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries. High school students like Little BIGSOUND Director, Gonzalo Rodino who we'll be chatting with... right now!
Gonzalo Rodino
Director - Little BIGSOUND
Q. How did you become involved in Youth Music Industries? Tell us about the work they do and how they live up to the motto 'For The Youth, By The Youth.'
Gonzalo: I formed the organisation Youth Music Industries with a few friends of mine in 2010, because we felt that there was a lack of performance and educational opportunities for young artists in Brisbane. So instead of complaining about the lack of opportunities, we just made opportunities for ourselves!
We live up to the motto ‘For The Youth, By The Youth’ by making sure that all of the YMI members are young, and by providing opportunities for young artists in Queensland.
Q. Talk us through the planning process for making Little BIGSOUND work. You've managed to bring in an impressive list of speakers, ranging from industry veterans like Tom Larkin (Shihad) and Ian Haug (Powderfinger) to emerging stars like Sam Hales (Jungle Giants) and Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music). How did you get everyone involved?
Gonzalo: It has been a long planning process, and as the director, I had to work really hard to make it relevant to the youth. That is why most of the speakers are relatively young, and a lot of them are local, which provides the attendees with networks that they can utilise for their own personal interests.
Every speaker I contacted was pretty keen to get involved; they are all great people and were very keen to support such a cause, because there really isn’t anything like this around Brisbane!
I also have the QMusic team backing me up; they have helped me out and mentored me immensely. There is no way that any of this could have happened without their support.
I also have the QMusic team backing me up; they have helped me out and mentored me immensely. There is no way that any of this could have happened without their support.
Q. Who are you most looking forward to hearing speak on the day and what do you hope to learn?
Gonzalo: I am really looking forward to hearing the young guys in the ‘Writing that #1 Hit’ panel, which covers songwriting and also the ‘Keep On Rockin’ panel, which covers motivation and finding inspiration. There are some pretty important music industry veterans speaking in that panel, so I am excited to hear what they have to say!
Q. This year you're not only working as the Director for Little BIGSOUND, you're also in your final year of high school! On top of that you're also growing as a guitarist and performing around Brisbane. How have you found managing competing priorities and what direction do you see yourself heading in once school is finished?
Gonzalo: I learnt pretty quickly that it’s all about time management; I even have to plan time to go out and have fun! I don’t like to let people down, so whenever I make a commitment, such as the Little BIGSOUND conference I try my best to follow it through to the end, however hard I may have to work at it.
Next year I’ll be continuing to work in Youth Music Industries, and running events such as Little BIGSOUND and 4 Walls Festival, but I’ll also be heading into University to continue studying business management. You’ll also definitely continue to see me performing around the place! I will definitely keep my band Red Revolver going; performing is the fun part of the music industry, after all!
Q. What do you think about Brisbane's current music scene? Who have you been listening to this year?
Gonzalo: I think it’s pretty amazing! So many good bands have been coming out of Brisbane. I’m still not old enough to go into all of the clubs to see some bands perform live, but most of the bands I have seen have been amazing!
This year two American bands have taken up my life: Delta Spirit and Dawes. They are ridiculously amazing, and I haven’t been able to stop listening to them for 6 months. But as for bands based in Australia, the best live band I’ve seen this year is King Cannons. So much power in that band!
Q. Finish this sentence; Little BIGSOUND is an important event because...
Gonzalo: It provides the youth of Brisbane with a real kick-start to a career in the music industry, and it’s a lot of fun!
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