First Sounds Volume 5 - Enter Now!

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia and First Nations Media Australia continue the collaborative series of compilations featuring new and emerging First Nations artists from around Australia. First Sounds Volume 5 is calling for submissions of any genre from emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists who want to be heard on radio airwaves.

Four volumes were released in 2020, representing vast regions and Indigenous languages. To date, First Sounds has featured over 120 First Nations artists! Each artist is featured on the indigiTUBE platform as well as being distributed to over 250 community radio stations in both digital and CD formats via CBAA’s Amrap. The response has been epic with many artists receiving great airplay, often for the first time.

Ngaarda Media in Western Australia, breakfast presenter Tangiora Hinaki said, “First Sounds is an important service for us because as a not-for-profit we have limited resources to acquire new First Nations music. It’s important for our audience to know about new Indigenous music so they can also partake in the First Sounds initiative.”

This year the project ramps up even further, moving beyond radio airplay to support emerging First Nations artists to launch music careers with a full mentoring program.

All eligible entries are listened to by a selection panel of leading First Nations music industry leaders including Emily Wurramara, Dallas Woods, Alice Skye and Shellie Morris. Twelve tracks will be chosen for each First Sounds compilation and four artists will be selected to pair up with a First Nations mentor for intensive support to navigate the music industry and the big stage.

Electronic pop indie singer songwriter Tessa Thames’ featured on 2020’s First Sounds Volume 4, and made a distinct impression on Amrap’s community radio charts:

"I'm whole heartedly honoured to be even mentioned amongst the list of super talented artists on 'First Sounds' let alone have my song be involved. Everybody brings their own unique energy to the art they create. Energy they have cultivated on their own and that of their ancestors and this comes through in so many ways and this is what I love so much about First Nations music. So much talent and still so much more to come."
 

Be part of amplifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices. Submissions are open now and close on Monday 22 March 2021. Head to firstsounds.indigitube.com.au to enter.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.