Meet the 2025 Scouted artists
Meet the Adelaide artists playing the 2025 Scouted program, an initiative helping unsigned artists get in front of indie record labels.
Bella Brinkworth
What’s your favourite way to consume music and why?
A live performance is always my favourite way, especially small intimate ones! It always feels so beautiful to feel what the artist is feeling in real time, it’s so special! If not live I also love to go on a drive while listening to my favourite albums.
What other SA artists inspire you?
I’m very inspired by Aleksiah, I think her songwriting is incredible especially in songs like “who are you when you’re not performing”. I am also in awe of My Cherie’s live vocal looping! If you have the chance to see either live I couldn’t recommend it enough!
If you wanted to meet one person who is speaking at Indie-Con, who would it be and why?
Andrew Stone from Chugg Music and City Pop Records. I’d love to learn more about his journey managing acts like Lime Cordiale and what he looks for when working with an artist.
What is your favourite live music venue to play a gig at in Adelaide?
There are so many gorgeous live performance venues in Adelaide, but the Grace Emily & Jive hold a special place for me! They both feel very raw and intimate, you can really connect with the artist when watching them play.
LOLA
What’s your favourite way to consume music and why?
My favourite way to consume music is to be in the mosh pit with my mates. Having the raw energy of a band right in front of you bouncing between the crowd really charges me up and gets me inspired. It’s as real as music is ever gonna get, you’re gonna hear the wrong notes when they happen but you’ll really feel the good ones too!
What other SA artists inspire you?
My first SA inspirations came from the real rowdy and supportive DIY punk community. Brat 86 did everything themselves from writing songs, recording, art work, music videos. The Dirty Chins would put on their own festivals and a real supportive community came out of that, and watching this stuff happen when you’re 11 changes your life. The bands that have been inspiring me more recently are bands like Molly Rocket, Looch and Jongo Bones for their authentic, reckless ‘don’t give a shit’ attitude about playing a show. Also Weekend Rage for their honest and straight forward lyrics and the way that Ledfly deliberately piece every bit of their songs together and work at it is really kool!
If you wanted to meet one person who is speaking at Indie-Con, who would it be and why?
I would love to meet Ian Harrison. I feel like we’d get along and I could learn lots from him as he has a deep background in punk music. Would also be interested to know what he thinks about our band!
What is your favourite live music venue to play a gig at in Adelaide?
I like a lot of different venues in Adelaide, my favourite would have to be the UniBar. There’s such a great atmosphere inside and outside, it’s such a lively place! Gus always makes the mix sound elite. We’ve always been looked after by the staff there. It’s just a great place to hang out, play or see a show.
MACËY
What’s your favourite way to consume music and why?
Patty: In the heat of the moshpit bro.
Devon: If I want to absorb a project, I’ll chuck it on speakers in my room and vibe to it, but the community and energy of live music is unparalleled.
Josh: DJ set, live performance or Soundcloud. I love Soundcloud for its huge library, whether it’s new music that hasn’t been released to commercial platforms, older tunes that have gotten lost over time or its various anonymous artists sharing their music for the sake of sharing their art, rather than for image.
What other SA artists inspire you?
Patty: Allday, Jongo Bones And The Barefoot Bandits and JesseMelancholy. Allday for his nostalgic lyrics and Adeladian themes, Jongo for their batshit energy and Jesse for based and personal songwriting.
Devon: TOWNS were the band that inspired me to pursue music seriously. SIGNALS and JesseMelancholy have been on rotation as of late.
Josh: Xenura is some of the coolest shit in Adelaide.
If you wanted to meet one person who is speaking at Indie-Con, who would it be and why?
Francesca Caldera from UNIFIED would be our choice for sure. We’d love to hear her expertise on artist development and touring in the alternative scene.
What is your favourite live music venue to play a gig at in Adelaide?
Unibar is our go-to; the scale of the venue always brings out our best performances. Cranker is fun for the opposite reason. We love feeding off the energy of the crowd there.
Maisie B.
What’s your favourite way to consume music and why?
I consume most of my music while driving these days, I have a bunch of albums saved and then most mornings I pick one to dive into on my way to work. I do love to listen to vinyl records too, in the comfort of my bedroom with the sunlight shining through the window and an incense stick burning.
What other SA artists inspire you?
I have been most inspired by St Jacques, particularly the way they incorporate so many textures and colours across a variety of instruments and voices into their music. I love how they explore ideas across the entire folk genre, with songs that range from soft trad-inspired folk to heavier folk rock.
If you wanted to meet one person who is speaking at Indie-Con, who would it be and why?
I’d love to say hi to Mardi Caught. I heard her speak at the One of One Breakfast at the Gov earlier this year and was super inspired by her career and journey through the music industry, especially so because she’s from Adelaide too.
What is your favourite live music venue to play a gig at in Adelaide?
I love the Grace Emily Hotel. It’s cosy, intimate and whimsical and I always have a beautiful time performing and experiencing shows there.
Ms Chipeta
What’s your favourite way to consume music and why?
Two ways are almost tied: listening live at a gig and watching NPR Tiny Desk concerts on YouTube. Obviously seeing artists play live is god tier but most of my favourite soul/RnB artists have Tiny Desk concerts (a few of note are Snoh Aalegra, Raveena, H.E.R). These performances almost seem like a rite of passage — so meticulously crafted, beautifully produced and executed with such a high level of musicianship. It’s a great way to learn from some of the exciting names in the genre. I often revisit these live recordings of songs over the studio versions.
What other SA artists inspire you?
As individuals and musicians, a few SA artists that inspire me are My Cherie (indie pop), Neenaw (jazz folk) and Meena de Silva (pop RnB). The epitome of girl power, they all are strong songwriters with distinct aesthetics and loveable personalities on and off the stage. I can’t wait to see what they do next in their respective careers.
If you wanted to meet one person who is speaking at Indie-Con, who would it be and why?
That’s a tough one! I have a list of speakers I’m excited to learn from but if I had to pick just one to meet it would probably be Brinley Stanovsek of Handsome Tours. I would love to pick her brain about all things touring.
What is your favourite live music venue to play a gig at in Adelaide?
Ooh! Of the venues I’ve played at, The Grace Emily is my favourite. I sang at my first ever open mic (Billy Bob’s BBQ Jam of course) and have played gigs there in a few different projects since. I love its cosy, funky vibe and the fact that everyone is kinda forced to come close to the stage because of the limited space! It has this signature smell when you walk in and it feels like home.
Honourable mention goes to Summertown Studio. I technically haven’t played there yet (that will change on August 15 for a winetime session), but the atmosphere there is unmatched in Adelaide, and I’ve spent more hours dancing the night away than at any other venue!
Nathan Hui-Yi
What’s your favourite way to consume music and why?
I enjoy listening to albums in their entirety: the album’s format as a cohesive work is an art form itself. Albums are sonic movies that suck you into another world. They are the best way to truly get to know the artist and see their vision as intended.
I like asking people for personal music recommendations. Algorithms keep you comfortable and feed you more of the same, but human recommendations challenge you and introduce you to sounds you never knew existed. I want to expand my mind and hear something that makes you go “what was that!”
What other SA artists inspire you?
I’m always crate digging. One day my brother handed me an album called One Thing Led To Another by Dirt, a jazz-fusion band led by Adelaide jazz guitarist David Innocente.
I’d never heard their music before, but it floored me and has become a personal favourite. James Muller’s Kaboom is another album that got its claws deep into me. Both are hidden gems that showcase what South Australian musicians can cook up.
If you wanted to meet one person who is speaking at Indie-Con, who would it be and why?
I’d love to catch up with Richard James Burgess. Especially to nerd out and talk about the SDS-V drum synth he invented (I’m also a producer so naturally a huge vintage music gear nerd).
What is your favourite live music venue to play a gig at in Adelaide?
Any venue where the 808s are shaking
RENAÉ
What’s your favourite way to consume music and why?
I love listening to music while I’m travelling, there’s something about saving a new album for a plane trip or a long drive that just hits differently. I’m always that girl staring out the window with my music blasting… because my life is literally a movie right?
What other SA artists inspire you?
There’s so much talent in South Australia, it’s impossible not to be inspired. I’m especially moved by the women in the scene, Nat Luna’s RNB-pop and buttery harmonies, Alex Hosking holding it down in the dance world, aleksiah shining in the indie pop space and George Alice rising as our electro- popstar! So much love for the Adelaide girlies!
If you could meet one person speaking at Indie-Con, who would it be and why?
Lisa Hresko, for sure! Her work at A2IM is so admirable, and being featured in Billboard’s 2025 Women in Music list? SERIOUS Girl Boss energy! I’d love to pick her brain about building a meaningful, long-term career as an independent artist.
What is your favourite live music venue to play a gig at in Adelaide?
Definitely The Lab! I haven’t had the chance to play there yet, ( emphases on YET) but it’s a big dream of mine. Using the visuals to bring the audience into your world – manifesting a RENAÉ experience there for the near future!
