CALLING ALL ARTISTS FROM OUTER PERTH

Outer Boorloo....we're back! 

GRID Series Outer Perth Artist Development Program returns in 2027.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

Our free program is an end-to end process, cutting through the noise to provide you access to a huge range of resources, activities and connections that will expand your creative work and remove barriers for you to realise your artistic ambition.

Artists involved in the program receive:

• a fully produced, mixed and mastered track, made in collaboration with one of the program’s producers. Across 4 x full day studio sessions, you will be working intimately with your producer to craft a song and sound that best represents you and your story;

• intensive one-on-one mentoring with the music industry’s sharpest minds to help you build pathways for your work to connect with audiences;

• an artist documentary film, made in collaboration with a collective of the industry’s most in-demand directors to deep dive into your personal story as an artist providing audiences a window into your creative world;

• live performance opportunities in Newcastle and beyond

Accompanying you along the journey will be your “hype person” - a friend/collaborator/community member nominated by you to join you in all the program’s activities. They could be an artist themselves, have an interest in content creation, music business or might be looking to level-up their knowledge and skills in the creative industries. They’ll be joining you as an extra layer of support throughout the program.

DELIVERED BY

ELIGIBILITY

In order to be accepted into the program, you:

• live/work/create/ in the Outer Regions of Perth (see eligible suburbs here)

• are 18 years of age or over by February, 2027

• write your own original music

• are able to bring along a friend/family or community member to participate in all the program’s activities…they will be your nominated ‘hype person’

• are available on the key dates for the GRID Series Newcastle Program

• have completed the application form

KEY DATES

• Sunday November 22, 2026

  Applications Close

• Monday December 14 - Friday December 18, 2026

  Shortlisted applicant interviews

• Wednesday February 10, 2027

  Program Launch/meet and greet event (5:00pm to 8:00pm)

• Saturday February 13 - Sunday February 14, 2027

  Mentoring Days (9am to 5pm)

• February 15 through to May 16, 2027

  Across this 13-week period, you will have 4 x full day studio sessions with your matched producer to work on your new track. The sessions will take place in both Newcastle and Sydney. You will also have 2 x full day film shoots with our documentary team to create your artist documentary in and around Newcastle

  (6 days total)

• April - May 2027

  Live performance TBA

• Friday June 18, 2027

  Single launch party and film screening

Please have a read of our terms and conditions before applying. You can read them here

PRODUCERS

Drew Goddard has spent over 25 years in the music industry, working across multiple roles but best known as guitarist, songwriter, and co-producer for Perth progressive rock band Karnivool. The band’s fourth album In Verses debuted to widespread acclaim, earning their second #1 on the ARIA charts. Karnivool has toured extensively worldwide, including five tours of India, where they’ve built a particularly strong following. In 2013, their album Asymmetry won the ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album, alongside a nomination for Best Australian Live Act. Through his work with Collaborative Systemic Change and the Barefoot Bands initiative, Drew has focused on mentoring and facilitating music projects in regional and remote communities across Western Australia and the Northern Territory, partnering with organisations such as WAM, NG Media and Wilurarra Creative.

Listen to Drew’s work

Elise Reitze-Swensen (AKA eliseRS, Feels) brings over a decade of experience as a composer, producer, and performer, with international tours including SXSW (US) and Ableton Loop (Berlin), Aus music festivals: Listen Out, GTM, Falls Festival, Laneway, and has supported acts such as Orbital, Kimbra, G Flip, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Her existing catalogue is multi-award winning and been championed by BBC1, Spotify, Apple Music, Red Bull, and the Les Paul Foundation, while topping the Australian AMRAP charts. She is also an Ableton Certified Trainer and co-founding-director of not-for-profit, registered charity: Women of Music Production (WOMP), a community of over 700 women and GNC music producers. eliseRS’s self produced debut solo album Life We’ve Known (2026) is the winner of the $50,000 prize for the Minderoo Foundation Artist Fund Award.

Listen to EliseRS’ work

i.amsolo & TEHIIRI are a producer duo bringing together platinum-selling production, songwriting and extensive experience in artist development. Their sound moves across hip-hop, R&B and electronic music, pairing atmospheric textures and strong melodies with an instinct for rhythm and storytelling.
Between them, they have worked with artists such as ONEFOUR, The Kid LAROI, A$AP Ferg, TAIJA, Becca Hatch, INKABEE,  Nooky, and JJ Vacant. With a collaborative approach and complementary creative strengths, they help artists find their sound, sharpen their ideas and create music with character and impact

Listen to i.amsolo & TEHIIRI’s work

Conor Lawson is a versatile music producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based in Perth. With a passion for polished production, he has worked with a diverse range of artists, including Julia Stone, Adrian Dzvuke, Beckah Amani & Slumberjack. Known as one of the go-to producers in the scene, he brings a creative, collaborative approach to every project, helping artists shape their vision and bring their music to life.

Listen to Conor’s work

FLEWNT is a Nyoongar and Wongi hip hop artist, songwriter, cultural leader and founding Director of FN Focus. Grounded in culture, community and lived experience, his music combines powerful lyricism with contemporary hip hop to amplify First Nations voices, champion his people and share Nyoongar and Wongi stories with audiences across Australia and internationally.

In 2024, FLEWNT was the sole Australian selected by the United States Department of State in Washington and the US Embassy in Canberra to participate in the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program focused on Hip Hop and Civic Engagement. That same year, FLEWNT appeared alongside his son INKABEE on America’s Got Talent, progressing to the quarterfinals and bringing their intergenerational First Nations storytelling to a global audience. In 2025, he was named the overall WA Young Achiever of the Year in recognition of his cultural leadership, creative practice and commitment to community. FLEWNT now serves on the BIGSOUND Goowal Goowal Advisory Board, contributing his cultural knowledge, industry experience and perspective to the development of First Nations representation and programming at one of Australia’s leading music industry events.

Tani Webb is an award-winning artist manager, creative producer and co-founder, director of FN Focus, a platform dedicated to building opportunities and culturally safe spaces for First Nations artists. Based in Boorloo (Perth), Tani has played a key role in the development of artists including INKABEE, FLEWNT, TAIJA and JJ VACANT, helping guide groundbreaking projects, national campaigns and major live performances. In 2026, she was recognised with the Australian Association of Artist Managers Awards, Community Engagement Award for her work creating impact through music, mentorship and advocacy. Passionate about storytelling, artist wellbeing and community connection, Tani is known for her people-first approach and commitment to empowering the next generation of creative voices while helping shape meaningful and lasting cultural change. 

With a career spanning over two decades and a catalogue that includes the platinum-selling, ARIA award winning The Life of Riley, gold-selling Brothers Grimm and the ARIA award winning Seven Mirrors, as well as the critically acclaimed Shadows & Shinings, Drapht has remained both a pioneer and a chameleon withing the global music indusrty. His anthems Jimmy Recard, Rapunzel, and Sing It (The Life of Riley) became part of the national soundtrack, while his recent Rosemount Hotel double sell-out shows prove his relevance and resonance are stronger than ever. 

Nur began her journey in the music industry after completing a Music Business course at TAFE, followed by an internship with WAM’s regional team in 2021. An avid live music fan, she started by organising launch shows for local bands at venues across Perth and Fremantle. Since then, she has co-founded Chop Street Music, a Mandurah-based music business dedicated to supporting and growing the live music scene in the Peel region. Over the past four years, Nur has worked as a contractor for WAM, contributing to key events such as WAMCon, The WAMAwards, The Regional Roundtable, Song of the Year and WAMFest. Nur has now joined the WAM team on a casual basis to assist with the delivery of WAM’s Regional Project and Song of the Year 2025. 

Amber Jean is Head of Programming and Marketing at live music venues Honky Tonk Blues and Wyola. She works across artist management, tour management and programming, managing Siobhan Cotchin and guiding her rise from local stages to national arena tours alongside Matchbox Twenty and Goo Goo Dolls. She has programmed leading venues and festivals, and works as an artist liaison across major festivals including Laneway and Spilt Milk, alongside tour managing artists nationally. With over 15 years in the industry, Amber builds live music experiences that connect artists and audiences, with a focus on community, sustainability, and long-term growth, and was awarded the 2025 Golden WAMi for her contribution to the WA music industry.

Originally from Menang Boodjar in the Great Southern, Maisie has spent a few decades playing and writing music. She’s since gained a broad range of experience in arts management, events, and operations and has worked with the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA, Fringe World, Desert Feet Tour, Folkworld, and Regional Arts WA.. 

FILM MAKERS

Mikey Hamer - who will lead a dynamic new team of emerging filmmakers; is a Director and DoP currently working out of Boorloo (Perth), Australia. Having worked in the industry for 19 years, Mikey had his first breakthrough in 2009, being nominated for an ARIA award for direction of Josh Pyke’s DVD, The Lighthouse. Born and raised on Australia’s east coast, where he learned his craft. His two older brothers would introduce him to the eccentric cinematic styles of auteurs like Terry Gilliam, Marinda July and David Wain, helping to mould his unencumbered creative mind. Mikey has also worked extensively internationally as a Director & DoP on a range of Feature, Documentary, Serial Television, TVC & Music Video. He was awarded a Silver ACS award in 2021, and since then has started to work on more long-form and narrative projects, this includes his work as DoP on Season 2 of ABC program ‘Perspective Shift’, and Australian indie feature film ‘Ugly Carter’. Set for release in 2025.

Wanagi Zable-Andrews is a Newcastle-based photographer and videographer embedded within the local music community, working closely with artists across live performance, press imagery, music videos, and documentary storytelling. He produces profile-based video work exploring artists’ process, identity, and creative practice. Through this, his work has become a trusted, go-to within the Newcastle scene for capturing artists in a way that feels authentic, grounded, and representative of who they are. Has produced music videos for local heavyweights including Piper Butcher, The Appointments, Gambirra Mob and lupo.theboy.

Holly Clayton is a collaborative creative director and producer, weaving joy and meaning into her work. Music and narrative-driven are the foundations of her work which spans campaigns, commercials, series and documentary. For the past six years she has predominantly focussed on social and human-interest documentary work. Travelling the world producing content for international NGOs whilst mentoring young creatives on ethical storytelling practices, producing under-represented stories within global humanitarian contexts. Her approach is organic, playful and intentional, with a strong cinematic visual style.

Jye Currie is an Australian director, producer, and founder of Green Frog Productions. After documenting stories and cultures across more than 80 countries as a photographer, he transitioned into filmmaking, bringing a distinctive human-focused perspective to his work. His films have screened internationally, won multiple awards, and been released on platforms including Stan and Apple TV. Through Green Frog Productions, Currie develops, produces, and distributes feature films and documentaries, with a focus on emotionally powerful stories that create lasting impact both on screen and beyond.