BIGSOUND 2019 Speaker Focus: Michelle Grace Hunder

Position/Title: Producer at Her Sound, Her Story

How did you first become involved in the music industry and how did you end up where you are today? I started shooting in the hip hop scene in 2011 and became known after the release of my photo portrait book on Australian hip hop called Rise. Last year I released a documentary on Australian women in music with my project partner Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore called Her Sound, Her Story.

What's been the biggest change in the music industry you've seen over the past 12 months? There seems to be a shift in being more aware of gender diversity in a general sense, which is a really lovely, and hopefully the documentary contributed to some of that shift.

What do you think will be the biggest issue affecting the music industry in the next 12 months and why? Hopefully more inclusivity as a whole will be the next really big shift, with a broader spectrum of artists receiving attention and positions on line-ups.  

What advice would you give young practitioners in your area starting out today? Start small, shoot local gigs and for friends in bands. Work really hard and work on your craft to be the best photographer that you can be.

What will you be primarily discussing during your appearance at the BIGSOUND conference and what are you hoping that people will be able to learn from your panel? Our panel is about our documentary Her Sound, Her Story, and a similar documentary made 20 years ago, to discuss what has changed and what hasn't in that time, and where we go in the future. I hope it’s a really positive discussion about ways forward. 

Which acts are on your must-see list at BIGSOUND and why? Must-see acts for me are imbi the girl, Lil Spacely, Adrian Eagle, Milan Ring, P-UniQue and Tasman Keith. Drop everything to go see Electric Fields. 

What advice do you have for BIGSOUND first-timers? It's so overwhelming and it’s hard to see everything you want to, so don’t try to rush around too much. Have a few must-sees and a few dark horses – you might be really surprised!!! 

What's your favourite BIGSOUND memory? And which artist was your standout performance? Absolutely my standout performance was seeing Electric Fields two years ago, and I haven't stopped talking about them ever since! I love them so much! 

When and where is your BIGSOUND panel? 4 Sep, Her Story: 30 Years On, Heritage Room, Cloudland, 11.30am.