BIGSOUND Artist Profile: Sui Zhen

Hometown: Melbourne

Short description of your band and your music: Sui Zhen is an alt-pop artist based in Melbourne intent on luring you into her dream-beat universe.

Has the party side of the music industry been all you were hoping for so far in your career? I usually have to avoid the party because I need to rest my voice for performances. For maximum joy partying to happen for me serious stars need to align. But when they do… 

What is the best thing that's happened to you/your band so far? Getting paid to fly somewhere and play a show. I am always stoked just being able to perform my music as part of my work.

Are your ambitions mainly artistic or commercial? Mostly artistic. But in order to sustain myself financially I need to look out for the viability of my music as a business too. 

Is your music best rendered in the studio or the live realm? Recently I added saxophone and congas to the live set. Being able to add and subtract in the live context makes it a more exciting experience. But studio is also where the heart is.

If you could have any act past or present join you on your next tour who would you tap? In the present, I would love to tour with Chairlift or Julia Holter. In the past Ace Of Base or Sade.

What industry lessons would you like to take away from the BIGSOUND conference? How to market my music to international audiences so I can start working more internationally with my music.

What acts are you looking forward to checking out at the BIGSOUND showcase? So many of my friends are playing so it's going to be hard! Totally Mild, Caitlin Park, Catlips, Pearls, Rainbow Chan, The Ocean Party and my brother's band Fanny Lumsden.

Why should people come and see you from amongst the many cool bands at BIGSOUND? My band will be performing with me. And our chemistry is infectious. They add colour and spontaneity to the songs live that makes for a special experience.