How BIGSOUND Acts Like Tash Sultana And Middle Kids Set The Standard For Aus Bands To Tour The US

The veteran music agent is set to make her first-ever flight to Australia for BIGSOUND, having nurtured the careers of Tash Sultana and Middle Kids in the US market, who both performed at the Brisbane showcase last year. 

While those heading along to BIGSOUND will get to see Nalpant engage in a panel discussing how to sell out gigs, the New York native says the key for bands to make a name for themselves in the US is, simply, consistency. 

"If you look at [Middle Kids'] tour for America, it's not gonna sell out, but it's very reasonably priced and they have good will, which you can’t pay for," Nalpant says. "So whether or not they sell out, they're working like an American band which is important."

Middle Kids ticked off a huge milestone in their career this past February by making their US TV debut on Conan; a result of being scouted by the show's then-music producer, Jim Pitt, at BIGSOUND 2016.

"A lot of people don’t really realise that they’ve been here so often and have been accessible," Nalpant continues. 

"I don’t know why they can but they’ve been able to stay for a while... to take opportunities as they come. They’re flexible, they seem to really not mind the travel. Even like random little festivals, they’ll do. Like Lollapalooza, which was big, but then they can do a little one like LouFest or Life Is Beautiful in Las Vegas in September. Usually a band from Australia is like, 'I can’t do Lollapalooza and then come back in September. That’s not possible.'"

While Nalpant's client roster also boasts the likes of Vulfpeck, Walk The Moon and Cold War Kids, it's fair to include Sultana at the top of that list, due to the promise her career shows.

After her debut EP, Notion, charted at #8 on the ARIA Albums chart last year, the 22-year-old Melbourne artist has since sold out shows all around the country and, as Nalpant notes, the same results are appearing in the States.

Not only are tickets to Sultana's October US tour all but sold out, but some gigs have had to be upgraded due to the unprecedented demand for tickets. Nalpant says its only a matter of "availability" before Sultana too makes her US TV debut, comparing the songwriter to global superstar, Ed Sheeran.

"I think she's so extraordinary," Nalpant begins. "I think she speaks to a lot of different types of people. I think she speaks to multi-genre, I think there’s a lot of people that sit in bedrooms and do loops, but she’s not one of them. She’s a vibrant, amazing, multi-instrumental player...  [her live show] is completely engaging. She is a force."

As for her impending trip to Australia, Nalpant says she is not only excited to engage with the Australian music industry, but there are some bands she has noted as potential candidates for the Paradigm roster.

"It looks like a really great diverse group of people. I think I’m gonna learn a lot. People might have their guard down a bit.

"The only place in America where all these people exist is SXSW and it's such a cluster that you don’t really have a minute to have a conversation. So, I’m looking forward to making strategic, meaningful conversations and connections. There’s a lot of great bands that come out of Australia. I’m really excited."