New Industry Showcase Series For Emerging First Nations Musicians Announced

A new industry showcase series for emerging First Nations musicians, called Hatched, will be held in Sydney on Thursday, August 8.

Presented by Blak Label Music, Hatched boasts a stellar rap and hip-hop line-up, with Denzel Kennedy (Meanjin/Brisbane), Kootsie Don (Darug Country/Western Sydney), Yung Maynie (Naarm/Melbourne), and MissGenius (Rubibi/Broome) all set to perform.

In a novelty move, though, the performance order of the night will only be decided during the event via a spinning wheel. And, keeping within the theme of entertaining guests, the first 50 punters will also receive a free drink upon entry.

The Hatched series will be funded by Create NSW’s Creative Koori Projects grant but will be run by Blak Label Music, an independent, First Nations-owned, contemporary record label and music hub striving to bring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, stories and art to a global stage.

Kennedy, a recent winner of triple j's NIDA Competition, is a rising star in the hip-hop sector, with his recent EP being featured in multiple ads for various sporting teams, including the Penrith Panthers, Essendon Bombers, and the Dallas Wings WNBA team.

Don is more of an enigma, describing her range as “being an edgy, hardcore, not to be messed with tomboy, to a sexy, elegant, feminine woman”, while MissGenius uses her soul music to bring awareness of mental health, drug abuse and the struggles that come with being a single mother.

Maynie’s music combines hip-hop and R&B with soulful beats and introspective lyrics that showcase his raw talent and vulnerability.

Blak Label Music continues slaying with the ongoing Play Blak event at SXSW Sydney (featuring artists like South Summit and Jada Weazel) and, even sooner, their upcoming Proppa Deadly event at BIGSOUND (3-6 September).

The first edition of Hatched will go down at the OAF Gallery in Darlinghurst. Doors open at 5 pm, and the showcases wrap by 7:30 pm.