Homegrown – Music from Here Mentoring Session

Six emerging artists. One shared passion. A first step into the music industry.

What does it take to turn a passion for music into a career?

That’s the question at the heart of Homegrown: Music From Here, a new music industry development program for young people aged 12–25 from the Dandenong Ranges and surrounding communities.

With more than 20 applications received, selecting just six emerging artists wasn’t an easy task. We’d like to thank everyone who applied and congratulate the artists selected for the 2026 program.

The final six artists represent a wonderful mix of local talent, two bands, one duo and three solo artists, each at different stages of their musical journey.

Our hope is that Homegrown will become an annual program, providing young local musicians with the knowledge, connections, confidence and professional experience they need to take their next steps.

From the studio to the stage

Last Tuesday night, the 11 participants came together in Burrinja’s Lyre Room for an intensive mentoring session facilitated by Ben Langdon, musician and Burrinja’s Music Producer, and Xani Kolac, violinist, composer and improviser.

Before the mentoring got underway, the artists had the opportunity to have professional promotional photographs taken by Julie Board from Studio 42. For emerging artists, having quality promotional images can make a huge difference when approaching venues, promoters and industry contacts.

For artists just starting out, the music industry can feel overwhelming. Having access to professional photography and learning how to use those images to present yourself as an artist, is a valuable part of building a career.

With introductions and photos complete, it was time to get down to business.

Learning from experience

The mentoring session kicked off with Xani sharing insights from her own career and the experiences that have shaped her journey as an artist.

Xani Kolac is a violinist, composer and improviser redefining what the electric violin can do in contemporary and improvised music. With a Master’s degree in Music Performance (Improvisation) from the Victorian College of the Arts, Xani has spent more than a decade pushing the boundaries of her instrument.

Her sound draws on a diverse range of influences, from Jimi Hendrix and Stuff Smith to the kosmische Musik explorers CAN, art-pop pioneers Camille and Björk, as well as her deep roots in jazz and improvisation.

Her advice was practical, honest and encouraging, exactly what emerging artists need when navigating an industry that can sometimes seem difficult to understand.

Getting gigs and building connections

One of the key discussions focused on getting gigs.

How do you move from open mic nights and small local shows towards securing regular gigs?

The advice was simple but important: be honest about your audience numbers, always be professional and build relationships.

Networking is an essential part of developing a career in music, and one of the best ways to start is simply by getting out there. Go and see other artists perform. Meet people. Support local musicians. Look for opportunities to connect and, where appropriate, ask about support slots. Those small connections can become important opportunities.

Finding your audience and being yourself

The conversation then moved into audience development, artist identity and promotion.

For emerging artists, one of the biggest challenges can be figuring out how to promote yourself without feeling like you’re constantly “selling” yourself.

The message from the session was clear: be authentic. Be yourself. Don’t try to be someone else.
Social media can be an important tool for building an audience, but it’s only part of the picture. Developing an email list and keeping your audience informed about upcoming shows, new releases and other news can create a direct connection with the people who already love your music. And importantly, take your audience with you.

If you’re playing house parties or small local shows, think about how you can bring those people along when you start performing in larger venues. Like everything in life, the more you do it, the better you get.

Recording, teams and the business of music

The participants also explored the practical side of building a music career, including recording and assembling a team.

How do you approach studios and producers? What should you expect to pay for recording? When might you need a manager, publicist or booking agent?

These are questions that can be difficult to navigate when you’re starting out, making the opportunity to hear directly from experienced artists and industry professionals particularly valuable.

The session also tackled some of the less visible challenges of being a musician — confidence, nerves, self-doubt and rejection.

Because developing a career isn’t only about learning how to get the next gig. It’s also about learning how to keep going.

Questions, answers and real conversations

The formal mentoring session was followed by an open round of FAQs, giving the participants the chance to ask the questions that mattered most to them.

From building confidence on stage to approaching venues and promoters, the conversation was open, honest and practical.

And judging by the feedback, the participants made the most of it.

“I feel like I learnt so much more than I thought I was going to. The industry feels colossal sometimes, and hearing from artists with years of experience helped bring it into perspective.” Eve, Atomic Angels

“I really appreciated the advice on how to grow my confidence whilst on stage. It was very clear and direct on how to change my mindset.” Ben Seymour, Who’s Rosie

“Great to have learned so many new things for myself now and for the future. Awesome to have learned from someone who’s going through the same thing and to make new connections.” Medea

“Leaving this room feeling very inspired and ready to take the next steps in my career.” Georga Livia

“So amazing to hear any and all advice! Pleasure to learn from someone so experienced and keen to share.” Nina Rose

Another participant summed up the experience simply:

“The way that this program was put on was very professional and felt very legitimate, which you don’t often get in youth programs. I learnt a lot!”

From mentoring to the stage

Following a short break, the group turned their attention to the next big step, the Homegrown Showcase.

The program will culminate in a live showcase at Burrinja’s Lyre Room, giving all six artists the opportunity to perform short sets in a professional venue, connect with a public audience and gain valuable live performance experience.

The showcase audience will include music fans and community members, as well as media representatives, venue operators, festival programmers and other industry professionals.
For these young musicians, it’s more than just another gig. It’s an opportunity to put everything they’ve learned into practice and take their first steps towards the next stage of their musical careers.

Come and support the next generation of local music

Come along to the Homegrown: Music From Here Showcase and support six emerging artists from our local community as they take to the stage.

Sunday 20 September | 6pm–9pm
Burrinja Cultural Centre – Lyre Room

Come along, hear some great local music and show these emerging artists that their community is behind them.

We’d also like to extend a huge thank you to Xani Kolac for generously sharing her knowledge, experience and insights with these emerging artists, and to Julie Board from Studio 42 for capturing the mentoring session through professional photography.

Main image Xani Kolac and Ben Langdon.

For further information and artist bios, click here

Homegrown: Music From Here is supported by the Victorian State Government.