As an artist, embracing your language and cultural heritage through music can feel deeply authentic, foster connections with your community, and set you apart in a crowded industry.
Join us for a conversation with artists who have made and released music in languages other than English:
- Lamira, a young poet-turned-musician from Venezuela who, after moving to Australia by herself at the age of 13, made her debut a year ago and has performed over 30 shows since.
- Maanyung, whose 2024 single Bilwaali (Home) was added to rotation on triple j and his Like A Version rendition of Billie Eilish’s ‘What Was I Made For?’ quickly drew over a million views.
- Sathyan Ilanko, who often draws on Tamil classics for inspiration and whose 2024 single Aasa Kooda reached #2 on the Indian Billboard Charts.
Facilitated by Christopher Kevin Au, who manages artists including SPEED, Maanyung and Shady Nasty and has become one of the loudest voices championing hip-hop from Australia.
The panellists will talk about:
- Their inspiration to write in multiple languages
- Navigating the challenges of writing, rhyming, and flow across languages
- Marketing bilingual music
- Overcoming industry barriers, including bias and lack of representation
Whether you're just beginning to explore your cultural identity through music or are already releasing music in language, this session will empower you to take the next steps in your journey.
Lamira
Artist
Lamira is a young artist originally from Venezuela who moved to Australia by herself at the age of 13 in hope of a better life. The poet-turned-musician made her debut in the last year or so and has since performed over 30 shows, including opening for international Latin artists Alexis y Fido, collaborated with brands like JD Sports and Butter and had her third single Mali featured on ABC News.
Maanyung
Artist
With strong ties to Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl nations, Maanyung sings in his ancestors' language, his own method of preserving tradition in today's fast-paced world. His 2024 single Bilwaali (Home) was added to rotation on triple j, triple j Unearthed and FBi Radio, televised on Channel 7’s Jordie, Sam & Ted's Adventures and the ABC News, and featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday. Recently, his emotive triple j Like A Version rendition of Billie Eilish’s What Was I Made For? quickly drew more than 1 million views.
Sathyan Ilanko
Artist
Sathyan is a rising talent who grew up in Sydney with a deep-rooted connection to his Tamil heritage. His 2024 single Aasa Kooda gained massive popularity, trending on YouTube and social media and climbing to #2 on the Indian Billboard Charts. Ilanko often draws on Tamil classics for inspiration, giving his songs a unique blend of old and new. With aspirations to work in Kollywood, he continues to shape his career by balancing his cultural heritage with modern storytelling, aiming to bridge audiences across languages and regions.
Christopher Kevin Au (Facilitator)
Artist manager and journalist
Through his long standing work as an artist manager, journalist and personality, Kevin has become one of the loudest voices championing hip-hop from Australia. Kevin manages artists including SPEED, Maanyung and Shady Nasty. Over the past decade, he has also written for staple publications including Highsnobiety, Complex and The Guardian and interviewed global stars like Kendrick Lamar, Kim Kardashian and Post Malone.
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