Generations - Western Sydney Music Fellowship

Generations – Western Sydney Music Fellowship connects western Sydney contemporary musical talent with established industry leaders and mentors to create pathways in the music industry.

Delivered in a partnership between Powerhouse, Sound NSW and Blacktown Arts, the fellowship offers 2 early career musicians or bands a six-month residency including financial support, professional mentorships and studio space in Blacktown.

The fellowship connects unsigned musicians with established industry professionals, fostering intergenerational knowledge and experience. Fellows will engage with musicians, songwriters, producers, agents, record labels and publishing executives while developing entrepreneurial skills, showcasing their work and expanding their networks.
Access to studio space for writing, rehearsals, recordings and meetings will support artists in the creative development of new music.

Performance and program development opportunities with Powerhouse, Sound NSW and Blacktown Arts will further enhance industry exposure and career growth.

2026 Fellows

Xiao Xiao

Xiao Xiao is a new post-punk project mutating into one of the most disruptive currents in the east coast underground. With only a single track released, they’re already moving on a frequency the industry can’t clock. Championing a new voice for so-called Australia’s east coast, their sound moves through punk, rap, club and trip-hop without settling into one space.

Drawn up from the fault-lines between the band member’s other projects: Baschoe, 1300, Slim Set Kitiibwa, Minhyuk, Kalanjay and Himadri channel the chaos and sharpened instincts of Dharug Nura / Western Sydney’s experimental core.

On 4/20 in 2025 they released ‘Left Right,’ a hard-hitting 1 minute 40 track that sparked international attention, drawing early buzz online and support across underground radio and experimental communities.

You can find xiao xiao on Instagram here

RISSA

Inspired by the worlds of R&B and Gospel music, Polynesian/Australian artist RISSA sings about her real-life experiences and translates them through lush blends of soulful melodies, gospel choir harmonies, and rhythmic grooves.

Being the daughter of a first generation immigrant mother, RISSA’s experiences and art revolve around the feeling of connection – and that feeling is what connects her art to her audience.

From her 2023 debut EP ‘Made To Feel’ gaining over 25 million streams across DSP’s and 200+ vinyl copies sold worldwide, to her latest release of her sophomore EP ‘ WHERE LOVE ONCE WAS’ receiving support from Apple Music, Triple J, NOVA, CADA, Spotify and more, RISSA is quickly claiming her place as a leading emerging R&B artist both nationally and internationally.

You can find RISSA on Instagram here

2025 Fellows

gemma ylana

gemma ylana (formerly Gemma Navarrete) is a Chilean/Italian artist hailing from Western Sydney. Drawing inspiration from artists like PinkPantheress, Ariana Grande and Kali Uchis, gemma fuses the sounds of RnB, pop and reggaeton with an introspective, honest lyricism that reflects the ebbs and flows of young adulthood.

You can find gemma on Instagram here

FRIDAY*

Ghanaian by heritage and Australian by citizenship, FRIDAY*’s compositions touch on identity-based self-conflict, long nights, good friends, bad heartache and all things in between. His free-flowing sense of self allows him to build unorthodox sonic narratives that unearth the true patterns and colours of his self, his heritage and his home city of Sydney. Producing and performing tapestry pop, hip hop, raw punk and more, FRIDAY* pushes boundaries and turns heads with a conviction not felt within the Eora scene in quite some time.

You can find FRIDAY* on Instagram here

YELLOWLINE

YELLOWLINE is a collective that embodies the spirit of Western Sydney’s diverse Hip Hop community. Their music is an expression of their individual identities and a unified chorus that celebrates cultural diversity and shared aspirations. As a collective, Biggs685, ElijahYo, MRVZ, and MKAY aim to redefine the landscape of Australian Hip Hop, making it an inclusive space where positive and uplifting messages challenge the status quo and ignite change.

You can find YELLOWLINE on Instagram here