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“Being in this mentorship will build my confidence in knowing I’m capable of pushing forward,” she says. “At the end of the journey, I hope to be able to walk into any room and know exactly what’s right and wrong.”

Co-founder of the GRID series Ariel Blum says the country’s underground and street music scene is arguably the most exciting it’s ever been. However, many skilled artists are “slept on” because the industry isn’t looking in the right places.

“The mechanism of how that amazing music is reaching people is broken. It has been for some time … It isn’t a lack of interest, it’s a lack of knowledge,” he says. “What we can do in our little way is to shine a light on artists who don’t get that visibility, lifting them into the spotlight and connecting them with world-class mentors and producers.”

This is particularly valuable for Jordyn Griffiths (Jordz), a 24-year-old Narre Warren indie-dance musician who wants to see more neurodiverse people like herself elevated locally.

She’d also like to see more Australian talent remain in the country. “So many Australian artists move overseas and then end up blowing up big time. Think of Dom Dolla, Rufus, The Kid Laroi, Cassian.”

To keep talent here, Griffiths suggests radio stations set a target percentage of emerging or independent Australian artists played, as well as social media initiatives such as funded artist support groups that provide advertising credits.

Kiid Koda (otherwise known as Dakota McAllan), a 25-year-old rapper from Noble Park, agrees, but notes that he feels the local industry is somewhat stuck in its ways.

“Anybody who’s trying to be different, to bring a different sound, or think outside the box and do something that’s not the norm per se, we’re a country that shuns it or calls it cringe – tall poppy syndrome.”

That’s what stops promising artists from taking risks, he says. He, however, did take the risk. After pursuing a professional soccer career in his late teens, he decided to transition to music despite no existing industry connections.

Now that he’s part of the GRID, he feels he can focus on his own music – which combines rap with smoother melodies – and block out surrounding noise or judgement.

“I know if I can do my thing consistently, there’s nothing that can hold me back. You can’t eat if you’re focusing on what’s on everyone else’s plates.”

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