Global sounds, local electronica, r'n'b, nu-soul, alt pop, and things that fall in between. The search is for music that might not like to belong to a particular category, and artists who prefer to deviate from the path.

EMPRESS is a Melbourne based, 6-piece ensemble who strive to create a unique and innovative platform for three part vocal harmony. The vocalists are accompanied by synth, bass and percussion drumming, performing songs of the gospel, jazz and RnB genre.

With his determination and passion for music, Charles-Eddy Vitry (Mr. Pitiful) landed his first residency in 2001 at the era-defining Parisian nightclub: Les Bains Douches, quickly making a name for himself on the Paris club scene, followed by stints in New York, Montreal and Switzerland and Australia. With a perplexing ability to mix anything from rock ‘n’ roll to electro; soul to house; acid jazz to minimal tech, Mr Pitiful has played alongside international and local artists at venues and festivals including Strawberry Fields, 161, Revolver, Toff In Town, Railway Hotel, My Aeon, Lounge, Section 8, St Jerome’s, Third Class and Glamorama.

Bandleader Lachlan Mitchell (Laneous, Vulture St Tape Gang, Harry James Angus, Jazz Party) directs an ever changing lineup of musicians through an improvised jam using only a whiteboard and a pen, shifting and contorting the composition of each song in real time with the unpredictable brilliance of a mad scientist. Featuring a rotating cast of familiar names from stalwart projects such as Hiatus Kaiyote, Barney McAll and Sex On Toast, Uncomfortable Science have earnt themselves a cult status in the Melbourne music scene.

“Velvet Bloom’s music speaks to the soul with an oozing honey pot of silky vocals, lush soundscapes and raw emotion.” Velvet Bloom is a neo-soul, alternative-pop and jazz-rock music project with ballad style vocals. The project is fronted and founded by Maddy Herbert, she performs solo and with different variations of her live band “The Vito Collective”. They have performed together as ‘Velvet Bloom’ for four years, in that time they have released ten singles, organised three tours and they have supported countless musicians. Some notable acts that they have performed with are Josh Cashman, Great Gable, Dulcie, Death By Denim, The Mamas, The Grogans, Zoe Fox And The Rocket Clocks, Teenage Dads, Kim Churchill etc… In 2019, Velvet Bloom’s song ‘Teach Ya’ won Listen Up Music Org’s national competition for ‘Songs That Heal’. Maddy is now a part of the MIME mentoring program through Boxhill Institute and she is lucky enough to have Kylie Auldist as her mentor for Velvet Bloom.