We acknowledge & pay our respects to First Nations peoples & recognise the role of intergenerational song practitioners in establishing rich & diverse music practices that exist today.

Outside In

A CAPTIVATING AND GROUNDBREAKING FUSION OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND INTROSPECTIVE STORYTELLING
‘Outside In’ delves into the hidden depths of the Australian music industry, capturing both the essence and vulnerability of its iconic figures.

International Women's Day

For International Women’s Day 2024, we highlighted two incredible women who are making a difference in the Australian music industry through this special edition of Outside In for Women In Pop.

Through a series of emotive photographs, Jess Macc captures the pure essence of two incredible women in music, Jenna McDougall a.k.a Hevenshe and Warnindhilyagwa woman Emily Wurramara.

Dive into the musical worlds of Jenna McDougall a.k.a Hevenshe and Emily Wurramara as they share their journeys of navigating through the challenges of working in the music industry with Women In Pop.

Jenna McDougall

Hevenshe is a true representative for women in rock and is the solo project of Tonight Alive’s Jenna McDougall. In November 2023, Jenna independently released her debut album Wild Wild Heart and shares her story through this strong, ethereal body of work.

Emily Wurramara

Emily Wurramara has an abundance of experience with non-for-profit organisations and is an ARIA-nominated and multi-award-winning artist. Emily has also featured on a Support Act Yarning Strong panel that aims to uplift the First Nations music industry community and the wider music industry community.

Series 1

Created by music photographer Jess MaccHustle Media and Support Act, the series features artists from a wide range of genres and backgrounds including Budjerah, Tania Doko, Dale Tanner (Ocean Grove), Catherine Alcorn, Jamaica Moana and Yorke, along with Rolling Stone editor-in-chief, Poppy Reid.

Each participant is candidly interviewed by Jess Macc about their life and personal stories regarding the highs and lows of being a part of the Australian music scene. The videos and images will be released on social media weekly, starting with artist, rapper and songwriter of Māori (Ngāpuhi/Tainui) and Samoan descent, Jamaica Moana.

Mental health issues can affect anyone, but there are healthy ways to pursue a career in music and support for those who make music their career. Check out our mental health resources for advice and tips, and if you need someone to talk to, call the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline on 1800 959 500.

Episode 1: Jamaica Moana

Jamaica Moana is a Sydney-based artist, rapper, creative director and songwriter of Māori (Ngāpuhi/Tainui) and Samoan descent. In this episode Jamaica talks about starting in the industry at a young age, as well as their coming out story and finding her people in the queer community.

Episode 2: Dale Tanner

Dale Tanner vocalist of Ocean Grove, Opens up to Jess Macc about his music journey and navigating his mental health.

Episode 3: Poppy Reid

Poppy Reid is the Editor In Chief of Australia’s largest youth publisher, The Brag Media, which includes Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Variety Australia, Tone Deaf, The Brag and The Music Network under its umbrella. In this episode of Outside In Poppy speaks on numerous topics including sexual assault and secondary trauma, divorce and sobriety.

Episode 4: Budjerah

Budjerah is an incredibly gifted Australian singer-songwriter who brings a soulful blend of R&B, folk, and Indigenous culture to the global music stage. As Budjerah’s star continues to rise, he remains a beacon of authenticity and inspiration. With every note, he carries the stories of his ancestors and the hopes of a new generation. In this episode of Outside In, Budjerah chats about his experiences in the Australian music industry and how he looks after his mental health.

Episode 5: Yorke

Yorke is an indie-pop singer songwriter from Byron Bay. She arrived in 2019 with the rollout of her debut EP Liberosis followed by the Japanese Wallpaper-produced single ‘Gravity’ (2020). In this episode of Outside In Yorke has an in-depth conversation with Jess Macc about her journey with mental health and how she navigated through the pandemic with the help of Support Act.

Episode 6: Tania Doko

Tania Doko is an accomplished Australian singer-songwriter known for her emotive and captivating musical talents. With a career spanning over three decades, she has garnered international recognition for her powerful vocals and heartfelt songwriting. Tania sat down with Jess Macc for a chat about her history as a songwriter and making the switch to becoming an independent artist.

Episode 7: Catherine Alcorn

Catherine Alcorn is a multi award-winning artist, presenter, producer, podcaster, Artistic Director and one of Australia’s most in-demand entertainers, renowned for her powerhouse vocals and razor sharp wit. She sat for Jess Macc in episode 7 of Outside In to chat about her experience as an actor, singer, producer and mum.

Watch more fascinating stories in our video series, ‘Tune Ups’.