COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the arts sector, and the music industry in particular. Broadcaster and writer Tanya Ali speaks to three incredibly talented musicians about their work and how the pandemic challenged them to transform their creative processes.

Singer and songwriter GLO discusses the creation of her track “Transmute” during one of her state’s many lockdowns and the significance of the Black Lives Matter movement, while Māori artist A.GIRL talks about growing up in Western Sydney and how her childhood has influenced her music. Adelaide-based producer Strict Face also joins Tanya to tell us how the multitude of nightclub shutdowns affected his career and creative process.

This Colour Cycle season is a takeover by Diversity Arts’ StoryCasters, a collective of young culturally diverse content producers.

Recorded and produced on the unceded lands of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the Caborgal of the Darug nation, the Mulgoa of the Darug nation and the Karuna peoples. Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land.

A production of Diversity Arts Australia.

Guests: GLO, A.GIRL, Strict Face

Interviewer: Tanya Ali

Research and presentation: Vir Kaula, Claire Cao, Sonia Mehrmand

Season 5 Host: Sonia Mehrmand

Regular Host and Executive Producer:  Lena Nahlous

Producers: Sonia Mehrmand and Vir Kaula, with support from Claire Cao and Colin Ho

More information (Hyperlinks to featured orgs / artists / work):

GLO

A.GIRL

Strict Face

Music: GLO, A.GIRL, Strict Face, Melvin Tu and Ali Saganci

StoryCasters is a project of Diversity Arts Australia and provides training and mentorship to young culturally diverse digital producers. Visit STORYCASTERS.NET for more.

This season is supported by Multicultural NSW and Create NSW. Diversity Arts also receives core funding from Australia Council for the Arts.

StoryCasters trainer/ mentors: Jennifer Macey, Phoenix Eye, Sweatshop Literacy Movement, Nicola Morton, Del Lumanta.