Locals Only #1 - New South Wales
Our chats with New South Wales-based musicians, emerging and established! Hear from introspective folk inspired Jean Elliot, funk, hip-hop and R&B teen ekam, bedroom-pop solo artist wilomence, melodic rapper Goose and young pop-rock trio Beanstalk.
Words Adeline Chai
Jean Elliot
What To Expect: Haunting ballads that paint lush worlds with gorgeously introspective lyricism, written by Jean Elliot (20)
Tell us about yourself. Why did you start writing songs?
I’m a 20-year-old ancient history and philosophy student with a love for gothic horror, film, and pasta. I’ve been writing music for the longest time and have pictured myself on the stage since my first concert, which I think was The Wiggles. I can’t put my finger on why or how my interest in music first came about, but I think it makes it all the more special to know that it was always just inherent to who I was since day dot. When I was 13, I first started recording my own music and it was like I had opened Pandora’s Box. Now I have the best band I could’ve asked for and a catalogue of songs that I’m proud of.
What inspired your latest single, ‘This Room’?
I had always wanted to make a song like ‘This Room’ as so many of my inspirations are shoegaze, slowcore, and grunge. I finally made it because my production skills had progressed enough that I felt confident to pull it off. The song is about a character’s death, described in existential detail, with references to Twin Peaks and cold crime cases. Twin Peaks, David Lynch, and film forever inspire me to create cinematic soundscapes. This Room is the song I’m most proud of in terms of capturing that cinematic experience.
How would you describe your music in three words to anyone who hasn’t listened to you before?
Intricate, story-driven and ghostly. ‘Intricate’ because I have too many folk instruments and need to use them all, ‘story-driven’ because I love to write fictional stories for my lyrics, and ‘ghostly’ because no matter what genre I am exploring, the production is atmospheric and hazy.
The common thread that ties your catalogue together is making listeners feel they’re peeking into your interior world. Is there a feeling or phenomenon you’re inspired by the most when writing?
I am always drawn to trying to write about the things I feel that I can’t really explain in other ways. Feelings like loneliness, confusion, anxiety or the more positive feelings of desire, freedom or dreams I have. I like to turn them into fictions, and create projects that have throughout narratives, characters or concepts that I can streamline my own feelings into, and make them into something new. In that way, translating my interior word into music is cathartic and creative. My writing may start as a way to express the things that overwhelm me, but it will quickly turn into a rich creative project far from my own troubles.
What’s your favourite lyric you’ve written and why?
My favourite lyric I’ve written is probably from a song that nobody has heard yet. It’s called ‘highwayman’. I wrote it on a bus travelling through the countryside of Athens. It was my first trip out of the country and I was missing my partner. Coincidentally, I needed to write a song about two drifters who eventually get separated while on the run. All the feelings about distance and love came easily. I’m really proud of the whole song, but if I had to choose a line or two, I’d pick, “and I have learned a thing or two about surviving the snow / the wide white land is that much kinder when you’re riding alone.”
What’s the most memorable gig you’ve played so far?
We played Mary’s Underground for a university music society event in December last year, and it was a riot. All of us were dressed as the nurse on the blink-182 Enema of the State cover, and we gave 100% energy to a 20 minute set. We’d never played to a crowd that big before, or at such an iconic venue. I definitely don’t want it to be the last time we play there.
Who are some NSW artists you’re loving right now?
Griffin Ford, Defair, and Maia Toakley. They’re very different artists who feel authentic and confident in their sound.
What can we expect from you this year?
We’re kicking off the year with an exciting new EP called Butcher, Lover, Runner. It’s an introduction to a world we’ve been building, filled with rabbits, hunters, bogans and bushland. It’s a universe of country western with a sound to match, and I’m really excited for people to hear what we’ve been working so hard on. It’s been amazing to finally record something with the band, and some incredible new collaborators. You can expect to see us celebrate the EP for as long as people will let us, and begin to expand the world from there…
ekam
What To Expect: Groovy beats infused with elements of funk, hip-hop, and R&B, produced by ekam (14).
Introduce yourself! When did you first start making music?
I made my first song when I was seven, rapping on top of a Punjabi song called ‘Oye Lucky’ on voice memos through my horrible iPad speakers. I used my uncle's iPod to play the song and I rapped for 20 seconds about a new table my aunty and uncle had gotten on the same day. Fire.
After making five albums, what have you learnt about songwriting and production?
I’ve learnt that no matter what, I’m only getting better and better. So I’ve never let any feelings of perfectionism come near me because I won’t let that energy ruin what I love doing most.
The first song you wrote was about your aunty’s dining table and your grandma made the painting for your album. What role does your family play in your musical journey right now?
Genuinely, besides from things like that, they actually play no part in any of the artsy stuff I like doing, whether it's making music or videos or stuff like that. I love not having a blueprint because it gives me space to do things my way and I’m grateful that my parents aren't controlling at all with my music, they kinda just let me do whatever as long as my grades are consistent (which for the most part they are). I’ve seen lots of kids on social media where their parents do a lot with them which I’ve always cringed at because I BET those kids have no say in what they actually want to do. I also know kids whose parents are already in the industry so its really easy for them to get into it. I’m so happy I don’t have that because all artists say the most fun part of music was the come up. I don’t want that handed to me, who do you think I am????
What are the three ekam songs you’d recommend to anyone who hasn’t heard of you?
‘george st.’ - I produced and recorded the whole song in 45 minutes. It's just a fun little joint.
‘untitled (the way it goes)’ - it’s probably my best produced beat that is released right now.
‘warm breeze’ - a jazz rap song, the single for SOULE - I just love it!
You listened to a lot of CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator in 2025. Did you listen to that album while making your latest album SOULE?
CMIYGL has been my absolute favourite album since 2023 when I heard it for the first time. I got introduced to Tyler in 2022 by my cousin and I didn’t even like his music at first, but I think that’s purely because I was 11 (athough, I listened to flower boy that same year and I loved it so much). The album is always in rotation and my goal in life is to make an album as fun as that. Braggadocious raps about travel and somehow turning heartbreak into tracks you can dance to? Yeah, that’s my thing.
What does your dream gig look like?
A crowd of 50,000 people wearing the coolest outfits ever, like they're competing in a fashion show, singing all my lyrics. I want to have people jumping, but also know when to just stand and vibe depending on the song. I also want people to cry when I leave the stage and become depressed because they won’t see me for a long time or even at all again.
wilomence
What To Expect: Bedroom pop tunes threaded with tender folk goodness, performed by Wilomence (18)
Image: @isabong.mov
Tell us about your artist name, wilomence. Why did you choose that name?
I am half Korean and I wanted my name to say something about my precarity between two cultures. I started researching words in Korean that I associated with my songwriting process, and I came across “위로” - or wilo - which means ‘consolation’. In this time, I stressed vehemence in my writing, so I mashed these two words together and then came the birth of ‘wilomence’.
If you could paint a picture for listeners, what does wilomence’s world look like?
It would be dark and muddy but with flecks of glitter. Maybe there are some mountains are poking out of the mud. I write a lot of sad and angsty songs, but my best songs, or the songs people like the most, are always my happy ones. I really like sparkly things too, so I think this would be a pretty good representation.
Tell us about yourself and your music-making journey so far. Do you remember the exact moment when you decided to start making music?
I’m a singer-songwriter, and I really love just doing my own thing on my own path. I’m inspired by all the music I listen to, whether that be emo, shoegaze, pop-punk, electronic or indie music. I started making music when I was a kid, sort of like bad poetry, because I didn’t play any instruments (other than the flute). When I was 13 or 14, my emotions got a lot stronger, and poetry didn’t cut it anymore. Around this time was when I got into beabadoobee, Phoebe Bridgers, and then just a lot of sad TikTok music. I got given a really bad classical guitar from school that could never be tuned right, and I started teaching myself how to play guitar alongside songwriting. My songwriting started out as a way of getting my feelings out, and it has always stayed the same. The closest I have come to fabricating stories for my songs is just exaggerating the events of my life. I started playing gigs at school, and then with Futureproof, and now I play a variety of gigs with my uni and with friends of mine.
What do you want your listeners to feel when they listen to your music?
I definitely want my listeners to feel seen or heard. There is nothing better than the feeling of your own experience pouring through your ears. The best songs for me are always the ones that relate to my current situation the most and make the most vivid description of some experience that is so specific. I want my listeners to feel like someone is there for them.
You’ve mentioned being heavily inspired by folk and bedroom pop. What do you love about these genres?
I love the rawness of both. It is so down-to-earth and emotional. Some of my biggest inspirations from these genres include Searows, Clairo and Esha Tewari. In an ideal world, I would love to be a bit more emo and heavy, maybe even metalcore, but I don’t have the tools for that at the moment.
One of our favourite songs of yours is ‘loops’, particularly its storytelling. Which song of yours are you most proud of?
Oh, thank you so much! This is a very hard question. To answer it broadly, the songs I’m most proud of are those where I have really succeeded in painting an emotional picture without being literal. These are usually the songs from the darkest points of my life, as this is when I feel things most deeply and have the most to say.
What’s a dream all-ages venue in NSW you’d like to play?
This is a pretty hard question, I could name so many! A dream venue to play at would be Enmore Theatre. It’s where I watched my first ever concert and I’ve also seen so many favourite artists of mine there (beabadoobee, You Me At Six…). I also love the look of it, it’s cosy and warm in there.
Who are some NSW artists you’re loving right now?
Some smaller acts would be Retail Therapy and Flyss. I have opened for both of those bands, and they make great music and are also lovely people. Some bigger acts I love are Yours Truly (emo-pop-punk), Ninajirachi and Esha Tewari! I love to see local acts get popular, especially when they’re alternative.
Goose
What To Expect: An infectious blend of melodic rap and trap, sung by Goose (15)
Tell us about yourself. When was the first time you made music?
I started making music when I was about 11. At the time, I didn't really know what I was doing. I was just making music on some random cheap gaming microphone on YouTube beats because I always had a love for music. I’ve always aspired to be an artist since I was young.
What’s been a highlight in your career so far?
One highlight of my journey so far was dropping my debut single ‘fall back’ last year. The video was a very big moment for me because it's really what got me out there. Lots of people showed love after seeing it.
Who do you aspire to be as an artist?
As an artist, I aspire to be someone people can relate to. I hope to be a person who inspires the youth to start making music or doing anything creative.
What can we expect from you in 2026?
I actually just wrapped up the video shoot with deean and Junaid for my next single ‘break the bank’, which may or may not be out by the time you’re seeing this interview. But, for the rest of the year, I’m trying to release a lot of music and really put myself out on the map.
Do you think there’s a thread that ties all your music together? If so, what is it?
Honestly, I think it's my visuals. All my music videos are so fun, colourful, and unserious, but also serious at the same time.
Tell me about being in the NSW hip-hop scene. What has it been like?
Being a part of the NSW music scene has been great because there is so much talent out here. The artists, producers, and creatives I’ve met, I value with my life, because a lot of them got me to where I am now. I really hope the whole world sees this scene soon.
Beanstalk
What To Expect: Indie up-tempo songs borrowing from pop and rock, performed by three mates who love having fun together, Isaac, Alex and Jensen (18)
Talk us through your band name. Why are you called Beanstalk?
Alex: Our band name initially came about through a passing joke. Jensen said something along the lines of “Isaac, you’re built like a twig, beanstalk looking a**.” When Isaac shot back with “I’d rather that than knowing jack [all] about music,” the name sort of stuck in my mind. It was later that I linked it to the fairy tale, and brought it to the band as a whole.
How did you form the band?
Jensen: Alex and I met at orientation in high school. To this day, he gives me crap for the first conversation we had, where I, being an obnoxious year seven, essentially [dissed] the whole rock genre (which encompassed Alex’s complete music taste at the time), and proclaimed “I’m really more of a jazz guy myself.” Amazing first impression, I know. We kind of passed each other by for the next year, in the same year level but never the same circles - until one fateful year 8 music class, I walked in on him playing guitar and singing to himself. I still remember the song, it was ‘KMD (And You Are Ever So Dear in Our Hearts Because of It!)’ by american poetry club. I, being the show off I was, hopped on the drums and started jamming along. That was the day the seeds of Beanstalk (no pun intended) were planted. Even back then, I knew our sound was something special - so when Isaac, Alex and I jamming became a regular thing in around 2022, and started writing our own music, turning the group into a band was just the logical next step.
How would you describe Beanstalk’s music to anyone who hasn’t listened to you before?
Jensen: We’re a 3-piece Aussie indie band that primarily makes upbeat, pop-rock songs. If I had to use one word to describe our sound, it’d probably be diverse. Our upcoming EP especially takes components from all different genres and experiments with mixing and matching , so we’ve got something for everyone in our catalogue. Overall, if you like nice beachy vibes, funky bass lines, and some surprises here and there, our music is for you.
‘Bell’ Jar’ is one of our favourite tracks of yours. How do you envisage people listening to it?
Jensen: ‘Bell Jar’ is a banger. Alex’s guitar solo especially goes hard in the car, on the beach or when you’re working out; anytime you need a pump up. Personally, I ride my bike a lot, so when I’m zooming down a hill, or pedalling through a bike track in the bush, I always love to listen to ‘Bell Jar’ for that extra kick.
We loved your spin on ‘i’ by Kendrick Lamar. What genres of music are you inspired by and is there a sound you’d like to explore in the future?
Alex: We all have quite different music tastes that overlap due to their broadness, which leads to our unique sound and cover choices. For example, I’ve been listening to quite a bit of Midwest emo, prog, and jazz, while I know that Jensen’s been on rap for a while, and Isaac’s into old school rock. Honestly, we’re not too concerned with genre at all at the moment, we just want to make authentic music that’s cool for us. In the future, I think it’ll stay that way, but I personally would love to start exploring more of that Midwest emo guitar sound.
What was your favourite gig you’ve ever played?
Alex: My favourite was a gig we played at Paddington RSL with Woodhill, Miss Communication, and Wild Rocket. Not that many people came but I felt we gave a really strong performance, and the other bands were really cool.
What is your dream all-ages music venue to play at?
Isaac: Hordern Pavilion has been the venue where I’ve experienced some of my best memories. The sound quality, the crowd it pulls, the size - all of it is perfect. If we could get a gig there, it’d be a dream come true.
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