Locals Only #1 - Queensland

Our chats with Queensland-based musicians, emerging and established! Hear from indie majors Ball Park Music, pop act Bella Amor, funk teens LanGwij, surf rockers Wave Raiders and alt-bedroom artist and producer Jemzel.

Words Emma Newbury

Ball Park Music

What To Expect: Queensland sun mixed with glistening guitar melodies and optimistic nihilist takes on growing up. Ball Park Music are Sam, Jennifer, Dean, Paul, and Daniel.

Introduce yourselves - how did Ball Park Music come to be?

We met in 2008. We were all at uni studying music.

What are your earliest memories with music?

While there weren’t really any musicians in my family, I did indeed come from a family of music lovers. My parents almost always had some music playing. In the house, in the car, there was always music. My sister and I were pretty free to rummage through the CDs and LPs and to have our suggestions included. My Nana had an old organ in the back of her house too. According to everyone in the family, she played woefully, but I can vividly recall how silly, funny and joyful it was hanging with her while she’d bash out some tunes. I’ve got to give credit to my dad in particular; he’s an avid music listener. He got me dialled in on music history, giving me context for everything we’d listen to. He also introduced me to a lot of his favourite Australian bands and was hugely encouraging as I started to show an interest in playing.

You’ve played a whopping 615 shows over the years! Do you still remember the first show you played?

We just passed 617 on the weekend! And yes, I can remember our first show quite clearly. We got a last-minute call up to play a show at The Zoo in Brisbane (now Crowbar Brisbane). It was part of an event the uni was putting on. We had a pretty great show considering our inexperience. It was a lot of fun, and not to be too sentimental, but it really did feel like the beginning of something meaningful.

Being in a band comes with incredible highs, but it also comes with incredible lows. Do you have any strategies in place for managing your health and wellbeing as musicians?

A life in music can definitely be a bit of a rollercoaster. Managing the highs and lows is a constant challenge. The highs are pretty obvious. It’s a crazy, cowboy life of adventure and excitement. We’ve done it for a long time so I can only assume we get a bit steadier as we go along. Each year we add a little extra method to the madness. Naturally, as we get older, we try put a little more emphasis on our wellbeing. But in many ways, I feel as foolish as the day I began. It’s a certain type of person that gravitates to music. It attracts dreamers, travellers, idealists, restless spirits. I am pretty used to the chaotic ups and downs of this life and I think most of my grievances are offset by the great sense of purpose I get from pursuing a life of music.

You’ve got a few all-ages shows on your upcoming tour, including a Queensland leg at The Tivoli. Do you have any advice for kids and teens prepping for their first concert experiences?

Not really, there’s not much to it! It’s pretty easy to enjoy live music. I’d just encourage people to get out there and experience it. I can still remember quite vividly a lot of the gigs I attended as a teenager; they often made a lasting impact on my life. It’s a loud, bright sensory assault, that thrill never gets old for me. But the communal aspect is probably what’s most important. Everyone knows that our sense of community and social cohesion is in a precarious place at this moment in time, and to be in a room with other people, all sharing something together with the potential for it to be transformational... it’s nothing short of a spiritual experience.

Bella Amor

What To Expect: Soft girl vibes with an edgy pop exterior, solo act Bella (23) collages feelings into song.

Introduce yourself! What made you start pursuing music?

I'm a 23-year-old girl who needs to get stuff off of her chest. I find it really hard to talk about how I'm feeling so I thought writing it and singing it would make it easier to deal with the everyday things I go through.

What are your earliest memories with music?

Music has always been around my household playing wherever it possibly could. My mum was an opera singer when I was younger, so naturally I wanted to see if I could sing. Turns out I could hold a note so I stuck with it.

Do you still remember the first show you played? What was that like, and how have your shows changed since then?

I do! The biggest thing I remember was thinking about how I wanted to do this forever and ever. I used to get pretty gnarly stage fright before I’d play but now that couldn’t be further from the truth. I feel so comfortable up there and that’s the biggest change I’ve seen.

How do you get inspired to write new music?

Whenever I go through something that I feel is catastrophic, I head to my notebook and pick up a guitar. That’s my inspiration truly, just going through life as a 20 something year old.

Being a musician comes with incredible creative breakthroughs and crazy opportunities, but it’s not always an easy job. Do you have any strategies in place for managing your health and wellbeing as a muso?

Taking breaks. I am so go, go, go that I forget to live my life and I get really caught up in where I want to be and where I’m going. I find taking breaks to be such a crucial part of being a musician and to be honest just being a person.

You just went on tour with The Rions. Do you have a rider? If so, what’s usually on there?

I love my rider lmao. The girls and I aren’t huge drinkers so I have lots of orange juice on there, some tea (specifically throat coat), pez + the dispenser (because I love lollies), a framed picture of a celebrity (because why not) and a stuffed animal. It’s my goal to have a stuffed animal from every place I tour.

What resources or media sites really helped you when you were starting out in your career that you’d recommend to teens wanting to go into music?

Utilising social media apps, in my opinion, is the best way in. I also think triple j Unearthed was a huge game changer for people to explore new sounds. Honestly though consistency is always key, just keep hacking it until the world is at a point where they can’t help but listen.

What’s the rest of 2026 looking like for Bella Amor?

Lots of writing. And honestly discovering who I am as a person. My music really is a self discovering journey and it’s cool to be able to hear it all unfold. So more self reflection and writing. Hopefully at the end of the year more SHOWS! I love performing and I just want to be doing it always.

LanGwij

What To Expect: Funkadelic, psychedelic, hip-hop realness from a genre-bending, guitar welding, outfit coordinating five-piece, featuring Hezekiah (15), Narrah (14), Genesis (17), Koda (17) and Mone (17).

Introduce yourselves. What made you decide to start LanGwij and what is your music inspired by?

We were always surrounded by music from a young age, coming from a long line of professional musicians. So, we pretty much fell in love with playing music from a young age. Our music is inspired by lived experiences, love, heartbreak, happy moments, sad moments, and everything in between… and Prince.

Where did the name LanGwij come from?

LanGwij is a twist on the word ‘language’. We wanted to have as our name since language is a big part of all the band members culture, coming from Aboriginal, Samoan, and Māori families. We hope to create songs that preserve our culture and language, as it is a big part of our identity.

What was the first concert or gig you ever went to?

We’ve all been to many shows individually, but the first one we all went collectively as a band was Kayps at BIGSOUND in 2025. We were blown away with his flow, technique and stage presence and he definitely left a mark on us. We even got to connect with him there as he came along to one of our shows and was shocked by our performance! So, there will probably be a collaboration with Kayps soon.

You’ve been getting some awesome opportunities lately! How do you balance school life and gig life?

We’re all homeschooled! Basically, our gig life is our education, as we’re always learning new things every time we get together and jam. We think homeschooling has very much allowed us to focus on our musical journey. We spend full days rehearsing and honing our craft, and it has essentially fast-forwarded us.

Who would be your dream musical act to collaborate with?

Prince, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, and the great Olivia Dean (in our dreams haha)! Some realistic options would probably be Supergroove, House of Shem, Stan Walker, Playlunch, and Jessica Mauboy!

You’ve played some massive shows with the band. Do you have advice for getting your music out there at such a young age?

Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, always explore when creating music, and lastly enjoy yourself! Motivation is key, even when you’re having a bad day, keep pushing to reach your dreams. And connecting with other young musicians is great!

How do you prepare for gigs?

At least 2-3 rehearsals, and lots of practice at home. We also like to change up our outfits every gig to keep our audience hooked, thinking “I wonder what they’re going to wear this time.” Oh, and lots of funny behind the scenes videos, where our keyboard is usually slapping our lead singer in the face haha.

Are there boundaries in the music industry for people under 18? Is there anything you wish was easier?

Yes absolutely, a lot of people will pay us different fees per gig, simply because of our age. We have been working hard with organisations like The Push to make the music industry a more sustainable career option for young musicians, as we have copped the brunt of it. We definitely wish there were more all-ages venues across Brisbane as that is something that limits us from expanding our reach.

Can we expect some LanGwij music to be released in the future?

Yes! We have been working hard in the studio working towards our first single release due in late 2026! So, stay tuned on our website langwijmusic.com for upcoming releases, shows, and much more to come! Peace from LanGwij!

Wave Raiders

What To Expect: ‘90s/00s inspired punky surf rock, teenage rebellion and chaotic energy. Wave Raiders are brothers Peter (15) and Tom (14), and best mate Jayden (14).

Introduce yourselves! What made you decide to start Wave Raiders?

We’re a trio of alternative rock disruptors from the Sunshine Coast. We formed Wave Raiders a few years ago when we were 10-12 years old because of our love of punk rock, surf culture, and the last 25 years of Australian music.

What was the first concert or gig you ever went to?

During the 2020 COVID lockdown, we found ourselves rugged up in the back of our parents’ ute, immersed in the electrifying sounds of The Chats at our first ever drive-in concert.

You’ve been getting some awesome opportunities lately! How do you balance school life and gig life?

We give our teachers a heads up whenever we’re going away, so that we can ask them for notes and apply for extensions if needed. While we’re away, we try and fit in our school work whenever we have down time. But it’s not easy…

Who would be your dream musical act to collaborate with?

Right now, we’re really loving the energy that YUNGBLUD and Amyl and the Sniffers are bringing to the scene, and it would be an absolute dream to tour with them.

You released your debut EP Nothing Better in 2025. What was the process of writing and recording an EP like?

Our songwriting usually begins with our guitar or bass player bringing a riff to the band. We then work on a structure together and draft some lyrics. We road test our songs at our live shows and adjust along the way before we take it to our producer to record.

You’ve also been celebrated by many music industry outlets. Do you have advice for getting your music out there at such a young age?

Our advice to young musicians is to keep creating and having fun with it. Don’t let perfectionism stop you from getting your music out there.

Are there boundaries to the music industry for people under 18? Is there anything you wish was easier?

The biggest challenge we face is a view by some in the industry that young musicians should be held back until they reach 18. This applies to the venues we can play at, the tours we can go on, and the opportunities we can apply for. We think it would be a lot easier if everyone shared our belief that good music has no age limit.

Jemzel

What To Expect: Hazy alt bedroom production mixed with cotton candy skies. Jemzel (17) produces, writes and records her music her way.

Introduce yourself! What does your music sound like, and what inspired you to make music?

I make indie music that’s a sonic mosaic of genres that inspire me - from rock to pop to folk to soul - with confessional lyrics about my personal thoughts, feelings and experiences. The main thing that got me into music was a strong desire for an outlet for my big feelings. I’ve always been someone to feel everything deeply and well… I needed somewhere to put my emotions. My music is where I’m most honest and vulnerable.

What was the first concert or gig you ever went to?

The first concert I bought tickets for was beabadoobe’s show at The Tivoli in 2022. It’s probably one of, if not my favourite show I’ve ever been to.

You taught yourself to write, record and produce music from your bedroom. Tell us about this!

Since I was so interested, I could hyperfocus for hours and hours and absorb so much information. I started learning when I was 11, and I’ve not stopped learning. I don’t think I ever will. I love producing and engineering my own work, but there’s many pros and cons. I’m able to continuously upskill. I get to have complete creative control. I don’t face the financial burden of making music. I have freedom when it comes to time. On the other hand, I get burnt out pretty quickly if I’m not careful. There have been many instances of me working so hard I’d barely eat or sleep. I have to actively make an effort to not overwork myself and deteriorate my wellbeing.

You’ve said before that heritage plays a part in your musical creativity. Tell us more about this.

Music is engrained into Filipino culture. I have multiple relatives who play instruments, and I can’t think of one Filipino person who doesn’t love to sing. Since I was surrounded by music growing up, I think I was always destined to fall in love with it.

Who would be your dream musical act to collaborate with?

I would love to work with so many artists, but a beabadoobee or Clairo collab might actually be worth both of my kidneys and all four of my limbs.

You’ve been celebrated by many media outlets, triple j, and your songs have a crazy number of streams online. Do you have advice for getting your music out there at such a young age?

The most important thing is to take opportunities and promote yourself! Don’t let fear get in the way and learn to fall in love with the journey because it’s easy to get discouraged. Just remember that every listen, every like, and every gig is a step forward. You can never be stagnant if you’re doing everything to try and reach an audience.

Are there boundaries to the music industry for people under 18? Is thereanything you wish was easier?

I wish it was easier to be taken seriously and believed in, whether that be from industry professionals, listeners or loved ones. When you’re young, it’s pretty easy to get underestimated and condescended to.

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