Resonate - Bowery Music Series

The Australian music scene is no stranger to Thndo (fka Thando). The widely loved Zimbabwean-born ‘First Lady of Soul and R&B’ has commanded massive crowds at festivals such as Bluesfest, WOMAdelaide, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Groovin the Moo, BigSound, Jungle Love, Woodford Folk Festival and more. Her sold out shows at Chapel Off Chapel have stunned audiences to a point of standing ovation; rave reviews following in their wake. Every performance is a statement – a triumph of powerful lyricism, rich-ranged vocals and smooth backing instrumentation – turning onward the wheel of live music, show by show.

With the release of her latest EP Life in Colour (2021), the wheel is about to turn again.

This second EP marks both a new chapter of immersive song writing, with high demand shows following. Life in Colour touches on thndo’s experiences of growing up black in Australia. Struggles with displacement, discrimination and a deeper understanding of black pride are interwoven with R&B, Hip Hop and Afrobeat’s elements to continue the narrative of her smash hit single Numb.

“That’s where I first explored what it feels like to force myself to assimilate,” says thndo. “The consequence of being a palatable black person accepted by white Australia is losing every part of what made me special. This EP was an attempt to get that back. learning from others like me and learning how to be proud to be different.”

With a statement as bold as her stage presence, Life in Colour is certain to continue thndo’s trend of packing venues to the brim. Any die-hard music fan can resonate with her talent for song structure, dragging in elements of TLC, Queen, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and more to keep crowds fixated beyond the encore. With collaborations with crowd favourites such as Sampa the Great and Remi drawing positive reviews from Triple J’s Unearthed, and a long streak of successful releases, thndo’s Life in Colour marks the start of a new wave of conscientious Soul and R&B in the Australian sphere.

“Her persona on stage was radiating with soul and richness”- Isaac Liew, AU Review

“Winning plenty of fans with her captivating live performances”- Simon Clark, AU Review

“Sikwila is not just a prodigy of the jazz and soul styles, she is the embodiment of the genres' most prolific spirits” -Joe Dolan, The Music

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​Directed by powerhouse Liona Tatafu, HALO Vocal Ensemble features a diverse lineup of artists from different communities across Melbourne to perform collaboratively & simultaneously on one stage. The ensemble put a modern spin on the definition of choir, bringing a new sound to the masses. The transcendent performances of HALO Vocal Ensemble bring together the favorite voices of the city in a collaborative and collective space. With each ethereal harmony, the combined energy, and talent create a memorable experience for audiences.

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YARA (Yara Alkurd) is a Naarm/Melbourne based Singer-songwriter and Producer.

She migrated from the land of olives and vines, Palestine, at the influential age of 12.

From learning English through watching Disney channel, she admits that her immense love for music stemmed from the preteen-starry-eyed-back-to-back episodes of the iconic ‘Hannah Montana’ and ‘High School Musical’.

Yara recalls the move to Australia as being both simultaneously challenging and a point of growth amongst the dramatic change of culture. However, her love for music, with all its colours and sonic flavours, as well as the artists she found in these major points of transition, have been her guide. Which is why her sound is a melting pot of Soul, Pop, Indie R&B and Jazz - with heavy influence from Amy Winehouse, Lianne La Havas and Beyoncé.

Amidst her influences found through the transition to a new place, to the songs that kept her grounded, at the end of the day, YARA stands strong in her own sound and hard earned stories of growth, heartbreak and all the lessons in between.

YARA made her debut on 2020’s International Women’s Day with bold track: “Man Hater”, a song about how society treats those who request change. Fast forward to 2022 YARA won Headline Acts’ Release Cycle. Shortly after she released her introspective single Back of the Uber on Valentines Day, the first cut from her intimate EP Lonely Love Affair, which made it’s debut in May 2023. It explores YARA's coming of age, finding self love and acceptance in the lonely hours between stumbling in and out of other people’s hearts. The introspective 5-track project showcases her ability to seamlessly weave together lavish and exciting neo-soul soundscapes, while allowing her powerful voice to shine on the top of the production with her sharp lyricism and trademark wit.

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Grace Terpstra is a young singer/songwriter and pianist from Melbourne, she is currently pursuing her second year in music industry (performance) at Oxygen College. Despite facing many personal challenges, Grace aims to use her music and story to inspire healing in others facing tough times, believing in the universal power of music to provide solace and hope.

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South Sudanese musician Ag Johnson is a multi talented singer, songwriter, and actress. Ag Johnson graduated at The Australian Institute of Music in 2021 with a Bachelor of Music Contemporary. She continued her studies at Apo Arts Academy completing her certificate in the Advanced Associate of Musical Theatre in 2023. Ag Johnson has worked professionally in the music industry and some of her credits include performing at the Sidney Myer Bowl with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2023. She was featured on Channel Go! performing the South Sudanese National Anthem for the World Cup game at Rod Laver Arena. Ag Johnson was featured on the front page of The Age for their Instruments of Change article. She has released 2 official singles with music videos and plans on releasing her debut EP in the coming future. Ag Johnson has also worked in the film industry and has a short film called Dark Arcadia releasing soon, directed by Sally McLean with Incognito Enterprises. She looks forward to inspiring emerging young African artists and advocates for more representation for the BIPOC community on stage, TV and film.

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