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Despite producing his own music, having thousands of views on YouTube, and winning a state-wide music competition, Nic Beare has only ever had one chance to perform live in his hometown.
The 20-year-old Mount Gambier rapper and vocalist said performing live on stage gave him a rush.
"It just went from me sitting in my bedroom, writing songs on my phone and recording them on my laptop, to being up there on a stage in front of these people who were there to listen to me," he said.
"It was really thrilling and I never would've expected to be up there."
Beare writes and produces his own music from home. (ABC South East SA: Sam Bradbrook )
Beare, who releases music under the stage name Esketamine, started rapping and working on his music in high school.
He now writes, records and produces music from his bedroom.
However, he said finding a place to perform live had been challenging.
His first-ever gig was as an entrant into the SA Beer and BBQ Festival talent search event in Mount Gambier earlier this year.
His second live performance was at the final, which he won.
The 20-year-old said there was a lack of spaces in Mount Gambier for up-and-coming artists.
He said it was particularly tough for artists who strayed from the rock-centric music typically played at pubs and clubs.
"There's not a lot of a scene down here for hip-hop, RnB, and rap, any of that sort of stuff," he said.
"It's more up in the cities, [so] to be able to get that chance to perform and have people there wanting to listen, it was great.
"I'd love for there to be more stuff like that down here."
Beare's in-home recording studio doubles as his bedroom. (ABC South East SA: Sam Bradbrook)
Hopes for a new music platform
Shadows nightclub was the centrepiece of Mount Gambier's nightlife until its closure in 2020.
Before the doors shut during the COVID-19 pandemic it operated as a live music venue and the town's only nightclub.
It now has new owners, a married couple, who want to reopen it with a focus on live performance.
Karen Bracken and her husband have been involved in the heavy metal music scene.
She said promoting local acts and giving young musicians a place to play was vital.
"The number one name missing from the live music scene in the South East is Shadows," Ms Bracken said.
"We used to run live music, performance, karaoke, and comedians.
"We've been to recitals down at local schools and I think those kids would love to be performing in here."
Karen Bracken says more live music opportunities can benefit a range of artists. (ABC South East SA: Rebecca Chave)
New live music project
MusicSA has launched a new program in conjunction with local venues and the City of Mount Gambier council to reinvigorate the live music scene.
Christine Schloithe, MusicSA chief executive, said fewer shows were being organised due to rising venue costs and tough financial times for attendees.
"How people want to listen to live music and see live music has changed," she said.
"We have teenagers who during the COVID years would've started to go see live music at local pubs or venues, [but] for three years weren't able to access and see live music."
Christine Schloithe will work with the local council to improve the live music scene. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
She also said that people's drinking habits had changed.
"So a lot of smaller venues that relied on bar sales to put on live music, that's changed quite significantly," she said.
Ms Schloithe added that MusicSA and the City of Mount Gambier would work to open larger venues, such as the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre, to provide a space for more well-known artists touring between Melbourne and Adelaide.
Call for more diverse music
Beare said the initiatives in Mount Gambier were a positive step forward for the local music scene but believed organisers should also increase the diversity of genres.
He said local young people were more interested in rap, hip-hop and electronic music, but venues typically booked rock bands for shows.
Beare hopes to see more rap and hip-hop shows promoted in Mount Gambier. (ABC South East SA: Sam Bradbrook)
"A lot of younger people listen to hip-hop, rap and RnB. It's a pretty mainstream thing, as opposed to rock and the music you usually hear at those pubs," he said.
"There's a few people I know that dabble in making their own music themselves.
"I would say there would be enough people to put on a show and have a good line up and you'd definitely get a good crowd."