Add Category
Baraka will sing All My Life, produced by Ma, which expresses his gratitude to his mother; it is written in both English and Swahili. “It would be disrespectful of me not to,” he says. “The parts that are deeper, that connect with her the most, they will be in Swahili.”
Growing up, the 23-year-old listened to Lionel Richie, U2, Backstreet Boys, Michael Jackson and Prince. “[It’s] different to what I make now, I think that’s what has shaped me,” he says. “If it’s something that comes from the soul, I’ll listen to it.”
Musician Gloria Ragesh, who performs as Wild Gloriosa.Credit: Parminder Kaur
Through GRID, he gained invaluable insights. “The ability to understand it’s all about connections - the more people you’re willing to get in front of, the more you constantly do something; stay consistent, keep developing,” he says.
With South Indian roots and a Singaporean upbringing, Gloria Ragesh describes her style as neo-soul; she performs under the name Wild Gloriosa. “Breaking through is the hardest part because there are so many people out there with amazing talent. It’s really about trying to figure out your community.”
A music teacher at a high school in Geelong, the 24-year-old says GRID taught her more about what an emerging artist needs. “Above all, being confident … that I had capacity to lead, and that my ideas are valuable,” she says.
You need a lot of stamina to keep going as an emerging artist, Ragesh says, so the recognition and support GRID provided was invaluable.
Aspiring singer/songwriter LENNi is originally from Clifton Springs.Credit: Paul Huynh
According to Ma, the obstacles to breaking into the industry feel more monolithic than ever before and that means music is heading towards being this thing that only a few people can do. “GRID is a counterbalance to that,” he says.
Live music is always going to be a place where people have really authentic, beautiful experiences of new artists, says Ma, but filling a room with 100 or 200 people is trickier than ever. “Anyone trying to take a chance or sitting outside genre or blending genres in an interesting way, the algorithm doesn’t smile on that.“
Wemba Wemba rapper Ridzyray.Credit: Paul Huynh
GRID is supported by Creative Victoria, with the City of Greater Geelong and the Victorian Music Development Office. Ma says it prioritises the craft of music and story.
“The underlying support for artists who are telling stories of struggle and defiance and hope and are coming from more diverse backgrounds is more important now than ever.”
Daisy Kilbourne, an acoustic folk singer-songwriter raised in the small town of Daylesford, and now living in Geelong. She is part of the 2024 GRID Series in Geelong.
The GRID Series Geelong Release Party is at Geelong Performing Arts Centre on April 17. Baraka the Kid, Ridzyray and Wild Gloriosa play the Gasometer Hotel on April 27. Joel Ma performs in All The People You’ve Never Met at the Southside Festival on May 11.