One event on April 12, 2021 at 12:00 am
One event on April 26, 2021 at 12:00 am
One event on May 10, 2021 at 12:00 am
MAV in partnership with Harmonic Whale presents UpClose, a new online music video showcase presenting intimate performances and interviews with culturally diverse Victorian singer-songwriters.
The first season will feature: Nina Rose (Australian/Malaysian), Nomad (Australian/Samoa/NZ), Stefania Serna (Colombia) and Yusupha Ngum (Gambia).
Singer-songwriter Nina Rose blends her velvety vocals and mellowing guitar rhythms taking you on a folky acoustic carpet ride. Influenced by artists such as Tracy Chapman, Emmylou Harris and Nina Simone, her songs tell tales of love, loss and everything in between. In 2019 Nina released her debut EP Patterns with The Boite; the launch featured some of Melbourne’s finest musicians including Patrick Evans, Cate Taylor and Monica Jasmine Karo. Nina Rose sings in Spanish and Indonesian and often has guests joining her on stage to share stories through music. Nina shows you that there is nothing like music to give you some positive energy and hope during uncertain times.
Instagram: @ninarosemusica_
Facebook: Nina Rose
Nina will takeover MAV’s Instagram stories on Wed 31 March 2021.
Damon “Nomad” Paraha, is a spoken word/hip-hop artist from the Western suburbs of Melbourne. In 2019, he performed at St Kilda Fest as a “Push Start” Grand Finalist, where he won the APRA AMCOS Songwriters Award, he also won runner-up in Alt Music Groups’ “#BarsForBars” online competition in August 2020.
Born and raised in Victoria, Nomad uses music as a way to unpack his experience as a second-generation immigrant living in post-colonial Australia. With an EP and various singles independently-released since 2016, his lyrics often contain themes of self-confidence and empowerment, most notably on tracks like “Destined” and “Testing”, although he hasn’t shied away from being vulnerable and sharing his internal struggle with self-doubt, which you can hear on his latest single “Be Like That (Feat. AS1)”.
As a father of two, he makes a point to be an example to the youth in his community, co-founding his own production company called The Movement RC with long-time collaborator, IconicBeats (A.K.A. PeterMaglogiannis), and by working with Councils and private organisations to facilitate workshops/competitions like “Benchmark” and “We Move” in local community centres and schools. Most recently he’s worked with CoHealth ArtsGen and Brimbank City Council to adapt the “L.A.B.” program for an online setting during the time of COVID-19.
On top of a long anticipated, upcoming release of his debut album “The Nomadic”, Nomad has his sights set on bringing more Music Programs and Concerts to his hometown of Tarneit in hopes to provide more opportunities for aspiring artists to grow and learn.
Instagram: @nomad_tmrc
Facebook: Nomad
Nomad’s video will release on Mon 12 April 2021 on the MAV website, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Nomad will also takeover MAV’s Instagram stories on Wed 15 April 2021.
STEFANIA SERNA
Stefania Serna is a Melbourne-based singer/songwriter. Born and raised in Colombia, she starting singing at the age of 7 years old when she was selected by the Universidad del Valle to be part of their young talent program. After 5 years of professional training as a young singer under the direction of professor Edgar Triana, she was soon invited to perform as backup singer for International touring in Cali. This experience gave her inspiration and led her to search her own aspirations as solo artists and writing her own music.
Drawing on traditional Caribbean rhythms of her Colombian roots, she uses urban influences to create a fresh contemporary sound. Since moving to Australia in 2013, Stefania has become one of the most popular Latin female leader singers in Australia and founder of various female led Latin American groups such as Queen of Hearts (all female Mariachi group) and Calle Luna. She has performed as a backup singer for major artists, such as Grammy Award winning Mayito Rivera and many more.
Stefania’s songs talk about personal and intimate stories, which connect with womanhood and the challenges that an immigrant female had to endure during times of isolation with or without the pandemic.
Her music is a refreshing take on Salsa, Cumbia and Bolero; Integrating all this Latin American traditions with contemporary Australian music that has influence her in all this time living in Melbourne.
Instagram: @stefaniasernaau
Facebook: Stefania Serna
Stefania Serna’s video will release on Mon 26 April 2021 on the MAV website, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Stefania will also takeover MAV’s Instagram stories on Wed 28 April 2021.
YUSUPHA NGUM
Yusupha Ngum is a singer and songwriter from Gambia, also known by the stage name “Joloffman”. He has performed in a variety of styles, including mbalax, folk music, rap, jazz fusion, and Afro fusion music.
Currently based in Australia, Yusupha has performed in major festivals around the country fronting various acts such as Ausecuma Beats, and Yusupha Ngum and the Affia Band. He is currently performing with his latest acoustic solo project called Yusupha & the Joloff Vibes with Luke Coszanski on guitar and Tom Benson on saxophone.
Instagram: @yusupha.ngum
Facebook: Yusupha Ngum & the AFFIA Band
Yusupha Ngum’s video will release on Mon 10 May 2021 on the MAV website, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Yusupha will also takeover MAV’s Instagram stories on Wed 12 May 2021.
UpClose is supported by Australia Council for the Arts and Creative Victoria.