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Alexandra Berenson is the Senior Director of A&R for All Flowers Group, where she oversees A&R for Ghostly International and drink sum wtr. During her time at AFG, she has signed artists including Ginger Root, Dua Saleh and Yaya Bey and works closely with Kate Bollinger, Hana Vu, and the rest of the AFG roster. Previously, she worked at Vinyl Me, Please as Head of A&R, leading their music programming and curation. She is based in New York.

Andrew Batey is an accomplished tech entrepreneur whose 15+ year career has contributed to major industry transformations across entertainment, social media, P2P, IoT, and blockchain innovation. The Peak’s Emerging Leader honoree has raised $150M+ for his own startups and filed 40+ patents in seven countries around artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data infrastructure. On top of scaling multiple companies to hundreds of employees, Andrew is also a six-time founder himself including Side Door Ventures – a venture capital firm that’s invested in 120+ companies comprising $8+ billion in enterprise value. The VC’s portfolio companies have raised over $2 billion collectively to date.

BADASSMUTHA is a Githabul, Migunberri-Yugumbeh, Gamilaroi woman, who weaves stories through lyrical wit-poetry, catchy melody, inspired by reggae, pop, soul, funk and a powerhouse presence.

Brian Hobbs serves as VP of Music at SXSW, where he spearheads the curation and strategic development of the legendary Austin festival's musical offerings. Since joining SXSW in 2012, Hobbs has worked closely with emerging artists, industry professionals, and cultural tastemakers to build meaningful partnerships and experiences that reflect the dynamic and ever-evolving music scene. His leadership has played a key role in expanding SXSW’s commitment to showcasing a wide range of genres, with a special emphasis on the intersection of hip hop culture and global music movements

Tracksuited, denim and leather clad and hidden behind wrap-around sunglasses, the Cork five-piece, Cardinals, look like they’ve just stepped out of Warhol's factory in Midtown Manhattan rather than the picturesque village of Kinsale, and yet to live in a Cardinals song is to be surrounded by a grainy, monochromatic landscape that holds both a gritty rock and roll nostalgia and the rolling hills of Ireland’s traditional musical past. Their Pogues-leaning, shanty-esque verses swoon into room-filling chorus’, and often cloak dark and brooding tales of love in gentle first-person conversational narratives. Their critically acclaimed debut EP Cardinals is an eclectic gothic amalgam of shoegaze, pop, Irish trad folk, and rock which incorporates 60s Wall of Sound and poetry inflected punk.

Daphne Berry is a creative force in the music industry, known for her work as a content creator and model. She offers a unique perspective on the industry while contributing creatively behind the scenes and championing her favourite local and international artists. Through her engaging TikTok presence, Daphne’s key connection with her audience of over 200K combined is sharing her opinions, inner thoughts and honest feelings in an unfiltered way. Her presence on AYDL bridges that gap for the guests and their audiences in a similar way by sharing insights into music and the artist’s life. Her growing influence highlights her passion for music and storytelling, making her a standout voice in the digital and music spaces in Australia.

Freak Slug is the project of UK-based artist Xenya Genovese, whose sound fuses ‘90s shoegaze, grunge, and alt-pop. Since her viral breakout with “Radio” (15M+ streams) from her 2020 debut EP Videos, Freak Slug has carved out a space for raw, weird, and emotionally honest music. Her debut album I Blow Out Big Candlesis a fearless deep dive into identity, nostalgia, and sonic experimentation—earning praise from NPR, Clash, The Fader, DIY, and Line of Best Fit.Recent single “Sexy Lemon” landed on the BBC Radio 1 playlist, championed by Jack Saunders and BBC 6Music, while U.S. airplay includes Sirius XMU, KEXP, and KCRW. Freak Slug has brought her high-energy live show to SXSW, The Great Escape, Green Man, and more, sharing stages with Yard Act, Dope Lemon, and Local Natives.Currently on her Big Candles tour, Freak Slug is selling out dates across 40 cities in the US, UK, and EU—including LA, Chicago, London, and Amsterdam—before hitting summer festivals, including a stage headline slot at Latitude.

Hallie Anderson is co-founder of Rareform, a boutique artist services company built for independent musicians. Rareform has worked with global artists such as Royel Otis, Julia Jacklin, L’Imperatrice, The Blaze, Windser, Genesis Owusu, among others to build custom direct marketing, digital, DSP, and release strategy campaigns that support long-term growth. Prior to co-founding Rareform with her business partner Jess Page, Hallie served as co-General Manager of Mom+Pop Music alongside Page working with artists such as Flume, Courtney Barnett and Tash Sultana. Anderson’s experience traverses all areas of the music business, from labels to live to management, having cut her teeth at AEG Northwest and Foundations Artist Management. A native of Seattle and a Fordham MBA, Anderson is an expert in comprehensive release strategy with a keen understanding of the symbiotic relationship between US and global music markets. Her scrappy approach and entrepreneurial spirit has helped support strategic development for GRAMMY-winning artists and emerging creators alike.

JJ4K is an emerging force in the Australian hip-hop scene, blending sharp lyricism with hard-hitting beats. Rooted in his Pacific Islander heritage and shaped by a life of resilience, his music is raw, authentic, and unapologetic. He co-founded Relentless Records Pty Ltd, an independent label dedicated to fostering artistic freedom and developing the next wave of talent.nnJJ4K has featured on respected platforms such as BigSound 2024, AU$, Take Flight, New Jupiter Sessions, No1 Network, Triple J, Triple J Unearthed, Fresh Crew Radio, and 4ZZZ Radio. He has also performed as an opening act for international artists and collaborated with key figures in the Australian hip-hop community. nnWith a relentless work ethic and a vision to push boundaries, JJ4K is making waves and proving that independent artistry can thrive on its own terms.

Jamaica Moana is a cultural powerhouse. A rapper, songwriter, creative director, and ballroom icon, she’s shifting the landscape of music, fashion, and performance with unapologetic energy and razor-sharp vision. Proudly Māori (Ngāpuhi/Tainui) and Samoan, and repping Western Sydney (Dharwal land), Jamaica fuses rap, R&B, and soul with ancestral fire and fierce queer identity. Her sound hits hard, her presence hits harder. In the ballroom scene, Jamaica isn’t just part of the movement—she leads it. As co-founder of The West Ball, and a resident commentator, she commands the floor and carves out space for queer, trans, and BIPOC creatives to express, heal, and own their power. She’s building stages where community shines and the next generation rises. Jamaica Moana is more than an artist. She’s a movement. Untouchable, unstoppable, unforgettable.

Jashima Wadehra is a New York–based storyteller and the founder of Ode, a creative agency bridging brands and culture through strategy, partnerships, talent management and experiential storytelling. Featured in Business Insider, she has led impactful brand collaborations across industries internationally—from the Cricket IPL and global consumer brands to major musicians and music companies like Amazon Music Canada, Universal Music Canada, VEVO, Netflix, Youtube, Mass Appeal, EMPIRE, Symphonic, and PreSonus. Jashima was part of the inaugural U.S. Keychange cohort as an Innovator and is known for her work at the intersection of marketing, culture, and community. Previously a writer, Jashima deeply believes the best campaigns are made at the intersection of lived experience and data.

Jen Malone is a four-time Emmy-nominated Music Supervisor and the founder of Black & White Music, an all-female, full-service music supervision company. She began her career in 2000 as a music publicist, launching Black & White PR, a boutique indie rock publicity firm based in Boston. In 2009, Jen relocated to Los Angeles to pursue music supervision, landing an internship at Format Entertainment under renowned supervisor Dave Jordan. She quickly rose through the ranks to become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand music supervisors for film and television. Together with her team at Black & White, Jen has shaped some of the most iconic needle drops in recent memory. Her credits include Euphoria s1&2, Wednesday, The Penguin, Atlanta, John Wick: Chapter 4, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Overcompensating, The Umbrella Academy, and Zola among many others. Jen’s accolades include Emmy nominations for Atlanta (2018), Euphoria (2020 and 2022), and Mr. and Mrs. Smith(2024). She has received two Guild of Music Supervisors Awards: Best Music Supervision – Drama (Euphoria, 2019) and Best Music Supervision – Film Budgeted Under $5 Million (Zola), along with a nomination for Malcolm & Marie in 2022. In 2025, she was honored with the Global Music Supervisor of the Year award at MUSEXPO, as well as the A2IM Independent Sync Champion Award, recognizing her impact on independent music and sync culture.

Jono Harrison is a highly respected music industry leader with nearly two decades of experience across music, media, and tech - holding senior roles at Spotify, Universal Music Australia, Mushroom Group, and triple j since the 2010s. In that time he has helped shape the careers of some of the world’s biggest artists, including Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Phoenix, Childish Gambino, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Tame Impala, Vance Joy, Kylie Minogue, TISM and many more. At Spotify Jono launched game-changing initiatives like Dreaming Loud, creating music industry pathways for First Nations artists on and off the platform. He led Spotify’s music industry partnerships with APRA, ARIA, and the AAM, and was Executive Producer of Spotify’s award-winning podcast series Who Is Daniel Johns?. Earlier in his career, Jono was triple j’s Executive Producer of Breakfast with Matt and Alex and Like A Version, and also spent time as a journalist in the ABC Melbourne Newsroom. Now running his own independent music consultancy, Jono advises music companies on growth strategies, storytelling, partnerships, and breaking through algorithmic barriers. He is on a mission to share his insights and knowledge with the next generation of the music industry.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Justin Sweeting has over twenty five years music industry experience, centered within Asia. As Clockenflap’s co-founder and Head of Music, Justin is responsible for programming across all of Clockenflap’s festival properties as well as year-round headline show touring in Hong Kong and beyond. Connecting the dots between Asia and the global industry at large, Justin enjoys spreading the word on the region’s music potential and is actively involved in its positive evolution.

Kartini Ludwig is an emerging thought leader in creative AI applications, with particular focus on music technology. As director and founder of Kopi Su Studio and Koup Music, she builds on a decade of experience as a creative producer and digital strategist at the intersection of arts, culture and technology. Kartini’s innovative projects span organisations including Google's Creative Lab, Creative Australia, Sydney Opera House and Biennale of Sydney. In 2024, Koup Music reached the Top 10 for CSIRO National AI Sprint and became a SXSW Sydney pitch finalist. Kartini has presented at TEDxSydney on her collaborations, including Sonic Mutations and Koup Music.

Passionate about turning ideas into powerful and unforgettable real-life moments, curating and managing 300+ shows yearly and Festivals all over Mexico such as Tecate Pal Norte, Tecate Comuna, Resuena Dos Equis, among many others.

Dr. Marcus Collins is an award-winning marketer and cultural translator. He is the former chief strategy officer at Wieden+Kennedy, New York, a marketing professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and the author of the best-selling book, For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want To Be. Marcus is an inductee into the American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Achievement and a recipient of the Thinkers50 Radar Distinguished Achievement Award for the idea most likely to shape the future of business management. His strategies and creative contributions have led to the launch and success of McDonald’s cultural resurgence, Google’s “Real Tone” technology, the “Made In America” music festival, and the Brooklyn Nets move from New Jersey to New York, among others. Before his advertising tenure, Marcus worked on iTunes + Nike sports music initiatives at Apple and ran digital strategy for Beyoncé. He writes a column for Forbes’ CMO Network, and contributes to business scholarship.

Formerly General Manager for Warner Music Frontline Marketing, Mardi Caught carries a weight of global and domestic experience. She recently launched a marketing services company called The Annex, which works with talent, management and labels to tailor and deliver marketing strategy. Clients will benefit from Caught’s International marketing experience honed in her previously held roles in the UK as International Marketing and Promotions Manager for EMI, Vice President of Talent and Music at MTV UK and General Manager of Columbia Music Sony UK (Ting Tings, Mark Ronson, Kings of Leon, Calvin Harris). During her time at MTV, Mardi served as a judge for the Mercury Music Prize and also the BBC Sound of 2006. She returned to Australia in 2009 to take up the GM role of Day One Entertainment at Sony Music Australia, before heading to Warner Music.

Meng Kuok is the CEO & Co-Founder of BandLab Technologies, a collective of global music technology companies on a mission to break down the technical, geographic, and creative barriers for musicians and fans. Empowering creators at all stages of their creative process, the group’s wide range of offerings include the flagship mobile-first social music creation platform BandLab, desktop DAW Cakewalk, artist services platform ReverbNation, and global beat and music marketplace Airbit. Meng continues to build and innovate brands through Caldecott Music Group, with a portfolio of music-rooted brands that includes MONO, Harmony, Heritage Guitars, Teisco, Dawsons, Manny’s, Swee Lee, NME, Guitar.com, and MusicTech. Meng graduated with a B.A. in Mathematics from Cambridge University.

Patrick Daniel, based in Berlin, brings over 14 years of experience in the music industry. With a background in media business management and sociology, he has worked across indie label + artist management as well as festival sponsorships. For the past six years, he has been an integral part of Hamburg’s Reeperbahn Festival & Conference, contributing to teams such as Reeperbahn Festival International, Partnerships, B2B Matchmakings, and Wunderkinder – German Music Talent. Beyond his work, Patrick supports initiatives that promote gender equality in the music industry with an intersectional approach.

Pivots are a three-piece band from London and Paris, fusing New Wave hooks, electronic beats, and a high-energy live show already creating a buzz worldwide. Launching at SXSW Austin 2025, they’ve already captured the imagination of fans—as well as the legendary John Kennedy on Radio X—with a sound influenced by Wet Leg, Fontaines DC, and The Cure. Pivots are a true product of the post-internet, digital age, having created a remarkable immersive live music experience centered around their upcoming EP- a hyperactive mix of live music, gaming technology and mind-altering visuals touring worldwide. Visit Pivotsband.com for show dates.

With almost 20 years of industry experience, the last 11 of which working in the APAC markets, Priya Dewan founded Gig Life Pro to utilize her broad network and knowledge of the global music business to help the music industry grow their business globally. Most recently, Priya served as VP of International Marketing APAC and MD of Southeast Asia and South Korea for The Orchard, where she was responsible for signing and managing The Orchard’s priority labels and artists in the region, including BTS (KR), JYP Entertainment (KR), DPR (KR), James Reid (PH), MTP-E (VN), Shigga Shay (SG) and more.

A solo musical project by Talae Rodden, a songwriter from a small town outside Melbourne. Though he frequently visited Thailand to see family, Rodden often felt like a stranger in his own hometown, a feeling that deeply influenced his music. With a consistent release schedule and a dreamy sound, RICEWINE has turned his lo-fi, DIY approach into globally adored tracks and sold-out shows across the region.

Roochay Shukla is currently the Head of Creative Marketing - India & South Asia at Believe and plays a pivotal role in nurturing some of the country's top talent through innovative, strategic, and collaborative projects with a perspective of pushing global boundaries. His recent big achievement sees him being a part of the marketing team that drove OST single 'Ishq Hai' from Netflix's Mismatched S03 all the way to #1 on Spotify India Top 50 and #1 on Spotify Viral Top 50 (having amassed more than 136M+ Spotify streams in a span of 6 months). With over a decade of expertise in music marketing, Roochay Shukla is a trailblazer in shaping the future of music promotion in India. As a Music Business graduate from Berklee Valencia, Roochay has previously worked with Outdustry and Sony Music, where he was instrumental in breaking International acts like Dua Lipa, Flume, Charli XCX, Lauv, Major Lazer, Diplo, Alan Walker, Jungle, and more into the Indian market with his hyperlocal strategies and creative artists collaborations. His campaigns have delivered significant viral moments through DSP strategies, creator collaborations, on-ground activations, PR, radio, and TV promotions.

Sacred Hearts are a Meanjin/Brisbane-based duo pushing the boundaries of post-punk, industrial, and shoegaze through the femme perspective. Their sound blends distorted guitars, throbbing bass and siren like vocals, creating a dark, sultry atmosphere.A rising must-watch act in the Australian music scene, Sacred Hearts deliver a bold, fresh take on alternative rock that demands attention. Their blasphemous, fast-paced live performances are nothing short of narcotic—combining visceral energy with campy theatrics. Whether you're a fan of the underground or simply craving something thrillingly different, this is a band not to be missed.

Sally joined Primary Talent International in March 2021 bringing with her an impressive, talented, and diverse roster including Rina Sawayama, A. G. Cook, Kelly Lee Owens, Ela Minus and many more. Sally has worked with many of her clients from the beginning of their careers and has built their live careers from club to arena level and headlining stages at festivals around the globe. She prides herself on her varied roster and her ability to cater to the varying needs of her clients regardless of the genre of music. A strong champion of diversity, Sally focuses on representing artists from many different backgrounds and championing female artists and artists in the LGBTQI+ space. Before joining Primary, Sally spent six years at X-ray Touring. In 2020, she was nominated for the IQ New Boss Award, and she regularly speaks at industry events (including ILMC, ByLarm, and Eurosonic) and at universities and colleges about the live music industry and booking.

Callum Joshua Mower (born 1995), known professionally as Serebii, is a New Zealand indie, singer-songwriter and music producer based in Auckland, New Zealand. He has released music through independent record label Innovative Leisure. He has collaborated with Arjuna Oakes, Moon Child, Allen Stone and Louis Baker. For his second full-length LP and most realised release as Serebii yet, he will be releasing his sophomore album 'Dime' in March 2025.

Slowwves is a shoegaze/alternative rock band from Bangkok, Thailand. Known for their dreamy textures, ambient layers, and emotionally resonant songwriting. The band formed by chance when guitarist 'Peem' came across a demo by 'Jill' (Vocal) through mutual friends. Moved by her voice and songwriting, the two began creating music together. Shortly after, 'Jump'(Drums)—Peem’s classmate at university—joined, completing the trio.Rooted in the aesthetics of Shoegaze and Dream Pop, Slowwves crafts lush, reverb-soaked soundscapes that explore themes of nostalgia, emotional detachment, and coming-of-age moments. Their music invites listeners to drift—submerged in haze, yet grounded in sincerity.

Math rock is the most apparent genre of Suichu Spica, but Suichu Spica is exploring a new music style where the female guitar-vocalist uses a highly sophisticated tapping technique on guitar while singing a catchy melody. Suichu Spica’s is aiming to fuse the instrumental music with Japanese style rhythms into rock and pop music, incorporating the elements of Emo, Post-rock, Shoegazing and other genres into Math rock, building a bridge that connects the genres and cultures through their music.

Swapmeet are an Adelaide/Kaurna Country based four piece who are set to release their debut album in the latter of 2025. With indie rock foundations, characterised by sonic experimentation, and a punk spirit, Swapmeet are known in the Adelaide circuit for their playful, chaotic onstage presence. Having accumulated organic success with their debut EP with over 230,000 streams with no paid marketing or editorial playlist adds - Swapmeet are building a strong and consistent fanbase across Australia and international territories. After a successful showcasing debut at BIGSOUND 2024, the band returned home for the South Australian Music Awards where Swapmeet were awarded "Best Release" for their debut EP "Oxalis" and "Best Song" for fan favourite "Ceiling Fan".

Tusekah is a singer/songwriter based in Auckland who releases music with the sounds of RnB/NeoSoul. She released her first single 'Childhood Friends' in 2021. Since then, Tusekah has released three more singles 'I ain’t waiting around', 'I’ve Changed' and ‘Baby’s Breath’ with more releases planned for 2025. As a live performer, Tusekah has performed all over Aotearoa delivering what have been described as spine-tingling performances. Tusekah has opened for local musicians such as Jess B and Deva Mahal and opened for international artists PJ Morton and Olivia Dean. Tusekah’s music has received support from local radio stations such as Mai FM, ZM and The Edge but has also been played on BBC Radio 1, CADA and Triple J.

The light still breaks through each morning. That’s the driving sentiment on You Are The Morning, the debut album from trans woman and singer-songwriter jasmine.4.t. Its title is dedicated to queer friendship, which she says saved her life. For her, queer people represent “a fresh start, new days which are beautiful and cosmic.” The album bursts with moments of love through its fingerpicked guitar, punk bombast, and raw vocal takes. You Are The Morning was formed amid personal upheaval in 2021. “I came out as trans to my nearest and dearest,” she says, “Some did not accept me, but some did.” Jasmine got divorced, and a difficult home life meant she was writing while experiencing homelessness and precarious housing, sleeping on friend’s couches and relying on community support. Despite the pain of some of its background, the record is an uplifting look at t4t love. Jasmine describes her first trans romance as the first time she experienced joy in a deep sense, because of her experience of living as a woman. “I was acting in a way I identified with, in the world,” she says. “That was the main source of inspiration, plus feelings of love and romance, and that being so heightened by the hormones.” Jasmine came to the guitar when her late uncle left his instrument to her. “He was a very close member of our family, and used to pick us up from school every day,” she says. “I'm autistic. I hyper-focused on guitar. It became my special interest for a long time.” Soon, she was playing her heroes’ songs from guitar books - but writing and playing have always gone hand-in-hand. “It typically starts with me crying into my phone as a voice memo,” she says. “I transcribe whatever I've come up with and write everything down as a stream of consciousness.” First single ‘Skin on Skin’ explores the new joy of physical touch. Usually a quick writer, it’s a rare song that grew over time. “I was still married at the time, though we’d taken a six-month break to have no contact and to see other people,” she says. “In that period, I was struggling with PTSD and didn’t think it was a good idea to be starting another relationship.” During this time, a close connection with a friend began to form. “Sticking to the physical boundaries we wanted to have with each other became increasingly difficult. We were spending lots of time together, then falling in love. This song became a celebration of healing and physical catharsis found through unrepressed queer love.” The song captures the instant rush of those feelings, as well as the complex ways that past experiences can be reshaped by the present, now that Jasmine’s ideas of love and connection have changed. The first UK signee on Saddest Factory Records, the album was produced by Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Jasmine and her band travelled to L.A. to record at Sound City Studios. It was made across 12 days in a highly collaborative and emotional process, and because Jasmine sees her songs as fluid and ever-changing, the recordings carry that free and spontaneous spirit. jasmine.4.t is supported by an all-trans band, who’ve helped each other through the stress of touring while trans. Phoenix Rousiamanis contributes piano and strings, with Eden O’Brien on drums and Emily Abbott on bass. With Jasmine’s voice and songwriting at the centre, the record incorporates a wider cast of voices. ‘Best Friend’s House’ features a chorus including her bandmates, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus (“the girls and the boys”), Saddest Factory Records label-mate Claud, Becca Mancari and E.R. Fightmaster. The song carries the communal spirit of the record’s creation. On the title track, Jasmine’s fingerpicked guitar is paired with strings that bring the breezy lightness of being in safe company. Lyrically, she describes belonging and connection with a brilliant bareness: ‘you still want me around, you make me feel okay’. ‘New Shoes’, the oldest song here, was originally made for Jasmine’s ex-spouse. “It's a very optimistic song, but it also highlights some of the problems apparent early in our relationship,” she says. She remembers lying on the floor in the studio with her bandmate Eden, as Phoenix recorded the piano part. “In this context, it shows how much of a fallacy soulmate-hood is, but then how real chosen family is.” On the closing track, ‘Woman’, she is backed by the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, a cross-generational group of trans singers who, like Jasmine, use their voice as a source of communal power. The song blossoms from solo performance to wider group catharsis. All the while, Jasmine sings unwaveringly about the power of knowing yourself at a core level: “I am, in my soul, a woman”. For jasmine.4.t, activism and performance are closely linked. “Just giving a trans woman a microphone shouldn't be taken lightly. I will use that opportunity to talk about the issues we face,” she says. Using her platform, she continues to raise funds and awareness for Trans Mutual Aid Manchester, an organization that she has volunteered for which “has been very active in my friendship group and community, and has helped a lot of us out,” she says. “It feels really good to give back to them. The writing of You Are The Morning pulled from dark moments to tell its story. Surrounded by friends, the recording process was full of light. Through her performances, activism and artistry, jasmine.4.t is ushering in a new dawn.