Visible Mentorship
Visible is an innovative arts mentorship program that has given a kick start to many newly arrived African musicians including rising hip hop stars Diafrix, Senegambian griot Jali Buba Kuyateh, and Ethiopian azmari master musician Dereb Desalegn.
Visible was established in 2005 with a project involving five African groups funded by VicHealth. The program has expanded considerably since then with support of state and federal arts funding bodies, and has seen a wealth of new African Australian music talent explode onto the arts scene both locally and internationally.
Listen/watch visibl concerts (Vol 3.)
Download itunes, mp3s or mpegs
Visible CD Compilations
An important milestone for Visible was the commencement of production CD compilations which are launched at the Visible concert at the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall as part of the Mix It Up program.
CD Prices: Volume 4: $25, Volume 3: $25, Volume 2: $25, Volume 1: $25, Tjudin: $20
Well known artists, such as Nicky Bomba, Kavisha Mazella and Valanga Khoza, play a key role in mentoring, recording and pushing along the development of the Visible program.
Bomba sees Australia as a rich melting pot of cultures ready to be served up, and Melbourne as the emerging world music capital of Australia.
He says the ideas, melodies, instruments and rhythms coming from artists in the Visible program have offer much to the Australian music industry
"There's a lot of established Aussie talent out there but we need to nurture these new people coming up that have decided to make Australia their home...we need to connect the two with a view to creating a new Australian sound," He says.
About Visible
According to the Department of Immigration, an average of 3500 Africans have settled in Victoria each year for the past five years making them one of the largest and fastest growing multicultural communities.
MAV’s Visible program has targeted artists within these African communities to provide opportunities for them to develop and showcase their musical talents, whilst also offering the wider public a glimpse of the vibrant and diverse arts and culture they have brought with them to Australia.
Visible coordinator Anita Larkin says "These artists come from incredibly rich cultural backgrounds with a lot to offer but the system is different here and they face barriers like language and negative stereotyping..."
"they just need a helping hand to get started and get their music out there..."
"...once they do, presenters and audiences are pretty quick to pick up on their unique talents."
In The Press
Mixing it up at a music marketplace, (Visible review), The Age, July 24, 2007, Jessica Nicholas
Mentorship by well-known artists
Visible has seen some unique cross cultural collaborations such as the teaming up of local East African hip hop act Diafrix and traditional West African griot musician Jali Buba Kuyateh.
Selected Visible events
|
|
|
Come down to the Arts Centre's BlackBox and experience Blak Roots - some of the rarest vocal talent to hit our shores in recent times and an all original repertoire of soulful African Reggae tunes. They will be joining forces and voices with the new Congolese crew about town, French rappers the NG Boys and a'cappella group Kundalila...
...more.
|
|
|
|
Come down to the Arts Centre's BlackBox and experience the combined talents of singer/song writer Jess Harlen with her soul, roots, urban tracks, the smooth, irresistible sounds of Brown Roots Collective and up and coming urban hip hop & r'n'b crew First Verse with their phat bass, melodic flows and sweet harmonies...more.
|
|
|
|
Experience this live Visible Session @ BlackBox on Sunday August 12 with Kutcha Edwards and Ajak Kwai Band - Black Harmonies...more.
|
|
|
|
Be part of a musical revolution on Sunday July 26th as contemporary and traditional African cultures come together in a massive showcase at Hamer Hall to launch the annual Visible CD.
...more.
|
|
|
|
Experience the Fresh - Mix It Up Jam session @ the Art Centre's Black Box on Sund 12 July 5pm-8pm as part of MAV's Mix It Up series. Hip Hop, RnB and soulful vibes - upcoming MC's, Vocalists, and Beatmakers mash it up with the veteran MC Elf Tranzporter, and his multi-talented LO2's Fleet featuring DJ TakaCo, Bboy Lamaroc, Vida-Sunshyne, TWOONE...Keepin the dance floor vibes alive - DJ Kuya and Nomadic Funk will lend their skills to an afternoon of jammin', freestylin' and fresh sounds...more.
|
|
|
|
Experience the first of these unique sessions, featuring two unique acts jamming it out live on stage: The Black Jesus Experience, an exciting blend of traditional Ethiopian song with jazz, funk and hip-hop and Culture Connect - a refreshing, upbeat, progressive 7 piece live hip hop act featuring artists from some of the planet's most exotic locations...more.
|
|
|
|
Visible Free Concert @ The Arts Centre (Hamer Hall)
Be part of a musical revolution on Sunday July 20th as contemporary and traditional African, Pacific, West Papuan and Indigenous cultures come together in a massive showcase concert at Hamer Hall to launch the annual Visible CD.
Arrive early at 2pm and enjoy an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, digital art and cultural displays from local African, Indigenous and Pacific communities and live performances by Hard Hustle, Afro Habesha Band, St.Bakhita’s Choir and much more...more.
|
|
|
|
Visible with Kutcha Edwards and Jali Buba Kuyateh & Diyaa Looloo: FREE CONCERT
Presented by the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of Mix It Up. Victoria hosts a wealth of undiscovered performers from all around the world telling their stories through music. This stunning concert celebrates and gives a voice to emerging and established African and Indigenous performers in a massive showcase featuring Kutcha Edwards, Jali Buba Kuyateh & Diyaa Looloo, Nadee and many more...more.
|
|
|
|
VISIBLE: FREE Huge Concert & CD Launch
Come face to face with some of the hottest new African talents in town and Melbourne’s best homegrown indigenous performers, as they come together on stage for one electrifying FREE show - VISIBLE, at the Arts Centre...more
|
|
|
More Information
For further info contact the
Projects Officer
on (03) 9417 6777 or Email projects@multiculturalarts.com.au, Multicultural Arts Victoria, Fitzroy Town Hall 201 Napier St Fitzroy.
