We’re additionally introducing a brand new Music + Talk present known as OUSS HITS, which works behind the scenes of the music spotlighted on our First Nations playlists. The episodes are hosted by Alethea Beetson, an artist of Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi and Wiradjuri descent who’s Spotify’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program Lead. Featured company embody Rhianna Patrick, Torres Strait Islander curator of the Original Storytellers playlist, and Em Nicol, Birri Gubba + Ugarem curator of the Blak Australia playlist.
For the Record caught up with Alethea to be taught extra about Dreaming Loud, her new present, and why it’s so vital to amplify the work of First Nations creators.
Tell us extra about your self and the place you’re primarily based.
I’m a Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi and Wiradjuri girl primarily based on Turrbal, Jagera, and Yuggera nation in Meanjin/Brisbane in so-called Australia. I acknowledge the nation that I’m on and the many individuals from my group who paved the best way for initiatives like Dreaming Loud.
How has Dreaming Loud developed since its 2017 launch?
Spotify’s work on this house began in 2017 with the launch of the Blak Australia playlist, a devoted house to playlist tracks by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians. In 2018 two extra Indigenous playlists had been added to the platform: Original Storytellers, which is concentrated on singer-songwriters, and Deadly Beats, which is concentrated on hip-hop and digital music.
In September 2019 Spotify partnered with BIGSOUND—of which I used to be a producer—to ship “First Nations House.” This initiative was a full-venue takeover in Meanjin’s Fortitude Valley precinct created as an area to help, promote, and rejoice First Nations music, and included artist masterclasses and showcases.
In 2020, the BIGSOUND partnership pivoted on-line and hosted the Dreaming Loud showcase, a first-of-its-kind livestream the place Spotify despatched digicam crews to numerous areas, together with distant elements of the nation, to seize performances from Indigenous artists within the BIGSOUND50. Some of the artists featured embody Aodhan, Birdz, CLOE TERARE, Kee’ahn, Southeast Desert Metal, Matalja, and Oetha.
At what level did you become involved?
I used to be actually impressed with the reflective observe inside Spotify’s music workforce when it got here to the work concerned with initiatives like Dreaming Loud and started working with the workforce in 2021 as Spotify’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program Lead. Throughout 2021 and 2022, Spotify continued numerous First Nations partnerships and group engagement, which allowed me to be taught extra concerning the platform whereas additionally listening to what the group needed from the platform.
In 2023 Dreaming Loud developed from a collection of initiatives to a completely thought of and continually responsive group program and technique to amplify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music on and off the platform. Our aim is to at all times help First Nations new releases and catalog music throughout all that the enterprise does whereas additionally creating Indigenous playlists, initiatives, and partnerships. With Dreaming Loud in 2023, Spotify has launched a number of new playlists and the brand new Music + Talk present OUSS HITS.
What excites you most about OUSS HITS?
OUSS HITS is actually thrilling as a result of it supplies a self-determined platform on Spotify for Indigenous curators to speak concerning the music we love from our group. All of the cohosts have such a depth of information within the Indigenous music group, so alongside sharing nice songs, they share tales about Indigenous music historical past that you simply can not discover within the wider trade as a result of manner it operates inside colonial frameworks.
Platforms like OUSS HITS contribute to the amplification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music on Spotify and likewise give the group a possibility to seek out new music made by their group.
Why is it so vital to share and amplify the tales of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians?
Music has at all times performed an integral position in storytelling on these lands, and at all times will. While I consider funding Indigenous-owned-and-led music initiatives is the precedence, companies like Spotify are known as to supply extra space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music. Celebrating Indigenous music by means of focused playlists and throughout all of Spotify’s playlists helps make sure that the broader public have better entry to Indigenous tales.
It can be very important that locations like Spotify help First Nations musicians at each stage of their careers as a part of the continued dedication to respecting self-determination and sovereignty. This work shall be prolonged to partnerships with First Nations-led-and-owned companies sooner or later. Spotify exists on stolen lands, so supporting Indigenous music is a part of Spotify’s obligations on this house.
Join Alethea as she talks about new music from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in an episode of OUSS HITS under.