The Queenscliff Music Festival\u2019s \u201cEmerging Artist Grant\u201d (EAG) is returning for its ninth year, offering local talents theopportunity to expand their reach and develop their style.<\/p>\n
The grant, which coincides with the Alison McKenzie Mentor Program, has seen many artists achieve established careers in the highly competitive music space.<\/p>\n
The festival has contributed over $70,000 to the development of new artists, with previous EAG recipients playing shows at QMF in recent years.<\/p>\n
One of last year\u2019s EAG recipients, Geelong-based five-piece MDRN LOVE, says the program is allowing them to allocate funds to their media and public relations reach.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe program was fantastic,\u201d lead vocalist Jack Harman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe applied for a few years and every time we applied there was constructive feedback on what to change \u2013 it taught us some very valuable lessons before we were even awarded it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe follow-ups have been really awesome, and we were handed a black book of contacts. With our grant, we were targeting some funding to help with our media and PR reach. We found that last time we released our EP, we had expended all of resources into the product and we didn\u2019t have enough to get the release plan happening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Formerly known as Revolution, MDRN LOVE has seen great success in the last two years, with the band releasing their debut EP in 2017 under the guidance of Aussie producer Greg O\u2019Shea.<\/p>\n
During that same year, the Geelong rockers collaborated with BMW Australia and created the soundtrack to BMW\u2019s 2017 stellar off road motorrad series.<\/p>\n
Harman says QMF has \u201clooked after\u201d his band for a long time, having played shows at the festival for a few years prior to receiving the EAG in 2018.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s (the EAG) going to help to broaden our reach with our media release and get our music to the ears of people who might not have heard of us before,\u201d Harman says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s such a massive thing to be capitalising on it and really making the most of a great opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
While MDRN LOVE received the grant last year, Harman says it\u2019s enabled the group ample time to refine their sound and work on some new music.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been good to have time to get it (new music) right in terms of song-writing and pre-production. We didn\u2019t want to release half-baked content, so we\u2019ve sort of been able to put the brakes on,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Despite being knocked back for the grant in previous years, Harman says the setbacks saw his band work harder. He also said he would encourage any local artist to submit an entry.<\/p>\n
\u201cLongevity is sort of a rare thing these days. We learned a lot from getting turned down the first couple of times \u2013 you can\u2019t expect to receive one straight away. The best thing is it shows you to work harder and take on criticism.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt taught us resilience, that\u2019s for sure.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d say to any local band to give it a go \u2013 if you\u2019re knocked back, work on it and reapply. It\u2019s only going to assist you in your development as an artist.\u201d<\/p>\n
MDRN LOVE are currently recording a string of new singles at Ginger Recording Studios, Cremorne. Harman says listeners can expect new music by July, with live shows and music videos to be announced.<\/p>\n
For news and updates, visit facebook.com\/mdrnlovemusic or mdrnlovemusic.com.<\/p>\n
Applications for the 2019 Emerging Artist Grant and the Alison McKenzie Mentor Program close on Wednesday July 10.<\/p>\n
To apply, visit qmf.net.au\/apply\/emerging-artist-grant.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Queenscliff Music Festival\u2019s \u201cEmerging Artist Grant\u201d (EAG) is returning for its ninth year, offering local talents theopportunity to expand their reach and develop their style. The grant, which coincides with the Alison McKenzie Mentor Program, has seen many artists achieve established careers in the highly competitive music space. The festival has contributed over $70,000 […]<\/p>\n