Sound Advice: Nurturing The Fan is a two-part online series designed to inspire and equip artists to build and nourish their relationship with fans in a way that feels rewarding and sustainable.
As an independent artist, finding genuine connection with your fans is crucial. Fans want to connect with artists directly, to feel a part of their journey and to find each other and join communities of people who share their passion.
Come along to Part 1: How to Build An Online Community on Tues, 11 November for a masterclass in the skills, tools and knowledge you need to build and nurture your own online community. Hear from London-via-Sydney artist manager & marketing strategist Isaac Lewis (Rum Jungle, The Rubens, Joel Sunny) and Social Media & Community Manager, Oscar Manning (Joel Sunny), as they talk through how to use online platforms to create sustainable communities.
Part 2: Artist Perspectives on Building Community on Wed, 12 November will be a panel discussion, where you’ll hear from independent artists Olive Rush (EGOISM), Zoe Catterall (The Buoys) & Benny McIntyre (Rum Jungle), as they share how they’ve been able to successfully create and sustain a loyal online community and translate this to connections in real life. The panel, hosted by Ruu., will dive into the value of the fan-artist relationship, how they’ve been able to develop and foster online micro-communities authentically, and how nurturing your online community can lead to fans showing love in real-life by attending shows, buying merch and more.
ISAAC LEWIS
Artist Manager & Marketing Strategist
Isaac Lewis is a London & Sydney-based artist manager & marketing strategist, working across global projects with artists including Rum Jungle, Joel Sunny & The Rubens. With a background in international touring, data-driven marketing, and fan engagement, Isaac has built a reputation for developing campaigns that connect deeply with audiences while scaling artists into new markets. Having started in artist management at 18, he now focuses on building sustainable, long-term careers for the artists he works with, blending creative vision with sharp business strategy.
OSCAR MANNING
Social Media & Community Manager
As the Social Media and Community Manager for artist Joel Sunny, Oscar develops strategies that strengthen fan engagement & drive long-term audience growth. With a background as a DJ and musician, he brings a multifaceted understanding of the artist–fan relationship & the pathways that convert casual listeners into superfans. In his role, Oscar works with the team to develop and implement tailored strategies across Discord, social media, fan pages, mailing lists, & in-person activations, ensuring that fans are supported at every stage of their journey. By aligning digital presence with authentic community-building, Oscar helps position Joel Sunny for sustained discoverability & deeper fan loyalty.
OLIVE RUSH
Artist (EGOISM)
Olive Rush is a creative from Sydney’s Inner West, best known as a member of the band EGOISM. Rush writes, produces, and captures both sound and image, working across music, photography and video. Their work documents life as it unfolds, using art to bring people together and to build a community grounded in creativity and care. As EGOISM, their debut album ‘And Go Nowhere’ reached #9 on the ARIA Australian Album Chart and #1 on the AIR Independent Album Chart. The band has since sold out their national headline tour and supported acts including Half Alive and Last Dinosaurs.
ZOE CATTERALL
Artist (The Buoys)
Zoe Catterall is the founding member of all-women rock band The Buoys. Celebrated for their high energy performances and compelling songwriting, they've swiftly become one of Australia’s most exciting and dynamic live acts. Blending gritty rock, punchy punk and honest lyricism, The Buoys’ music resonates with fans both domestically and internationally. Formed in response to the absence of gender diverse bands in the Sutherland Shire (Dharawal Country) music scene, the band is renowned for its raucous and high energy live shows, building a devoted following and selling out headline shows in capital cities across the country in 2024.
BENNY MCINTYRE
Artist (Rum Jungle)
Benny McIntyre is the lead singer and guitarist of Newcastle band Rum Jungle. Fusing elements of indie pop, alt rock, and psych with heartfelt lyricism, Rum Jungle have quickly risen from local shows to international stages. Their debut album Recency Bias debuted at number one on the ARIA charts, propelling tours across America, Europe, and the UK. The band has performed at the Singapore Grand Prix alongside Elton John and Lewis Capaldi, and recently returned from their first headline show in Bali.
RUEDI HOLBECK
Host
Ruu. (The Cultured Black Kid) is a radio presenter and podcast host who has interviewed the likes of Hilltop Hoods, Rich Brian, & Forest Claudette. Heralded as one of the “hardest-working music journalists in Australia”, Ruu. is known for for his fresh and honest takes on local music and has so far worked with the likes of triple j, triple j Unearthed, Complex AU, FBi Radio, Converse and Conscious Connects.
These online sessions will not be recorded. Live captions will be available. For any other access requirements you can let us know at ticket registration or contact caitlin@musicnsw.com.
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MusicNSW is supported by Create NSW, Sound NSW and APRA AMCOS.