Want tools and advice on getting it all done: from setting goals, to managing your time and wellbeing, and overcoming challenges along the way?
As part of Wollongong City Council's Tune In, join this panel and masterclass to hear from artists Sophie McComish (Body Type), Holly Throsby and Hayley Lyon (Lady Lyon) and Mark Rogers (Ocean Party) about these essential skills you need to develop as you build your career. Close out the day with a gig by local punk band Sevilles and leave inspired to take on whatever is next for you and your music.
What to expect:
- 12 - 1pm: Keep On, Keeping On in-conversation panel with Sophie McComish (Body Type), Holly Throsby and Hayley Lyon (Lady Lyon), hosted by Mark Rogers (Ocean Party)
- 1 - 2pm: Lunch provided by Ciro's Pizza & networking
- 2 - 3pm: Get Your Act Together problem-solving masterclass with Sophie McCormish (Body Type)
- From 3pm: Sevilles performing live
Keep On Keeping On
In-conversation panel / 12pm-1pm
Join these music makers and self-starters as they offer experiences of resilience, creative pivots and overcoming obstacles. In conversation hosted by Mark Rogers (Ocean Party), Sophie McComish (Body Type), Holly Throsby and Hayley Lyon (Lady Lyon) will come together to highlight strategies for nurturing your creativity, prioritising your artistic goals, and the battle between output and self care.
They’ll cover things including:
- How to have a healthy relationship with your artistic goals
- Overcoming setbacks and adversity
- Building resilience throughout your career
Get Your Act Together
Masterclass / 2-3pm
Two (or more!) heads are better than one - join this session for a problem-solving masterclass on overcoming common obstacles for artists. Local emerging artists Sevilles will present Sophie McComish (Body Type, Blossom Rot Records) with a series of issues they have faced across things like time management, prioritising creativity, self care and self promotion. In this session, Sophie will then address these live and share good practices for long term wellbeing and growth.
Sophie is a guitarist and vocalist in Body Type and co-founder and co-director of Blossom Rot Records, an indie label and creative collective that is dedicated to amplifying the voices and sounds of women and non-binary artists from the Australian underground.
Sophie McComish
Artist (Body Type), Blossom Rot Records
Sophie McComish is a musician and industry professional residing in Dharawal country/Scarborough, NSW. Sophie’s primary artistic output occurs with her band Body Type, where she is a guitarist and vocalist. Sophie is co-founder of Blossom Rot Records, an indie label and creative collective that is dedicated to amplifying the voices and sounds of women and non-binary artists.
HOLLY THROSBY
Artist
Holly Throsby is a songwriter, musician and novelist. She is the author of three books and has released five solo albums, a collection of original children's songs, and two records as part of the band, Seeker Lover Keeper (with Sarah Blasko and Sally Seltmann). Holly has been nominated for five ARIAs – including two for Best Female Artist.
Hayley Lyon
Artist (Lady Lyon)
Songwriter and lead singer of Sydney band Lady Lyon, Hayley is an artist who can speak to resilience, driving the band to release a number of EPs and singles and touring through NSW and Victoria going back to 2017. In March 2025, the band released 'Cut back', the first single from their forthcoming debut album out in June.
Mark Rogers
Host
Mark Rogers is a multi-award-winning playwright, and co-founder of re-group performance collective. Outside of theatre, Mark is a prolific songwriter releasing over 12 albums as a member of The Ocean Party and more recently as Pop Filter, all have been released by seminal Australian indie label Spunk Records.
MusicNSW works on unceded land across the state. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and extend those respects to the First Nations peoples of NSW and beyond. Always was, always will be.
MusicNSW is supported by Create NSW, Sound NSW and APRA AMCOS. This Sound Advice event is presented in partnership with Wollongong City Council.