MEDIA RELEASE

Sub-urban Sistas SWITCH on to Hip-Hop

Released 15 April 2005

Information and Cultural Exchange
PO Box 4033 Parramatta NSW 2124 Australia
T: +61(2) 9897 5744 / F: +61(2) 9897 5766

The Australian hip-hop music industry may be a man’s world, but one non-profit community organisation, ICE (Information and Cultural Exchange) is showing Sistas how to do it for themselves. The Sub-urban Sista Soundz 12-week music industry program will be kicking off on 2 May, teaching 10-12 unemployed young women from Western Sydney the tricks of the music business and how to make and record their own hip-hop music.

ICE is now scouting for recruits to participate in the free program, which will run at the new SWITCH Multimedia and Digital Arts Centre in Granville. Participants will finish the course with a TAFE-accredited certificate and will go on a tour of regional New South Wales and high profile Sydney venues to promote their compilation CD.

The SWITCH Centre is a first for NSW: a community-based multimedia arts space with state-of-the-art equipment and software, funded to the tune of $200,000 by the NSW Ministry for the Arts. In its pilot phase last year, SWITCH ran free courses in music creation and recording; film, TV and video making; digital animation; web and graphic design; and blogging (on-line publishing), which produced a number of CDs, short films, documentaries, and pilot radio and TV programs. These programs were taught by top music artists, such as the UK’s MC Mystro and DJ Pogo and local names DJ Nick Toth, MC Trey and Maya Jupiter.

Suburban Sistas is the first hip-hop program at SWITCH for 2005. Managed by ICE in partnership with Granville TAFE and the Myer Foundation, “Suburban Sistas is a rare opportunity for unemployed young women from Western Sydney to learn and develop their music skills in lyric-writing, recording and business,” said ICE Director Lena Nahlous.

“This is a first: a free women-only hip-hop course with a tour,” said course coordinator and prominent hip-hop artist MC Trey. “We’ll also encourage participants to get involved with the booking and tour preparations so they can learn hands-on about the music industry.”

“This is an exciting chance for participants to work with high-profile DJs, rappers and producers such as MayaJupiter and DJ Nick Toth,” said Trey. “These performers currently work within the music industry, locally and internationally, so they have the most relevant knowledge and experience to share with the participants.”

“Specialised music programs such as these usually cost thousands of dollars and are unattainable for low-income or unemployed young people,” said Ms Nahlous. “The SWITCH Centre aims to level the playing field for young people who want to break into the music industry.”

“I congratulate ICE and Parramatta City Council on having the foresight to develop such a strategic partnership,” said Minister for Western Sydney Diane Beamer, MP. “This will open up new employment, education and training pathways for Western Sydney communities and artists. SWITCH is a ground-breaking initiative for Western Sydney and testament to the State Government’s ongoing support and commitment to digital arts and new technology in the region,” she said.

SWITCH Multimedia and Digital Arts Access Centre is a partnership between ICE, Parramatta City Council and the NSW Government Ministry for the Arts.

People wanting to participate can contact ICE and SWITCH on 9897 5744, switch@ice.org.au.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Lena Nahlous 9897 5744