Gold Coast Music Awards Judging Panel 2025

A passionate advocate for Gold Coast music, Sam is co-founder of Blank Street Press, the Gold Coast Music Awards and Gold Coast Music Network. Sam also runs her own consulting practice focussed on strategic planning, communication and engagement in the conservation, land management and regional development sectors. She is exposed to countless regional arts initiatives through that work – some of them in the most remote parts of Queensland. Sam loves music. And she loves the Gold Coast. And it is those loves which drive her commitment to growing the local music scene. As well as continuing to write for Blank Street Press and Nevertheless Journal, interviewing artists and reviewing their artistic output, Sam also has a weekly segment on ABC Gold Coast where she shares new Gold Coast tunes. You can read more about Samantha’s experience via her team profile.

Being a classically trained euphonium and piano player, Brad realised there has never been a ripping euphonium solo on MTV, so he traded it in for a synthesizer, 6 strings, a ProTools rig and a song-writing pad. Now a busy multi-instrumentalist, session musician, and record producer, Brad has also written literally hundreds of jingles for various brands all over the world, produced the track “Amy Shark” off Amy Shark’s 2021 Cry Forever album, produced and arranged the acoustic version of Everybody Rise and co-wrote and produced Amy Shark’s ‘Golden Fleece’ that won the 2016 Best Pop Song at the QLD Music Awards. As well as performing on, writing for and producing numerous indie, pop and rock bands from around the country, Brad has also found quite a niche in working with and producing some of the country’s best Brass Bands. Brad currently shares his time between touring, lecturing in the Bachelor of Contemporary Music with TAFE QLD and Southern Cross University, running his own recording studio and production facility – Blind Boy Studios on the Gold Coast.

Andrew Very has been in the radio industry for over 25 years as an Announcer, Music Director and Program Director in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle and the Gold Coast. His love for radio was driven from a passion of loving and celebrating music. Andrew’s current role is heading up National Music Projects for the Triple M network based here on the Gold Coast. “We take pride in supporting Australian Music from new talent through to the stalwarts who’ve shaped the Aussie music landscape”.

Ant Mckenna is Executive General Manager of the Australian Live Music Business Council, Director of Programming – Industry Development for Queensland’s state music body QMusic, runs the AMPED music industry development program on the Sunshine Coast and owns Free Fall – a music management company.. McKenna has 30 years experience in music industry development, organisational development, cultural development, creative industry development, and was the inaugural artist representative on the QMusic Board. He also played in iconic (pre-social media era) Melbourne touring act Those Bloody McKennas and as a  soloist supporting acts like The Waifs, performing at a stack of festivals across the continent.

A true multi-instrumentalist and often known as one of the ‘original loopers’, Benny commands an audience with his high energy performance, beautiful harmonies and hypnotic rhythms. Benny D was at the forefront of extensively using live loop pedal tech well before in became commonplace. Before this, Benny cut his teeth performing at Dracula’s Cabaret and Movieworld and was a member in a heap of local live bands including The Aphrodisiacs, Pip’s Migraine, Mutha Funk, The Flapping Plastics, Harmonium, TwoUp, Tokyo Beef and many more). He graduated with a Bachelor Popular Music from Griffith Conservatorium of Music and was a three-time GCMA finalist between 2016 and 2020. He has now added production to his repertoire producing, playing, mixing and mastering a multitude of successful releases for local, national and international artists including Burger Joint, Gesticulations, Eddie Ray, Richard Neill, Amy Elise and others. He still finds time to perform solo and accompany other artists such as Jeff Martin (The Tea Party), Gesticulations and These Idle Hands.

Brad started his career in the music industry in 2003 by slinging tour posters around the Gold Coast in exchange for tickets at his favourite local music space. This led to opportunities to work with several well-known local music venues managing the marketing and publicity as well assisting with content and band bookings.  In his current role leading the business development team at national ticketing services provider, Oztix, Brad engages daily with venues, promoters and event managers across Australia. Brad also works behind the scenes to create the growing Best Night Ever shindig each December.

Christian Tryhorn is well known around these parts. As one of the three masterminds behind one of the Gold Coast’s favourite venues Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Christian has been a big supporter of bands and local acts through all stages of their careers. As the owner and director of Beats Cartel Christian puts his twenty plus years of music industry experience by providing booking, management and publicity services to artists, bands and events. Along with Mo’s and Beats Cartel Christian also curates and directs the outrageously tasty lineups that are Mojo Burning and Aftermath Festivals and sits as the creative director for Dead of Winter Festival. If that resume doesn’t satisfy your craving for live music, you might have to catch Christian in one of his own musical ventures; Transvaal Diamond Syndicate, The Black Armada and Rinser.

Claire Carlin has over 10 years’ experience working in events having been involved in the development, organisation and delivery of an eclectic mix of events in a variety of different industries including universities, not for profits, craft beer and hospitality. These events ranged from camps for young people, large scale fundraising dinners, and academic symposiums to more intimate experiences such as brewery tours, themed dining functions, and bespoke brewery events for a range of customers and clients. Claire was the Lead Producer of BLEACH* Festival for five years and has worked across the Gold Coast on a wide variety of events. Claire graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Applied Theatre in 2006 and returned to complete my Master of Arts and Media (Research) in 2015.

Dan Carroll is a songwriter and has been playing in bands and independently releasing music on the Gold Coast since the late 90s. Current project City Over Sand has released numerous singles, two EP’s and a full length album. Dan is a strong advocate for the local music scene having spent the last 14 years driving contemporary music projects, funding and strategy for the City of Gold Coast Council.

Dani Teveluwe is a proud Wayilwan woman, artist and educator, best known for her impressive pop-soul project Sunny Luwe. She has written and recorded with multiple ARIA Winners and Grammy-nominees; and is a 3x finalist for the Queensland Music Awards. In October 2023 she released her highly-anticipated debut album Flowers in the Sky with a sold-out launch show, and will release her second studio album in October 2025. Creating with the Earth in mind, her music project is carbon offset via conservation non-profit Gondwana Rainforest Trust, and she has shown practical leadership by creating a guide that empowers other musicians to also offset their projects. Dani has called Kombumerri Country // Gold Coast home her whole life, and when she’s not making music you’ll find her searching for her vintage faves or hanging with her golden retrievers, Huey and George.

Danielle Lo Passo isa highly sought-after vocal coach and the founder of Vocal Adrenaline Performing Arts (VAPA).. Since establishing VAPA in 2011, Danielle has played a pivotal role in shaping emerging artists, accumulating over 18 years of teaching experience. Also an accomplished pianist, Danielle not only hones vocal skills but also brings a wealth of musical knowledge to her mentorship. Danielle’s dedication to artist development is palpable in her mentorship of talents such as recording artist India Dupriez, Gold Coast Music Awards nominees Bayley Pearl, Georgia Hoareau and Emmagen Rain, who also showcased her skills as a contestant on The Voice. With a keen interest in artist management, she is dedicated to shaping the future of the Gold Coast music scene.

Multi-instrumentalist, singer songwriter and producer DVNA (pronounced DAR-NA) has been turning heads since her project’s genesis in 2017. Her career has already racked up an impressive resume including 28M+ Spotify streams, collaborations with popular Billboard US artist Blackbear, receiving a Gold Record for her work with TOBIAHS, winning Song Of The Year at The Gold Coast Music awards (Looking Like A Snack) and a win at the Queensland Music Awards. DVNA has supported the likes of Baker Boy, MAY-A, LEISURE, Alice Ivy, Tia Gostelow, Arno Faraji and performed at various music festivals including LANEWAY, Springtime, Golden Shores, The Mountain Goat Valley Crawl, Jungle Love and Arcadia. She was named triple j Unearthed Feature Artist in January 2020 and showcased at BIGSOUND 2019. Currently, DVNA is working closely with APRA AMCOS facilitating workshops across the east coast and developing music programs for youth right here on the Gold Coast.

Elizabeth Sharpe is a Meanjin/Brisbane-based Photographer and Writer with an unwavering passion for Australian Music. Liz is the co-creator of the independent music blog Good Call Live, notably run by a team of formidable women with a strong commitment to the supporting the local scene. Under the Ummagummamumma moniker, the mother of two has photographed countless Australian and International artists. Whether it’s in a homegrown venue or a stadium, Liz’s photos are full of emotion, energy, vibrance, and authenticity, and she is now engaged by some of the industry’s biggest publications and promoters.

George Carpenter is a Gold Coast based producer, songwriter, recording engineer and mixer. He has worked with many talented and award winning artists and bands over the past 10 years including Karl S. Williams, Ash Grunwald, Emily Grace Taylor, Eimhin, Will Hearn, Eils & The Drip, Willie J & The Bad Books, Heavy Wax, Okmattcollins, Hollow Coves and Budjerah. A passionate music fan and lifelong lover of the Gold Coast music scene, George is honoured to be a part of this year’s Gold Coast Music Awards judging panel.

With a successful professional career as a Principal Consultant in Data & Analytics for a big four consulting firm and a background in running his own consulting company, Justin’s passion for music has always been at the forefront. A dedicated audiophile and collector of vinyl, he is deeply involved in the Gold Coast & Brisbane music scenes – attending live gigs, discovering emerging talents and nurturing his love for music. Rooted in his earlier days of playing guitar & bass in Gold Coast bands, his recent venture as an Artist Manager for emerging local talent has allowed him to seamlessly blend his business acumen with his love for music. As an Artist Manager, he’s played a pivotal role in the end-to-end process of producing, recording, and releasing music. This includes active participation in music release plans, artwork creation, marketing strategies, playlisting, music editorials and coordinating music videography arrangements. His diverse experience in both the corporate and music worlds reflects a unique blend of analytical expertise and a genuine passion for the creative process in the music industry.

Karen Waters is an artist manager, publicist and indie label owner. During her career she’s worked with the late CM Murphy (INXS manager) and Stuart Coupe (former Paul Kelly Manager) as well as artists such as INXS, Lee Kernaghan and James Blundell. She currently manages the award winning and ARIA Albums Chart #1 artist Melody Moko and her indie label is home to Catherine Britt, Linc Phelps and Genevieve Chadwick. Along with Melody Moko, Karen runs Rebel and Roar – an initiative that supports empowerment and change within our industry. She is also an active board member of the Country Music Association of Australia.

Kirsty Abrahams is dedicated to building sustainable careers in the music and creative industries. As Director of Konnection Artist Assistance, she works one-on-one with a select roster of artists—ranging from grassroots and emerging acts to internationally touring musicians—to develop tailored career strategies and actionable plans.

With over thirteen years of experience across a wide range of roles in the music industry, Kirsty brings deep insight and a practical, artist-first approach to her work. Current clients include Parker (Gold Coast Music Awards winner 2024), ALBII, and Ollie Twohill. Konnection Artist Assistance specialises in creating customised support for artists, shaped by the demands of their current stage in the journey.

As a Kombumerri man with a passion for music and language development, Lann is deeply immersed in the heart of the Coast’s creative arts field. Lann is a man with many hats. An indigenous multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer, director and creative designer. He seems to love the chaos and variety that his world offers. From recording and designing in his North Gold Coast studio to producing and designing large scale musical performances and audio visual presentations there is plenty to keep Lann occupied in between his 260 odd performance gigs per year. He’s instinctively a creative being, a musician, a vocalist and certainly most sought after. Lann’s transition over recent years moving deeper into first nations structures has reaped rewards for his community and gifted a more intimate connection to country to him. “I’m loving the journey and path that I’m on, discovering new ways to help and develop a new generation of language warriors, creating awareness of and connecting the Yugambeh Language to everyone through music, dance and visual art.” Lann seems to be popping up everywhere with works in design, soundscape development, documenting and recording language, creating visual installations and structuring new ways of presenting language based “Welcome to Country” through the combination of music, dance and video elements. Currently working with MAG (Musicians Advisory Group), QPAC, HOTA, Place Makers, BLEACH Festival, CITY Gold Coast and various venues throughout the South East.

Mandi J is a South Sea Islander, NZ born performing arts creative, a prolific songwriter/composer, vocal and acting performance coach and artist development mentor based on the Gold Coast. After working with producers across Australia and international vocal coaches, Mandi J defined her composing craft as a Soul~R&B~Funk artist, collaborating with many artists, and creating EPs and single releases. Her studio space in the Gold Coast on Kombumerri Country provides the ambience and breathing space all creatives desire – a truly creative revolution. Working with multi-talented artists, actors, and singers has Mandi J booming in her desire to expand her studio experience to the world.

Marlena Katene is a unique Journalist and Author, who has overcome the challenges of being nonverbal by utilising an iPad and ABC Board to communicate. Marlena pursued her passion for writing and completed her Bachelor of Communication Journalism then went on to forge a successful career within the entertainment industry. Throughout her career to date, Marlena has had the opportunity to interview some of the biggest names in music which have included Ed Sheeran, Kylie Minogue, Andrea Bocelli and Robbie Williams, as well as celebrities such as Minnie Driver, and Sir Richard Branson. These interviews have allowed her to delve into the worlds of these artists and public figures to give people a different point of view and perspective on their lives.

Mella is an experienced creative co-ordinator with a demonstrated history of working in the Music, Customer Service, and Hospitality industry.

Mella is currently the Booking Coordinator for Miami Marketta, booking emerging solo, duo’s, trios and bands for the Cargo Stage at Miami Marketta.

 

Sarah Howells is a radio broadcaster and passionate advocate for local music. With over twenty years in radio under her belt, she has presented and produced national programs such as Roots N All and Weekend Lunch on triple j, Stir It Up on Double J, and now the weekday Mornings program on ABC Sunshine Coast. She has been involved from the grassroots level in music and media since 1997, doing everything from organising gigs, publicity, MCing, DJing, writing and more. She’s also the Vice Chair of the Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective – the industry body behind the Sunshine Coast Music Awards.

Tara Hart is founder of The Emerging Musician, a home to information, education, opportunities and support for aspiring musicians. She is also founder of Parents Who Manage, a nationwide network of people who are involved in a family member’s career – be that in a publicly acknowledged capacity or in a discrete, behind-the-scenes role. These parents are managers and support crew of musicians ranging from those in their formative gigging years to established self-sufficient career musicians. Tara was awarded a National Finalist nod in the Industry Observer Guardian of the Year award alongside the parent managers of Ruel, Troye Sivan, Jai Waetford and Tash Sultana. She recently completed  a Master of International Music Business and has used those learnings to support local arts organisations and the next generation of Gold Coast musicians.

Zac Fahey has been living and breathing music for the past 20 years. Starting his career as a musician he eventually gravitated towards the industry, cutting his teeth at the label services company Footstomp Music. Footstomp saw him working on everything from booking venues and managing artists to heading up publicity campaigns for international touring artists. In recent years Zac turned to freelancing, lending his expertise to BLEACH*, BIGSOUND, Gold Coast Film Festival and TAFE QLD as well as writing the monthly new music column for Blank GC. At the formation of Major Events Gold Coast in 2020 Zac was brought on board as the music programmer for the organisations owned events including Springtime, Blues On Broadbeach, Cooly Rocks on and Groundwater Country Music Festival.