Northern Sound System

Northern Sound System (NSS) is a dedicated youth centre focused on music, broadcasting, and other creative industries, located in Elizabeth, a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia.

Background

The Northern Sound System was established in 2007 by the City of Playford,[1] assisted by funding from the Australian Government,[2] and is located in a converted basketball stadium[3] at 71 Elizabeth Way, Elizabeth.[4] Created partly to help high youth unemployment in the area, it gives young people the opportunities to learn skills they might not acquire elsewhere.[2]

Programs and facilities

NSS has offered programs, courses or workshops in various skills, including DJ, hip hop music, youth choir, gaming and animation; songwriting and music production.[1] Some of the programs are run as after-school programs. One of the lead music educators at the centre is member of synth-pop band Heaps Good Friends, Nick O'Connor.[2]

It includes recording studios, a live music venue accommodating around 400 people, spaces for rehearsal, and provides opportunities for young people to develop their musical talents and connect with people in the music industry and audiences. It also has facilities for live broadcasts, and caters for the creation of content for podcasts, YouTube, radio programs, and Twitch streaming.[1]

Events and collaborations

In 2016, a video projection of young musicians from NSS was shown at the Zimbardo Centre in Katowice, Poland, as part of the as part of the zDOLNE PODZIEMIE festival. The collaboration came about through Adelaide and Katowice both being UNESCO Cities of Music.[5]

In December 2020, a project called Pixelated North was launched, which involved the creation of NSS within the videogame Minecraft by young people at NSS.[6]

WOMADelaide collaboration

In January 2021, NSS partnered with WOMADelaide in a collaboration known as WOMADelaide x NSS Academy, to provide training and development program for emerging Aboriginal South Australians and multicultural artists.[7] The year-long programme was developed in partnership with Aboriginal-owned production company Balya Productions, includes workshops, masterclasses and live gigs, and aims to provide connections to professional mentors for 10 local musicians or groups, to help them develop performing skills.[8]

The program identified 10 artists in its first year or operation, with MRLN x RKM (Marlon Motlop and Rulla Kelly-Mansell) supporting Vika & Linda and Midnight Oil at WOMADelaide, held at King Rodney Park that year. Other artists involved in the 2021 programme included:[7][8][9]

  • Jimmy Jamal Okello, aka Sokel
  • Barnaba$
  • Elsy Wameyo
  • Estee Evangeline
  • Katie Aspel
  • Tilly Tjala Thomas
  • Dem Mob
  • Sonz of Serpent

Sokel, Elsy Wameyo and Sonz of Serpent performed on the Zoo Stage and Frome Park Pavilion at Botanic Park at WOMAD in 2022.[10][11][12][13][14]

In the second round of WOMADelaide x NSS Academy, seven artists were selected in mid-2022, including Dem Mob, singer-songwriter Elizabeth Ruyi, Sierra Leone-born singer-songwriter WaiKid, and Māori hip hop artist Taiaha.[15][16]

In July 2023, WOMADelaide and NSS Academy selected ALITA, Nestor Again, Nimpala Rose, Rob Edwards, and Sofia Menguita as mentees for the program.[17]

Recognition

In 2018, educator Nick O'Connor was awarded the Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Award at the Ruby Awards, in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to community cultural development".[18]

In November 2021, WOMADelaide x NSS Academy won the Best Innovation award at the South Australian Music Awards.[19]

Alumni

Alumni of the centre not mentioned above include:

References
  1. "About". Northern Sound System. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  2. Skujins, Angela (2 August 2021). "Inside the Elizabeth hit factory". CityMag. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  3. "Northern Sound System". Shannon Architects. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  4. "Northern Sound System". MusicSA. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  5. "Northern Sound System – Zimbardo Youth Centre hip-hop video with subtitles: Adelaide – Katowice collaboration". UNESCO Cities of Music. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  6. "A whole new world for Northern Sound System students". Commissioner for Children and Young People. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  7. "WOMADelaide & Northern Sound System Announce New Artist Development Program". WOMADelaide. 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  8. Skujins, Angela (1 February 2021). "The WOMADelaide x NSS Academy is fostering diverse voices in SA". CityMag. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  9. Bramwell, Murray. "Interview: Annette Tripodi & Ian Scobie on WOMADelaide 2022". The Barefoot Review. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  10. "NSS Studio". WOMADelaide 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  11. Jenke, Tyler (27 February 2021). "WOMADelaide: The Iconic Festival's Enduring Support of First Nations and Indigenous Talent". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  12. "Sokel". WOMADelaide 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  13. "Elsy Wameyo". WOMADelaide 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  14. "Sonz of Serpent". 27 May 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  15. Keane, Daniel (14 July 2022). "Political or personal, music comes in all forms at the WOMADelaide Northern Sound System academy". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  16. "New Artists Announced For Award-Winning WOMADelaide x NSS Academy". WOMADelaide. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  17. "Five new artists announced for WOMADelaide x NSS Academy Music Development Program". WOMADelaide. July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  18. "Ruby Awards 2018". Department of the Premier and Cabinet (South Australia). 26 June 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  19. Davey, Nicole (19 November 2021). "Teenage Joans set new record at last night's South Australian Music Awards - Breaking News". Moshtix. Retrieved 14 July 2022.

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