Born in Japan (in Kuwana, 30km from Nagoya), Blues artist George Kamikawa has been playing on the streets of Melbourne since the early 2000s. His journey as a busker started in New Zealand after observing a musician performing on the sidewalks of Auckland. Nowadays, George blends busking sessions with shows in venues, corporate gigs, and festival a…

Multi-instrumentalist Umbra Moon believes social media changed the game for busking. The UK-born artist and producer has been a frequent street musician at the Bourke Street Mall, where their live sessions are constantly shared on social media platforms by passersby/fans. Interview recorded on August 10, 2023 (Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central …

Rapper and producer Jwittit discovered himself as an artist during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Melbourne when he decided to invest his time in learning the fundamentals of music production. He has been freestyling in the streets of Melbourne ever since. Originally from Brisbane, Queensland, Jwittit shares enthusiasm regarding the 'Melbourne busking s…

Parisian guitarist Tezzmakk enjoys presenting his work on the sidewalks of Swanston Street. The Blues-oriented player also likes to experiment through impromptu performances with other Melbourne buskers, exploring the encounters in a busy street to create new sounds. Interview recorded on August 19, 2023 (Cocker Alley, Melbourne Central Business Di…

Australian/Indian/Swiss/German/Spanish ​ISHAN takes his multicultural musical influences to the streets of Melbourne. The singer-songwriter​ believes the online ​environment has become crucial for street performances and also reveals how busking in the Central Business District can be compared with his street music experience in the Melbourne subur…

​Cutting their teeth as buskers in Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall​ during the mid-2010s (along with local acts like Tash Sultana, Pierce Brothers, and Opal Ocean), "Heavy Flamenco"​ Malcura is ready to reconnect with the sidewalks of the Central Business District in 2023. Interview with guitarist Josh Voce recorded on June 26 and June 28, 2023 (Zoo…

Bosnian-born singer-songwriter V Don Dada has been busking in Melbourne for the last seven years, mixing street performances at the Central Business District with impromptu gigs by the seashore. The hip-hop artist celebrates the busking events promoted by the City of Melbourne and believes that such programs are pivotal to providing a stable income…

The Sicilian-born Margherita Benincasa chose the streets of Melbourne to try out her first busking session. The singer-songwriter defined her experience performing at Southbank and Melbourne Central Business District as a positive turning point in her career as a musician. Interview recorded on April 15, 2022 (Southbank, Melbourne) by Daniel Bacchi…

Originally from Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, the McDermott & North duo brought their Indie Folk Rock harmonies to the streets of Melbourne. While some buskers search the city's central area for recognition, Paddy (McDermott) and Rhys (North) look towards the suburbs of Melbourne and the countryside of Victoria to present their original songs.Interv…

Born in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (a union territory of India at the junction of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea), Honeyboy Des has been busking in Melbourne since 2006. Interview recorded on April 16, 2022 (Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the song "Lawrence School Reunion…

Through his Italian and Indigenous Moroccan cultural backgrounds, singer and multi-instrumentalist Jad Pinnone presents a melting pot of rhythms while busking on the streets of Melbourne.Interview recorded on April 15, 2022 (Alexandra Gardens by the Yarra River, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the song "…

A regular Melbourne busker since 2020, Indian-born Mukul Jiwnani produced 'an ethnographic inquiry of how the current culture of musical busking in Melbourne CBD accommodates innovation for a musician and its implications for one’s creative practice' as part of his Master of Music at the Australian Institute of Music (AIM).Interview recorded on Apr…

Gareth Wiecko is a Welsh-born pianist and producer living in Melbourne, where his busking sessions helped him pay for college (at the Australian Institute of Music) and played an essential role in obtaining a permanent resident visa in Australia. Interview recorded on April 16, 2022 (Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central Business District) by Danie…

Originally from Bairnsdale (East Gippsland, Victoria), guitarist Adam Seidel was inspired by Melbourne buskers from the 2010s like Tash Sultana. Nowadays, he performs at Bourke Street Mall, treating the act of busking as his full-time job.Interview recorded on April 20, 2022 (Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchi…

Having worked every type of gig, from pubs to stadiums worldwide, singer-guitarist John Crosbie found new inspiration in the “naked honesty” of busking solo on Melbourne’s streets. Interview recorded on May 30, 2023 (Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Brand New Day", "Eternal"…

Singer Ashleigh Rose reflects on how busking built her confidence to perform on stage while sharing why she prefers to sing around the Southbank rather than the Bourke Street Mall. Ashleigh also highlights the use of TikTok and Instagram to promote her street music sessions and her relationship with other buskers, especially the ones she met when s…

Indonesian-born Perth-raised and now based in Melbourne, pop/folk singer Leon Kroeber is focused on performing in the streets of the Central Business District to build his audience. Leon blends original songs with cover versions throughout his busking sessions on Swanston Street and Bourke Street.Interview recorded on June 8, 2023 (Swanston Street,…

From station to station (especially Southern Cross and Flinders railway stations in Melbourne), freestyle hip-hop artist Joshua Caleb considers the streets his main stage to perform. The half-Irish, half-Ghanaian composer/producer/trumpet player enjoys improvising during his live busking sessions, inspired by his connections with an audience passin…

Singer-songwriter Keanu Jai is one of the new faces of the Melbourne busking scene. The pop artist, who just moved from Port Macquarie, New South Wales, regularly plays on Bourke Street Mall (Melbourne CBD) with a 100% original repertoire.Interview recorded on May 30, 2023 (Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchier…

Melbourne-based rapper J Verse presents a melting pot of Hip Hop, R&B and Afrobeats​. ​The artist, born in Dubai, became a social media sensation while rapping for street celebrities. His TikTok video with NBA icon/DJ Shaquille O'Neal has more than 12,5 million views (https://www.tiktok.com/@jversee/video/7135448272344288514). Interview recorded on…

Belgian born, Melbourne based singer-songwriter Romanie Assez reveals how performing on the streets of Melbourne contributes to identifying which original songs have an immediate response from a passerby audience. And in what manner the COVID-19 pandemic impacted her most recent work. Interview recorded on August 8, 2021 (Zoom recording) by Daniel …

Singaporean Australian Tim Chou​ explains how busking nurtured his career as a music performer in Melbourne. ​Interview recorded on August 7, 2021 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Created Me", "Deep In The Ocean", "Headlines", "Lose Somebody", "Shouldn't Have Fell For You", "Thief Of Love", "Worth The Wait". All s…

Multi-instrumentalist Ania Reynolds (under her Synthotronica moniker) brings electro-grooves into the streets of Melbourne.Interview recorded on July 8, 2021 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Dafne", "Donky", "Uforik", "A Lot of Good Things Happened Today", "I'm Asking for a Friend". All songs written by Ania Reyno…

Colombian Melbourne based singer ALETHIA reveals how her busking experience in Australia influences her performance on stage.Interview recorded on July 1, 2021 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Closer", "Destino", "Recuérdame", "Sometimes I Feel That Way". All songs written by ALETHIA.https://www.alethiamusic.com/h…

Argentine composer and multi-instrumentalist Pablo Cravzov describes how busking in Melbourne helps him to improve his craft and why he enjoys the challenge of getting people's attention on the streets throughout his music performance. Interview recorded on June 28, 2021 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Going Away…

Singer Shana Davenport explains how she got inspired by Melbourne buskers to become a street musician herself. Interview recorded on November 8, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the song "Help", written by Shana Davenport and Amber Barry.https://www.instagram.com/shanamusicc/https://www.facebook.com/shanamusicchttps://w…

Born in Australia and raised in Italy, singer-guitarist Zoe Mortella talks about her favourite set-up to perform on the streets of Melbourne (and how to connect with the audience that is passing by).Interview recorded on October 23, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the song "Baby", written by Zoe Mortella.https://www.zo…

UK Australian based singer-songwriter Poppy WS shares her busking experiences on the streets of cities like Melbourne and Manchester.Interview recorded on October 28, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Bella", "Drown", "Risky Business", "Someone Else". All songs written by Poppy WS.https://poppyws.bandcamp.com/…

Multi-instrumentalist Ben Fumi (singer of Mojo Jacket) shares his busking experiences in Melbourne (Victoria), Byron Bay (New South Wales), and Queenstown (New Zealand).Interview recorded on October 19, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "The Movie Song", "Scarlet Woman", "Offering", "Magic Rendezvous", "3 Girls…

Born and raised in Far North Queensland, based in Tasmania and a regular Melbourne busker, singer-songwriter Tasha Zappala released 4 albums in the last 4 years, a body of work full of post-folk blues and gypsy melodies. Interview recorded on October 23, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Sweet Love", "Flores",…

Since his arrival in Melbourne 5 years ago, Colombian singer-songwriter Sebastian Lugo has been performing rock ballads and electronic vibes around the Central Business District's sidewalks.Interview recorded on November 3, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Nena" (feat. Sebastian Lugo & MC Seba), "Please Come …

Los Angeles Melbourne-based Noah Peters shares his experiences about busking in Australia and in the USA.Interview recorded on October 16, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Double Edge Blade", "Help Me Stand", "Ray", "The Man", "The World Won't Change ". All songs written by Noah Peters.https://www.instagram.c…

Singaporean Melbourne-based Glen Wee presents his indie folk songs on the streets, turning the sidewalks into intimate outdoor venues. Interview recorded on November 3, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Walking on the Side", "Carelessly", "Paper Man", "Send Me An Angel", "Sound of Clouds", "House of Stone", "F…

Round About Amy keeps looping on the streets of Melbourne, bringing up original songs by the sidewalks.Interview recorded on October 28, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Cord Line" and "Don't You Grow Up". All songs written by Amy Cumming.https://www.facebook.com/roundaboutamy/https://www.instagram.com/rounda…

Singer-songwriter Jacob Fitzgerald captivates the streets of Melbourne with beautiful melodies. With a second album coming up, he enjoys, while busking, the encounters provided by playing on the sidewalks. Interview recorded on October 14, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Adore Ya", "Blue", "Dear Juliet", "Fo…

Multi-instrumentalist Steph Strings enjoys performing on Sundays at the Camberwell Sunday Market, a few kilometers east from Melbourne's Central Business District. The 20 year old virtuoso guitar player is one of the best examples why Melbourne's street music scene goes beyond Bourke Street.Interview recorded on October 27, 2020 (Zoom recording) by…

Solo artist Belle Lynch blends street performances in Melbourne with corporate gigs as well. Close to releasing her first original songs, Lynch's setlist on the streets is covered by indie, pop and folk tunes. Interview recorded on August 13, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.https://www.instagram.com/bellelynchmusic/https://www.facebook.co…

Melbourne’s blues talent Aaron Pollock, 2020 finalist at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, USA, also performs his art on Bourke Street Mall.Interview recorded on September 25, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Brown Ave Blues", "Girl, You Make Me Feel So Lonesome", "All That Becomes", "Song A…

R&B and Pop singer-songwriter JXCKY has been performing on the streets of Melbourne since 2017.Interview recorded on August 12, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Drive Thru", "Where You Been" and "Paper Town" (written by Daniel Roughley, recorded by JXCKY).https://www.facebook.com/jxckymusichttps://www.instagr…

Jesse Witney is an independent artist who mixes Soul, Brazilian and Roots music through his original songs. Born in a small town in Queensland called Gympie, Jesse currently lives in Melbourne, Australia, after living in Europe (Berlin, Germany) and South America (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).Interview recorded on July 30, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Danie…

Perth born singer-songwriter Simon Paparo has been performing his folk, blues, country and pop tunes since 2014 on the streets of Melbourne.Interview recorded on October 19, 2019 (Bourke Street, Melbourne Central Business District), and July 3, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Blood's Thicker Than Water", "Bu…

BRazaman is a reggae singer-songwriter from Brazil who has been performing his live looping act in the streets of Melbourne since 2015. Interview recorded on October 23, 2019 (Bourke Street, Melbourne Central Business District), and July 3, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.Music excerpts from the songs "Ancestah", "Blind Leader", "Warfare"…

Matt Katsis, singer-songwriter and guitarist, has been performing in the streets of Melbourne since 2012, inspired by one of his musical heroes, John Butler, who used to busk on the sidewalks of Fremantle, Western Australia, back in the mid-1990s. Born and raised in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Matt Katsis, shares his thoughts about busk…

Blending soul, jazz and electro pop on the streets of Melbourne, Tanya George has been reaching new grounds at the circuit of festivals as well (such as the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and the St Kilda and Queenscliff last editions). With a body of work that combines impressive vocal skills, loop pedals and improvisation, Tanya also shar…

Cori Rose is a singer/songwriter who recently started to perform on the NYC Subway System, especially at the Union Square Station. Cori Rose Hopwood @ Union Square & L Train Underground Platform. Recorded on October 15, 2018 by Daniel Bacchieri, Manhattan, New York City, NY, USAMusic excerpts from the songs "Love Yourself", "You", "Mackenzie", "Aut…

Lady Banana is a power duo from Zaragoza, Spain, mostly influenced by the rock of the seventies. The band started to play in the streets of London, UK, in 2015. Now the band is based in Madrid, Spain. Nerea Bueno - guitar, vocalAlba Villarig - drums, vocalhttps://ladybananamusic.bandcamp.com/https://www.facebook.com/ladybananamusic/https://twitter.…

Originally hailing from the North Country of New York, husband and wife duo Coyote & Crow have been described as the "White Stripes of Bluegrass." With velvet-meets-sandpaper vocals, high energy foot-stomping rhythms, and unconventional banjo picking, they play a blend of Rock'N'Roll, Folk-Americana and Old Time Mountain music on homemade and modif…

TOO MANY ZOOZ is a music group based in New York City, New York, United States, formed by Leo P. (baritone saxophone), Matt Doe (trumpet) and King of Sludge(drums). Leo P. and Matt Doe met at the Manhattan School of Music where they were attending and, having teamed up with King of Sludge from the band Drumadics, the trio started busking at various…

Katie Ferrara is a singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, CA. Making regular appearances at the 3rd Street Santa Monica Promenade, Melrose Trading Post, Downtown Burbank, and various farmer’s markets in Los Angeles, Katie has carved a name for herself in the streets of her hometown as a “busker” or street performer. Becoming known in LA is only a smal…

4 decades of beats and drums, works with Gil Scott-Heron, Richie Havens and a daily history lesson on the NYC subway: StreetMusicMap Radio presents Michael Taliaferro aka 'Bongo'.بقلم StreetMusicMap