A heavy metal thrash band, a pop singer songwriter and a local indie ‘supergroup’ are among this year’s finalists of The QUBE Effect.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the 20 successful Brisbane-based artists will soon undertake a mentorship program like no other.
“Our Council is committed to keeping our thriving music scene alive for years to come,” Cr Schrinner said.
“The QUBE Effect will provide professional mentoring to our successful finalists from industry heavyweights like Bernard Fanning, John Collins (JC), Nat Dunn and Fred Leone.
Our finalists will now get to work with their mentors to develop skills in publicity and production, with the opportunity to fill their own music video and compete for the People’s Choice Awards in 2024.
With incredible money-can’t-buy prizes and opportunities that will extend long past the program’s completion, we can’t wait to see how our local artists grow.”
Now in its 10th year, a total of 271 young and emerging musical acts have taken part in The QUBE Effect, with alumni including Hope D, Sycco and Beddy Rays.
Cr Schrinner said previous winners of The QUBE Effect have gone on to achieve great success with record deals and festival billing.
“The QUBE Effect is a unique program that gives local talent a springboard into the music industry,” he said.
“With alumni acts performing at events like BIGSOUND, Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay Bluesfest and Laneway Festival, the program aims to encourage local talent to thrive here in Brisbane.
We are confident that there will be some of Australia’s biggest acts among our 2024 cohort and look forward to seeing their performances on stage next year.”
Finalists will perform live on stage at The QUBE Effect Live Event will be held during Brisbane Youth Week in April 2024.
Residents will be able to vote for their favourite finalist music video in the People’s Choice Award in mid-2024.
For details visit brisbane.qld.gov.au and search “The QUBE Effect”.
2024 The QUBE Effect Finalists
| Artist | Bio | Suburb |
| 01 Thurman | 01 Thurman is the indie rock project of Josh Bartlett. After playing in other bands around Meanjin while stacking up demos upon demos at home, 01 Thurman is finally coming in hot with a sound that dips into post-punk as much as it does lo-fi pop. | Highgate Hill, Red Hill, Kelvin Grove |
| Allegra Neve | Allegra’s music has been described as a cross between Lana Del Rey and Cage the Elephant, a real mix of vocal prettiness and rocking out! | Fortitude Valley |
| Ancient Remains | Ancient Remains (formed in 2019), is a Brisbane heavy metal band that encompasses a unique sound comprising groove, old-school thrash and metalcore. | Macgregor and Geebung |
| Blonded | Blonded is an electrifying 4-piece hailing from Brisbane. Mixing an eclectic array of influences, the alt-rock powerhouse are undoubtably ahead of the curve stylistically in the Queensland indie scene. | Carina, Toowong, West End, Kelvin Grove |
| Blakey J | Blakey J’s (Blake Fitzgerald) music reflects his journey and influences, drawing inspiration from artists like Justin Bieber, Lil Nas X, and Kid Laroi. | Camp Hill |
| Deni | Deni (Krystel Morante) encapsulates the essence of the highs and lows of teenage girlhood through a dreamy DIY bedroom pop sound, crafting nostalgic and dreamy melodies from the comfort of their own space. | Kangaroo Point |
| Doyle | Doyle is a Brisbane-based artist known for her quirky lyrics and emotive vocals. With a background in theatre and creative writing, Doyle has approached the music industry with the same fervour for storytelling. | Wacol |
| Dublin Rose | Dublin Rose is an upcoming singer, songwriter and guitarist from Brisbane. She has an upbeat, playful style mainly of the Indie-pop genre. Dublin captivates audiences with her relatable lyrics and storytelling ability. | Sandgate |
| Ellie | Ellie (Eleanor Koning) is a singer-songwriter based in Mt Ommaney, Brisbane. Music being big part of her life, Ellie is really passionate about expressing different stories and personal experiences through her lyrics and music. | Mount Ommaney |
| Funny Jims | Never pigeonholing themselves into one genre or sound, the Funny Jims first knew they had something special going when Hockey Dad put them into their class of 2020 for Triple J unearthed. | Paddington, Alderley, St Lucia, Bardon, Moorooka, Annerley |
| Hunter Nelson | Blurring the lines between alternative pop and indie rock, 23-year-old Hunter Nelson has a foot in two worlds. With a series of 2024 releases spanning the lo-fi, electronic, and rock genres, Nelson aims not to be bound to a single sound, but to create an interconnected artistry across genres and styles. | Annerley |
| Ixaras | Ixaras (Ixara Dorizac), is a 16-year-old singer-songwriter slowly making her mark in the music scene with her band. Ixara is a Filipino Cambodian, born and raised in Brisbane with aspirations to release her debut EP in 2024. She will be performing in The QUBE Effect 2024 as part of a 5-piece band. |
Wishart (Ixara) Eight Mile Plains, Lota, South Brisbane, Ashgrove (Band) |
| Maarjn | Having thrived in the studio for many years during the world pandemic, Maarjn takes many of his studio production techniques to the live context to deliver a dynamic and captivating performance full of diverse textures and lush details. | Bridgeman Downs, Mount Gravatt, Kelvin Grove, Toowong |
| Mid Drift | This year, newcomers Mid Drift, have truly established themselves, landing significant support slots and securing a spot on the spaced-out 2023 Brisbane line-up. | Ashgrove, Holland Park, Indooroopilly, Greenslopes |
| Monstera | A salted-and-spiced blend of smooth, floating melodies and heavier undercurrents—this is Monstera. | Bowen Hills, Bridgeman Downs, Jimboomba, Everton Park |
| Pasky | Pasky (Pasquale Bartilomo) is a solo rap artist and producer from Woolloongabba, Brisbane. Pasquale has impressive bars, high energy, and a great stage presence. | Woolloongabba |
| Serendipiti | Serendipiti (Jessica Chate) weaves enchanting indie-folk magic to make sense of the world, combining heartfelt narratives and intricate, alternatively tuned guitar with ethereal grace. | Kelvin Grove |
| SPACE&AGES | This 5-piece rock band will take you through SPACE&AGES with their unique fusion of youthful indie rock, vibrant alternative riffs and soul-stirring ballads. | Dutton Park, Greenslopes, Forest Lakes |
| THE ZON | THE ZON is a solo pop project by 19-year-old queer producer and singer Eddy Egerton. Influenced by DIY musicians like Grimes and Charli XCX, their music can be described as modern synth pop. | Bardon, Kelvin Grove, Woolloongabba, Chapel Hill |
| Worm Girlz | Are you ready for total worm domination? Worm Girlz are here to spill the dirt and eat up your scraps with a powerful guitars and genius lyrics. | Ferny Grove, Chelmer, Annerley |
Pictured: Dublin Rose, Sandgate
