Next month, the AU review will be returning to New York for our first party in the city since 2015, as we partner with The New Colossus Festival to showcase a few of our favourite emerging acts from around the world. Among them is Brisbane based artist Tia Gostelow. Ahead of the show, we caught up with Tia to find out more about how she got started as a musician, what she thinks of the Brisbane music scene, and we hear more about what she’s got happening on her upcoming USA tour.
What is the origin story for Tia Gostelow, the musician?
I’m from Mackay which is a regional town in Central Queensland, Australia. I moved to Brisbane about 2 years ago though to focus on music. I’ve been playing music for over 10 years, it’s all I’ve done my whole life! My part-time job from around the age of 12 was playing in pubs and bars every weekend doing covers. When I was 16, I recorded my first single which is how I gained some momentum in Australia through Triple J Unearthed High and have been recording my own music and touring ever since. That single “State of Art” was actually released 4 years ago this week!
How would you best describe the Brisbane music scene?
Brisbane’s music scene is relatively small compared to others, but it is so welcoming and has such a supportive community. It was really scary moving away from everything I’ve ever known at 18 to a city, but the music community here made me feel so welcome and it made it a whole lot easier.
What excites you most about coming to/getting to play in New York City?
I’ve never been to America so I’m just excited to be there! It’s kind of a surreal thing to be doing to be honest. I’ve only ever grown up in small remote towns (Karumba Qld and Alyangula NT before moving to Mackay) and never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be playing my own music in New York City! It’s pretty damn cool and I feel extremely grateful that I’m able to do what I love. I’m super grateful to TNC Festival for having me this year as I was meant to come over last year but had to postpone due to a family medical emergency, so I’m stoked that TNC Festival is having me this year and I can’t wait to play and also to see new acts at the festival.
Always a terrible question to ask to the person who created the music, but how would you best describe the music to someone who hasn’t heard it before?
I guess I would say it’s indie-pop-rock. It’s hard to say because I have songs that were written when I was 15/16 and influenced by folk-pop music, and then my current music is influenced a lot more by the synth-pop world.
What’s your latest music?
I will have a brand spankin’ new single out on the 6th of March called “RUSH.” It will be one of the new tracks in my live set and a taste of what’s to come on my second album due for release a little later this year.
What else are you up to while you’re in the USA, and what else do you have coming out this year?
I’m heading out on my first North American tour just after TNC and will be releasing my second album later this year! Here are the dates for my upcoming tour!
3.15 / Washington, DC @ Songbyrd
3.16 / Boston, MA @ Café 939
3.17 / Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
3.18 / Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live
3.20 / Toronto, ON @ The Drake
3.23 / Los Angeles, CA @ Bardot
Who else should punters check out at The New Colossus?
Ali Barter for sure! She’s a good friend of mine and her music is so freakin’ cool, makes me feel like I’m back in the 90’s. Also, Wyldest are amazing! They supported us in London last year and I was so blown away by them, definitely on the top of my list to see again!
For more about Tia Gostelow, visit tiagostelow.com.
The New Colossus’s 2nd edition takes place on the Lower East Side of Manhattan from March 11-15, 2020. For more details about the event, and to grab a badge for $100 – which gives you access to all showcases (including ours!), happy hour mixers panels and more – head to their official website HERE. For more about our event, head HERE.
Standalone tickets for this event are $10 and you can grab them HERE.
Photo by Jeff Andersen Jnr.
