We Caught Up With Tash Sultana, WAFIA & daste. Ahead Of BIGSOUND 2025
bigsound, big vibes
By Natalie McGowan | 6th August 2025Brace yourselves, Brisbane: BIGSOUND is back this September, and it’s once again taking over The Valley in full force.
From 2 – 5 September, Fortitude Valley will come alive with 18 stages, over 120 emerging artists (including Eliza & The Delusionals, WAFIA, Polish Club, George Alice), 100 speakers from around the world (including Blur’s Dave Rowntree, Tash Sultana, and Mallrat), and 70 panel discussions packed with industry intel. It’s your all-access pass to the best of the local (and beyond) music scene, blending non-stop gigs with daytime deep dives into the future of music.
Over the years, BIGSOUND has kickstarted the careers of some of the biggest names in Australian music, including Ball Park Music, DMA’s, Flume, Gang of Youths, The Jungle Giants, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Sampa the Great, Tkay Maidza, Tash Sultana, Thelma Plum, Vera Blue, Violent Soho, and heaps more. So, folks, with that in mind, you can expect electric energy, next-level talent, and to discover the next big thing.
Ahead of the festival, we chatted to three artists on the BIGSOUND lineup to see what they’re planning on bringing to Brisbane.
QUICKFIRE Q’S WITH WAFIA
Among the most anticipated performances is Brisbane export WAFIA, who describes her music as “nourishing and whimsical.”
How has growing up in Queensland influenced your sound and artistry?
Growing up there exposed me to so much indie music in the early 2010s that has been so formative to where my taste is at now.
What’s been inspiring you lately?
I’ve just gone through a break-up, and that’s always a well of inspiration and beauty once the worst of it is over.
What are you most excited for about performing at BIGSOUND?
It’s a hometown show for me! And I used to attend as a fangirl back in my day, so this is extra sweet for me.
What do you hope for the Queensland music scene?
I hope we can continue to highlight interesting new artists that have a unique perspective. I hope we continue to find value in diversity in storytelling because I think that’s more important than ever.
Who are some local artists performing at BIGSOUND you think people should have on their radar?
Hatchie forever!
QUICKFIRE Q’S WITH DASTE.
Also taking the stage is emerging trio daste. at Eclipse on Wednesday, 3 September, whose self-described “baby‑making music” is rooted in the laid-back, coastal vibe of their hometown, the Gold Coast.
How has your hometown of the Gold Coast influenced your sound and artistry?
I think it has influenced our sound in that we make music that is quite laid back and relaxing, which is the very nature of the GC and ourselves. That being said, in the early days, we always felt a little outside of the sound that was coming from the Gold Coast. Some of our first local shows, we were supporting some awesome surf rock/psych rock bands, and we always stood out (not always in the best way), but that never influenced our sound.
What’s been inspiring you lately?
I would say after the release of our second album in February, we’re in that slump stage (creatively) where nothing is exactly inspiring us into the next direction. We’re just enjoying playing these new album songs live and enjoying life/searching for inspiration. It’s good to have creative breaks, I’ve always found you come back stronger and with more experiences to draw from.
What are you most excited for about performing at BIGSOUND?
We’re super excited to just be a part of the whole experience, we’ve been to BIGSOUND before as punters, some of us have played it with other bands, but this is our first time being invited as daste. It’s gonna be exciting to be on the artist’s side of things this time around. We are also performing with the full band, which is something to look forward to.
What do you think makes Queensland’s music scene so unique right now?
I think that the music that comes out of Queensland and just Australia in general is always so amazing and something that we get asked overseas all the time. “Why is there always such good music coming from Australia?” And we’ve always said it’s likely this combination of being so isolated that we approach things without fear and also that we write about things that are so uniquely our own that it’s almost mystical to the world.
Who are some local artists performing at BIGSOUND you think people should have on their radar?
Lyric, Mel Blue, Mid Drift, IJALE, Lola Scott, daste.
QUICKFIRE Q’S WITH TASH SULTANA
Over in the conference program, Tash Sultana is just one of many impressive names taking the mic. Back in the spotlight with their Return to the Roots EP, they promise to strip back the gloss with host Bridget Hustwaite on Thursday, 4 September at Fortitude Music Hall.
What can we expect from your BIGSOUND conference session?Just real talk. No gloss. I’m there to speak honestly about the ups, the downs, and what I’ve learned by doing it all myself.
Why was it important to you to take part in a discussion like this, rather than just perform?Because there’s more to music than being on stage. These convos help shift the culture — and that matters just as much as playing a set.
What do you hope younger artists take away from your talk?That you don’t have to fit a mould to make it. Do it your way. That’s where the magic is.
What does the industry need more of — and what’s working?More transparency, more support for diverse voices, and less gatekeeping. But the rise of independent artists and community-driven scenes? That’s powerful.
What advice would you give to someone starting out?Learn it all. Be self-sufficient. Don’t wait for permission — start now, even if it’s messy.
What excites you about the future of Australian music and your own path?We’re finally being heard on a global scale without watering ourselves down. Personally, I’ve stripped things back — it feels like a new chapter.
Any artists you’re keen to catch?Kaiit, KYE, Le Shiv, Intermood, and Bad/Love — all bringing something fresh. Can’t wait to see them live.
