The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Production Development Program began on Monday at the University of the Sunshine Coast, with a mission to equip First Nations artists with hands-on music production and song-making skills.
Led by Uncle Kev Starkey and Moss McGregor, the program brings together Indigenous creatives to gain practical experience and mentorship in a culturally supportive environment.
On the first day participants toured the UniSC K1 recording studio and prepared for the week's intensive training.
The program structure includes two daily workshops, followed by informal evening sessions where participants practice recording techniques introduced during the day.
Wadawurrung music producer Moss McGregor said the program empowers First Nations artists to take control of their creative expression.
"MPDP is a fantastic program, teaching mob to have autonomy over their creative voice," he said.
He also highlighted the long-term goal of equipping participants with the skills to lead in their communities.
"We're providing them with the tools to go back into community and be thought leaders," he added.
Reflecting on day one, Moss noted the value of starting from the basics to ensure strong foundations for every participant, regardless of experience.
"We've been covering the intro concepts... even though we're all at different skill levels, we're making sure we're all learning the right habits from the start," he said.
On Monday, participants dove into an introduction of Ableton Live 12, led by Moss, where they explored studio fundamentals, including signal flow and equipment setup.
Uncle Kev shared his excitement over the program's progress, calling it a unique approach to learning for First Nations artists.
"The program so far is going so well. It's not like any other learning experience – it's a collaborative connection of cultural people," he said.
For Uncle Kev, the MPDP is the realisation of a long-held vision for Indigenous music industry representation.
"This program fulfills the vision of Darkwood, which is making a wealth of accredited First Nations music producers, workers, and engineers within the music industry," he explained.
He emphasised that creating pathways for First Nations artists to work from their own communities is central to this vision.
"Our people have been leaving country and going to the big cities and they don't come back. Now they can work at home with community and record."
The closing of Day 1 saw participants share their stories and aspirations in the university's yarning circle, allowing them to build a closer and collaborative connection to one another.
The MPDP aims to address the lack of representation in music production by fostering First Nations talent across all areas of the music industry.
