JOE MUNGOVAN
@joemungovan
Your music has this distinctive, groove-driven indie sound. How did your journey from drummer to frontman (including that serious skateboarding accident) shape the way you approach music today?
When I was 13, I skated down a big hill in Kiama and hit a street sign at the bottom. I fractured both femurs and ended up in a wheelchair for four months, which meant I couldn’t drum. So, I picked up the guitar and naturally fell in love with songwriting. I still drum when I perform with my duo El Grande and on a lot of my recordings, but my focus now is songwriting. Rhythm is behind everything I do musically, I still think like a drummer.
You built a home studio in Kangaroo Valley and recorded your debut there over weeks of solitude. How did that shape the album?
It was wild! I planned to spend a few weeks there, but then COVID hit and I ended up staying for about a year and a half in isolation. It was good for me, I’d been touring a lot, then suddenly I was in a routine, swimming in the river every day. I did go a bit insane at times, I don’t know if you’ve seen my “Cowchella” video, but the solitude really shaped the album. The house wasn’t a studio, so I had to adapt. The cicadas in summer were a nightmare.
Where should locals go to catch you perform next?
We’ve just been on tour for Know It All, our latest single, which was recorded locally. The film clip was shot at a studio in Dapto with Austinmer videographer Mikey Conlon. We’ll definitely have a couple more Wollongong shows before the end of the year, so keep an eye on our socials.
BLESSIE PICA
As a Filipino-Australian artist, how has your cultural background influenced your musical journey and creative expression?
Massively. Being Filipino, there’s such a strong connection to the arts: singing, dancing, illustration, it’s embedded in us. It’s almost expected, like with some islander communities. You grow up around people who are incredibly talented, so within your own community it doesn’t feel special. That’s beautiful, but it can also cause imposter syndrome. When you step into the wider world, people see you as really gifted, and they’re right, but back home it’s more like, “Yeah, cool.” It’s a strange contrast.
How would you describe your sound and what’s your go-to cover song in a live set?
Acoustic pop, soul, and R&B. I grew up on soul, Motown, and 90s hip hop, the stuff that feels nostalgic now. I try to read the room and tailor the set depending on the energy, jazz, yacht rock, old-school R&B, or something more current. It’s about creating a moment. If it were totally up to me, I’d play John Mayer all day, something with musical complexity. But I treat it like a challenge: guessing what’ll land, pivoting if it doesn’t. It keeps me sharp.
Where should locals go to watch you perform?
I play regularly at the Novotel North Bar on Saturdays. You’ll also find me at the Royal Hotel in Bowral, Georgia Rose in Shell Cove, Flamin Galah in Huskisson, Bar 67 at Collegians, Wolf & Woman Distillery, and Towradgi Bowls. I also do weddings, private events, and corporate gigs.
KANE CALCITE @kane.calcite
Your solo sound blends acoustic, indie and folk, but there are also subtle hints of reggae and hip hop. How would you describe your sound, and what’s influenced it over the years?
My solo stuff is definitely more acoustic and songwriter-based. But I’ve always loved reggae, not necessarily playing it traditionally, but for the mood it brings. I try to weave that feeling in without it being full-blown reggae. Same with hip hop, I’ve looked up to artists who blend genres in clever ways and taken inspiration from that. I pretty much always play as a duo with my lead guitarist Willow, and once a year I’ll get together with a band for fun.
You say you like to include the “clicks and clacks” in your recordings for authenticity. Tell me about that.
In the past, I made songs that were so polished they didn’t feel real. Lately, I’ve been stripping things back and embracing imperfections. If there’s a little mistake or something’s off, I leave it in. It’s real art.
I’m actually producing my own album right now, it’s more organic than anything I’ve done before. It’s scary but exciting. I want to prove I don’t need to spend thousands to make something meaningful. As long as the music connects, that’s what matters.
Where can locals find you performing?
I bounce around local bowlo’s and RSLs, and enjoy playing in smaller bars and restaurants.
GRACIE LOVE
Your debut single Magic really captures that uplifting, soulful vibe. What inspired it?
Magic is special to me. It started as a pep talk to myself, a reminder that even if you don’t know exactly where your path will lead, there’s magic in choosing to follow it anyway. I turned it into a universal message, a pep talk for anyone chasing a creative dream. It’s also about the joy of creating something that makes people feel good. That’s the heart of it, following that spark and sharing it.
Are you working on anything special right now?
Magic and Weight in the Water will be part of an EP I’m hoping to finish by the end of the year. I’ve been working with Benjamino, who’s just extraordinary as a producer. We’ve got a few songs to go, but I’m excited about how it’s coming together.
You regularly perform at Wollongong pubs and markets. Tell me about your favourite songs to sing and favourite local venue?
At pub gigs, you’re often playing classics and covers, but my favourites are always the songs where someone sings along or a baby has a dance party in front of me. That’s the best. You can often catch me at Jamberoo Pub.
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