Music Biz Pros: In Conversation with Maylene Slater-Burns

Published 13 July, 2020

With the recent launch of First Nations Women in Music Victoria (FNWIMV), a new program for First Nations female identifying musicians and creatives in Victoria, we spoke to founder Maylene Slater-Burns about her motivation behind starting the program and the impact it will have on the music industry.

Tell me about the First Nations Women in Music Victoria

First Nations Women in Music Victoria is inclusive of female-identifying, trans-women, gender fluid and non-binary musicians and creatives, it is a free online program for creative, cultural, community and career development based in Narrm (Melbourne). This idea was written and designed with great concern as many of our First Nations Artists are facing such unique, challenging, and similar experiences within their relationship with the Music Industry – not only in Victoria but across Australia. Over 12 weeks, we will explore many facets of the industry and reflect on our own goals and careers with more than 12 participants from across Victoria and Australia.

Behind the scenes, we are a team of First Nations women with our Project Officer, Monica Jasmine Karo, a proud Gunai/Kurnai and Gunditjmara woman who is a singer-songwriter, spoken word poet, actor, MC and emerging playwright; Yorta Yorta creative entrepreneur, Allara Briggs Pattison and myself, Maylene, I am a Kamilaroi and Kuku Djungan community grassroots worker, international coordinator, multidisciplinary artist, singer, songwriter and mentor, born and raised in Victoria and I am the Founder of FNWIMV.

What was the motive behind starting the group?

The motivation behind the creation of this program is that we deserve to hold a safe space where we can discuss these issues and experiences together, allow ourselves to share our strategies of tackling our issues and provide a space to invite music industry mentors, professionals and experts in fields such as music industry advice, creative development, community protocols, personal goals and more. This program has been designed to uphold cultural safety in our work space, with absolute holistic love, belief and caution as we begin honest discussions on how we can thrive and be the best that we can be as story tellers, artists, women, non-binary and creatives working in the Victoria, wider national and international arts and music industry.

How will the group work and what will participants learn through the program?

We will share three hours a week online together for 12 weeks. This is our chance to explore many topics and themes throughout of journey together such as How to Get More Bookings, Your Music Future – Goal Setting, Self-Management vs Management, Artist Finance, Self-Care as individuals who carry many loads in our lives and Social Media: Content and Identity.

What do you hope the group will achieve for First Nations women in the Victorian music industry?

The most important outcome from this program for me is that our people feel safer in the world: that they feel empowered, free and well-informed about the industry that we’ve, collectively, been called to share our Songlines, dreams and visions in. We understand that as children of the longest living culture in the world, we have opportunities to continue our sovereign rights in sharing our stories and relationships with each other and our lands. We are children who believe in making positive impacts on our Australian society and the world through the way that we show up and share our music, art and Spirit. I am very confident that our participants will be leading our program to a powerful awakening that the music industry needs to pay attention to, listen to and feel our calling for stronger connections with our peers, fellow artists and industry leaders. We are here.

Why is it important to offer a platform for First Nations women in music?

As First Nations women, non-binary peoples, trans women and those who identify as a female spirit, we have so much power to give and share with our peers. This program isn’t a new concept, I have been asking for this space for many years and I am not the only one. Establishing this platform allows us to connect and shape our music careers in ways where we can stay true to our heritage and identity as First Nations daughters, mothers, sisters and people while we work in an industry where we are experiencing mountains of challenges. When we step into a space that is male dominated and with men heavily focused on celebrating male achievement, we are fighting for space and at some times, forced to demand decent levels of respect for our presence. No one should be pushed aside or stepped on in any capacity. This platform is for us to upskill and learn everything that we need to learn so that we can begin asserting our presence without any fear or shame.

The one thing that is missed a lot by our peers is that we are Indigenous people, we have connection to this land, we are carrying such powerful stories and our outlook onto the world is different to the non-indigenous – and we see this as a strength, not only to our own community but to each other and the world. It’s time for us, as First Nations women, to come together and be the force to be reckoned with because we have a special story to tell the world, the industry and each other. This powerful awakening that the music industry needs right now is that we will not fit into your box, we will master the skills and information about your box but we come with our own structure and system that demands the respect that it deserves. This doesn’t only relate to us, as First Nations people but all women.