Innessa’s inspiring journey to the Australian Women in Music Awards and why she now encourages emerging female musicians to embrace the opportunity

Innessa, singer/songwriter creating slavic inspired alternative folk, was selected to be part of SSI’s delegation at the Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA) in 2023. A year on, she shared her journey, highlighting impactful moments and encouraging other aspiring musicians to seize this unique opportunity to apply to be part of this year’s SSI AWMA delegation.

“The AWMA awards night was a huge highlight – a culmination of the whole experience. Seeing acts of such high calibre, like Vanessa Amorosi, was so inspiring. I wanted to work on my art to be on that stage one day,” Innessa recalled.

“The black carpet on awards night made me feel like a star, a VIP for a moment, while the industry panels at the conference opened my eyes to new perspectives. I learned something valuable at each of the sessions.”

One of the great experiences for Innessa was the chance to meet new people and expand her network.

“Meeting other delegates and spending time with them was fantastic. I enjoyed hearing their stories and discovering common interests. I had a little jam session with one of the delegates, Peranya, and I hope to collaborate with her musically in the future,” she shared.

Innessa had clear goals going into the delegation, including getting inspiration for organising her own tour after AWMA and finding a mentor. “During the awards night, I ran into a few acquaintances and had the chance to discuss my music ideas and plans with them. Pauline Maudy was one of them. I asked her to be my mentor, and when she said yes, I was over the moon! In December, I was given a grant for Pauline to mentor me, and now we have a goal of getting me ready for an Australian national tour following my successful Queensland tour,” she said.

Innessa emphasised the importance of supporting diverse musicians through initiatives like SSI’s delegation at the AWMA Awards.

“As someone who came from a different country, it’s tough to cut through the noise and promote myself. When I came to Australia, it was hard to start completely anew with no connections,” she explained.

Innessa’s musical journey began at eight in Russia with a passion for poetry. By 16, she was performing original songs, blending her poetry, vocals, and guitar skills. After university, she traveled the world with her guitar, exploring music in the Black Sea, Egypt, Spain, and the USA. Now based in Australia, she has released four studio albums, performed at major festivals, and had two songs selected as finalists in the Queensland Music Awards.

Innessa acknowledged that balancing family responsibilities, university studies, and a music career is a challenge, but the support from the delegation experience at AWMA helped her regain her drive, focus and confidence to ‘put herself out there’.

“For female artists who come from different countries, it’s really helpful when you get support promoting yourself. My original music is not traditional folk or commercial pop, so finding where I fit can be a struggle,” she shared.

The delegation provided a space for diverse musicians from all backgrounds and music professions to find a place of belonging and connect with others on similar paths.

“I don’t know why anyone would be unsure about applying for this opportunity where you get to come to awesome workshops and events and connect. Why wouldn’t you apply?” Innessa encouraged.

“You won’t lose anything by applying, and you might get the chance to be part of something special.”

For emerging, diverse female musicians, the delegation experience offers a unique chance to learn, grow, and connect with Australia’s top music talent.

Applications to be part of SSI’s next delegation are now open and close at midnight on 18 August. We welcome applications from emerging, female-identifying, or non-binary artists from diverse cultural backgrounds in NSW and Queensland.

Apply using this form, which gives more details on what’s included and who can apply.