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Akala Newman and Ama Are Artists to Watch After Their Performances at Rolling Stone House
The collaboration between Rolling Stone AU/NZ and Mentos was designed to unearth Australia's best emerging talent.
In case you missed it, Rolling Stone AU/NZ threw a massive house party at this year’s SXSW Sydney.
Rolling Stone House took place at the Lord Gladstone Hotel on October 16th and showcased some of the most exciting rising stars in Australian and New Zealand music.
As part of the event, the Rolling Stone AU/NZ team hand-picked two up-and-coming artists, Akala Newman and Ama, to perform at Rolling Stone House via the Mentos Fresh Sounds Portal. This collaboration between Rolling Stone AU/NZ and Mentos was designed to unearth emerging talent and give them real, career-changing opportunities.
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Akala Newman, a First Nations artist whose music blends EDM and pop, opened the Rolling Stone House event and set the tone with her infectiously high energy. The crowd was hyped from the first song, making Akala, the self-described South-West Princess from Sydney, a true crowd igniter.
If you want to hear more of Akala, her debut EP (A)VOID was released earlier this year and explores the tension between avoiding pain and “surrendering to the void.” Through her powerful vocals and heartfelt storytelling, Akala’s performance was crisp, controlled and seemingly effortless.
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After Akala’s bar-raising opener, Ama kept the momentum alive and took to the Rolling Stone House stage at 5:30pm.
A fellow Mentos Fresh Sounds Portal winner, Ama is the 22-year-old Sri Lankan Australian singer-songwriter to keep on your radar. With her impeccable vocals and magnetic stage presence, Ama struck a perfect balance between vulnerability and power in her set.
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Ama’s tender vocals carried a smooth and soulful tone reminiscent of other young artists, including Gracie Abrams and Devon Again. Every lyric felt personal and clearly connected with the audience as Ama performed her vulnerable and honest tracks about relationships and grappling with life in her early twenties.
Ama is a fresh voice in Australia’s indie music scene, and her debut EP Julie’s House puts her on our one-to-watch list as she continues building out her musical career.
Both Akala and Ama owned the stage in front of the SXSW Sydney audience, serving as a pertinent reminder of the power in creating opportunities for emerging Australian talents.
The latest Rolling Stone House followed 2024’s second edition, which featured three days of up-and-coming acts showcasing their music. Keep your eyes on Rolling Stone AU/NZ for the 2026 event.
