Some of the world’s most talked about emerging acts, including Katseye, descended on Sydney this week for the fourth edition of Universal Music Australia’s Ignite.
The annual showcase spotlights priority international talent and introduces them to the Australian market, with previous editions including the likes of Olivia Dean, Sienna Spiro, and Sebastian Schub.
Held at Alexandria’s the Grounds and hosted by media personality Bridget Hustwaite, this year’s event featured performances from global girl group Katseye, rising singer-songwriter Violet Grohl, and alt-pop artist Devon Again.
Katseye arrived in Australia amid a major global rise – the now five-member group recently wrapped their first sold-out North American tour and debuted new single “PINKY UP” during their Coachella performance earlier this year.
They were also named TikTok’s Global Artist of the Year and received two Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Gabriela”. Their 2025 EP Beautiful Chaos debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200.
Meanwhile, Violet Grohl showcased music from her forthcoming debut album Be Sweet to Me, due out May 29th. The Los Angeles artist, and daughter of the iconic Dave Grohl, recently began collaborating with acclaimed producer Justin Raisen, known for work with Charli XCX and Kim Gordon.
Also performing was Devon Again, whose glitchy, emotionally charged pop has earned a fast-growing following. Signed to Interscope Records in partnership with producer Dan Nigro’s Amusement Records, Devon Again is currently preparing to release her debut album.
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Universal Music Australia & New Zealand president and CEO Sean Warner said Ignite continues to play an important role in introducing global artists to Australian audiences early.
“By bringing these acts into the market early, we are creating meaningful opportunities for them to connect with fans, media and partners at a pivotal stage in their careers,” Warner said.
UMG’s executive vice president of global artist development JJ Corsini added that Australia remains one of the most important territories for breaking new music.
“Australia consistently shows up early for new music, building loyal and dedicated fanbases, which makes it a critical destination for every artist in the program,” he said.
