Alumni News

A Message from the Founder

On Tuesday, 24th September 2024, ASC lost its greatest supporter and dear friend, Di Torossian.

It would be impossible to overstate the important role Di played in the Australian Songwriters Conference. Not only did she persuade her industry colleagues to speak and mentor at the first conference in 2008, she continued to support and encourage me throughout the years, both personally and professionally.

I am forever grateful that Di connected me to her colleagues in the industry who she felt would be a great fit for ASC. Many of them have become integral members of the ASC family too.

There is so much I could write about this wonderful, funny, knowledgeable and inspiring woman. A speaker and mentor at every conference, she loved the song pitching sessions and encouraging the songwriters with constructive criticism, happy to chat for hours to any conference attendee. Di loved songwriters.

Many of you got to know Di through the conferences and the online sessions we ran with her up until she became too unwell. Even then, she never stopped working and she continued to help and support me and ASC.

For Di, her work was her life and she loved it so much, it was unthinkable that she should stop. She loved the music industry; the wheeling and dealing (usually over Yum Cha), the business networking (usually over Yum Cha!), the song plugging, the amazingly talented songwriters and producers she managed - it was the thing that got her up in the morning, never more so than over the past very tough couple of years.

It's difficult to fathom my friend, this powerhouse of the industry, has gone. Born just a few days apart, we often celebrated together, just the two of us, over Yum Cha (of course). And ASC won't be the same without her, though I'm quite sure she will be there guiding me well, as she always has.

Thank you, dear friend. It's been a fabulous ride and one I will treasure always. Your legacy lives on in the songwriters you have nurtured over the years and you will always hold a special place in my heart and in the soul of the Australian Songwriters Conference.  Rest well.

Lisa Butler, ASC Founder

Diana Torossian was a giant in the Australian music industry. Responsible for discovering, developing and managing some of the country’s biggest artists and songwriters.

From her days at EMI Music Publishing Australia, when she was responsible for signings such as Baby Animals, Diesel and Hoodoo Gurus, through time at Mushroom Music Publishing, Sony Music Australia and Polygram Music Publishing Australia, Peter Hoyland Management all the way to being Manager of A&R at BMG Music Publishing Australia, involved in signing the likes of Powderfinger, Rogue Traders, The Androids, The Grates, Adam Reily, Phil Buckle, and David Campbell.

After leaving BMG, Diana decided it was time to make use of all her contacts and knowledge as an independent player in the scene, starting out by creating writing schedules and sourcing songs for artists including the debut album for Jessica Mauboy. This led into setting up her own management company to specialise in looking after writers and producers only – Diana was manager for David Musumeci and Anthony Egizii who are DNA, the most prolific and successful songwriters in the country with sales over 8 million units, seven #1s and twenty Top 10 chart appearances with hits for The Veronicas, Nathaniel, Samantha Jade, Dami Im, Jessica Mauboy, Delta Goodrem and many more.

Having managed the likes of Sarah Aarons and Lindsay Rimes (who she picked up at the ASC!), Diana continued to manage DNA , along with LA-based Wunderkind, Michael Fatkin and Melbourne-based writer/producer, Andrew Lowden.

Diana Torossian

31 March 2022
KIMU

 

Genevieve Sovereign wants us to connect with the universe on powerful debut EP 'It’s yours'.

She may be relatively new to ASC, but Melbourne-based singer-songwriter, Genevieve Sovereign, is already making waves with her debut EP, 'It's yours'.  Read this stunning review of her music at KIMU!  You can listen to the EP on a variety of platforms so choose your weapon here.

Genevieve Sovereign

2 December 2021
Umusic

KARISE EDEN SHARES
EMOTIONALLY CHARGED NEW SINGLE
MY OLD FRIEND

HER FIRST NEW MUSIC IN THREE YEARS

Celebrated Australian artist Karise Eden returns with her first new music of 2021. The self-penned single “My Old Friend” is a track which showcases her exceptional vocal and song writing skills.  It is the first track to come from a new EP set for release in early 2022.

Download / stream MY OLD FRIEND.

The emotionally charged, rhythmic song starts gently, building to a mighty crescendo. It has an intensely personal feel to it, as Karise explains:

My Old Friend. There is a lot of raw, honest power in that track.  It is still painful for me to sing. I’d hope that anyone who has lost someone they love, can find comfort in this song. Grief is a tricky emotion to experience but know that you are not alone. I’d hope you could listen, raise a glass and remember those we love so dearly that are no longer with us.” 

It has been three years since Karise released any new music, this new track book-ending with her third solo album ‘Born To Fight’, which was released in November 2018.

“My Old Friend” outlines subject matter that people will be able to relate to in different ways.  It’s a journey of loss, acceptance, growth and ultimately coming full circle.

Karise Eden has spent the last few years working through the process of gaining freedom and independence as an artist. With her new music she can communicate directly with her fans and do things her way, in a manner which is meaningful and significant.  Welcome, “My Old Friend”.

Shooting to fame at the age of 19 with a viral audition video that now has over 40 million views on YouTube, Karise Eden went on to release her debut album which broke sales records and made chart history.

Karise started playing guitar at thirteen years of age, and also picked up the double bass at the same time. Her debut album My Journey shot straight to #1 on the national ARIA Chart, was certified double platinum and went on to become the biggest selling album by an Australian artist in 2012. In New Zealand the album debuted at #3 and was certified gold.

Karise made ARIA Chart history in the same year when she took out the top three spots on the singles chart with #1 ‘Stay With Me Baby’, #2 ‘Hallelujah’ and #3 ‘I Was Your Girl’, with single ‘You Won’t Let Me’ at #5. Karise was the first artist to achieve this in Australia since The Beatles held the Top 6 to themselves back in 1964.

In 2014 Karise’s second album Things I’ve Done was released and featured lead singles ‘Dynamite’ and ‘Loneliness’. The album debuted at #5 on the ARIA Chart, achieved gold sales status and was followed up by sold out shows around the country.


1 November 2021
APRA AMCOS / BMI / ASC News

Lindsay Rimes, has joined the APRA AMCOS 1,000,000,000 List for clocking up over a billion streams with his co-write on Kane Brown's 'Heaven'.

Lindsay has also won two awards in the BMI Country Music Awards category for Songwriters & Publishers for the Most Performed Songs of the year with 'Cool Again' (Kane Brown) and 'Lonely If You Are' (Chase Rice). Lindsay, you're an inspiration and we are all so proud of you!

Lindsay-Rimes-billions

 

30 October 2021
Authority Magazine/ ASC News

Multi-talented artist, Susan Muranty, gained some excellent press with a great interview in Authority Magazine where she shares Five Things You Need to Shine in the Music Industry. The article was printed ahead of the release of her new hit single, 'Silent Night (River of Stars)' which debuted at #1 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter charts. The song is a new take on the Christmas classic, co-written with long-time producer and fellow ASCer, Sven Tydeman. Congratulations, Susan (and Sven!)

The music video for Silent Night (River Of Stars) debuts on You Tube on December 6.


 

1 November 2021
Triple J Unearthed

Meet Molly Millington, the creative force behind some of the year's best pop uploads

Hot off the back of supporting Thelma Plum on tour this year, eclectic Indie Pop artist, Molly Millington, also got some great publicity recently as the Triple J Unearthed 'Feature Artist of the Week'.

Read article now...

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20 October 2020
The AU Review

Alex Hosking on 'Fake Friends', writing for other artists, and her solo project.

ASC2016 alumni, Alex Hosking, is making a huge splash in the music industry with her collaborations and solo projects.

Read the article

 


May 19, 2019
Clemson World (USA)

US Audiences love 'Something Very Fishy'

ASCer, Kathy Prosser, has taken her brilliant marine environment awareness show to American schools, and its a resounding success.

Read the article


14 February, 2019
Newcastle Herald

Karise Eden is fighting fit and ready to rock on regional tour

Karise Eden didn’t let a motorbike accident, knee surgery and two broken vertebrae stop her from performing at the Opera House on Australia Day.

Read more