Lauren Taylah
(Photographer)

Live music has always played a big part in Lauren’s journey as a creative. Going to as many gigs as she possibly could, it was the crowd energy and the feelings she got from live music, that pushed her into the creative industry. To create art, whether that’s in photography or writing, that moves people and makes a person feel a deep connection to a moment they might not have been at- that’s all she wants; to make you feel something.

Lauren has completed her studies in Journalism and is currently studying Digital and Social Media at Collarts, and has gone on to develop her own music-based media business In The Line.

Cassie Jones
(Photographer)

Cassie is a 23 year old Queensland-based photographer who got her start in the portraiture and fashion industry after completing a Diploma of Photography and Photo Imaging in 2020.

Cassie slowly discovered her passion for Australian music and live music in general, attending countless concerts in 2022 before taking the leap to pursue a career in combining two of her greatest passions.

Cassie believes that capturing a moment and freezing it in time is one of the most special parts about being a live music photographer and she hopes to continue her passion for decades to come.

Milli Browne
(Writer)

There's nothing Milli loves more than literature, art and music... Except maybe dogs. She's just a big dork with so much love and hype to give. 

Music follows Milli wherever she goes, and there is always something on her record player, filling her little house with sound. 

Milli has had a passion for reading and writing since she was a small child, and although she's slinging coffees for a living, she is gearing up to study literature at uni and hopes one day to be an author of a successful science fiction novel or two.

Milli is so proud of the thriving Australian music and arts industry and she is super thrilled to be a part of the Backbeat team! 

Dan Blitzman
(Writer)

Dan Blitzman is a twenty seven year old Argentinian artist, musician and writer living in Melbourne. He plays in the punk band Dole Manchild and is currently completing a Bachelor of Film and TV.

Keely Millikin
(Writer + Marketing Manager)

Keely is a writer who adores live music, and loves writing about and working in the Australian music industry. Most of the time you’ll find her wearing platform docs and a band tee, and adding new songs to her Spotify playlists, or going to live shows.

Keely has worked in the music industry for the past 4 years, particularly working festivals and events such as Groovin the Moo and writing reviews of live shows, and most recently writing for BackBeat!

Currently studying a double major of Journalism and PR with Deakin University, she listens to a wide variety of genre’s from Australian indie-rock, to pop punk and through to metal; it’s always changing. Keely is so excited to be apart of the BackBeat team and share her love of the Australian music scene.

Adrianne Armida
(Photographer)

A Sydney-based photographer with a passion for capturing live music and events, she also loves to get creative in her studio. At 25, Adrianne unexpectedly discovered a love for photography and knew she had to go all-in. She obtained her Diploma of Photo Imaging at Billy Blue College of Design, and credits her lifelong obsession with film as her other unintentional teacher, helping to fast-track her visual eye and style. Music had always been a necessity for Adrianne, having gone to countless shows from the age of 12 (Cher being her first) and often navigating her year around gigs. Adrianne loves to immerse herself in the crowd, making friends with fans and not being afraid to be one. Whether that means dressing up in costume for a concert or singing along while shooting, you'll catch her having the time of her life in the pit. Beyond her lens, she enjoys baking, double-features with multiple Boysenberry Choc Tops, and belting her heart out to Taylor Swift.

Micah Edmonds
(Writer)

Micah hunted down a pair of drumsticks when he was thirteen and quickly figured out he could use his talent for talking too much in music instead of just in fiction. First and foremost a student of Jeff Buckley, his musical taste drew him toward both acoustic folk, indie rock and progressive rock acts throughout his teens, a space he now explores with his own music.

A self-taught, multi-disciplinary writer, musician and producer, Micah has written and self-produced two albums (one unreleased!), and built a modest following for multi-hour video essays online. A keen video editor and hobbyist photographer, he’s also the Social Editor for Bendigo Records. With BackBeat, he reviews albums and shows.

Elijah Clarke
(Photographer)

Since 2015, Elijah has been on a journey of crafting captivating narratives through his lens. With a Bachelor's and Master's in Photography under his belt, Elijah has honed the skills to freeze moments in time and create powerful images, both commercially and artistically.

As the founder of Blurr, a thriving freelance photography business, his dedication lies in documenting visual memories that resonate with depth and authenticity. Every click is an opportunity to preserve the magic inherent in life's fleeting moments, and he’s passionate about weaving these stories through the art of photography.

Beyond the camera, Elijah is the vocalist of a local Bendigo band, passionately engaged in the creative process of writing and recording original music. His love for the stage doesn't end there; as he finds immense joy in community theatre, infusing his theatrical flair into musical performances that bring stories to life.

As a dedicated fan of all things music, Elijah seamlessly weaves this passion into his storytelling with a camera in hand. Catch Elijah at gigs, singing along as he shoots, as he continues to blend his love for music and photography into a harmonious narrative.

Georgia March
(Writer/Photographer)

Bio Coming Soon!

Madi Zielke
(Photographer)

Bio Coming Soon!

Kyah Zois
(Photographer)

From the pulsating energy of crowded venues to the intimate moments between artists and audience, With each roll of film, Kyah’s lens tells stories that transcend sound, freezing each moment in a captivating frame.

The deliberate click of the analogue shutter reflects a dedication to preserving the authenticity and raw emotion of live performance. In the realm where light meets film, Kyah's lens weaves a narrative that transcends the digital age, embracing the timeless artistry of analogue music photography.

(Did we mention she’s a 5ft pocket rocket who squeals with excitement every time she sees her developed rolls? That’s very important to note!)

Travis Suttie
(Photographer & Videographer)

Travis started his career as a drummer which quickly evolved into a regular gig in iconic Melbourne Cover band, Snack Attack. His love for music led to studying Audio Engineering and Sound Production at NMIT and working at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. He was front of house for acts such as Katya from Ru Paul’s Drag Race and has worked on the production crew for The Veronica’s, Delta Goodrem, Mashd N Kutcher, Reece Mastin, Between You and Me and Stonefield to name a few. 

COVID prompted a pivot into online events but he has kept a keen interest in music production, videography and photography within his own venture Travis Suttie Productions. He has recently joined the Backbeat team to continue his passion for live music photography.

Sofia Perica
(Writer)

Sofia is a 20 year old Melbourne based writer who is passionate about the local music industry, empowering women and travelling.

She is studying English and Theatre Studies with a minor in French at Unimelb and hopes to become a journalist after her studies. 

She's been passionate about writing from a young age - she believes words are such a powerful tool and that sharing stories is so important- it's how we as humans connect to each other! 

You'll find her and her best friend Chloe Mathias at the dance floor of your local music gig.

PAST CONTRIBUTORS

Selin Kaya
(Writer)

Sel is totally obsessed with Australian Music, and even more obsessed with writing about it. She loves attending gigs and being able to express to other people just how valuable the Australian live music scene is and what it has to offer. Sel has previously been writing for her university magazine for around 18 months and has interviewed artists such as Dan Smith from Hilltop Hoods, Montaigne, and Carla Geneve.

She’s into indie rock and alternative rock, but doesn’t mind a bit of folk or Australian punk every now and then too.

Persephone Waxman
(Writer)

Persephone Waxman is a radio presenter and journalist from Naarm that has been kicking around shows and interviewing bands for nearly half a decade now.

She loves asking bands the hard-hitting questions and loves the feeling of a kick drum beat in her sternum.

Benjamin Marcuse
(Photographer)

After finishing a Bachelor of Film and TV at JMC Academy and branching into photography, the spark for music photography was lit. Particularly, Benjamin has the long term goal of being a tour photographer, and with travelling being a big dream and love of Benjamin’s, the chance of throwing music in to the mix doesn’t sound half bad to him.

Spotify over usage aside, being able to be in the crowd and feel the energy, meet the artists and get to know them as well as meet other photographers in the crazy environment that is live shows are the experiences Benjamin thrives on.

He loves genres spanning from indie rock to as far as orchestra music you’ll hear for a soundtrack.

If it moves him he’s there for it.

Ashlee Brown
(Writer)

Music has had a massive impact in Ashlee’s life. She started playing drums at the age of 16 in a school band with her friends, and she continues to play as a hobby. After realising that she preferred the ‘behind-the-scenes’ elements of live sound rather than the performing aspect, she began studying Audio Engineering at Collarts to fulfil her dream of working in the audio industry.

Outside of her studies, she spends her free time going to as many gigs as she can.

She likes listening to metalcore, alternative-rock, and prog metal, and her favourite bands include Aburden, Alpha Wolf, Ebonivory, and Trophy Eyes.

Han Begic
(Editor)

Han is an editor and writer who engages in a range of creative obscurities. Based in sunny Naarm, you can usually find her in old pubs elbowing her way to the front of the stage or losing at a game of pool.

Gabby Nish
(Writer)

Gabby’s writing experience began with her studies, completing Journalism as part of her Diploma at Collarts. Since then, Gabby has taken a break but is getting back on track, having written the BackBeat’s first live review (The Amity Affliction) and always keeping an eye out for local gigs to send us and the rest of our team along to!

Being from Tasmania, her love lies with local bands like The Sleepyheads and Luca Brasi, but we think her all time favourite will always be the enigmatic Gang of Youths.