Dr Ash King is a psychologist, writer/ designer and the wellbeing content and programme lead at Support Act.
Dr King is one of the many speakers who'll attend BIGSOUND 2024 in Brisbane; this year's conference will reflect on the ongoing disruptions within the music industry, providing a platform for innovative conversations and creative breakthroughs.After her life in the music industry came to a halt following a vocal injury, she's now using psychology and mindfulness to help folks live their best lives with creativity, passion and purpose.
She has worked across a range of creative fields, including film and TV, live music, visual arts and radio, and run workshops and talks for Amazon, Pinterest, Linktree, Pedestrian TV, and APRA/AMCOS.
What do you do and why do you love it?
I'm a psychologist and I work to help create programmes and services to help support the wellbeing of music and arts workers across Australia.
I love what I do because music and the arts is a deeply humanistic pursuit which helps to enrich the quality of our lives and makes us feel more connected to ourselves and each other – but the wellbeing of artists and creative workers is chronically under-addressed.
I'm glad to be working in an organisation where the focus is to support the survival and thriving of the people who bring us the music that forms the soundtrack to our lives.
Why should people in the music industry attend BIGSOUND?
BIGSOUND is a juicy melting pot of music workers from all over the world.
The energy around Brisbane is electric, and the conference events and music showcases means that it's easy to engage in enlightening, connective and invigorating experiences. I always come away from the festival with a few new friends and a couple of new favourite bands.
What are the rewarding aspects of working in the Australian music sector?
Australian music has always had such an iconic place in the global music scene.
My folks used to be in a band in the '80s; I remember growing up with Hunters & Collectors and Boom Crash Opera tearing out of our at-home stereo system. I'm so proud to be working and advocating for the wellbeing of music workers – I can't imagine my life without Aussie music.
How vibrant is the local scene compared to other parts of the world?
I like to think that people here try their best to lift each other up. It can be a competitive and precarious industry to work in, and so much of the time is spent hustling. It can get exhausting. We should try to see this scene as more of a community where we are all fighting for the importance and value of music in our lives and in society.
What are a couple of challenges currently facing independent artists in Australia?
Cost of living and low wages make it a tough slog for anyone in the gig economy. Compound that with the residual impact of COVID, and the lack of priority it feels like the arts and music have on the national stage.
We need to do better in highlighting the value that music and the arts have on people's life and remind decision makers that investing in the arts is investing not just in frivolous life-extras, but in the stuff that makes life worth living.
With the digital media landscape saturated with so much content, people constantly scrolling through their feeds, how do indie artists make sure they standout from the pack (not just with their music but also marketing etc)?
Staying connected to what brought them here to begin with; staying connected to their 'why'.
Finding a voice, a style and a strategy that feels aligned with who they are, what they want to stand for, and how they also want to preserve their own peace and creative authenticity.
A piece of advice for emerging talent looking to build their brand both locally and nationally?
My advice would be that it's a tough and unpredictable road. It's made tougher if you don't have support and don't take care of yourself.
Make sure you stay connected to the people who love and understand you, and don't stop doing the things to help restore and invigorate yourself – because the demands of the national/ international music scene can be brutal.
What’s your favourite BIGSOUND memory from past events?
Slamming sour apple shots while Battlesnake – fully decked in medieval priest grab – covered AC/DC's 'Let There Be Rock'. Leading a Creative Minds masterclass to a full auditorium of guests tasked with coming up with a piece of new music with a bunch of strangers in five minutes! Falling a bit in love with the lead singer of Full Flower Moon Band.
What's the best lesson you've ever learned?
The biggest gift we can give is tapping into the essence of who we truly are – all the messy, wonderful and weird flavours that make us unique; being inspired by that uniqueness and sharing it with others.
Not everyone will get it or love it, but when people do, we will feel not only like we're truly seen, but that we're contributing something of real value into the world.
Are you happy with your work/ life balance?
It's a constant recalibration, and requires tapping into what I've got and what I need for myself throughout the changing seasons of the year.
Sometimes some arenas of my life require more attention or energy, and so I've learned that it's okay to shift attention for those periods to 'feed those plants', as it were – and I don't need to beat myself up for not always giving 110 per cent across the board because that is often unsustainable and unrealistic.
How do you define success?
As I transition through my life I feel like the definition of success is always being redrafted. In my 20s, it was characterised by the relentless pursuit of recognition, status and acclaim.
Now I'm sludging through my 30s, I'm seeing success in my own ability to live true to myself and turning towards actions that embody the values that are most important to me.
Relationships (all kinds!), and the moments we share with other people are precious, and prioritising the people that support you, treasure you and believe in you is a courageous and lesser-appreciated expression of success.
Dr Ash King speaks at BIGSOUND panels I'm Still Standing and Sound Minds on 4 September and The Dopamine Brain on 5 September.
