Folk-artist Amela Duheric is among a talented group of emerging musicians helping to establish Brisbane as a well of creative talent.
The fresh-faced 19-year-old, who is studying a Bachelor of Music at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is one of 12 local acts whose work will be showcased to a national audience with the release of QUT's Independent Music Project (IMP) Lab's compilation Twelve.
The CD, which will be launched at the Powerhouse on March 31, is the lovechild of the IMP Lab's inaugural 100 Songs Project held in May last year.
The ambitious project saw 72 local acts record 100 songs in 100 hours in QUT's Gasworks studio in Newstead producing the biggest cross-section to date of previously unreleased, independent local recorded material.
And now IMP Labs are gearing up to do it all over again, with applications for the second 100 songs project now open.
Amela, who also fronts local indie folk-band The Forty Thieves, said the experience of taking part in the collaborative and unique musical experiment had been life-changing.
"I love working in studios and these studios were just buzzing during the project," she said.
"We were all doing our own thing but you'd run into other bands in the kitchen, or hanging out on the lounge rehearsing and you naturally make so many creative friendships.
"That was the best part for me - getting to watch and work with so many talented people and then create something that is industry standard, not just a scrappy thing recorded in your garage."
Amela's track Tough is Love appears alongside the music of other up-and coming Brisbane artists including Cold and Need, some of whose members also studied at QUT, and Ben Salter.
Professor Philip Graham, head of QUT's Music and Sound, said this year's 100 songs project promised to be just as exciting.
Entries for the project close on April 9 with the event taking place between May 20 and 25.
"Last year we got close to 500 applications from some better-known bands as well as emerging artists," Professor Graham said.
"The entire project is industry curated and gives a great cross-section of the music being created in Brisbane."
Amela said she strongly encouraged musicians of all levels to try their luck and apply.
"I applied not expecting anything and it has honestly been the best thing I could do to kick-start my music career," she said.
"I've been watching (Queensland band) The Medics getting bigger and now the same thing is happening with Cold and Need so people are definitely watching the Brisbane music scene and this project really helps to get that kind of national exposure."
For more information on the launch of Twelve or to apply for the 2012 100 Songs project visit www.implabs.net.
Click here to check out all 100 Songs recorded last year.
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Media contact: Alita Pashley, QUT media officer, 07 3138 1841 or alita.pashley@qut.edu.au
