Meet PA777IENCE (formerly known as Clarissa Mei) - an artist and multi-instrumentalist based on Dharug Country in Western Sydney and a recipient of the Generations Fellowship in 2023.
Both the producer and vocalist on her tracks, PA777IENCE's style evokes 90s neo-soul with a glossy coat of future R'n'B. Her lyrics are honest and empowering, chronicling the everyday twists, turns, and reflections of a 20-something finding their feet in the modern world.
Create NSW caught up with PA777IENCE during her six-month residency at Powerhouse to find out where the journey has led her.
Congratulations on receiving the Generations Fellowship in 2023 and launching your new artist name. Tell us a little about yourself and your music.
I've been making music for over eight years now and have recently come into a new change. It feels like I've shed many skins and lived a few lifetimes over the past 10 years of being in the music industry and they've all led to this point in my career. I'm choosing to live in more authenticity, making music that literally fuels my soul and allows me to express all the things that are in my mind and heart.
PA777IENCE received the Generations Music (Early- Career) Fellowship in 2023
I love jamming, singing, and creating with friends who make similar music to me. It's brought so much joy to my life even in dark times. Music has always been the light at the end of the tunnel for me. I can't wait to open up the world of PA777IENCE and let everyone in, to see the beautiful things I've been creating with my friends.
What prompted you to apply for the Fellowship? And how has the funding and residency at Powerhouse supported you at this stage in your career.
I was at a point in my career where I knew I wanted to create and release new music and really elevate myself as an artist. I saw the Generations Fellowship open up online and thought it was perfect for what I wanted to do.
I was hoping that the funding would help me in the process of creating a new EP to release under my new artist name PA777IENCE, having a space to work and create the EP, and then get advice on the best way to go about the name change and project release. These are all the things that I've been able to do through the help of the Generations Fellowship.
"I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have received guidance from such kind mentors."PA777IENCE
Having direct access to a music label has been SO helpful. All my questions, big and small, but very important about the music industry were answered, which has been amazing. I've learnt a lot about the business side of things and also all the possibilities for my career.
The best part of the fellowship experience has been the funding to pay all the talented musicians I create with and also meeting new people along the way including the team from Astral People and the First Nations Collections team from Powerhouse.
What is the best advice you've received so far?
I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have received guidance from such kind mentors. Some common themes of advice amongst all mentors have been around 'community' and 'authenticity'. I love that because these are two things that I value and strive for in my career, so this advice encourages me to really lean on my communities and just be my full and truest self.
What other opportunities should artists explore?
I think going to gigs, jams, cyphers, any place where you could organically meet new friends in music and even possibly have a chance to share your own gift in front of them is such an important part of that idea of building community. Pairing that up with receiving the Generations Fellowship is a recipe for growth!
Find out more about Generations - Western Sydney Music (Early-Career) Fellowship - applications now open until 4 March 2024
