Ella Hartwig continues to make Cooktown proud after being selected for two prestigious Australian music development programs. Photo: Supplied.
One of Cooktown’s favourite musical products says 2025 is shaping up to be her year after being selected for two prestigious music mentorship programs.
Singer-songwriter Ella Hartwig was announced as one of 12 finalists for Brisbane City Council’s The QUBE Effect, an annual music development program which brings together young artists with some of the country’s top industry experts.
“It’s actually pretty surreal; it makes me feel more involved in the Brisbane music community and like I’m being recognised for what I’ve done,” she said.
“I’ve moved from a tiny town to the big smoke, and I’ve started to see the results of my hard work, which is so encouraging that I’m on the right track.
“The motto that I’ve had since I moved away is ‘if I make enough noise, the right person is bound to hear me’ and it’s kind of coming true; I’ve been doing all the groundwork, making the noise, playing at every opportunity and putting my videos out there on social media, and it’s all kind of coming to fruition.”
Since launching in 2015, The QUBE Effect has helped 269 young Brisbane musicians develop the skills to grow their careers, with past finalists performing at Valley Fiesta, BIGSOUND, Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay Bluesfest and Laneway Festival, and some touring as support acts on national and international stages to major artists, or as their own headline tours.
As well as networking and live performance opportunities, the program will also support the finalists in filming their own music video, which will then be voted on for the People’s Choice Award later this year.
“Brisbane’s music scene is so iconic here and abroad, and we want to support the next generation of artists that will represent our city on the world stage,” Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.
“This fantastic program provides a priceless experience for musicians to work with some of the industry’s best, and learn from years of experience so that they can forge their own path.”
In a massive start to 2025, Ms Hartwig also performed at the Tamworth Country Music Festival last week after being selected for The Academy of Country Music, where she met like-minded musicians and was mentored by some of Australia’s best-known artists of the genre.
“It was about 30 people, and not just from Australia – someone came from Nashville (in the Unites States), three of them were from New Zealand, and there were people from every state and territory in Australia; it was a pretty big deal,” she said.
“Toyota sponsored me to go to it which was pretty crazy, and I’m so grateful because pretty much anyone who’s done anything in the Australian country music scene has been through the academy.”
