ALEX BURNETT: FOUNDER
Across a handful of musical projects and dozens of collaborations with artists from Australia and abroad, one thing has remained consistent in Alex Burnett’s music: Honesty.
Whether working with Thelma Plum on her critically acclaimed records Better in Blak (2019) and I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back (2024), Hockey Dad’s internationally applauded album Rebuild Repeat (2024), or collaborating with globally revered artists like DJ Snake, Cosmos Midnight, Elderbrook, Motez and Hayden James, that sense of honesty carries through Burnett’s music; it’s the animating force beneath his craft.
“I think the more that music becomes so present in the world, the only music that really matters is stuff that’s individual in its honesty,” he says. “The songs I love writing are the ones that only a particular artist can carry.”
This drive, and consistent emotional core, is what separates Burnett from the thousands of other songwriters whose songs are less clarified and less cutting in an increasingly crowded market.
From his beginnings as the brainchild of acclaimed alt-pop band Sparkadia, Burnett has stood out as one of Australia’s premier songwriters and storytellers, able to convey deep feeling and immense personality from the deftest, most tightly-stitched pop songs on a truly global scale.
With over 1.4 billion streams across his songwriting catalogue, Burnett is already one of the country’s best-known songwriters — even if many of the listeners who have fallen in love with his songs don’t know his name.
This kind of wide reach has always been Burnett’s goal, one which draws back to the idea that art can, and should, touch as many people as possible. He thinks about songs as a necessity as vital as water or air: “I always loved the concept of coming up with something out of thin air, and it changing your life and changing people’s lives, and it becoming a public good,” he says.
“I look back on things like the last Thelma record – that covered some big and important issues, I was so happy to be a small part in making those songs real.”
It’s this kind of music that Burnett has dedicated his life to bringing into the world: songs created in Australia that reach a global audience and might change the lives of the people in the audience.
It’s a lofty goal, but one that he’s reached continually in his career, evidenced by swaths of nominations for ARIA, APRA and Vanda & Young songwriting awards; the aforementioned billion-plus streams; and dozens of Hottest 100 placements. For Burnett, though, the reward of writing a great song is enough.
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TIMOTHY MCARTNEY
Timothy McArtney is an Australian recording engineer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Sydney. He has collaborated with a diverse array of artists including Gang of Youths, Peter Garrett (Midnight Oil), Julia Stone (Angus & Julia Stone), Hoodoo Gurus, Jarryd James and Rose Tattoo.
McArtney recorded and co-produced Hockey Dad‘s album Rebuild, Repeat (2024), which received significant attention, featuring on triple j and reaching number 2 on the ARIA charts.
Beyond his work with established artists, McArtney has been instrumental in developing emerging Australian talent by working with up and coming artists such as Graace, Maddy Jane, LANKS, Lola Scott, BOY, Charlie Finn, M. Hofmann and Hollie Col.
McArtney’s extensive experience in both recording and mixing have solidified his reputation in the Australian music industry. His commitment to fostering new talent and his collaborative approach to music production continue to influence the Australian music scene.
OLI HORTON
Oli Horton is a UK-based producer and mixer with a diverse portfolio spanning various artists and genres.
He formed his first band Technobeat at the age of 7, with his cousin Stu. Once they’d grown up a bit they became Trademark and had a decent run of well-received records in the mid 2000s. Through Trademark’s label, Oli began to produce other artists, including work with Chicks On Speed and Foals. A branch out into dance music as Dreamtrak led to writing and production with other artists, including a session with Alex Burnett.
Since 2016 Oli and Alex have worked side-by-side on many projects.
JOSH NEEDS
Josh Needs’ music is raw, emotive, and layered, blending rock, blues, and alt-folk. Alongside his solo work, Josh has collaborated with prominent musicians and producers, building a strong reputation and showcasing his versatility across genres. His talent was picked up by LONG LIFE and he has been a part of the team since late 2023. Known for his down-to-earth personality and shaped by his coastal roots in South West Rocks, he takes the energy of surf culture and influences from rock, blues, country, and alternative genres. His music is a blend of emotion, storytelling, and technical skill, making him a distinct voice in the Australian music scene.