Conscious NXT Academy is a creative, 10-session intensive program. Participants gain behind-the-scenes insight - receiving mentorship and opportunities in songwriting, production, performance, marketing and business skills, paving the way for post-school pathways in the music industry. 

The Academy participants were split into two groups to collaborate on writing, producing, professionally recording and releasing an original song. As part of the experience, they also developed accompanying cover artwork for the release and have individual and group professional press shots captured, giving them hands-on experience in the creative and promotional aspects of the music industry. 

The Conscious NXT: Music Industry Sampler Session was a free, high-energy in-school workshop designed to immerse students in the world of the music industry. In this dynamic, hands-on experience, students collaborate directly with industry professionals and the CAC team as they tackle creative challenges that reflect real-world music industry practice. From music business and branding to beat making and lyric-writing, students gain valuable insight into the diverse opportunities the industry offers. 

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Building on the success of the Conscious program, Conscious NXT was a new music industry academy for young people aged 15 to 18 piloted in 2025. Conscious NXT brought together an experienced team of artists and industry facilitators to inspire and nurture the next generation of artists and music industry professionals in South West Sydney.

The program kicked off with a free Music Industry Sampler event for schools and individualson Monday 24 February 2025 at Campbelltown Arts Centre. During the action packed session young people engaged with a range of hands-on challenges, offering a glimpse into the diverse career pathways within the music industry.

We also had 16 young people from the Macathur region selected to be part of the Conscious NXT Academy - a creative, 10-session intensive program, that ran from 14 March - 5 June 2025. Participants gained behind-the-scenes insight - received mentorship and opportunities in songwriting, production, performance, marketing and business skills, paving the way for post-school pathways in the music industry.

The Conscious NXT 2025 Academy Cohort were split into two groups, ‘NXTUP’ featuring; Ashton, Danilo, EPII, Kezra, PZBS, RIAH and Stefa, and ‘The Harmonix’ featuring, Erin Spence, Japi, Jesse Nielsen-Connolly, Lara Laso, Rose Bahatta, Rozana Dedovic and Victory Riva. 

Find out more about the groups, artists and listen to the tracks they created as part of the program via the links below.