12 FEBRUARY 2021 | FRIDAY | 8.00PM

"Multi-instrumental prodigy ROSHANI is one of the most exciting new voices in today's Australian music scene!"

 - The Northern Daily Leader

ROSHANI is a musician who can't be pigeonholed. Using loop pedals to lay down guitar, harmonica, keys and percussion and possessing a voice that gives you goosebumps, she timelessly crosses genres.  

ROSHANI developed her one-woman show while living in her van, busking on the streets and traveling wherever the wind took her. Her mission in life is to inspire and uplift the world with song and story. We're thrilled she's coming to Eastern Lounge en route to performances at Bluesfest Byron Bay to inspire us.

"Performing and making music is how I connect to the world", says ROSHANI. "It's the pure joy that comes from performing that I love so much."

If anything, you could describe her music as a contemporary mix of R&B, Roots and Pop. It sounds familiar yet innovative at the same time. ROSHANI's live act is a real tour de force. She uses a range of instruments and pedals to offer an impressive one-woman-band show that reminds you of the technical prowess of artists like KT Tunstall and Molly Gene.

But ROSHANI describes her own music by quoting Louis Armstrong, who once said: “There are two kinds of music, the good and the bad. I play the good kind”. Her definition of “good” music is music from the heart and soul. "It’s got to have feel", she says. "I don’t subscribe to any trends or a specific genre. I just write and create things that sound 'right' to my ears and then hopefully that translates to music my audience relates to."

Citing everyone from Whitney Houston to Bonnie Raitt, Nina Simone and Tracy Chapman as influencers, ROSHANI is now a bona fide original. When she was asked to appear on X Factor, the producers asked her to audition by singing a cover, but she insisted on singing one of her own songs. Chris Isaak and James Blunt were blown away by 'Paid in Pink' and a day after performing it on the show, the song went straight to No. 1 on the Australian Blues Chart and remained there for the next three weeks!

Check out ROSHANI

“The new self-produced track by Ben Provest, 'Hollywood Heartache' is triumphant!"

- BEAT Magazine

After living and working in the US for the last 4 years, Ben Provest is back in Australia, recording and releasing original music again. 

Ben had some success with his high school band ‘Benny and The Dukes’ (Top 10 on Triple J Unearthed High, receiving a 5/5 review from Alex Dyson for their song 'Balloon Head' and an interview with host Rosie Beaton. In turn, this lead to live performance opportunities like opening up for The Bamboos.

Ben then moved to Melbourne to study at the Victorian College of the Arts (Contemporary Music, Jazz Guitar) on a Creative Development Scholarship. He received a grant to form an 18-piece orchestra to perform at the opening night of MUDfest, Australia's largest University Arts Festival, playing his songs to a sold-out crowd. 

​After completing his degree at the end of 2015, he moved to Boston, USA to study at Berklee College of Music. Ben was awarded an Academic Achievement Scholarship during his time at Berklee. In 2018 he accepted a job offer from Los Angeles based film composer Christopher Young (The Grudge, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Pet Semetary) to join his team of composers at his studio in Culver City. While assisting Chris in LA, he also performed as a guitarist for local artists in the LA scene.

Ben was scouted by Fender, the world’s leading guitar manufacturer, as 'online talent' for their platform Fender Play. During this time, Ben was also recording and releasing his original music with Munro The Band. Munro The Band performed to a sold out crowd at Hotel Café, one of LA’s music hot spots for up and coming artists in October 2019. 

In late 2019, Ben produced, arranged and recorded guitar and keys for US-based artist Johnny Cattini. Since its release John has gained the attention of 30,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Ben also  worked with Graeme Gibson and sound engineer Michael Nau (The Shins) at King Sized Sound Labs in East LA. 

In August 2020, Ben released the self-produced track 'Hollywood Heartache', which BEAT magazine labeled as "triumphant" in an encouraging article, also stating the "Ben channels the classic rock greats as Hollywood Heartache reaches for the stars”. 

Ben is now back in Oz and looking forward to continuing to work on his original music in 2021.

Check out BEN PROVEST