Akala Newman is a Wiradjuri/Gadigal multidisciplinary performer, songwriter, educator, and cultural producer celebrated for her cultural care practices. Hailed by The Urban List as a “bonafide triple threat we really can’t get enough of,” Akala’s artistry moves fluidly between pop music, poetry, and performance, blending fantasy, language, and deep cultural storytelling.

Her accolades include writing and performing “Calling Country” for the Sydney Opera House New Year’s Eve Fireworks, winning the inaugural IndigiTube Song Contest, and recent recognition by Rolling Stone AU/NZ as one of the rising First Nations voices reshaping contemporary music.

Beyond the stage, Akala is a First Nations Advisor at Arts and Cultural Exchange (ACE), a lecturer at the National Art School, and an Artist Educator at the Museum of Contemporary Art. She is also the founder of Gili Gatherings, an initiative reimagining live events through residencies and performances that celebrate and centre First Nations, CALD, and LGBTQI+ creatives.