Commotion 2025 Review
Commotion returned to Nelson on August 9-10, bringing together young musicians for workshops and performances at NMIT and the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts. The event, organised by Emily Sanson and Scott Burnett, focuses on giving youth access to industry knowledge and performance opportunities they wouldn't normally get.
Saturday Night Showcase
I went to the Saturday night showcase which was held in the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts. The showcase opened with Imani-J and the Commotion Choir performing an almost ethereal rendition “See You In Jupiter,” joined by artist tutors Louis Baker and Deva Mahal. Chain Reaction played an awesome cover of P!nk’s “Funhouse.” Artist tutor Paige performed “Twenties” and “Waves”. Waves was a song that I don’t think I had heard since 2020, and hearing it performed live had a sort of nostalgic feel.
The standout act for me was Armadillo, a rock band who did not have a vocalist (yet?) but had great stage presence and amazing sound. The night closed with artist tutor Bella Rafflyn joining Imperfect Circles for a cover of Highest Heights (Coast Arcade).
Workshops and Industry Sessions
The next day I went to the Sunday session of Commotion at NMIT. There was heaps of different workshops that students could choose to attend. Students could learn about songwriting, learn how to DJ, record a demo, and loads more. Check out the full list of available workshops on Commotion's website.
I sat in on the morning session "Getting your music out there" hosted by Bella Rafflyn with panelists Trilby (from APRA), Rachel (from the NZ Music Commission), Cushla (from MMF) and Evie (from Play It Strange). The workshop covered music publishing and APRA royalties, offering clear insights into publishing music, how royalties are paid, and realistic expectations for getting music on radio. What made it particularly valuable was hearing from industry professionals who aren't necessarily musicians themselves – people who work on getting music to radio and understanding what's actually realistic in that space.
The next session was hosted by Mazbou Q; a social media workshop focused on Instagram Reels, Tiktoks and YouTube Shorts. We talked about how to create content that connects, why some reels fail, and the emotional triggers that can drive engagement. Creating shortform content is so important for up-and-coming musicians and it was a really insightful session.
The day finished with a Q&A hosted by Rachel Ashby, featuring Deva Mahal, Tali, Evie Bamford, and Louis Baker. They shared direct, personal stories about their careers and experiences in the industry.
Final Thoughts
For young musicians in the region, Commotion delivers on its promise to provide content and inspiration not available elsewhere. The combination of workshops, industry panels, and performance opportunities makes it a worthwhile investment for anyone serious about music.
