You may remember that we recently published some tips on how to tour internationally with help from the US government.
Well, it works both ways.
Mark Wilkinson is currently killing it in Australia. His new album Let The River Run hit #2 on the Australian singer-songwriter charts and the Australian Independent Record Charts. A few weeks ago, he took his talents to CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, thanks to the Australian Government.
We talked to him about the experience.
You had an interesting journey getting to CMJ and actually had the Australian government get involved. Tell us about that.
Yep, I was lucky enough to receive a grant from the Australian Government which supports artists like myself who are looking to promote their music in overseas markets. Touring and promoting overseas is obviously a costly endeavor and I think the expense alone restricts a lot of artists from having that opportunity. I've been planning to come over to the US for a while now and having the extra support from the government really gave me a lot more freedom to explore different opportunities like CMJ.
How was it working with the Australian Arts Council ?
It's been great. The application process for touring grants is quite competitive, but once you've been selected they provide you with a great support network.
How did you get involved working with them?
Well the grants are available to any Australian artist looking to promote or tour their music overseas. You just have to meet certain criteria to be eligible and then be selected from those who have applied.
Any tips for Australian or other foreign artists looking to tour overseas?
I think it's important to do some research into where you are hoping to tour. Figure out the venues and areas you think will work best for your music. I think it's also important to have an understanding of what you hope to achieve from the tour and think about how best to reach those goals. Planning as much as you can well in advance is critical.
How was your CMJ experience?
I had a fantastic time. The city really is buzzing with so much music during CMJ. There's a fantastic atmosphere and it's an awesome opportunity to see quality bands and artists in really intimate surrounds. I think there's a great appreciation for the artists and an enthusiasm to get out there and see something fresh and new.
What is new with you?
I released my second studio album entitled "Let the River Run" in August here in Australia and I've had a great time touring to promote it since - I just returned home from an awesome tour of the States (of which CMJ was a highlight) and I'm heading to New Zealand for my first tour there at the end of November. I'm hoping to make it back to Europe early in the New Year and then back to the US - I hear SXSW is a blast so I'd love to do that next.
