AZIMUTH: Navigating Sound and Space

Presented by BackStage Music In partnership with Bankstown Arts Centre & CuriousWorks

What does it sound like to navigate cultural identity, memory, and sense of place in Western Sydney?

Azimuth—taking its name from the Arabic word meaning “the ways/directions”—is an immersive evening of brand-new, experimental music and sound art. Curated by Greek-Lebanese composer and performer Isabella Rahme, this showcase brings together a dynamic lineup of Western Sydney artists from diverse diaspora and First Nations backgrounds.

Through collaborative sonic experimentations—ranging from live acoustic performance and electronic production to spoken word and soundscapes—Azimuth explores the infinite ways cultural journeys shape the contemporary Australian landscape.

"Trace a line of your own history using sound. Where does that line land on the map of Western Sydney today? That intersection is where our music begins."

Event Details

7.30 PM Friday, 6 November 2026

Bankstown Arts Centre (Dharug Land) 5 Olympic Pde, Bankstown

What to Expect

• New Works Premieres: Fresh, collaborative compositions created specifically for this showcase.

• Diverse Expressive Styles: A blend of instrumental performance, sound art installations, electronic beats, and poetry.

• Community Connection: A rare chance to experience the creative process and hear local artists tell personal and conceptual stories through sound.

Event Schedule & Venue Info

7PM Welcome: Doors Open & Arrival. - Arrive early to explore the venue and settle into Bankstown Arts Centre.

7.30PM The Showcase:Main Performance Program.- A curated presentation of live sonic explorations and new collaborative works.

9PM Artist Meet & Greet:Post-Show Gathering. - Connect with the artists, curator, and community after the performance.

Accessibility & Ticketing

• Physical Access: Bankstown Arts Centre is fully accessible. For detailed mobility and transport information, please visit the venue website.

• Access Needs: If you have specific vision, hearing, or sensory requirements, please contact us prior to the show at info@backstagemusic.com.au or call 0402 051 903.

• More access information will be provided closer to the event.

ARTISTS

Isabella Rahme is an artist, composer, and performer of Greek and Lebanese heritage living and making music on Bedigal land. Her compositional explorations centre around the use of symbolism and gesture to express concepts and emotions related to the navigation of cultural identity. ‘Azimuth’ is Isabella’s response to the complexities of living in the diaspora, and aims to highlight both the shared experiences across cultures as well as the unique individual perspectives that deserve the attention and consideration of the broader community.

We have brought together a brilliant, diverse group of performers, composers, sound artists, and interdisciplinary creators to explore "navigating sound and place." This isn't just about melody and rhythm; it’s about how texture, voice, field recordings, and silence interact, giving a sense of where we are in time and space.

• Andrea Lim: A violinist, sound-maker, and performance artist who explores identity and morality through interdisciplinary performance scores, gestural performance, and somatic body mapping.

• Behzad Ansari: An Iranian-Australian composer, performer, and researcher. Founder of Avaye Rood, Behzad plays traditional instruments (tar, setar, oud, santur) and weaves Persian classical traditions with intercultural collaborative practices.

• Joseph Tabua: A guitarist, bassist, composer, and educator with Pacific Island heritage. His practice is deeply rooted in Western Sydney and spans jazz, rock, blues, world music, and community arts.

• Mark Ross, known as Munk or Munkimuk is a Jardwadjali/Wotjobulak man who has been working in the music industry for over 30 years as a hip hop performer, music producer and composer. He is also known as The Grandfather of Indigenous Hip Hop!

• Peggy Polias: A composer and academic of Greek heritage. Her creative interests lie in themes of safety, secrecy, journaling in sound, myth, and ancient Greek artefacts.

• Pico Dos Santos-Lee: A Macanese-Chinese composer and sound artist who creates warm, spacious sonic environments centered around saxophone timbres, resonance, texture, and collective memory.

• Ria Andriani: A writer, classically trained soprano and disability advocate of Indonesian heritage. Her work focuses on lifting marginalized and disadvantaged voices through storytelling and performance arts.