In this episode, we’re joined by a true icon of Australian rock: Garry Gary Beers. Best known as the founding bassist of the legendary band INXS, Garry’s musical legacy spans decades and continents. These days, he’s based in Southern California and rocking out with his new project, AshenMoon.

From global superstardom with INXS to designing GGB bass guitars and launching new creative ventures, Garry shares his journey to the U.S., what keeps him inspired, and what’s next on the horizon.

Lucy is an emerging singer and songwriter based in Canberra, who joins the Cockatoo from Los Angeles on her way to SXSW in Austin Texas. Lucy shares a bit on her story from her early years and appearing on The Voice, to how she made it on the SXSW bill and the journey so far. She also wrote the artist reviews for this Cockatoo newsletter, so she shares her thoughts on the Aussies playing SXSW this year.

On today’s episode, we sit down with the brilliant songwriter and performer Ben Abraham.

Known for his evocative storytelling and soulful voice, Ben has released solo albums with Secretly Canadian and Atlantic Records. His songwriting credits include massive hits like Praying by Kesha and Grow As We Go by Ben Platt, solidifying his reputation as a collaborator with some of the music industry's biggest names.

With billions of streams under his belt, Ben’s career is nothing short of remarkable—but the road hasn’t always been smooth. Now embracing life as an independent artist, Ben opens up about his creative journey, the highs and lows of the music business, and what’s next for him.

This episode, Host Adam Burke sits down with the one and only Bryce Jacobs—a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and inventor who’s got a seriously impressive CV.

A Sydney Conservatorium of Music grad, Bryce has worked on countless film and TV projects like Happy Feet, Australia, Gabriels, Pirates of the Caribbean, Man of Steel, and Daybreak. He’s also been part of Hans Zimmer’s legendary team at Remote Control Productions, and scored for blockbuster video games like Call of Duty and Medal of Honor. 

Oh, and after finding inspiration in the power of the piano to distill the magic of full-orchestral works down to a single instrument, Bryce invented the seven-octave guitar.

Bryce joins us to talk all this and more from his home studio in the San Fernando Valley.

In this episode, Adam welcomes singer, songwriter, and musician Hayley Warner. Originally from Sydney, Hayley has penned songs for herself and an impressive roster of artists, including Tina Arena, Kelly Clarkson, and Katy Perry. A former Australian Idol runner-up, Hayley also gave a standout performance for The Australian Music Alliance's Breakers series in the Mojave Desert during the COVID era. Tune in to hear more about her rollercoaster journey and her continued impact on music in LA and the world.

As we return from the summer break, Adam sits down with Sophie Payten, known to the world as Gordi—a talented musician, singer, songwriter, and medical doctor from Canowindra, a small town 300km west of Sydney. Sophie released her debut album, Reservoir, in 2017 while still studying medicine and has been touring internationally ever since. Gordi frequently collaborates with other renowned artists like Troye Sivan, Ben Böhmer, and Bon Iver. 

Tune in to hear about her incredible journey and how she balances her dual careers in music and medicine.

In this episode, Adam welcomes Ben O'Connor, who performs as Benson, a DJ and producer originally from Melbourne. Benson has made his mark at major Australian festivals like Splendour in the Grass, Beyond the Valley, and Falls, and has recently moved to the US, already performing at Lollapalooza. He continues to write, produce, remix, and perform, and has established the label Medium Rare Recordings. Tune in to get the scoop on what's happening behind the scenes of Benson's US journey.

Join host Adam Burke as he brings you the latest updates on Australians making waves in the music industry in the USA, broadcasting from Hollywood, California, on Tongva and Chumash land.

 In this episode, Adam welcomes Grace Jones, a former journalist turned music publicist, who is celebrating a decade at Grandstand HQ. Grace shares her journey from journalism in Australia to representing renowned artists such as Courtney Barnett, Julia Jacklin, Royel Otis, Waxahatchee, and IDLES. 

Join host Adam Burke as he brings you the latest updates on Australians making waves in the music industry in the USA. Broadcasting from Hollywood, California, on Tongva and Chumash land, The Cockatoo features insightful conversations with key figures in the music scene.

In this episode of the Cockatoo, Host Adam Burke sits down with renowned Artist Manager, Jacob Snell.

Jacob founded Monster Management back in 2011, which he moved to the US with his life and business partner, Apple Baggios, managing bands including Hatchi, Methyl Ethel, The Beths, and Cloud Nothings. In 2023, Monster merged with Lookout Kid, another Australian-owned management company here in LA, which represents artists including Courtney Barnett and Faye Webster.

In this episode of The Cockatoo, your host Adam Burke dives deep into the musical journey of Chris O'Ryan, better known as TEK - a highly respected sound engineer, mixer, and producer. Originally hailing from Melbourne and now based in Los Angeles, Tek's story is one of perseverance and talent. Since arriving in the US in 2002 as an unpaid intern, he has risen to become one of the world's foremost vocal producers.

Tek's impressive portfolio and work ethic earned him a Grammy for engineering Mary J Blige's Groundbreaking R&B album, Growing Pains, with six further Grammy nominations soon to follow. Boasting collaborations with music legends such as Justin Bieber, Alan Walker, Usher, Katy Perry, Ciara, David Guetta, Mariah Carey, Frank Ocean, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, and Celine Dion, TEK shows no signs of slowing down.