In short:
Emerging pop singer Lizzie Hosking believes her autism spectrum disorder is her “superpower”.
She is one of just 10 acts chosen to perform for music industry executives at two exclusive Adelaide gigs tonight.
What’s next:
Lizzie Hosking has released her new single and will soon move to London to further her music career.
Lizzie Hosking’s music career is taking off and a lot of it she credits to her “superpower”.
After years of struggle, she’s now not afraid to be open about her autism spectrum disorder (ASD) — a condition she shares a diagnosis of with her brother and one of her sisters.
“I do try and represent my family in that way because we’ve obviously had struggles, but we all look out for each other and that’s really important to us,” she said.
The 25-year-old pop singer is set to perform at Scouted, an annual showcase of South Australia’s hottest unsigned acts.
Hosking is one of just 10 artists who have been selected to perform, beating 130 other hopefuls to be thrust into the public spotlight.
“I feel like I’m getting all the nervous stuff out this week with talking to people, when I get on stage I think that’s going to be a relief almost,” she admitted.
Having grown up in a disabled household, the music teacher wasn’t initially open about her ASD.
That’s changed in a big way through her singing.
“I like to look at it as a superpower because I do think it helps me be really creative and I feel like I’m able to really hyper fixate on writing songs and feel music really deeply,” she said.
Music SA chief executive Christine Schloithe said getting the Scouted gig would be a huge career boost.
The shows are deliberately scheduled during a week where national music industry professionals are in Adelaide for an indie record conference.
“We have a challenge in South Australia where it can be really difficult to get the larger businesses or independents from the eastern states to Adelaide seeing live artists on a regular basis,” Ms Schloithe said.
“For those artists that are serious about eking out a career this is really one opportunity that can get them those few steps ahead.”
The showcase comes at a critical juncture in Hosking’s career.
She’s just released her new single, Dance With Me, and is about to move to London.
“I’m keeping the music going in the UK and I’m really excited to meet some new people and see where my music takes me over there,” she said.
“I’ve always said the goal is perhaps Glastonbury Festival, see how we’re going, just excited to perform as much as possible, work with people to write new music and yeah, see what comes of it.”
Ms Schloithe has no doubts she can make it.
“She’s got a really innate sense of talent, I think the genre she chooses to work in makes her music really accessible,” she said.
“The combination of talent and interests, just that right amount of sass, I think she’s certainly got a big future ahead.”
Hosking is hoping her rapidly developing career can inspire others.
“Very glass half full sort of person, so I wanted to make sure that anyone else who might be suffering or have ASD can find the good in the disability,” she said.
Hosking will be one of five acts to perform at Nexus Arts on August 2, while another five acts will also appear tonight at another Scouted gig at Jive.
