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Interview with
ELIAS DAVIES
from
ASCENT MUSIC
(10th September 2025)

Interview by Dave Bruce

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Watch the whole interview below:

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When passion and purpose meet, incredible things happen. For Elias Davies, music has always been a part of life. Growing up surrounded by folk and blues festivals and a father who was a musician, it wasn’t long before they picked up instruments themself. But it was during the COVID lockdowns that Elias realised their real calling was on the other side of the stage—helping artists find their place in the world.

That reflection led them into the music business and eventually to Xelon Digital, a leading independent distributor that has been shaping Australia’s dance and electronic scene for nearly 20 years. Xelon’s reputation for supporting independent artists and labels has created the perfect platform for Elias and their collaborators Amy and Gemma to launch something new: Ascent Music.

Creating Ascent Music

The idea for Ascent grew from conversations about gender disparity in electronic music. Elias, Amy, and Gemma wanted to go beyond talking about inequality—they wanted to act. So they launched a competition for women and gender-diverse artists to submit tracks, supported by industry heavyweights like Beatrice (Haiku Hands), KLP, and Sarah Hamilton (Golden Hour).

The response was overwhelming. Not only was the number of submissions staggering, but the quality made it nearly impossible to choose just one winner. That’s when the team realised a one-off competition wasn’t enough—they needed an ongoing space to uplift underrepresented voices.

Thus, Ascent Music was born: an imprint within Xelon dedicated to women, gender-diverse, and trans artists in electronic music.

“Our goal is simple,” Elias explains. “We want to do something about inequality, not just complain about it. There’s room for everyone to play their part in making this industry more equal, supportive, and community-based.”

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First Signings and What’s Ahead

The imprint’s first signing is ROMÆO, who originally submitted music through the competition. Her debut EP is being rolled out through Ascent, and her launch show is set for September 19th at the Cactus Room in Thornbury.

Another standout from the competition was Te KuraHuia, who took out the winning spot with their track Big Mana. While Ascent is beginning with a release-by-release model, the aim is to create flexibility for artists and build a roster that grows naturally and sustainably.

Looking ahead, Elias and their team are already planning more signings, workshops, showcase events, and collaborations with other organisations in the space. As they put it: “We don’t just want to release music. We want to create a real-world community.”

On Mentorship, Performance, and Persistence

When asked what advice they’d give to artists navigating today’s industry, Elias highlights the value of openness and collaboration: “Use the resources and people you have around you. Learn everything you can. No knowledge is wasted.”

But they also emphasise something deeper—presence and performance. In an age where attention spans are short and distractions constant, artists need to remember why they create in the first place. “Perform anywhere, for anyone. Your job’s done when you perform—not when you get a response.”

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The Person Behind the Label

Beyond the business of music, Elias is full of stories. They once ran away to join a circus in New Zealand at 19, making popcorn, driving caravans, and braving the cold South Island winters. They’re a lover of weird animal facts, obsessed with olives, and have a tattoo inspired by Tolkien’s Ents etched into their forearm.

When it comes to their musical taste, their favourites include Pond and La Femme, while Little Miss Sunshine remains their go-to film. Their kindness, they say, is the trait they values most in themself—and it shows in the work they’re doing through Ascent.

A New Era of Support

In a world where AI, politics, and social change are constantly reshaping the music landscape, Elias and the Ascent team are determined to stay true to their mission: creating space, support, and opportunities for underrepresented voices.

It’s an ambitious project, but as Elias proves, ambition rooted in kindness and community can spark real change.

Stay tuned for Ascent Music’s upcoming announcements and events, and if you’re in Melbourne, don’t miss ROMÆO’s EP launch on September 19th at the Cactus Room.

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Follow ASCENT
Instagram

Follow ROMÆO
Instagram

Follow TE KURAHUIA
Instagram

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Watch the whole interview below:

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Press Release 20th August 2025 (below) HERE

XELON
launches
ASCENT MUSIC:
A new label championing
female and gender
-nonconforming artists

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AMNPLIFY – DB