SYS Sister Sounds is so excited to be joining forces with Vyva Entertainment to bring you The Great Southern Nights Pho The Girls Take-Over at kassipu in Sydney. With an all female x non-binary line-up filled with live music and DJ sets. We've got powerhouses Akala Newman, Jade Kenji, Gemma Ylana and DJ Keavsz taking you through the night. The evening is a homage to the women in the music industry trail blazing through the scene and showcasing thriving local female artists' that we're so honoured to have here in Eora. 

SYS Sister Sounds BIO:

SYS Sister Sounds is a community built to empower and push women x NB in the creative and music industry. The aim of the organisation is to encourage and uplift women in the music industry through radio shows, workshops and interviews with women globally. Event series and DJs spin under the collective Pho The Girls through-out Sydney and beyond.  

ARTIST BIOS 

Akala Newman BIO

Akala Newman is a Wiradjuri/Gadigal singer-songwriter, storyteller, and cultural producer whose music blends ethereal vocals with raw, unapologetic lyricism. Known for her ability to merge fantasy, magic, and fierce personal storytelling, Akala has penned Calling Country for Sydney’s NYE fireworks, opened VIVID 2024, and won the inaugural IndigiTube Song Contest.

In 2025, she steps into a bold new era with her EDM-infused EP, (A)Void—a haunting yet electrifying exploration of resilience, rebirth, and reckoning. Layering pulsing electronic beats with hypnotic drops and poetic lyricism, Akala crafts a sonic world that is both an escape and a confrontation with survival, loss, and empowerment. As a rising force in electronic pop, she continues to carve space for First Nations storytelling in the global music scene.

Jade Kenji BIO

Jade Kenji is a Vietnamese-Australian artist hailing from Sydney's south west. She leads her music collective QOSMEA as a vocalist and songwriter. With heavy influences from New Jack Swing to Nujabes, her sound is quietly smooth, yet feisty and playful.

Gemma Ylana

gemma ylana (formerly Gemma Navarrete), is an emerging Chilean/Italian artist hailing from Western Sydney. Drawing inspiration from artists like Kali Uchis, Ariana Grande, and Pink Pantheress, gemma fuses the sounds of RnB, Pop, and Reggaeton with introspective lyrics.

DJ Keavsz

Keavsz is a an upcoming Sydney-based DJ known for her diverse range of sounds, including high-energy edits of popular tracks within tech house, house, Jersey club, and Brazilian funk. With a focus on keeping the crowd engaged, Keavsz brings a fresh, fun vibe to every set