Musik Blok, a music school based in Goroka, has been gaining a lot of traction on social media lately, particularly on TikTok.
The project serves as a mentorship platform for emerging artists in Papua New Guinea (PNG), providing training in song writing, production, and navigating the music industry.
The initiative was founded by four-time ARIA nominee Ngaiire (Ngaire Joseph), a renowned Australia-Papua New Guinea music and visual artist. Ngaiire will be working alongside artists from Australia and PNG to begin the pilot program.
Speaking with PNG Haus Bung, Ngaiire shared the personal inspiration behind the project, rooted in her grandmother’s legacy.
Despite being unable to read or write, her grandmother understood the power of education and worked tirelessly to ensure her children could move beyond village life.
Because of that resilience, Ngaiire’s mother secured a scholarship to study in Australia, taking the family with her.
Both of Ngaiire’s parents were academics.
The "light bulb moment" came from reflecting on the advantages Ngaiire received within the Australian school system and the deep exposure she had to music education.
"I realized how so many other talented artists and musicians live in PNG," Ngaiire said.
"Music is natural for us; it’s part of our culture and our ceremonies. I always promised myself that if I became a success, I would bring those opportunities back home."
The name "Musik Blok" pays homage to the local context of PNG, where neighborhoods are often referred to as "bloks" (such as Banaba Blok).
However, Ngaiire remains humble about the project's scope, noting, "I am very conscious of the fact that I built my career in Australia. I’m not coming in saying, ‘I can change everything,’ because it’s a huge undertaking."
She emphasized the need for systemic support from the government, NGOs, and community leaders to address the lack of infrastructure surrounding how music can be presented.
Ngaiire noted that PNG still lacks a national institute for the arts and the necessary touring infrastructure to reach young audiences who are being exposed to different genres of music.
The inspiration for the project was further solidified during her time as a judge on ABC’s Pacific Break.
"There is so much exciting music out there and a real hunger to grow, but there’s no clear pathway to help them," she noted.
Through the Musik Blok music lab, the goal is to level up production skills and instil the confidence artists need to turn their raw talent into a career.
By providing professional production skills, the program empowers participants to transform their talent into release-ready music, Ngaiire stressed.
To strengthen this vision, the project is supported by the Australian Government through various grants.
