In this month's Industry Focus, we shine a light on two Old Ignatians making their mark in the Australian indie music scene. Sam Rigney (OR2017), frontman of rising indie band Highline, and Johnny Took (OR2007), guitarist and songwriter for the Aria award-winning DMA'S, offer an inside look at the creative energy, challenges, and changing landscape of modern music-making. 

Sam Rigney (OR2017) 

1. Tell us a bit about your current role and the Performing Musicians Industry you're in. I'm the singer and songwriter for the band Highline. The band consists of myself, Rhys Hope (OR2017) James Priest (OR2017) Jim Osborne (OR2018) & Nick Stillone (OR2017). We all became friends through music class in 'the Woods' and playing together in the Riverview Big Band! We've been together for almost 7 years now and have released 3 EP's, an Album and have another Album on the way early next year. 

2. What do you find most exciting (or challenging) about working in this industry right now? 

The most challenging part is definitely trying to stand out in such a saturated market. The game has changed so much. Social media is now just as important as the music itself, and navigating how to market your work can feel like a whole other job. But on the flip side, the most exciting part for me is creating music I'm genuinely proud of. That feeling never gets old. Our band often escapes to the country or the coast to get out of the city and really immerse ourselves in the writing process. We're all very different people with strong creative opinions, so there are definitely moments of debate or the odd heated discussion, but looking back, I'm grateful for those differences. They push us to create something unique that blends all our influences and tastes into a sound that feels authentically ours. 

3. How has the industry evolved since you started your career? Any trends you're watching closely? 

I think the industry has changed in terms of social media, and the way people discover music. Radio is becoming less important in my opinion and it's all about Instagram and TikTok now. We're not too focused on trends to be honest. We really just try to focus on making good music and hoping it resonates with the right people. 

4. How did your time at Riverview shape your career or outlook? 

I loved my time at Riverview and will always be grateful for the music department. Dev Gopalasamy was such an incredible mentor. He pushed us to grow musically through the Big Band and gave us so many opportunities to perform, whether it was at assemblies or even just playing at lunchtime. Those early experiences of playing live, and having someone believe in us and support us at that age, were pretty special. Riverview was a genuinely nurturing environment, and looking back, I'm not sure we would've been so eager to pursue music outside of school without that support and encouragement. It planted the seeds for everything we're doing now. 

5. If you could perform with any group/person, past or present, who would it be – and why? For us, it's gotta be DMA's. We were all mad fans at school when their first album was released and have been heavily influenced by their sound ever since. As band members, we all have differing taste, but we all love DMA's and whenever we go away to write together or record, they're often the soundtrack to those trips. 

HIGHLINE SPOTIFY LINK: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Z1rZN2RPydYaLUXVkOY73?si=BRfv59tKRDCpfcBUyb6tkQ 

Follow Highline on Instagram at @highlinemusic_

Johnny Took (OR2007) 

1. Tell us a bit about your current role in DMAs and its place in the Performing Musicians Industry. 

I'm the guitar player and one of three song writers in the band DMA'S. We released our first album 'Hills End' in 2016 and are releasing our 5th album next year in 2026. We won an ARIA award for our fourth album 'How Many Dreams?' in 2023 for 'Best Group' and came first in Triple J's 'Like A Versions' of all time with our cover of Cher's 'Believe'. 

2. What do you find most exciting (or challenging) about working in this industry right now?

The internet and social media has made it a lot more accessible for people to get their music 'out in the world' however that applies to everyone. 120,000 new songs are uploaded to Spotify everyday, so how do you make yourself heard or noticed and fight the general malaise of content fatigue with these staggering numbers? In terms of 'exciting', a new song that you've written but still don't know its full potential can be quite exhilarating. Every album could have a song that resonates beyond your wildest dreams but you won't know until it's out there. 

3. How has the industry evolved since you started your career? Any trends you're watching closely? 

Radio is no longer as much of a focus or trend setter as it once was. Now the focus is more on Spotify playlists for reach and discovery. People are still unsure how the rise of AI will affect the industry. 

4. How did your time at Riverview shape your career or outlook? 

I had no plans to play music at all, however when I started in year 7 it was compulsory to pick an instrument. I picked Bass Guitar and had a great teacher who taught me songs by contemporary bands at the time who really expanded my taste in music. I still remember being blown away when he taught me the bass line to 'Reptilia' by The Strokes. 

5. If you could perform with any group/person, past or present, who would it be – and why? 

My brother, my wife and Dad. Because playing music with your family are the memories I believe I'll cherish the most when I'm older. I play in a side project called 'BIIG TIME' with my brother Matty who also went to Riverview. We released an album this year and I've been loving making music with him. 

DMA'S SPOTIFY LINK https://open.spotify.com/artist/1iUTUix5kea176M0uJTsh4?si=RcJ56TKjQYCydCXkT8WC2g

BIIG TIME SPOTIFY LINK https://open.spotify.com/artist/5HiF4BnJawxdP3cSHKWFu8?si=Gw9qIOjBQTCwrb0Zp9ye3A 

Next Industry Focus: Ignatians in AI From startups to global tech firms, machine learning breakthroughs to everyday AI applications — everyone has an interest in the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. If you're an Old Ignatian — early-career or experienced — working in AI or related fields, please get in touch at news@oiu.org.au to be part of our Ignatians in AI feature in the next OIU Newsletter