Since graduating from UNE in 2024, Filly has been navigating the modern music industry as a true independent artist – teaching private music lessons, producing her own tracks with Australian producer Sam Harris and Grammy award-winning master engineer Randy Merrill, and recently writing, producing, directing, and editing her debut music video.
It's a portfolio career that requires skills across multiple creative disciplines and according to Filly, studying online at UNE was the perfect preparation.
"Part of why I loved studying music online was being able to film a lot of my projects and keep a digital record of my progress," she said. "It's been a great resource for looking back and critically thinking about what I need to do to improve further."
Growing up in the Northern Rivers, Filly was experienced with distance education from her school years. To further pursue her music career, she needed flexibility and support and UNE's online Bachelor of Music felt like a natural fit.
"I enjoyed how diverse the assignments were,” she said. “I never felt trapped in a box with how I wanted to approach them. Each tutor paid close attention to how I needed to express myself as a creative, while still giving critical feedback."
Two units particularly shaped her current work: MUSI221 Songwriting for Contemporary Performance, and MUSI364 Screen Composition and Sound Design, where she composed three soundtracks for film videos.
“I get so emotional looking back on my assignment work for these two units because all of it came from a place of passion, raw feeling and honesty,” she said.
Balancing full-time work, family commitments, and music events alongside study taught Filly time management skills that now serve her independent career. But she credits her tutors with something equally important: pushing her beyond self-doubt.
"I never saw myself performing live exams in a music conservatorium or writing music for film, but my tutors always encouraged me to think big.
"I'm really grateful for that push otherwise I might not ever have got where I am today," she said.
For other aspiring musicians Filly's advice is to dream big and get comfortable being nervous, "that's where real life happens".
You can check out Filly's debut music video Guess Love Dies here and keep up to date with her new releases on Spotify here.
