Howdy. I'm MJ O'Neill. I'm a musician based in Maganjin (Brisbane), Australia. I also do a bunch of other things. I am also disabled, transgender, and (again) a bunch of other things.

Because of all those things, I've spent most of my life trying to find different ways to survive instead of pursuing dreams and ambitions. After a lot of work, I'm starting to heal and I've decided I'd like to pursue a dream - a dream of being a successful and supported musician.

A ticket to Big Sound 2025 will help me on my way. With 1000 dollars or so to pay for a ticket ($799) and various ancillary expenses, I can go to the biggest dedicated music conference in the Southern Hemisphere and meet people who can help me have a supported career.

I am a very, very good musician. When I was 11 years old, a music teacher told my parents I had the most sophisticated aural understanding she'd ever seen in a child. In the last fifteen years, I've written, recorded, produced, and released over 150 songs. For the most part, handling every single note, mix, and master.

I am also a relatively well-regarded musician. My music has been streamed over 100,000 times worldwide, I've been featured in The Wire UK and Bandcamp Daily, my work has been played by hosts on NPR and NTS radio, and soundtracked award-winning videogames and theatre shows.

But, in contrast to most musicians even in today's strenuous times, I've had to do the vast majority of it by myself. While I've had many supportive friends, partners, and mentors, I've never had an actual manager, a producer, a booker, a record label, an accountant, or a team of any kind.

For most of my life, I thought that was appropriate. I thought I didn't deserve it. I thought nobody would want to help me in that way. On the other side of a long (and ongoing healing journey), I realise it's because I never felt strong enough or brave enough or good enough to ask for that help.

Now, I feel ready. And, I reckon, with even a little bit of help, I can make all that success up there look like a distant star next to the sun. If you can help me get to Big Sound, I can get that help and change my stars, as the old movie says :)