Invest and Trade Western Australia (WA) was pleased to support ‘A Night with Rueben De Melo,’ an exclusive creative industry talent showcase event in Chennai, India, celebrating WA’s multicultural creative talent in one of India’s most vibrant cultural cities.  

Held during Chennai’s iconic Margazhi - a winter festival celebrated through music and dance - the event featured a live performance by the Voice Australia 2024 winner, Reuben De Melo. 

The event, presented in partnership with Radio Room and Leo Coffee, attracted leading figures from South India’s music, media and entertainment sectors, alongside Chennai’s passionate community of music enthusiasts.  

The evening highlighted WA’s growing presence in global creative markets and strengthened cultural and industry ties across the region.  

A night of creative exchange  

The showcase offered guests an intimate live performance and a unique opportunity to network with artists, producers, industry leaders and creative partners.  

A standout moment of the night was an impromptu collaboration between Mr De Melo and Western Australia’s Investment and Trade Commissioner for the India-Gulf region, Dr Ian Martinus, who joined on drums and percussion. Their spontaneous performance reflected the spirit of artistic exchange, innovation and the shared cultural energy that WA seeks to foster through its engagement in India.  

Mr De Melo’s set, blending his Goan heritage with his Perth creative journey, resonated deeply with the audience. 

Strengthening creative links between WA and India  

The Chennai Talent Showcase advanced several key objectives for Invest and Trade WA and the WA Government, including:  

• showcasing WA as an emerging hub for music, film, digital content and creative collaboration 
• introducing WA’s multicultural creative talent to influential industry stakeholders in South India 
• supporting partnership on co-production, talent exchange and future market engagement 
• strengthening WA’s relationship with India’s vibrant creative and entertainment ecosystem  

This initiative aligns with WA’s broader commitment to creative diplomacy, cultural exchange and diversifying trade and investment partnerships with India.  

A first step toward ongoing engagement  

The Chennai Talent Showcase marks Invest and Trade WA’s first dedicated music showcase in India and signals the beginning of a larger program of creative industry engagement across the region.  

As WA continues to expand its footprint across global creative markets, events like this play a vital role in deepening cross-cultural connections, building commercial opportunities, and celebrating the diversity of WA talent on the world stage.  

Invest and Trade WA looks forward to facilitating further initiatives that strengthen partnerships between WA and India’s creative industries.  

To learn more about collaboration opportunities with Invest and Trade WA’s India-Gulf hub, visit the Invest and Trade WA India-Gulf hub webpage.