As president and chairman of Asia Sounds, Colleen Zulian [pictured right] has extensive experience of the music industry over many years, having been involved with it at every level and from every angle. The respect she has achieved over the years was earned through her ability to recognise and develop quality talent and music publishing, with noted skills for recognising and developing singer-songwriters and songs.

In 1999 Colleen was awarded ‘The Women’s Day Spirit of Achievement Award’ for recognition of her outstanding achievements in leadership and vision in the field of arts and entertainment.

Colleen has spent the last nine years developing the blue print for Asian talent quest SUTASI, with the vision to create a product that is financially sustainable with substantial economic growth, and also to create a product that will be revolutionary in establishing Asian music within the mainstream global markets.

Asia Sounds is global music publishing, talent management, television production and event broadcasting company which has physical offices and staff in Melbourne, Australia, Los Angeles,USA and Seoul, South Korea. The company works predominately across South Asia, North East Asia and South East Asia.

Colleen appeared at the MUSEXPO component of One Movement For Music 2009, and we’re pleased to welcome her back to the conference as a MUSEXPO Asia Pacific 2010 guest speaker.

How did you start working in the music industry, Colleen?

I grew up in the music world my mum was a songwriter who had worked with the Australian Songwriters Association for many years supporting and nurturing songwriters and musicians. I was a graphic artist and I only became involved with the songwriters to get her out of it so she could write film scripts. After 6 months the songwriters and artists had my heart and my passion, the rest is history.

What’s been the highlight of your career so far?

Event Highlight: Being part of the organizational team of Music Bridges Around The World in Cuba, this was an amazing music event that brought some of the greats from the US to Cuba to co-write and perform with the greats from Cuba. One of my memorable experiences there was sitting on a bench seat with Bonnie Raitt, Meshell Ndegeocello, N’Dea Davenport, Michael Frente, Don Was and Andy Summers all jamming around me and playing music and singing just for the love of it.

Working Highlight: Being involved and working in the Asian music scene. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity in getting involved with some amazingly talented and exciting artists but also being part of an international music industry that is full of culture, beauty and untainted originality that is rapidly learning, growing, developing and well on the way to becoming a major global player.

What’s the hardest part of your job?

Not enough hours in the day, and travel.

What’s your favourite song of 2010 so far, and why?

‘Red‘ by Daniel Merriweather [music video embedded below]. It’s really a 2009 release but was released in the US this year. I was part of the teams who discovered Daniel and I was involved in his early development before Mark Ronson. Not only has Daniel got a truly amazing voice, but he is also a very talented songwriter. This song is one of my favourites.

What are your predictions of artists you think will break through later this year?

Michael Paynter – I think he has the potential to break the US market eventually. I first heard and met Michael when he was 15 years old and he was a talented songwriter with a lovely vocal back then, he has all the ingredients to make it internationally. [Audio for the Michael Paynter song 'Love The Fall (feat. The Veronicas)' embedded below]

What’s your favourite song by an Australian artist?

I have to say ‘Great Southern Land‘ by Icehouse [music video embedded below]. I was so in love with [frontman] Iva Davies as a teenager and have always loved this song.

Colleen Zulian is appearing at MUSEXPO Asia Pacific 2010, as part of One Movement For Music in Perth, Australia from October 6-10. For more details on MUSEXPO, click here.