Larissa Lambert is one of Australia’s brightest R&B stars with over 200 million streams to the name.

Her story has never been linear - it’s a series of sliding doors moments. In this episode, we trace the chain of chances that built her career: from her pizza shop boss who paid for her to attend a talent camp, to saying yes to an X-Factor girl group in 2014, to backing herself as a solo artist when the group dissolved and taking a chance on a flight to LA.

She talks openly about those early years, growing up in Ballarat posting YouTube covers to escape her household. And then the moment everything cracked open: posting a cover of SWV’s Weak a year before it exploded, catching the attention of Justin Bieber, SZA, and a whole new wave of fans.

This is Larissa in full: the voice built on community, taking risks and backing herself even when nobody else knew who she was yet.

-------

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

Florence Road are one of the most exciting new bands to erupt out of Ireland. They’ve gone from making noise in a backyard shed to catching fire online, selling out rooms, and landing on massive international festival lineups and tour supports.

In this episode, the band sits down with Ash McGregor for a proper introduction: their childhoods in Ireland, how they formed, and the moment a viral clip changed everything. They open up about gaining the attention of global industry players, touring with artists like Sombr, Olivia Rodrigo and Royel Otis and writing with some of the best.

Florence Road are fast becoming one of the most talked about rising acts of 2025. Get to know them here.

-------

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

It's gigs on gigs on gigs over here! Let me catch you up on what I've seen lately and why we need to support local emerging artists when internationals tour.

Plus you need to learn about Pamela., Sophian and this stunning collab between Joan & the Giants and Seb Szabo.

Listen to all the tracks here: ⁠⁠⁠The A-List⁠⁠⁠, updated every Friday.

------

Podcast setup brought to you by RØDE:

• RCDUO
• PodMic
• NTH-100
• PSA1+
• WS14

As part of the RØDE Affiliate Program, purchases made through ⁠⁠https://brandstore.rode.com/ashmcgregor⁠⁠ may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you.