Adelaide: Indigenous Rapper Bousta Secures Spot in Scouted Showcase

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Emerging First Nations hip hop artist Myles Turner, known by his stage name Bousta, has earned a place in South Australia’s annual Scouted showcase, a platform that spotlights rising talent during the Indie-Con Australia conference.

At 27 years old, Bousta is preparing to perform in front of record label executives, agents, and music industry professionals, aiming to take his career to the next level. “I love having fun up there, but I take music pretty seriously,” Turner said.

Originally from Alice Springs, Turner moved to Adelaide during secondary school and spent several years working in various roles, including construction and pizza delivery. In 2023, he returned to university to study sound engineering, focusing on refining his music skills and pursuing a professional music career.

Music has played a central role in his life since the age of seven when his older brother handed him a guitar. While some have compared his lyrical style to that of iconic rapper Tupac, Bousta prefers a lighter, more expressive approach to the genre. “I show people that I’m doing what I love. I’m hoping they catch my vibe,” he said.

Turner is also mindful of the challenges facing his hometown of Alice Springs, a region often in the news for social and community issues. Through his music, he aims to serve as a role model and inspire youth to express themselves creatively. “There’s a lot of good that can come out of Alice Springs,” he said. “Young people need someone to look up to.”

A proud Arrernte man, Turner incorporates his native language into most of his music. His bilingual tracks connect with two audiences: his Aboriginal community and the wider non-Indigenous Australian public. “I’m hitting two birds with one stone,” he explained.

His contributions extend beyond the stage. Turner recently helped produce an Arrernte-language track for patients at the Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital, including nursery rhymes translated into his mother tongue.

Bousta’s appearance at Scouted is not just a career milestone, but part of a larger mission: to uplift voices from remote communities through music and culture.