Azure Ryder

Azure Ryder (it's pronounced Ahh-zoo-ree) was born and raised near Sydney's north beaches in late 1990s. Growing up, she says she "struggled connecting with people" outside her "incredible and really big" family but she could always find solace in nature. "Ten minutes' walk from my house, I can be on a headland and sit up above the ocean," she explains. "So that was my peace and calm." Although none of her family are musical, they listened to all the classics - Dusty Springfield, Sam Cooke, Carole King - while her elder brother force-fed her a diet of hip-hop and R&B. But it was joining the church choir at the age of five that showed her the direction her life would take.