The 11th of August 2026 saw the third annual Raising the Roof fundraiser for Brisbane Youth Service by Brisbane-founded label Real Feels Music. Like its namesake, Real Feels has young musicians and community at the heart of everything they do.
Raising the Roof is a night of music and community in support of young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and its origins are personal for the Real Feels team.
Real Feels co-founder, Sam knows first-hand the importance of creating spaces where young people can gain confidence and create lifelong connections that will sustain them through life’s challenges.
After experiencing homelessness in his adolescence and seeking support with housing and harm reduction services at Brisbane Youth Service, Sam found expression, connection and support through music. We chatted with Sam about his lived experience with homelessness as a young person and why giving back to young people is so important for our collective future.
Tell me a little about yourself and your journey with Brisbane Youth Service?
I accessed Brisbane Youth Service back when I was 15 or 16 years old, I was homeless. I was also engaged with The Hot House which ran out of Biala which is a youth Alcohol and Other Drugs service. My counselor at The Hot House recommended I reach out to Brisbane Youth Service for assistance while I was homeless. I had a couple of meetings about trying to find accommodation, I did manage to sort it out eventually and Brisbane Youth Service really helped me stay fed in that time. As I was a bit older, I did access the Needle and Syringe Program a couple times as well.
How did music become such an important part of your life?
It was something I really enjoyed doing from a young age. I started playing guitar young, it was how I could express myself and was a huge interest for me. As I got older I strayed away from playing as much when I was working in hospitality and that was my focus. I had a couple of big life events happen around the age of twenty and music became that outlet again. It’s always been something I could do for myself to create time capsules for myself so I could always remember where I’d come from and the difficult experiences that I have dealt with during my life. It’s a really great release performing with different bands and in front of people. It really helped me find my place and gave me the exposure to a lot more community as well.
What are you most proud of building?
It goes back to community again. When I started making music I was going through some big transitional changes and pretty much everyone I know now I’ve met through music in the last ten years. So, I’m really proud of building those friendship groups and community. It’s such a big question! But I’m really proud of still being here of finding ways to make myself happy and to enjoy life. I’ve recently started a new project and we’ve completed a new album which we’re really proud of too.
Tell us about the importance of community arts for young people?
I think it’s just really important for us to always encourage creative outlets. In this fast day and age people are becoming more isolated from each other. Music is something you can do by yourself but is also something that, in my opinion, becomes a lot more fun when you’re doing it with other people. And I really believe it’s important to continue to provide those opportunities to young people whether they’re primary school aged, high school aged or starting university. Just to remind them that they can do it. Ever since COVID it’s been a lot harder to gig, socialise and connect with other people and just to be able to bring everyone together to be creative is really good for self-esteem, getting to know people and feeling included. Especially in those formative years it creates experiences, good and bad, that you’ll remember and grow from.
It’s important to continue to provide those opportunities to young people whether they’re primary school aged, high school aged or starting university. Just to remind them that they can do it.
What’s one song everyone should listen to right now?
I’ve really been enjoying the band Fraternal Twin, so I think “Skin Get Hot” is a really great song everyone should check out. It’s calm, it’s peaceful, but there’s a really, really beautiful guitar work that doesn’t overshadow the really sensitive lyrics of the singing of the band.
What’s next for you and Real Feels Music?
With the waist project we recorded an album back in February last year. We’ve released three songs from that album so we’re inching closer to organizing the album launch. The plan is just to chill out, and we hope to be coming back up to Brisbane to play some shows soon. Personally, I’m working towards some TAFE accreditation so I can enter the residential care industry again and start to give back to young people whilst I’m at work as well; I really enjoyed that job.
Chelsea Costar at Raising the Roof 2026 (right)
What’s one piece of advice you’d give a young person who’s going through a tough time?
I think it would be a reminder that they have a lot of living to do and there’s a lot of life ahead of them. It’s not meant to be easy but everything that happens, good or bad, will mold the person that you become.
Listen to Sam’s new project, waist, here and follow Real Feels Music here.
For young people experiencing homelessness, traditional support networks are often missing or fractured, leaving them with no one to turn to when they need it most.
In 2024-25, nearly 2 in 5 young people we spoke to at Brisbane Youth Service shared that a lack of support in their lives was a crisis or serious issue. After receiving support from Brisbane Youth Service, nearly 3 in 4 shared that their support networks were much better.
Community fundraisers such as Raising the Roof help us make this support possible. Together, we can continue to walk alongside young people and back them to create new futures: futures where they can find time for their passions, pursue education, nurture their creativity, thrive, and create communities of their own.
If you want to play a part in creating those futures you can fundraise for us through the 2026 Bridge to Brisbane on 13 September. Every step you take will help us provide crucial wraparound support for young people, including housing services, physical and mental health care, and specialised Alcohol and Other Drug programs.
One‑third of the young people we support (aged 12–25) are parents, caring for young children while facing homelessness and complex trauma themselves. Young parents need support that recognises both their own needs and their children’s.
Brisbane Youth Service offers individualised support, parenting groups, and a program for young dads, helping them stay connected, build parenting skills, and strengthen family safety and wellbeing. Our Safe Young Mums and Bubs Program provides specialised accommodation and intensive, wraparound support for young mums or pregnant people experiencing homelessness and domestic, family or sexual violence, and their babies.
Donate today to help break the cycle of homelessness and disadvantage
One‑third of the young people we support (aged 12–25) are parents, caring for young children while facing homelessness and complex trauma themselves. Young parents need support that recognises both their own needs and their children’s.
Brisbane Youth Service offers individualised support, parenting groups, and a program for young dads, helping them stay connected, build parenting skills, and strengthen family safety and wellbeing. Our Safe Young Mums and Bubs Program provides specialised accommodation and intensive, wraparound support for young mums or pregnant people experiencing homelessness and domestic, family or sexual violence, and their babies.
Donate today to help break the cycle of homelessness and disadvantage
We’re nearly 50!
Since 1977, Brisbane Youth Service has walked alongside young people facing disadvantage and homelessness. Almost five decades on, our mission remains: helping Brisbane’s young people shape new futures. As we approach our golden jubilee in 2027, we invite you to join us in celebrating the achievements and resilience of young people, listening to their voices, and driving lasting change, together.
We’re nearly 50!
Since 1977, Brisbane Youth Service has walked alongside young people facing disadvantage and homelessness. Almost five decades on, our mission remains: helping Brisbane’s young people shape new futures. As we approach our golden jubilee in 2027, we invite you to join us in celebrating the achievements and resilience of young people, listening to their voices, and driving lasting change, together.