Three brothers. One stage. A performance that could change everything.
This weekend, Scarborough Beach is about to witness something extraordinary. Oscar, Francis, and Conrad Cvitan—identical triplet brothers from Mt Lawley who make up the indie-funk-pop sensation Birdland—are preparing to take center stage at Groundswell Live. At just 17 years old, these talented teens are about to perform in front of their largest audience to date, and the anticipation is electric.
While the three brothers may look exactly alike, each brings his own unique artistic personality to their performances. During their 40-minute showcase, Francis will command the guitar, Oscar will groove on bass, Conrad will drive the rhythm on drums, and all three will share vocal duties—creating a dynamic, multi-layered sound that's become their signature.
With a massive digital following built on infectious melodies and viral acoustic jam sessions that have captivated viewers worldwide, the trio can barely contain their enthusiasm about performing at one of Western Australia's most beloved coastal venues.
"Every single time we've visited the markets at the amphitheatre, I've caught myself thinking, 'This would be the absolute coolest place ever to perform a gig.' I made a promise to myself that I'd mention it in every interview opportunity I got, and now that it's actually happening, it honestly feels like a dream come true," Conrad shared with genuine excitement.
Oscar echoed his brother's sentiment, emphasizing the special atmosphere that Scarborough brings: "We're absolutely in love with the Scarborough vibe. Whenever you head there for the markets or other community events, there's this incredible energy in the air—the beach, the sunshine, people dancing and eating, just genuinely enjoying the evening. It's truly something special."
But here's where it gets controversial... Should teenagers still in high school be pursuing professional music careers this aggressively, or should they focus solely on their education first?
The brothers first started making music together back in 2019 when they were just kids experimenting with instruments. Despite their young age, they've already carved out an impressive presence in Perth's competitive music landscape. Their track 'Seven Months Ago' earned them a coveted nomination for the 2025 WAM Song of the Year—a significant achievement that puts them alongside established industry veterans.
Just last month, Birdland dropped their third official single, 'Middleground,' but their reach extends far beyond traditional music releases. With a staggering 368,100 TikTok followers, over 14 million likes on the platform, and 139,000 Instagram followers, they've cultivated a devoted global fanbase that most emerging artists only dream about.
According to Oscar, their robust online presence has been instrumental in creating performance opportunities that would typically be inaccessible to musicians their age. "Being underage presents real challenges when it comes to booking gigs at certain venues, but our TikTok following has genuinely opened doors to festivals and shows we simply wouldn't have been able to participate in otherwise," he explained.
"Many bars wouldn't allow us to perform at all, or if they did, we were required to have a guardian present with us and had to leave immediately after our set finished. Some venues had strict policies that just didn't permit it under any circumstances," he added, highlighting the unique obstacles young performers face in the industry.
And this is the part most people miss... The challenges of being underage performers might actually be giving them an advantage by forcing them to build their fanbase online first—a strategy that's proven more sustainable than the traditional venue circuit.
Francis promises that Saturday's audience is in for an energetic, feel-good experience that will leave them wanting more. "We really enjoy keeping the energy levels high and surprising our audience with unexpected moments," Francis revealed.
"There's even going to be a surprise collaboration with a special guest artist, but we're keeping that under wraps for now. It's going to be genuinely exciting and something people won't see coming," he teased.
Conrad believes their unique relationship as brothers creates a special chemistry on stage that audiences can feel and connect with. "Because we've been playing music together for such a long time now, we've naturally developed methods of communicating on stage that aren't always verbal—sometimes it's just a look or a subtle gesture. That connection will definitely be visible during our Saturday performance," he explained.
Groundswell, which is celebrating its 12th year, is a completely free two-day festival organized by the City of Stirling. The event showcases surf, skate, BMX, and 3x3 basketball competitions alongside various lifestyle and wellness activities, all centered around the vibrant Scarborough Beach precinct.
The festival's live music lineup is equally impressive, featuring country-pop powerhouse Emily Joy, who's graced stages everywhere from Boston and Nashville to Tamworth, the award-winning Noongar/Wongi rapper Flewnt, and Mariae Cassandra, who claimed the 2024 Triple J Unearthed High winner title.
Despite their growing success, the brothers remain grounded, currently balancing their Year 11 ATAR studies with daily practice sessions in preparation for Groundswell. However, they're also looking toward the future with ambitious dreams about where their musical journey might lead.
"Music is absolutely something all three of us want to pursue professionally. School is obviously important and we take it seriously, but once our education is complete, we'll be channeling all our energy into music and fully chasing our dreams without holding back," Francis stated with determination.
Oscar added enthusiastically, "We're hoping to organize a proper tour one day once we have a larger catalog of music released. We genuinely love being on stage, writing new material, and recording music—it's not just what we do, it's our true passion."
Here's the question nobody's asking: Is the music industry ready for teenage triplets who've built their empire on social media rather than traditional industry connections? Some might argue they're bypassing important developmental steps, while others see them as the future of how artists should build their careers.
Birdland will take the Scarborough stage at 4:10 PM on Saturday, October 11. For complete festival details and additional information, visit groundswellfestival.org/live (https://www.groundswellfestival.org/live).
What do you think? Should young artists prioritize education over early career opportunities, or is striking while the iron is hot the smarter move in today's fast-paced music industry? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear whether you think these triplets are making the right call!
