No matter what obstacle gets in their way, 49th & Main refuse to be defeated. This hard-fought resilience to achieve their dream has long been ingrained in the dance-pop duo.

After meeting at school in Kilkenny, producer Ben O’Sullivan and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Paddy King began making music together one summer. However, O’Sullivan soon discovered he had developed aplastic anemia, a rare blood disease which prevented his bone marrow from producing enough new blood cells, making him chronically fatigued and prone to infections.

Banksia, the creative project of Vasu Patel, is quietly making a name for himself as an artist with a unique voice in music, art, and fashion. Based in San Francisco, Banksia has had the privilege of sharing stages with inspiring acts like Black Coffee, Nooriyah, Bicep, DJ Seinfeld, Overmono, Peggy Gou, and more. A career highlight this year was performing at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, during the exhibition ‘Art of Noise’, where he curated the music for the OJAS listening room installed by Devon Turnbull.

Banksia’s journey as a producer began with a debut release on Rüfüs Du Sol’s Rose Avenue imprint, which was met with kind words from listeners and critics alike. His label, Ordinary Pleasures, was started as a way to create a space for genre-blurring music that embraces different influences and styles. Releases like Tala, Clay, and The Shire have received support from platforms such as Mixmag, DMY, Metal Magazine, C-heads, KEXP, Rinse FM, and SiriusXM.

Born in Manchester, raised in Zambia, and shaped by Indian traditions, Banksia’s music reflects a lifelong curiosity for diverse sounds. From early exposure to devotional songs and Bollywood melodies to a later obsession with jazz, house, and electronica, his music is a blend of these experiences. Banksia’s work isn’t about making bold statements but about sharing pieces of his journey—blending rhythms, cultures, and emotions to create something that feels honest and alive.