The power of music

These couple of weeks have been harsh. With a lot of content out there about systemic racism, we have been reflecting on our actions towards it. We’ve been just listening, reading and learning.

Gina and I are more aware of the importance of being proactively anti-racist. We want to be better allies to First Nations people by doing our part in increasing our knowledge, to listen to the voices who tell their story in writing, films, art and music.

We started doing it through art in the shape of R&B, Soul, Gospel, Indie, Pop and Roots. So, for the next couple of weeks, we’ll share with you a list of young Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists we’ve recently discovered.

Grab your cuppa and lay down to enjoy their art.

1. Emily Wurramara

Listen here. 

With soothing tones, Emily sings in her native language of “Anindilyakwa” to empower women, protecting the land. Born and raised on Groote Eylandt, her music is filled with indigenous culture and the stories of her childhood with a touch of Folk, Pop and Roots.

Listening to Emily is a very mystical experience. Just as Nkechi Anele describe her, “Emily always sounds like the wise and bright voice of the soul breaking free.”

Source: WOMEX

2. Thelma Plum

Listen here.  

Her album “Better in Blak” is the perfect example of turning pain into art. With an indie-pop sound, Thelma sings about Indigenous culture, her pride of being a Gamilaraay woman and the difficulties of growing up without any representation in mainstream media.

Her sound captivated Paul McCartney, who decided to lay some guitar down on her song Made for You, while he picked something up to the studio in New York where Thelma was recording her album. And we are fascinated as well with how courageous, charming and soothing her voice is. Thelma makes us feeling so new to see diverse talent crafting their art like hers.

Source: all-noise

With love,

G&R