Ali Mills on the cover of CD, 'Waltjim Bat Matilda'.
NT singer/songwriter Ali ‘Arjibuk’ Mills has released a new album, ‘Waltjim Bat Matilda’ through Skinnyfish Music.
The title of the CD is taken from the Kriol language version of ‘Waltzing Matilda’, as sung by Ali’s great uncle, Valentine Bynoe McGinness, who was born in 1910 in the NT. (Kriol is an Aboriginal language that uses some English words, originally developed as a way for Aboriginal people and colonialists to communicate, when they arrived in Australia.*).
Ali was inspired by her Great Uncle and the Kriol song, ‘Waltjim Bat Matilda’: “What we’ve done is claim a version of a white Australian song, and to say – we love it!” she says, “We want to share with Australia our version of this wonderful song”.
The album includes 15 tracks, and was produced by Skinnyfish Music’s Michael Hohnen. According to Michael Ali’s style is “old Darwin”, referencing “the string band, swing and folk styles”. Ali is one of the Territory’s much-loved performers and her new album released April 9, 2010. It is in record stores (distributed through MGM) and online at iTunes, and will be launched in Darwin on May 14. Details on the MuNT Forum Events Calendar.
And read the Music NT interview with Ali Mills below!
Music NT: What are your first memories of music?
Ali Mills: My parents playing. (Ali’s parents are David and Kathy Mills, famous NT musicians in their own right).
MuNT: What was the first instrument you picked up?
AM: The ukulele.
MuNT: And can you tell us about your first ever public ‘gig’? Was it really when you were only eight, and you won a talent contest for singing Elvis’ ‘Wooden Heart’ at Darwin Amphitheatre?
AM: It was – I was shaking like a leaf, looking at a thousand eyes looking back at me!
MuNT: Who has been the most influential music figure in your life eg. Did you have a particular teacher or mentor who influenced and helped you as a musician?
AM: My parents, my uncles and, Elvis Presley.
MuNT: Can you tell us a bit about growing up in the Territory?
AM: My house was always rocking with dad finding repetitive songs for us to sing, dance, and drum to.
MuNT: You’re from an incredibly musical family with 7 other musical siblings… What was it like growing up in your family? Can you give us a bit of a snapshot?
AM: Madness sometimes but most of the time for me, absolute sheer wonder… I felt like my head was inside a bell constantly chiming.
MuNT: What do you love most about Territory music?
AM: It is about the weather, country and people, the Aboriginal bands singing about the country and the culture.
MuNT: Your new album ‘Waltjim Bat Matilda’ has a great story behind its title, and first single… Please tell us about its origins and your Great Uncle Valentine McGinness – how he fits into the the picture?
AM: Uncle Val still amazes me. It was sheer delight to watch a 70-something old huge man with huge hands and fingers playing a tiny instrument like a mandolin, as if he had magical, light small fingers…
Uncle Val in the Aboriginal way is my grandfather; in the English way he is my great uncle.
Uncle Val captured my heart with his version of ‘Waltzing Matilda’ and I have never been able to break away from its spell. I sing it now like I am wearing the richest jewelery.
MuNT: And making this album – can you tell us a bit about making it?
AM: It was hard because I like singing to an audience, not four walls. The Skinnyfish musicians whic I am working with are fantastic and great fun.
MuNT: Which have been some of your favorite gigs and concerts to play as a performer?
AM: Being the support act for Tina Turner, Charlie Pride, Bullamanka and The Bushwackers.
MuNT: This is your first solo album.. What does it feel like, having finally finished it and it going out there into the public arena? Are you excited? Nervous..?
AM: I have so many mixed feelings it’s not funny!
I dreamed of being a star since I was very small. My first public talent quest was at the age of 8. Now that I am ‘public property’ so to speak, it is a very adventurous feeling, like the fantastic feeling when you hang glide – but feeling very nervous. I have never done it (hang gliding); I feel I’d like to, but I’m scared of it as well!
MuNT: You launched your debut album ‘Watjim Bat Mailtida’ at the National Folk Festival in Canberra (April 1-5). What was that experience like for you? And how did it go over with the crowd?
AM: It went over very well. I loved the feeling of people wanting to know about my songs, my song-givers and our triangle: me, the songs, the givers.
MuNT: What do you hope for this new album ‘Waltjim Bat Matilda’? Will you tour with the album?
AM: I hope to tour with the album, yes. I want people to not only love the songs [on the album], but think about the stories behind the songs.
MuNT: Is music more than just music for you – as in, does it have a more spiritual meaning and purpose for you?
AM: I believe we need food, air, water and songs to survive. Nothing gives me more of a lift than a song. This is my ultimate high. If I couldn’t sing I think I might die.
MuNT: You’ve been involved in music all of your life.. Looking around the Northern Territory, how would you describe NT music through your eyes and ears?
AM: When I listen to our NT bands singing about country and culture, I spiritually travel the landscapes with the soundscapes. I can feel my country through the songlines even if I dont understand the language… The people are singing harmony with the sounds of the land.
Hear some of Ali’s new music at her MySpace. Hear an interview with Ali on Latenight Live on Radio National. Read an interview with Ali Mills in the NT News.
* Online source: AusIL brochure. Author: S. Hagen
We are travelling around Autralia and heard about the song on Macca’s Australia all over, but we arenot able to find a music shop that can help us locate an album.
Hello Peter. The best way would be through itunes or directly from her label Skinnyfishmusic.
Cheers,
Mark
just heard your song Waltjim Bat Matilda on the 2GB Ray Hadley the best i have ever heard went right home and got it through itunes thank you so much just love it
Go get em’ girl, just love Waltjim Bat Matilda, best I’ve heard yet,
about time our world had some good music – be looking out for more.
Bought CD after hearing it on the Ray Hadley Radio Talk Back – Just love Waltjim Bat Matilda and would love to hear other iconic songs sung in the same way. Love the whole CD and would love to hear you sing other iconic Aussie songs the same way. Good Luck with your Album Career – should have done it years ago! Where can I get the words to Waltjim Bat Matilda?
We live in Central Western NSW. My husband is an elder the Wiradjuri community here & sometimes works with the schools teaching the Wiradjuri language to the children. I was wondering is it possible to obtain lyrics so he could talk to them about another aboriginal language & compare the two.
Cheers & really love the song
Dawn
Waltjim bat Matilda
Ali Mills version
one balla carrdia bin cum up langa billabong
im bin chid on a groun langa coolibah tree
im bin chingum but corobree watchim but him billy boil
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
waltjim bat matilda, waltjim bat matilda,
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
im bin chingum but corobree watchim but him billy boil
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
bum bye datun maaa bin cum up langa billabong
carrdia bin gatchim wholly maaa ngee ngee
im bin put im dtun maaa inchide langa ducker bag
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
waltjim bat matilda, waltjim bat matilda,
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
im bin put im dtun maaa inchide langa ducker bag
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
bum bye datun marrdagee bin cum up langa dimina
pleetjaman bin cum up one, two, three
where datun maaa you bin putim langa ducker bag
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
waltjim bat matilda, waltjim bat matilda,
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
where datun maaa you bin putim langa ducker bag
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
bum bye datun carrdia bin jump in langa billabong
you gan gatchim me libe one ngee ngee
and im pirit jere chingin out inchide langa billabong
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
waltjim bat matilda, waltjim bat matilda,
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
and im pirit jere chingin out inchide langa billabong
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
waltjim bat matilda, waltjim bat matilda,
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
and im koodook (spirit) jere chingin out inchide langa billabong
you balla cum n waltjim bat matilda langa me
Dibmorr diborr dibmorr diborr dibmorr diborr – whee!
I love this song. My class is thinking of learning and singing this song at our end of year concert. What a challenge.
Jenny, that’s what we are doing, Kriole is much easier to learn phonically than via the written word ….but the lyrics do give a good understanding of exactly what is meant….Good Luck!!!
Have a listen to track 6 from the website, Missionary Food, a good yarn in a catchy cadence.
heard the song via a good friend awesome great work keep it up ALI
I think number 6 is a crack up. Love it. I used to live and work on a station (12 years) in the north west and ‘little black floating added extras in the porridge’ was very common.
James, I have been trying to find the words to song 5 “The Beauty of a Country Song”. Any hints? Tried Googles, but just comes up with Waltjim Bat Matilda.
“Congradulations Ali”…I love your music especially “Waltjim Bat Mayilda”. The best version ever!
I’m still entertaining at 70years of age at various retirement villages, I enjoy so much.
I play guitar and ukelele, so I fully understand your love of music since you were a child. In my homeland New Zealand, with Mum & Dad, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles cousins, as a Maori family, we grew up around guitars and ukelele’s. I’ve written songs of “home” and my wonderful second “homeland” Australia. Like you Ali ….I live and breathe my music.
I bought your cd earlier this week. I love it, & can’t wait for more please. Enjoy a long and happy singing career Ali…you deserve it.
PS: I’m learning your song, on my ukelele, I love it.
Sorry I spelt “Waltjim Bat Matilda” wrong…I still love the song.
Note to James and others – Kriol has a standardised spelling system developed in the 70s and 80s and used, for example, in bilingual school program at Barunga and in the Kriol version of the Holy Bible. Skinnyfish Music got the lyrics written for Waltjim Bat Matilda written using standardised Kriol spelling and is probably preferable to the spelling used above:
Wanbala gardiya bin kamap langa bilibong
Imin jidan la graun langa kuliba tri
Imin jingimbat korobari, wotjimbat im bili boil
Yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Waltjim bat Matilda, waltjim bat Matilda, yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Imin jingimbat korobari, wotjimbat im bili boil
Yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Bambai darran maaa bin kamap langa bilibong
Gardiya bin gajim holi maaa ngi ngi
Imin pudum darran maaa insaid langa dagabeg
Yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Waltjim bat Matilda, Waltjim bat Matilda, yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Imin pudum darran maaa insaid langa dagabeg
Yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Bambai darran mardaji bin kamap langa dimina
Blijiman bin kamap wan, tu, thri
Weya darran maaa yu bin pudum langa dagabeg
Yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Waltjim bat Matilda, Waltjim bat Matilda, yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Weya darran maaa yu bin pudum langa dagabeg
Yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Bambai darran gardiya bin jampin langa bilibong
Yu kaan gajim mi laib wan ngi ngi
En im spirit jeya jinginat insaid langa bilibong
Yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Waltjim bat Matilda, Waltjim bat Matilda, yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
En im spirit jeya jinginat insaid langa bilibong
Yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Waltjim bat Matilda, Waltjim bat Matilda, yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
En im kuduk jeya jinginat insaid langa bilibong
Yubala kaman waltjim bat Matilda langa mi
Hi Ali, I met u in 2SM when u did live interview. I forwarded your CD to Grant Goldman
who played it constantly (9 times on one morning). i video’d the interview in the
studio and wish to send you a copy. Also have an audio recording on cd of the interview
which you may have from Justin, Grants panel operator. Love to hear from you to find out
how you are going and when u may be appearing in Sydney I’M STILL PUSHING THE GREAT CD Sincere best wishes …. Brian Mullins 4.10.2011 (417 247 417)