Turlku 4 is the latest compilation album from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, announced as “the first recorded at the new NG Media Studios at Wingellina (Irrunytju) .

It “features bands and musicians from communities across the Ngaanyatjarra Lands – including Blackstone, Jameson, Warakurna, Warburton, Wanarn, Wingellina, Alunytjuru Band and Kiwirrkura. The album contains 25 songs and includes 2 bonus tracks courtesy of Warburton High School.” (Source: Turlku 4 press release).

Single ‘Yaaltjiringu’ by the Alunytjuru Band was also rated 4/5 on triple j Unearthed, with Roots n’ All presenter Sarah Howells describing it at the time as, “a beautiful song, so much emotion… it reminds me a little of the Gurrumul vibe… gorgeous!” (Sarah Howells was a guest speaker at iNTune Alice Springs.)

Since release, the CD has also featured – and been reviewed in – Fairfax newspapers, the West Australian, on Radio National program Daily Planet and ABC Goldfields.

Ngaanyatjarra Media invited the public to sample album tracks on iTunes, with “a variety of genres to choose from”. The “unofficial single” was ‘Yaaltjiringu’ by the Alunytjuru Band from Irrunytju.

According to NG Media, Turlku 4 ushered in “a new dynamic in Indigenous music, which features the truly unique language and rhythms of the Ngaanyatjarra musicians of the Great Western Desert.” The Ngaanyatjarra Lands are located in the Central Desert region at the intersection point between the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia borders.

Of Turlku 4, album producer John Gordon (Kunmarna Wara) said “we believe this to be a definitive album.” He continued, “the last few years have been productive times for Ngaanyatjarra Music. From the moment Garageband (Mac-based recording) was introduced in the Lands in 2006, music development has been on a steady upward trajectory – through the Turlku 2 and Turlku 3 compilation albums – culminating in this new album Turlku 4.”

Turlku 4 producer John Gordon (pictured right) was also kind enough to chat further with Music NT about the Turlku 4 CD, giving a detailed insight into the process behind making it…

Music NT: Please name some of the artists on Turlku 4 for us?

John Gordon: Alunytjuru Band from Wingellina (theirs is a the single Yaaltjiringu)

And Sunlight Band, Blackstone Band, Mantamaru Reggae Band, Tim Jackson and the Warakurna Band, Helmut Cooke, Wanarn Band, Trenton Giles and Warburton Band…

MuNT: What does “Turlku” mean?

JG: “Turlku” means song or music.

MuNT: There have been 3 other volumes before Turlku 4. Can you give us a snapshot of the history behind how it came about?

JG: Essentially things started with the introduction of Garageband (Mac-based recording software) in 2006. Prior to that  I had helped out on Turlku 1. It was a patchwork of early recordings made by Ananth Siluvaimichael (NG Media Radio trainer) and myself – I was doing work for NG Health at the time. We used a portable Yamaha 16 track and recorded wherever we could setup. A radio studo, a health clinic, a loungeroom etc.

I trialled Garageband at Warburton Youth Arts for a few weeks in late 2006 and it proved instantly popular. Daniel Featherstone the coordinator of NG Media at the time, was passing through and saw what was happening and asked would I be interested in doing the same sort of recording work with NG Media. I went out to Wingellina a couple of months later, introduced the software out there, and what followed was a mini revolution. There were cars coming from everywhere around the NG Lands, and also from into South Australia.

The advent of Garageband was a perfect fit for NG Media, as it had Radio studios in each community running Mac computers. I was able do mobile setups on the road and intro the software around the Lands. In a few weeks we had made Turlku 2.

The next year came T3.  Always me coming in for say 4-5 week stints, basically introducing the software and doing recordings and then harvesting the files. My role became less and less as the natural producer-types took over in each centre.

Somewhat of a milestone was achieved subsequent to T3, in that Alunytjuru Band wrote produced and recorded their own album ‘Wati Kutju’ in late 2008. It is also released by NG Media.

So musicians from each community became producers of their music, which was a huge shift in the way music was made out here. Previously bands would have to wait for a ‘white guy’ to come out with a big mixing desk. They were often waiting years. Garageband provided that level of local autonomy that no-one would have dreamed of even 5 years previous.

With the development through T2 and T3, the musicians learned the ropes of multi-track recording and song arrangement and production, so that when the next step was taken – the building of the Sound Studio within the new NG Media Centre – they were up to speed and not phased by the environment much at all. Music development had been on a nice upward trajectory and it essentially dovetailed timing-wise with the new studios being commissioned and the NG Media Battle of the Bands Festival August 2009.

T4 was made in 2 x 2 weeks sessions in late August and October 2009.

MuNT:  What is the role of Ngaanyatjarra Media in the release of the CD?

JG: NG Media provided the production team (myself and Sound Engineer Scott Taylor) and the studio. And also assisted in getting the musicians from all points of the NG Compass to and from the sessions. Essentially NG Media is releasing and promoting the album as would a record label.

2010 is the first year of a designated Music Development Program in the NG Lands, and as this is our first serious release (ie nationally) we are busily formulating plans for Publishing and Recording and Management etc.

MuNT: How do you go about ‘gathering’ the artists involved on each CD?

JG: Music is so popular and revered here that the musicians and bands are always keen to get involved.

T4 was different as it involved whole bands recording – as opposed to Garageband which can be used solo.

Logistically I had to do recon. trips and organise bands in the different communities to come over to Wingellina to rehearse and record. It was quite chaotic – communications combined with less than roadworthy cars etc – but it worked!

MuNT: What is your exact role as producer – I bet it’s a pretty broad job description!

JG: Well yes it is broad… As I say I had to organise the logistics of getting the bands to the studio. Then we had a kind of production line wherein I’d rehearse the bands in the decrepit Wingellina hall, working on arrangements and instrumentation. That band would then go and do a setup in the studio with the sound engineer and I’d start on the next band. Sounds good in theory..!

We’d try and do 2 bands per day. Mostly it didn’t work that way eg as one band had come from 100s of kms away and had to be on the road etc. There were many late late nights.

In the control room I basically oversaw quality control eg re-doing takes or parts. Even suggesting parts and instrumentation etc.

MuNT: Can you tell us about the Ngaanyatjarra Lands – the region right on the NT border, where many of the artists are from? What is it like to live and work there? And what is the main industry or activity in the towns and communities in the area?

JG: Wingellina sits on the tri-state border point and NG Media services the whole of the NG Lands which stretches westward down past Warburton towards Laverton. It’s huge!

So the artists on T4 are from Wingellina and Blackstone and Jameson Wanarn Warakurna Warburton Patjarr Kiwirrkurra Tjtuntjuntjara. Its semi-arid, not lunar landscape. Spinifex and small undergrowth. No big trees much and so no didgeridoos!

I’ve been coming out since 2002. I came out by accident almost – a friend was going out with a nurse here in Blackstone and said to come out and help teach a little guitar and help him run the pool for the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku!? So I did. And I’ve been ‘peeling the onion’ so to speak ever since. These last few years with NG Media directly – though being a musician we’ve always worked together indirectly before that. Over the years I’ve developed relationships with the people and especially the musicians.

I consider it a great honour to be their friend and to also be able to mix in their musical circles. They are undoubtedly some of the most naturally gifted musicians I will ever meet. I am often astounded at their skills, especially considering their almost total lack of access to instruments. What they did on Turlku 4 was incredible to me.

The main activities centre around hunting, music and football for the men.  The women raise the children. It is very remote and thus tribal traditions are still quite intact. This is all about to change though with the whole area being earmarked for mining. Which will be a huge tragedy. It will severely dilute an already vulnerable culture.

MuNT: What is your background as a producer?

JG: My background as a producer comes from my own body of work. Ironically I have two albums on the go at the moment (http://www.abc.net.au/oztrax and www.johngordon.com.au) which aren’t garnering near the attention of T4! I figure it’ll be good karma along the way. That this music is heard and enjoyed by the mainstream is important to me, just as my own music is.

I’ve seen a couple of producers in action up close including T Bone Burnett – but my skills are mainly homespun and common sense. Trusting the instincts – which fits the bill out here.

MuNT: What has been the reaction to T4 so far?

JG: The reaction has been very positive. I think that mainstream Australia is ready and subconsciously yearning to make a bridge to understand Aboriginal Culture. But they are given little positive access. Music is a no brainer as far as that goes. We have received great support from a lot of quarters. Including Music NT. And the general media. I appreciate this.

We are also fielding interest from overseas and I see a lot of potential in Europe the UK and indeed the US.

MuNT:  What has been the best thing about producing the CD, and the most challenging thing about it?

JG: The best thing was getting usable product. It was no certainty in the beginning. This was the first time the musicians had been inside a real studio – ever. That we came away with what I regard as a definitive album, to me, was a combination of good management, great talent and a large dollop of luck. The most challenging thing was of course the making, to which I’ve alluded. At times it was very tough, especially for Sound guy Scott Taylor (a friend of mine from Qld) who did the lion’s share of the work at the recording coalface. Indeed a lot of the recording process was almost conducted in a fun and almost euphoric atmosphere…. But some of those late nights where tough.

MuNT: What kinds of ambitions do you and the artists have for the CD?

JG: Well I believe it’s good enough to be a contender overseas. The artists here are a very remote people and their aspirations don’t run that far. They play music – not for the accolades – which is what I really love. We are now moving into live performance mode and the development needed to make that transition. Most bands are happy to play here regionally amongst themselves. But we are all now talking further afield with the success of T4. Alunytjuru Band and Sunlight Band have both been invited to the Alice Desert Festival’s Bush Band’s Bash on the Todd River in September. They will join Tjupi Band there and it should be great.

They have also been invited to two festivals in Perth early next year. But all in all, we’ll be taking a slow developmental approach to live performance, as we have done with the recording. Firstly we have to devise a way to get instruments out here cheaply and regularly. You can’t just walk to your local music store out here…

MuNT:  Is it difficult being a professional musician and producer living in remote Australia? Or has communication technology bridged the gap?

JG: Communication has definitely bridged the gap. If you’re asking me – I’ve always operated at the edges of the music industry in Australia, and not been a mad tourer, so it hasn’t been too difficult. If anything this music making has been a good counterpoint to my own. I’m about to get a little more intensive with my own music – I have to two albums to promote and will look to spend more time OS. But I have friends here now, black and white. It is my second home and though I’m about to step back from a formal music development role, I will be endeavouring to stay involved with NG Music.

MuNT: Where can people buy the CD?

First stop is iTunes. We are also setting up a merchandise page on a new website wherein all the CDs and DVDs produced by NG Media will be available on a shopping cart Paypal arrangement. Other than than you can call NG Media (080 8956 7307 and we’ll direct send.

Or – come out to any of the NG Lands’ Stores and buy one over the counter! CAAMA in Alice Springs is also a big outlet for us. We are currently looking into getting distribution for the CD, but this will be down the track, and perhaps more of an overseas proposition where the necessary planning and arrangements can be put in place in advance of release.

MuNT: Will there be a Turlku 5? Any early details?!

JG: I daresay there will be. No details as yet..!

Many thanks to John Gordon for the interview, and congratulations to all of the Turlku 4 artists!

Check out more photos from the Turlku 4 recording sessions on the Music NT Forum.

Turlku 4 is now available for download on iTunes and Amazon MP3 worldwide. Or contact Nina at NG Media for distribution enquiries on nina@ngmedia.org.au or phone (08) 8956 7307.

Check out NG Music on Myspace. More about NG Media here.

Watch the Turlku 4 video on YouTube – and really cool animation from NG Media.

Words: Megan Spencer. Thanks to John Gordon for the interview and photos.