Cover art for 'Rrakala'.
Gurrumul Yunupingu has released his much-anticipated second album, ‘Rrakala’.
The album entered the ARIA Charts at Number 3.
Reportedly the CD pre-sold “17,000 copies on iTunes” prior to its April 8 release.
‘Rrakala‘ is produced by Michael Hohnen and released through Skinnyfish Music. The Skinnyfish website explains that “Rrakala is a sub-group of people within the Gumatj clan. Gurrumul’s songwriting and choice of songs reflects deeper into his Aboriginal identity.”
The Elcho Island world music star has also been performing to support the release.
Gurrumul performed on April 17 at the West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots Festival in Fremantle, WA, and will appear at Byron Bay Bluesfest on April 24th. (He will also perform with Saltwater Band at Byron Bay BluesFest on Sunday 24th and 25th April).
A music video ‘Gathu Mawula Revisited‘ has also recently been released of Gurrumul with Melbourne-based roots band, Blue King Brown. The ‘Gathu Mawula Revisited’ music video also features performers from Elcho Island in Arnhem Land, The Chooky Dancers.
Gurrumul & Natalie Pa'apa'a... Publicity shot for 'Gathu Mawula Revisited'.
Gurrumul will also make a rare ‘live’ appearance on Australian television, performng with Blue King Brown on comedian Adam Hills’ variety program, In Gordon Street Tonight.
They will close the show as the program’s feature music act.
The program goes to air on ABC1, Wednesday April 20, 8.30pm and will also be available on ABC iView after the broadcast.
Gurrumul also made history in March 2011 by appearing on the cover of national music magazine Rolling Stone, where the singer was described as “Australia’s most important voice”.
Read more about ‘Rrakala’ on the Music NT website.
Visit Gurrumul’s official webiste and find Rrakala on iTunes.
Words: Megan Spencer. Additional sources: Skinnyfish Music, Gurrumul website, NT News online.
