If there’s such a thing as ‘national treasures’ in Territory music – and there is! – Shellie Morris certainly qualifies…

Big voice, big talent, big heart: Shellie has all three in spades.

And a smile that goes on for days..

Shellie’s reputation as one of the hardest working musicians in Australia – let alone the Territory – also precedes her.

Anyone who follows her many journeys knows that at any given moment she could be rehearsing for a show with the Black Arm Band; on stage with Sinead O’Connor at the Melbourne International Arts Festival; taping an episode of RockWiz; being filmed for a French TV documentary in Arnhem Land with a famous Brazilian singing star; recording in Tennant Creek in language for a groundbreaking collaborative CD; on her way to sing at a delegation in Japan; giving workshops to kids ‘out bush’ in the outback, or on stage at the Sydney Opera House singing up a storm with her Yanyuwa family to a national TV audience…

It can leave you breathless trying to keep up, such is the length and breadth of her travels and music accomplishments.

Alongside NT musicians and performers such as Gurrumul Yunupingu, Leah Flanagan and Jessica Mauboy, Shellie Morris is another of our incredibly talented Indigenous artists – music ambassadors if you will – busily flying the flag for NT music and culture, moreover NT Indigenous music and culture, by exploring ways to entertain, inspire and ultimately educate local and international audiences, at the highest level.

Carefully considering gigs and opportunities, Shellie is still self-managed and fiercely independent. She has spent her life in music, honing her craft, songwriting and powerful, soulful singing style.

This year in particular has been a big one for the artist. She worked in music with her family  from Borroloola for the first time, singing in her grandmother’s language, via the Song Peoples Sessions, a project run through Winanjjikari Music Centre. (Shellie also appeared in award-winning music documentary murundak – songs of freedom, about The Black Arm Band).

So.. ’Bout time then that Music NT spoke to Shellie Morris, about her mammoth year in music, personal growth as an artist, and what’s on her (already) busy horizon for 2012.

We managed to track down Shellie traveling between interstate shows for the 2011 Christmas RockWiz  Tour…

Music NT: So Shellie, the busiest lady on the planet! What are you up to at the moment?

Shellie Morris: At the moment I am on the road with the Rockwiz Christmas Tour with Jon English, Ross Wilson, Josh Pyke, Patience Hodgson, Lanie Lane and Rebecca Barnard. It’s been awesome and then when I get back Darwin I go bush for a couple of days helping write a lullaby with the Ladies from Barunga.

The next few months I will be recording a new album for myself, an acoustic one. I’ve also got some gigs in January in Melbourne, and also maybe a quick trip to India for a couple of gigs!

MuNT: How would you describe this year for you? What were some of your musical highlights?

SM: I think this year has been one of the best yet, so many opportunities. I think the biggest highlight was singing with Mavis Staples and Joss Stone at the Melbourne Myer Music Bowl (in Notes From The Hard Road, closing night event of MIAF).

Also meeting some of the most amazing people this year that have really helped me in so many ways.

Performing at the Opera House with my family from Borroloola, and working on the Song Peoples Sessions album together, Ngambala Wiji Li Wununu (Together We’re Strong). I believe this truly has been a dream come true. [The CD is due for release early in 2012].

MuNT: Can you tell us about some of your plans for next year?

SM: Over January-February I’ll be doing some bush work with the Fred Hollows Foundation and record a new album.

I am going to Wales in March for a collaboration with some Welsh musicians for the London Olympics.

Then there’s the launch of the Song Peoples Sessions CD in Borroloola. I have a 6 week Australian musi  tour, Shellie’s Story.

Then I have a 3 week tour with [Brazilian world music star] Gilberto Gil through 10 countries in Europe; London Olympics performance; Wales Performance; back to Australia for the Darwin Festival; then in August off to Toronto…

Then I will be singing at a 100the birthday party! LOL

MuNT: Reckon you would be be racking up a fair few frequent flyer points – where have you travelled to this year?

SM: I stayed in Australia this year so that was nice. Plenty of trips to the Red Centre and major cities, and rural work also. And yes – got some miles clocked up now! LOL

MuNT: You seem so very busy – how do you find time to write music?

SM: Well I am always writing with projects so this never stops. I like to write as I feel I need to. I still have many songs that need to be recorded and released. I keep a note pad handy for planes, trains, trams and buses – lol – so always ready!!

MuNT: Can you give us a bit of insight into your writing process – what inspires you, your ‘routine’ if you have one..

SM: I think that people and life really inspire me.. How I write? There isn’t a real ‘process’ or way to write.. It just happens as it happens. I never try to force it and I really enjoy the collaboration with songwriting at the moment. I have a few projects coming up this next year..

MuNT: The Yanyuwa Song Women CD through the Song Peoples Sessions has been a big part of 2011 for you. Can you please give us a bit of background about how it came about? What has come from that project and where it is moving to?

SM: The idea was from dear friend [music producer] Patrick McCloskey. He sourced the funding and also Vanessa Hutchins [Artback NT/Music NT music touring manager] suggested that I go back to my grandmother’s country to record.

The album – or the project – is about language and keeping our culture strong. Also for me I had to go back and learn from my grandmothers, and aunties; they were my guide throughout the whole recording and songwriting process. We did the album together the whole way. Not a note was recorded without their approval.

Where is the album moving to? Hopefully all over the globe,! LOL, but you know we are so proud as a family. We are just happy that we made something beautiful together.

Ans as soon as people have heard this album we have been offered gigs all over Australia and now all though Europe. But I think with this project we will take little steps at a time and carefully choose where we will go.  As you can imagine, I have to take good care and have a responsibility to the women. We have been offered a tour through Europe which I am carefully looking at with the family and this will take many months of work in preparation.

Also we have documentary-makers wanting to come and record our story so there is so much to do! But as I said we will take small steps together.

MuNT: Do you think the Song Peoples Sessions is important and/or unique in Australian music?

SM: This project is amazing and wonderful, but it’s truly Australian music – not world music! Also this is a Womans’ Project, and that is quite rare and precious.

No words really can express this journey together. I am proud that we can share our culture with the rest of the world and we are very proud and strong people. This is what I think is the most important. There are so many wrong and no-good stories, we want to share a good story of strong and proud women who have much to give.

MuNT: And the Black Arm Band – do you think it is changing Australian music? What’s it like to be a part of that group for you?

SM: AWESOMENESS! We’re not changing Australian music at all; we just trying to make a difference for our people in standing strong in our culture.

MuNT: You were on RockWiz this year, you performed at Melbourne Arts Festival in 2010/11, you have done so much this year and your profile is very much national.. Do you feel as if the hard work is paying off in your career?

SM: Well I am slowly getting there but really I am just stoked to be able to be heard and to share my music.

I think it’s about so many things.

Black Arm Band has helped a lot and of course being on Rockwiz now has opened up so many doors also.

I think the main thing is I have always tried to remain true to myself and belief in my own style; I have tried not to be pressured into what I would feel would be wrong [for me]. I’m just just happy to get gigs really! LOL.

MuNT: What do you love most about making music in the Northern Territory?

SM: I think that the NT has so many things to offer – not only Australia, the world. We have of course our Aboriginal culture, but also so many wonderful people in the NT.. Great bands have emerged from smaller cities and towns.

I think it’s laid back nature and the warmth of the people have really made an impact in the industry just because of who we are – people from the NT.

I think we all have a great sense of humour and a gentle, humble nature. As I travel so many people of the bigger cities have so much more to deal with – the business and the stress of the city – we are so lucky in a way. Sometimes it’s harder but a journey that’s not hard doesn’t get the same results.

MuNT: The best thing about 2011 for you? The hardest?

SM: The best is the album with my family from Borroloola [Ngambala Wiji Li Wununu (Together We’re Strong)].

The hardest has been more personal issues and trying to find myself in all of that has been extremely hard, and I still have a long way to go with it all.

But I am looking forward and enjoying each moment with gratitude.

MuNT: And will you share with us the one thing you’ve learned in the ‘business’ – or life – that keeps you inspired and moving forward?

SM: One thing I have learned is to be humble and not expect too much from others; to try and stay positive, to be a nice and kind person to others in the industry – don’t get offended and try not to hold grudges. To wish others well on their jouney.

I think the main thing is find where you fit into the industry, and to undestand that being unique is a good thing!

MuNT: Can we expect a new CD from you soon?

SM: YES YES YES – been a bit distracted with so many other things in my life! Like finding myself and my identity; that has been at the forefront of my life.

Now I can get onto the making of albums and forging forward that way. I have so many things to learn but I am ready now to hit the studio, and I am looking forward to having some surprise guests on my album and part-producing it myself.

READY NOW! LOL!

To stay up-to-date with Shellie’s news and gigs, visit

• Watch Shellie Morris on the RockWiz Christmas Special, Saturday December 24, at 9.30pm on SBS!
  
• The Shellie Morris official website
• Facebook fan page
• Song Peoples Sessions
• Flickr for more MIAF pics
• Watch Shellie perform with the Yanyuwa Ladies at the 2011 Deadlys
• Watch Shellie at work with kids in Kintore on the CAAMA website
  

Words: Megan Spencer. Many thanks to Shellie Morris for the interview!