Warren H. Williams and family performing at the 2010 Awards.

Nominations are now open  for music industry members to cast their votes for the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA).

The Awards will be held in Darwin on Friday 19th August, 2011.

Members from the music industry are encouraged to submit their nominations in the key categories: Best Act, Best Album, Best Song and Best New Talent of the Year. Nominations close Friday 22nd July, 2011, by COB.

The contemporary Indigenous music scene has come a long way since it’s early days in the late 70s / early 80s.

Seminal Aboriginal bands No Fixed Address, Us Mob, Joe Geia, Coloured Stone, Warumpi Band, Yothu Yindi, and the late great Ruby Hunter spear-headed a musical pathway starting in the 70s to the early 90s, when the ground-breaking ARIA Award winning, double platinum selling “Tribal Voice” by Yothu Yindi significantly raised the bar.

With the extraordinary success of what is now termed “The Gurrumul Effect” and the remarkable trajectory of Dan Sultan [ARIA Male Artist of the Year 2010] and Jessica Mauboy, contemporary Aboriginal musicians have truly found their feet in a broader musical context.

Artists such as Archie Roach, Kev Carmody, Gurrumul, Dan Sultan, Jessica Mauboy, Naomi Wenitong amongst numerous others continue to broaden this pathway for other artists to follow.

The introduction of a national awards system is timely and a natural evolution of the Indigenous Music Awards which has been hosted in Darwin by Music NT for the past seven years.

This year, Music NT – with the support of the NT Government – decided it was time to extend the awards system so that it was open to musicians from across the country in order to ensure a true national representation.

Hence, early in 2011 the National Indigenous Music Awards were born.

NIMA organisers are in the final stages of cementing the deals for what is sure to be an outstanding line up – it’s now time for the industry to play their critical role and place their nominations for this year’s National Indigenous Music Awards.
The nomination form is here and you can also nominate online. (Please note that nominators do not need to nominate in every category).

The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the Indigenous Music Industry. They are peer-nominated Awards.

Visit the NIMAs Facebook Page and the official NIMA website for more information.

Words: Chryss Carr. Source: NIMA media release. Edited by Megan Spencer

Shooting.. Seven Star Band on on the 'set' of their music video, 'Baru'. Pic: Will Tinapple, ABC Open.

On Friday December 3rd, 2010, ABC-TV NT current affairs program Stateline gave viewers “a sneak preview” of the music video for the song  ‘Baru’ by the Seven Star Band.

The music video has now been released, with ABC Open producer Will Tinapple producing it with the young Yirrkala music group.

The music video premiered on ABC-TV program rage on Sunday March 27.

The production is part of the band’s prize for winning the ‘Best School Band’ Award at the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards (IMAs) in the Northern Territory. The Award was sponsored by ABC Local Radio Darwin, with the Awards presented by Music NT.

‘Baru’ means crocodile in Yolngu, the language spoken in Seven Star’s home community, Yirrkala, off the coast of North East Arnhem Land.

Read more details about the music video – and watch it – at ABC Open.

And read more about Seven Star Band’s ‘Best School Band’ IMA Award on the Music NT website. Read more about the IMAs here.

Words: Megan Spencer. Source: ABC Open

Laynhapuy Homelands band East Journey have recorded their very first album in Sydney. They also performed at the Old Manly Boatshed venue in Sydney, Saturday November 27, 2010.

East Journey at Level 7: (back) Ben Wheatley, PJ White, Rrawun Maymuru, Gathapura Mununggurr; (front) Arian Pearson, Ses Frank, Wulkuwulku Marawili and Ngalkanbuy Mununggurr. Pic: courtesy Laynhapuy Homelands Association

East Journey is a long-time music project of Garrangali Band member, Rrawun Maymuru, who lives in Yirrkala, North East Arnhem Land.

Garrangali Band won three awards at the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards for their debut album, Garrangali. Rrawun also performed in groundbreaking band Yothu Yindu and collaborated with Gurrumul on his forthcoming album, due for release in 2011.

East Journey‘s other band members also live within the Laynhapuy Homelands in Arnhem Land, NT. They  include Wulkuwulku Marawili, also of Garrangali Band fame (backing vocals, harmonies, keyboard), Patrick ‘PJ’ White (lead guitar), Gathapura Mununggurr (drums), Arian Pearson (acoustic guitar), Ngalkanbuy Mununggurr (yidaki) Ben Wheatley (bass guitar) and Ses Frank (rhythm guitar).

Well-known NT music producer Matthew Cunliffe (Marine Boy) also flew to Sydney to work with East Journey at Sydney’s Level 7 Studios, reportedly making the journey from LA where he has been working.

About the CD – which is a fusion of “rock, reggae and acoustic” – frontman Rrawun says “the band has been working very hard on the album… this album is a different style… Singing in Yolgnu language, he added “some songs are written about our land and how we live. When people come to our land we can teach people and tell them how to look after the land and to share.”

And how did they feel about their first “big gig” in Sydney, before the show? “We are excited about sharing our music with the audience,” commented Rrawun.

East Journey’s debut album is due for release in 2011 – stay tuned to the Music NT website for details!

Post: Megan Spencer (Source: LHA media release.)

A snapshot of the Gurrumul Facebook page.

Skinnyfish Music have started a campaign on Facebook “to get Gurrumul onto Oprah’s show” when the US TV host broadcasts her program from Sydney Opera House this December.

Over 2450 people have already lent their support to getting the Elcho Island world music star onto the show, by ‘liking’ the Facebook page. It is increasing by the minute.

Skinnyfish Music is the leading distributor of contemporary Indigenous music in the Northern Territory, with artists such as ‘Gurrumul‘, Tom E. Lewis, Ali Mills, Narbalek and Saltwater Band signed to the label. Gurrumul is currently their biggest-selling artist, with international tours and TV appearances boosting the artist’s CD sales and international music profile. For the second year running Gurrumul also won the ‘Act Of The Year’ Award at the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards, held in Darwin in August and presented by Music NT.

Skinnyfish are already in talks with Oprah program organisers. They are hoping to use the support gathered on Facebook to make a Gurrumul performance on the program a reality, exposing his music to a massive world-wide audience. The Sydney Opera House broadcast will mark “the first time The Oprah Winfrey Show – including the entire audience – has travelled outside of North America.” Skinnyfish are hoping to get 10 000 Facebook ‘Likes’ in order to make this happen. More here.

Visit the ‘Get Gurrumul On Oprah When She Comes To Australia’ Facebook page.

Read more about Gurrumul here.

Words: Megan Spencer

It’s official: Saltwater Band have released their third album after 15 years together as one of the Territory’s most well-loved  and successful musical groups.

Titled ‘Malk’ – Yolgnu for ‘skin name’ – it has been produced and released through Skinnyfish Music, the NT music label which recently won an Austrade export award from the NT government for “their work in promoting Indigenous music to the world.” The album was co-produced by Michael Hohnen and Craig Pilkington, and is described on the Skinnyfish website as “essentially an islander reggae album”, with Saltwater’s trademark “fusion” of contemporary and traditional music.

Saltwater Band – who hail from Elcho Island, North East Arnhem Land – consists of eight Yolgnu musicians, two of whom being Australia’s most well-known and successful Indigenous musicians: Gurrumul Yunupingu and Manuel Ngulupani Dhurrkay, who also recently played at the Bush Bands Bash at Alice Desert Festival. (Read more about Mr. Dhurrkay’s current tour with Sand Tracks).

Saltwater Band. Image source: MySpace

Saltwater Band were also a headline act at the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards where Gurrumul not only performed with Saltwater Band, but also won ‘Act Of The Year’.

Singer Natalie Pa’apa’a from Melbourne-based roots band Blue King Brown – who also made a surprise appearance on stage with Saltwater Band at the IMAs – appears on the new album, performing on the title track ‘Malk’.

Read more about Saltwater Band and their new album ‘Malk’ on the Skinnyfish website and sample their music on MySpace.

Words: Megan Spencer.

High school band Seven Star Band from Yirrkala Community Education Centre received the ‘Best School Band Award’ at the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards.

With their Best School Band Award at the IMAs: Yirrnga Yunupingu, lerrpuma Yunupingu ,Gawupu Yunupingu, Dimathaya Burarrwanga Yirrmal Markka, & Gary Barnes Chief Executive DET, at the 2010 Indigrenous Music Awards Darwin. Photo Shane Eecen.

As part of the prize they also won a music video clip, which has now been produced through the ABC Open program, Northern Territory.

ABC Open producer Will Tinapple travelled to Yirrkala to work with the winners of the Indigenous Music Awards’ School Band Award to create a video clip showcasing their music.

As part of the School Band Award prize, the ABC worked with the school to help develop their ideas, get them involved in video production, and produced a clip to present their music to others.”

ABC Open producer Will Tinapple has a host of experience in film production and working with schools in remote communities.

At the time of the Award, Will said he was really excited about visiting Yirrkala and working with the Seven Star Band on their clip.

Gawupu Yunupingu from the Seven Star Band, at the IMAs receiving the 'Best School Band' Award.

“Music is such a powerful medium and a pursuit that can open many doors creatively, culturally and in the realms of employment,” said Will.

“It’s great that the ABC can get out and support young people like The Seven Star Band who are making it happen.”

The Seven Star Band music video is able to be viewed online at here and was premiered early morning on ABC-TV’s rage program on Sunday March 27, 2011.

Words: Megan Spencer. Additional info: Kate Shannon & Will Tinapple.

Ali Mills performs 'Waltjim Bat Matlida' at IMAs 2010.

The seventh annual Indigenous Music Awards (IMAs) were held at the Amphitheatre in Darwin’s historic Botanical Darwins on Saturday August 28, 2010, in front of a 1500-strong crowd from all over Darwin, the NT and Australia.

The slickly-produced live show featured amazing performances by Warren H. Williams, Saltwater Band and Gurrumul Yunupingu, the Chooky Dancers, Ali Mills, Tableland Drifters, with Natalie Pa’apa’a from Blue King Brown – in town for Darwin Festival – also teaming up with Saltwater Band for a suprise collaboration towards the end of the show.

Elcho Island world music superstar Gurrumul Yunupingu – also part of Saltwater Band – was wildly welcomed to the stage by the crowd, as the recipient of the 2010 ‘Act of the Year’ Award. Garrangali Band picked up 3 awards, including ‘Album Of The Year’ with Wildflower ‘Best Emerging Act’.

Ali Mills and Rob Collins did a great job of hosting proceedings, with Ali Mills also receiving the ‘Special Recognition Award’, “for her significant contribution to the Indigenous music industry” after performing a cracking version of ‘Waltjim Bat Matilda’ to a delighted crowd. In another surprise appearance, Elcho Island’s famous Chooky Dancers performed a special tribute dance dedicated to their founder and mentor, the late Mr Garawirrtja.

And winners of the ‘School Band Award’ – Seven Star Band from Yirrkala CEC – have had a music video produced by the ABC as part of their prize, with other development and training also part of this Award.

See the IMA photo gallery on the Music NT Forum.

And the Awards also heralded an important development: it was announced that from 2011 the IMAS “will open nationally to all Indigenous musicians” around Australia.

Music NT extends a massive congratulations to all of the winners, nominees and performers, and those involved in delivering such a great production.

The full list of winners for the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards are listed below.

Gurrumul: Winner of the 'Act of the Year', 2010 IMAs.

Act of the Year – Gurrumul Yunupingu

Emerging Act of the Year – Wildflower

School Band Award – Seven Star Band, Yirrkala CEC

Artwork/Design of the Year – Garrangali Band

DVD/Film Clip Award – ‘History’ by Gurrumul Yunupingu

Traditional Award – ‘Sea Rights Bungul’ – Mulka Project & Dhuwa Dhapi – Mulka Project

Song of the Year – ‘Sea rights’ by Garrangali

Album of the Year – ‘Garrangali’ by Garrangali Band

Hall of Fame – Kumanjayi Murphy

Special Recognition Award – Ali Mills

More news about the IMAs on ABC online, photos on ABC Darwin website, in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and the Koori Mail Part I, and Koori Mail Part II.

Words: Megan Spencer

The finalists for the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards are listed below.

Proudly presented by Music NT…

IMA 2010 finalist, Jessica Mauboy.

Act of the Year
Jessica Mauboy (pictured above)
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Warren H. Williams

Emerging Act of the Year
Garrangali Band – from Yilpara, North East Arnhem Land
Tjupi Band – from Papunya, Central Australia
Wildflower – from Mamadawerre, Arnhem Land

Album of the Year
Waltjim Bat Matilda – Ali Mills
Garrangali – Garrangali Band
Freedom Road – Brian Murphy and the Band Nomadics
Looking Out – Warren H. Williams

Song of the Year
Waltjim Bat Matilda – Ali Mills
Garrangali – Garrangali Band
Sea Rights – Garrangali Band
Close Your Eyes – Jagit
Struggle – Pott Street

DVD/Clip of the Year
Muthi Muthi – Garrangali Band
Mungurru – Garrangali Band
History – Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Baracuda – Crocker Island

Best Artwork
Garrangali Album – Garrangali Band
Peace in Kaos – Jagit
Waltjim Bat Matilda – Ali Mills
Harold Injimardi Dalywaters & Friends – Harold Dalywaters
Desert Pop Lock – CAAMA Music Compilation

The IMA winners were announced on Saturday 28th August 2010 at the 7th Annual Indigenous Music Awards, proudly presented by Music NT. The ceremony was held under the stars at Darwin’s historic Amphitheatre in the Botanical Gardens. Finalist Ali Mills co-hosted the event with APRA NT’s Rob Collins.

Read about the IMA headline acts here. Read about the winners here.

Words: Megan Spencer

Two Territory artists were nominated at the 2010 Deadly Awards.

Warren H. Williams (above) was nominated in the ‘Male Artist of the Year’ category, alongside Dan Sultan, Troy Cassar-Daly and Adam Jones. Mr. Williams was also a headline act at this year’s IMAs in the NT.

Ali Mills (right) scooped the pool, nominated in 3 of the Music Award categories: ‘Female Artist Of The Year’; ‘Album Of The Year’ and ‘Single Of The Year’ for ‘Waltjim Bat Matilda’. This was big news for the Darwin-based music star.

These were the 16th Deadly Awards, aka the “National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport, Entertainment and Community Awards”.

They were held at Sydney Opera House on 27 September 2010 and broadcast on SBS-TV.

Words: Megan Spencer

The Tableland Drifters - new album 'Land Down Under' out now!

In July 2010, Tennant Creek band The Tableland Drifters released album, ‘Land Down Under’.

The band officially launched the CD on Saturday August 7th, 2010, at a very special gig at Nyinkka Nyunyu Cultural Centre. The Tableland Drifters opened for headliner, ex-Warumpi Band member, Neil Murray (pictured below), who was accompanied on stage by the Winanjjikari Allstars.

The Tableland Drifters also performed material from this new album at the 7th annual Indigenous Music Awards, Saturday August 28th 2010 at Darwin Amphitheatre, Darwin Botanical Gardens. In 2009 they won the IMAs ‘Hall of Fame’ Award.

Neil Murray

The Tableland Drifters also released a music video earlier in 2010 year, to accompany new single ‘Tribal Voice’.

Read more about CD ‘Land Down Under’, the Tribal Voice Music Video and the 2010 IMAs.

And hear The Tableland Drifters new music on MySpace.

To make enquiries about buying a copy of the ‘Land Down Under’ CD, please contact the Winanjjikari Music Centre at Barkly Regional Arts, on (08) 8962 2799 or email them on winanjjikari@barklyarts.com.au.

Words: Megan Spencer