Alice Springs-based CAAMA Music have released a brand new compilation CD, “Desert Pop, Lock & Drop”. Proving just how versatile music from the Northern Territory can be, local singers Cassandra Williams and Mei Lai Swan came up with a sound that CAAMA says it’s been “heading for”. Other tracks range from hip hop (courtesy of 13 year-old Darlyhne Lillico) and pop rock (Tom Ghea, ‘Falling Star’), to lush ballads by Jessica Laruffa (‘Feelin’ This’) and Kirra Voller (‘The Ending’), and reggae from the Yuendumu Community. Find out more at the CAAMA website.

Listen to Desert Lock Pop and Drop now!

Jagit Album Cover - Peace in Kaos

Jagit is a four-piece alternative rock band formed in 2002. Combining elements of grunge, punk and a hip groove to produce a new and unique sound. Raw and edgy vocals combined with muscular guitar riffs, and spectacular lyrics, their music is for all fans of alternative rock genre. Hard hitting and relevant, Jagit’s music explores life.

Jagit has a huge following in Central Australia, particularly amongst a young audience. Jagit is a dedicated and passionate band, who aim to develop their audience and fan-base throughout the Northern Territory and nationally, playing a number of local gigs in Alice Springs and various communities before performing a live-to-air show in Tennant Creek, braodcasting the show through the CAAMA radio footprint.

Jagit then recorded and released their first album, 9 to 5, in 2005 with CAAMA Music and produced two video clips, “Better Place” and “Mistaken Identity”, that have had television broadcasts including ABC (“Stateline”), ICTV and NITV. Jagit was nominated as finalists in the NT Indigenous Music Awards, in the Best Emerging Artists and Best Album Art Design categories in 2005.

Jagit has composed sound tracks for CAAMA films and documentaries, including “Black and Dustry” (Broadcasted on Imparja TV), “Yota” (broadcast on NITV) and “Sunset to Sunrise” (Melbourne Film Festival and broadcast on ABC).

Jagit played at THE BASS IN THE DUST concert in 2005. In 2007 Jagit toured Melrboune with CAAMA music and Blackwing Music. Jagit received positive feedback from all the contacts made in Melbourne.

In 2009/10, Jagit has recorded and released their second labum “Peace in Kaos”. This album has the same alternative hard-hitting rock, with some great ballads. We are in the process of making three new video clips with award winning filmmaker Warwick Thornton using his creativity to produce and shoot the three video clips from this album.

Jagit has now arranged distribution of their two albums (“9 to 5″ and “Peace in Kaos”) through CAAMA Music, Skinnyfish Music and Sanity Music Stores.

Band Members

• Steve Tranter: Rhythm Guitar, songwriter, manager
  Occupation: Audio Engineer, over 12 years with CAAMA Music and four years as a Technician with Imparja TV and CAAMA. When working as a sound engineer with CAAMA Music, Steve has had the pleasure of working with many fellow enginners.
• Wade Humm: lead rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  Wade started plyaing guitar at the age of 15 and formed a band at the age of 16, called LSD. Later on, Wade moved to the east coast as a session musician and for three years he toured up and down the coast playing covers, with a repertoire of over 300 songs. Wade has been a member of Jagait for the last six years.
• Swainson Rio: Main vocals, Bass guitar
  Since 20, Swainson has played in numerous bands such a Sumemr Sould, Drifters and the Swainson Rio band. Swainson has been a member of Jagjait for the last six years.
• Adam Provis: Drums

Song of the Year nomination: Close Your Eyes by Jagit

Hear Jagit’s Peace in Kaos now:

Artwork/Design of the Year nomination – album artwork:

Sleeve back cover

Inner sleeve

Harold Injimardi Daly-waters and Friends cover

Harold Injimardi Daly-Waters is from the community of Elliot, 280kms north of Tennant Creek. He represents the Jingili, Mudburra and Kundaji Tribes.

Hear this album now:

Full album cover:

Full CD sleeve

Garrangali Album cover

This album ‘Garrangali’ (Crocodile Nest) is a unique and innovative enterprise development opportunity from the youth and community of Yilpara, and is an exciting celebration of dedication, initiative and hard work.  Music crosses all borders and boundaries, seeking to infuse, unite and engage.

The lyrics and Manikays of this album embraces the deep connection and relationship between the ancestral land and sea and the visions of the old people, strengthened by strong community spirit and cultural integrity.  The album package features a DVD that includes music videos of two featured songs, ‘Mungurru’ and ‘Muthi Muthi’.

Read more about the CD launch here.

Check out the photos Music NT’s Micah Wenitong took of Garrangali Band at their CD launch March 24.

Song of the Year Nominations:

Sea Rights

Garrangali (title track)

Video/Film Clip of the Year nominations:

Mungurru

Muthimuthi

Album of the Year — Listen to the whole Garrangali album now:

Garrangali is also nominated for Emerging Act of the Year.

Ali Arjibuk Mills is a self confessed obsessive multi-tribal, multicultural and multifaceted entertainer who loves to use the stage to send humanity, peace and “say hello to yourself” messages using any kind of sound and movement that attracts the spirit.

 Ali first appeared on stage at the age of 8 at the Gardens Amphitheatre, Hoadleys Battle of the Sounds talent quest in Darwin, singing her idol Elvis Presley’s song, Wooden Heart. Ali won her section.

Album of the Year and Song of the Year nominee — Hear Ali Mills’ Waltjim Bat Matilda now:

Ali Arjibuk is one of 8 artistic children born from two local and famous artists in their own right, David and Kathy mills. Her mother Kathy Mills is the 1986 NAIDOC national and Northern Territory Aborigine of the Year winner – an icon famous for her lyrics and community and cultural development work around Australia. This lady is also famously and fondly known as “Aunty Kathy” to many, including high profile politicians. Her father David Mills is famous for his entertainment in his younger days throughout the Northern Territory and still today is referred to as a legend. 

Ali has performed for roughly 30 years now and says she gets better with age, just like a very special and precious moment in time. Her performances number in the thousands and include presentations for government bodies, diverse organisations, festivals, Telstra events, schools, charities, churches, sports tournaments, government house events, parliamentarians and many diverse arts organisations and special events. Ali has also starred in the film Yolngu Boy as a grieving grandmother.

Waltjim Bat Matilda – Ali Mills

Ali Mills Australia | MySpace Music Videos

MY LEGACY, MY DREAMING, MY TIME CAPSULE
They gave me tbe best gifts my spirit could ever need.

The best things I could ever have in my time capsule.

They gave me songs I could use to tell others of my wonderful heritage, my identity and my past that is my future.

I could not find a better way for me to archive, relay and transfer what is important to me.

Now my stories and my heirlooms will be preserved to travel through time eternally.

These stories and songs are their legacy, my legacy, my dreaming, my childrens and the next in line.

Ali mills – Song Custodian

The songs that most people associate Ali with are Arafura Pearl, a song by her mother Kathy Mills, voted as one of the 2005 NT Social and Cultural Heritage Icons –Another song, the Kriol version of Waltzing Matilda which she learned from her great uncle Valentine McGinness and sings in her Gurindji/Kungarakan language has also received many accolades. These two songs that are on her soon to be released first music CD.

As a member of Darwin’s own The Mills Sisters, Ali has been the support act for Tina Turner, Charlie Pride, Bullamakanka, The Bushwhackers, Sir Harry Sercombe, and Sweet Honey in the Rock over the years. The group were also especially requested to perform at the 1986 papal visit in Alice Springs. Among many awards and accolades, The Mills Sisters also won the 1989 “Tamworth Buskers Championship – Golden Swaggie Award”. The Darwin Mills Sisters were also smash hits at the 2002 National Folk Festival in Canberra, performing main stage at the Budawang (twice) and several other festival and other venues around Canberra, as well as their main gig as part of the String Bands and Shake Hands – Days of Old Darwin Town themed presentation hosted by Jeff Corfield. This widely acclaimed presentation became the central theme for the 2002 Festival of Darwin in August 2002 in a comprehensive community based inter-cultural program largely organised by Ali.

Ex NT Administrator Mr. Ted Egan, refers to Ali as the “earth goddess” after seeing her perform at one of the Arafura Games Opening Ceremonies. Ali is also a favourite for the Invitational and Aboriginal All Stars Matches held in Darwin. Her last main event was as the “Larrakia Country – Darwin City Tribal Welcome Host/Entertainer” for the Sir Elton John Concert in Darwin in 2008. In 2008 and again in 2009, Ali Mills is the choice of Master of Ceremonies for the Northern Territory Indigenous Music Awards.

At long last, Ali Mills has released her debut, solo and self-titled CD which features a range of songs from her family musical heritage and other sources. The highlight of the album has to be her version of Waltzing Matilda… Waltjim Bat Matilda which she sings in Kriol. Ali will launch her album at the 2010 National Folk Festival in Canberra, alongside the launch of Jeff Corfield’s book on the life and music of Valentine McGinness, Ali’s uncle and Kriol Mentor.

Ali Mills special on ABC Darwin, Stateline

Ali Mills Australia | MySpace Music Videos