Proud Proud Women - Aboriginal Women in Music
Musical expressions have always been a powerful part of Aboriginal cultures long before colonisation. Today contemporary music provides a platform for Koori women performers to tell their story.
So many stories to sing, so many stories to hear. Stories of place, culture, identity, language, songs of being a Mother, a Sister, a Grandmother, an Aunty. Songs of oppression, racism, land, history, songs of celebrating strength and survival. Aunty Ruby Hunter a Ngarrindjeri/Kukatha/Pitjantjatjara woman is one of those women who sings of the strength and survival of Aboriginal women in her first song she ever wrote ‘Proud Proud Woman,’ with powerful lyrics
“Proud proud proud woman hold your head up high for we are still living struggling to survive.”
There are so many strong Aboriginal female voices in Victoria – this is just some of the deadly women.
-
Victorian Musicians
-
- Alice Skye, a Wergaia woman and was one of 8 winners of the Alukura Songwriting Competition, chosen to record at the CAAMA Music studios in Alice Springs, while being mentored by the Stiff Gins. Since the beginning of 2015 Alice has had two tracks playing on the Triple J platform
http://onepagelink.com/aliceskye/ - Allara Briggs-Pattison, a Yorta Yorta woman who has a range of musical styles. Allara has played alongside Archie Roach at the Sydney Oprah house, Wominjeka festival and is inspired by other female and Aboriginal artists along with inspiration from hip hop, neo-soul and jazz.
http://songlines.net.au/allara-briggs-pattison/ - Deborah Cheetham, a Yorta Yorta woman, singer, writer and composer of opera since 1997. Writing stories about her own family and identity, Deborah is a large supporter for other Aboriginal peoples to be involved in opera and has created a space to nurture and support more Aboriginal voices in Opera. She has established her own opera company, called Short Black Opera.
- Lou Bennett, Yorta Yorta/Dja Dja Wurrung is a country folk singer, who played in Richard Frankland’s band Djaambi and also in the band Tiddas.
- Maylene Slater-Burns, Kamilaroi, Wiradjuri,Kuku Djungan and Gangalidda woman who has been involved with the Koorie Tiddas Youth Choir at VACCA and has also played at Wominjeka. She is a singer-songwriter, activist and community worker who sings about identity and vulnerability.
- Miss Hood, Kunai and Gunditjmara woman who has been making music for over 10 years. Lots of collaborations with other Hip Hop artists. She has been involved with Indigenous Hip Hop projects supporting young fellas to make their own music and stories. Miss Hood has performed locally, regionally and gone on tour around America.
- Tiddas, a three piece band who come from Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung country and have multiple albums, EP’s and singles. Members are Sally Dastey, Amy Saunders and Lou Bennett.
- Stiff Gins are an all-girl band from Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta country and have been playing acoustic music with harmonies for over 10 years. They have played recently at the Brunswick Music Festival and been on SBS and multiple other festivals and TV appearances. Members include: Nardi Simpson, Kaleena Briggs, Sieni Taumeopeau.
- Alice Skye, a Wergaia woman and was one of 8 winners of the Alukura Songwriting Competition, chosen to record at the CAAMA Music studios in Alice Springs, while being mentored by the Stiff Gins. Since the beginning of 2015 Alice has had two tracks playing on the Triple J platform
-
Resources
-
- Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation - Songlines is Victoria’s peak Aboriginal music body. It is a not-for-profit organisation which has supported Aboriginal musicians since 1996 by providing professional development programs, performance opportunities and administering a range of festivals and events.
http://songlines.net.au - Unearth High Indigenous - Inspire young people to create their own music and provide a platform to share that music, best entries get played on national radio and the winner will get flown to triple j to record, remix or master a track.
https://www.triplejunearthed.com/competition/unearthed-high-indigenous-initiative - Ruby Hunter Foundation - This foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for our young mob.
http://www.rnmf.org.au/page/about-us/ - 3KND - Melbourne’s first Indigenous owned and managed radio station which provides opportunities to access open and affordable facilities for music productio
http://www.3knd.org.au/ - CASM - University based centre for Australian Indigenous music studies. Aboriginal studies in Music (CASM) Integrated into the University of Adelaide provides the only university-based centre for Australian Indigenous music studies.
https://music.adelaide.edu.au/casm/ - CAAMA MUSIC - Aboriginal owned and operated organisation since 1980 supporting our mob to record, support and promote Aboriginal peoples music. Also is a space to see what new Aboriginal music has been released.
https://www.caamamusic.com.au/about-us/ - Short Black Opera - An Aboriginal owned organisation that supports young mob around Australia who are interested in opera.
https://shortblackopera.org.au/ - Further list of resources - Triple J has a list of resources that support our mob around Australia.
https://www.triplejunearthed.com/article/indigenous-resources-links - Indigenous music news centre - ABC online provides information/stories of Aboriginal singers around Australia.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/topic/indigenous-music
- Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation - Songlines is Victoria’s peak Aboriginal music body. It is a not-for-profit organisation which has supported Aboriginal musicians since 1996 by providing professional development programs, performance opportunities and administering a range of festivals and events.