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Frances Williams
Frances Williams comes from Bundaberg in Queensland. She has always had a deep appreciation of music and is proud of her Aboriginal-Fijian heritage. This is clearly portrayed in her fantastic debut EP, Frances Williams. Frances has worked with some of Australia’s foremost artists including David Bridie, Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Vika and Linda, and Tiddas. […]
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Warumpi Band
Warumpi is the name of a honey-ant dreaming site near the Aboriginal settlement of Papunya, 250 km west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. In 1983, the Warumpi Band released the first-ever rock tune in an Aboriginal language (Luritja) – “Jailanguru Pakamu”. The following year they released their debut album Big Name No Blankets, […]
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Christine Anu
The Reinvention of Christine Anu Pop princess turns blues diva as Christine Anu embarks on her national Black is Blue tour. Time certainly flies. It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 14 years since a young singer by the name of Christine Anu released her first single, back in 1993. Since then, this deadly talent […]
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Rita Mills
Deadly Vibe Issue 95 January 2005 Irresistibly nice Many Australians were shocked last month to learn of the death of beloved Torres Strait Islander singer Rita Mills, who rose to fame as part of the singing trio The Mills Sisters. The Mills Sisters – Rita, Cessa and Ina – formed in 1970 and performed traditional […]
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Leanna Shoveller
>Deadly Vibe Issue 77 September 2003 Leanna Shoveller describes the SBS documentary she was recently featured in as the deadliest thing that has ever happened to her, and at only 19 she has done some pretty deadly things. Hailing from the small community of Halls Creek in Western Australia, Leanna has been performing and making […]
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Archie Roach
Deadly Vibe Issue 45 October 2000 “If there is a black God, it’s him.” That’s how Leah Purcell describes Archie Roach. How else do you describe him? Artist? Poet? Storyteller? Singer? Songwriter? Archie Roach is all of the above and he’s also one of the deadliest brothers around. As you can tell from his music, […]
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Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi is the contemporary cultural voice of the Yolngu community in north-eastern Arnhem Land. The band members are drawn from two of the 20 clan groups in the region, the Gumatj and Rirratjingu. The band formed in 1986, determined to promote the strength of the Yolngu people, presenting non-Indigenous people throughout the world with […]
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James Henry
I first was inspired to write music after hearing Mozart’s Horn concerto No.3 in year 10 of High School. I’d never been so moved by a piece of music before. I was amazed at how much just a music, even with no lyrics or specific meaning could make me ache inside with such emotion, just […]
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Spin FX
>Deadly Vibe Issue 72 February 2003 A number of quality bands have cut their musical teeth in the desert area of central Australia: just think Lajamanu Teenage Band, Warren H Williams and Frank Yamma, to name a few. Many of their recordings have found their way to music enthusiasts’ hi-fi systems around the country. Another […]
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Lazy Late Boys
Lazy Days The Lazy Late Boys are a bunch of young fellas from the Gurindji speaking area of Daguragu who acquired their fitting name through reputation. The band consists of John Leeman (lead vocals), William Smiler (back up vocals), Geoffrey Peters (drums), Robin Roock (bass guitar) and Howard King (rhythm guitar). They have been together […]
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Rochelle Watson
Velvet-voiced Rochelle Watson has come a long way. A firm gospel background has been a strong influence in the evolution of this Cairns resident’s musical style ” a winning combination of soul, reggae and Islander sounds. Her partner and manager Pat Ganita has helped Rochelle in fostering her extraordinary talent. Pat is from Fiji and […]
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Ash Dargin
Adopted at birth, Ash Dargin was brought up by a Caucasian family on the Queensland/ NSW border. They enrolled him in a private school, where he started taking trumpet lessons at age seven. Ash was a natural and studied the trumpet through the London-based Trinity School of Music Examinations, reaching the level of Grade 8 […]
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Troy Brady
Troy’s musical career began at 16 when he taught himself to play guitar from a songbook of “The Shadows” provided by his father. Two years later, his singing talent was noticed by his mother when she heard him and some friends having a sing-along to a boombox in the garage. This resulted in his involvement […]
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Ruby Hunter
Ruby Hunter dominated the nominations for the 2000 Deadly Sounds National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Awards, with a total of four to her name – Female Artist of the Year, Album Release of the Year, Single Release of the Year, and Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music. Our swinging sister from the Ngarrindjeri people […]
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Alan Dargin
Deadly Vibe Issue 45 October 2000 Alan began playing the didgeridoo at the age of five. As far as he is aware, he’s the only current didgeridoo player who can produce overtones on the instrument, thus allowing him to harmonise more easily with modern instruments and ensembles. “I want to make the didgeridoo well known […]
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Sammy Butcher
>Deadly Vibe Issue 77 September 2003 Famous Warumpi band member Sammy Butcher didn’t have to look far for inspiration for the title of his latest album. “Out here in the desert, when you look out at the sand hills, you can imagine them as being huge red waves on the ocean,” says Sammy, who lives […]
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