Endangered Aboriginal languages have been reinvigorated with a collaborative music project, writes Andrew Bock.

THE centrality of song in Aboriginal culture is often overlooked.

In traditional Aboriginal culture, story is first enacted by song - it precedes both painting and dancing - and the custodians or ''song people'' are accordingly perplexed by the popularity of painting.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/new-chapter-for-ancient-songbook-  20110829-1ji6a.html#ixzz1WedEbXqO

INDIGENOUS country music star Warren H. Williams has recorded his latest album at a recording studio in Withcott. Williams has received a swag of acclamations including a golden guitar at Tamworth and the 2006 NAIDOC artist of the year award just to name a few.

Having his pick of recording studios all over Australia, Williams chose Johhny Kaye’s Dolphin Music studio near Toowoomba.

“It’s the first time I’ve recorded here, but Johnny and I have been friends for a long time. Most of the blokes that play in the band are from Toowoomba as well. It’s a good studio for country music,” Williams said.

Owner and producer at Dolphin Music, Johnny Kaye, has been involved in Australian country music for more than 30 years, with his studio in Withcott in operation for 10 of those.

He said the album recording was a great opportunity for the studio.

“It’s great having him out here, and better when you’re really good mates,” he said.

When the polished album is released, Williams has plans to enter it in the Tamworth Country Music Awards.

Williams, accompanied by other local artists will be performing a free concert this Saturday night at the Wilsonton Hotel.

This article: http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2011/06/29/country-star-records-withcott-toowoomba/

IN family backyards, at the footy and in the street there’s a buzz of excitement as locals hum or sing the chorus of new songs composed by Warren H. Williams.In town recently as part of the Song Peoples Sessions, Warren (pictured) recorded an album celebrating Tennant Creek and the Warumungu people with contemporary and traditional music.

One song called ‘Jurnkurakurr’, which has youngsters from Barkly College high school singing in the chorus, is an ode to Tennant Creek.

There’s a lullaby, a gospel song and a cheeky upbeat track called ‘Warumungu Kirriji’, which local ladies will love. It’s an ode to Warumungu women with a rousing chorus from a big bunch of young, local Aboriginal men and footy players from the Clontarf Academy.

Warren’s songs were founded on highlighting the Song Peoples project’s purpose to affirm Indigenous identity and reinforce and maintain traditional cultural material and language.

He pays his respects to the last song men still here and practicing in the Barkly in a hauntingly beautiful number, and during the Song Peoples project also worked closely with local interpreters and elders who recorded 19 traditional songs in Warumungu and Warlmanpa.

“In the two weeks that Warren was here recording, there was a real buzz of activity around town as elders, youngsters, local interpreters and young Aboriginal men around town celebrated Warumungu culture through music,” said Song Peoples Producer Patrick McCloskey.

Although born at the remote community of Hermannsburg about 120km west of Alice Springs, Warren has strong family ties to this region through his Warumungu grandmother.

One of the most loved Indigenous identities on the Australian music scene, Warren remembers visiting Tennant Creek and hearing his grandmother speaking Warumungu when he was a kid but he didn’t speak a word.

He had to learn the language for the album and as he immersed himself in the culture it was like finding the other half of himself. “It was a whole part of my life I’ve never expressed before … a truly emotional journey,” said Warren.

Presented by Barkly Regional Arts and the Winanjjikari Music Centre, the Song Peoples Sessions recording project celebrates the collaboration between traditional and contemporary Indigenous musicians to support Indigenous language maintenance and keeping the culture strong.

“The project respects and celebrates the process of traditional singing and song to Indigenous cultural practices and its integral importance to traditional stories, customary law, connection to country, ceremony, dance, the performing arts and the visual arts,” said Patrick.

“This process of collaboration provided an important framework for the articulation of the Warumungu identity.”

Funded by the Federal Government’s Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records program and the NT Department of Education and Training, the Song Peoples Sessions project has been a long time coming.

The first half of the project saw singer/songwriter Shellie Morris go to Borroloola earlier this year to record traditional tracks with the Yanyuwa, Gurdanji and Garrawa singers.

She also wrote new compositions paying respect to the ancient melodies and stories from her grandmother’s Yanyuwa country.

As with Warren, this was also an emotional journey for Shellie and there wasn’t a dry eye in the studio as recording engineer Tim Cole, from Wantok Musik Foundation, made the final touches to tracks.

During Warren’s sessions, elders from all over the Barkly region, including Dick Foster, Michael Jones, Colin Freddy, Peppy Simpson, Banjo Johnny, Michael Williams, Bobby Thompson and Harry Morrison, took part in the recording of traditional songs.

The Plummer family - Desmond, Cameron and Ronald - also worked with Warren on some of the songs, and local translators and interpreters - Valda Shannon, Rosemary Plummer, Heather Rosas, Barbara Foster, Sheila Braedon Johnson and Dianne Stokes - worked alongside the project’s language coordinator Karin Riederer, translating lyrics into Warumungu and Warlmanpa and assisting Warren with phrasing.


At the age of six, Warren started playing guitar with his father, the legendary Gus Williams. So he knows the importance of passing on skills to youngsters, which dovetailed into the Song People project’s other aim of teaching language to children through song.

“Younger generations came to learn the lyrics and Warumungu language to sing on the choruses of some of Warren’s songs for the album,” said Patrick.

“It was an amazing time with much thanks to Barkly Arts and the crew at Winanjjikari Music Centre to help everything come together.”

The CD from Warren’s recording sessions, which includes a special dedication to Mr D.D Frank as a proud and resounding example of a traditional cultural leader, knowledge keeper and songman, is expected to be launched at this year’s Desert Harmony Festival. Shellie’s CD will be available later on in the year.


This article: http://tennantcreek.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/williams-records-album-in-tennant/2219538.aspx

Singer/Songwriter Warren H Williams has become one of the most loved indigenous identities on the Australian music scene.
This new album release, the first release through ABC Music’s new “Heartland” label, follows his CMAA Awards “Golden Guitar” win with John Williamson and Amos Morris in January 2009.
Warren’s songs on Looking Out touch on core Australian and family values. It’s traditional country with a touch of soul and is produced by Steve Newton (John Williamson).

For further information please contact:
Director Promotions & Artist Relations   Martha Pavlakis (02) 9207 0582 National Promotions Manager – ABC Contemporary Music  Diana Caruso (02) 9207 0500   Media & Business partners:  please log on to the Universal B2B Extranet
www.universalonline.com.au
www.getmusic.com.au

It is with much excitement that Warren has been announced as the lead candidate for the NT Senate for the Greens party. Warren born a traditional Aboriginal Man, and has made reference in some press releases as being born a green. That’s what we are as an Aboriginal person, we are the land, we were born to this land and I wish to advocate and protect our country officially as a Greens Senate. I have been advocating this through song for many years and am going to go even further now…… becoming a stronger voice.