Stories in Our Songs – Indigenous Musicians of the Northern Territory

About

Stories in Our Songs – Indigenous Musicians of the Northern Territory (Stories) is a screen work that illuminates the musical landscape of Australian Indigenous musicians across the Territory from the Central Desert region to the Top End. Through digital imagery, text, animations, footage, and audio, the work highlights Indigenous music and shares some special stories.

The exploration of gospel, rock, country, soul and traditional Yolngu music reveals the triumphs, hardships and joy articulated by the musicians and underlines the political, social and cultural issues told as stories in the songs both past and present.

Music is an expression of culture and ideas. Building on this notion, Stories supports Indigenous musicians to tell their story in the way which they want it to be told. Musicians reconnecting with their family lineage through the celebration of song and music and the stories told by songs such as Land Rights by The Sunrize Band (1994), Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out of Jail) by Warumpi Band (1993) and Timeless Land by Yothu Yindi (1993) are still relevant today.