Some of Australia’s most acclaimed female Indigenous singer/songwriters join with their Indigenous sisters from New Zealand, the Pacific and Sudan for Singaot Sista, a powerful and symbolic collaboration in the Powerhouse Theatre at Brisbane Powerhouse from Saturday 2 October as part of the Brisbane Powerhouse Planet Series.
Featuring Emma Donovan, Merenia, Ursula Yovich, Ngaiire, Georgia Corowa and Ajak Kwai, Singaot Sista is a unique musical creation expressing the diverse and life-affirming experiences of contemporary Indigenous women. Director and creator, Vicki Gordon, Music Director, Kristina Kelman and choreographer, Marilyn Miller (Black Arm Band – Hidden Republic & Dirtsong and Australia’s National Indigenous Dance Coordinator) unite with these women to celebrate their honour and identity, joy and pain, love and hope through song, language and stories.
Emma Donovan (Gumbayngirr – Northern NSW) is internationally acclaimed and has established herself as one of Australia’s finest Indigenous singer/songwriters, using the inclusion of her traditional language to educate the global community about Aboriginal culture and spirituality.
Merenia (Maori, Welsh & Romany) is a multi-talented, beat-throwing musician who sings in five languages and whose distinctive personal music style blends Latin infused soul with funk and mischievously bends musical rules.
Ursula Yovich (Maningrada – North East Arnhem Land/Serbia) has emerged as one of Australian theatre’s most impressive young talents. Winning a Helpmann Award in 2007 for her role in Company B’s Capricornia, she also appeared in the acclaimed film Jindabyne as well as playing a significant role in Baz Luhrmann’s epic film, Australia.
Ngaiire (PNG) has been touted by John Butler as a soulful massage for the eardrums with beautiful harmonies, great songs, sass, sincerity and soul to spare; while Georgia Corowa (South Seas/Far North QLD) is an emerging artist who brings her own unique flavour to contemporary soul.
Ajak Kwai (Dinka –Southern Sudan) is the rare voice of an African woman in Australia. To listen to her is to experience the dark continent of Africa in all it’s colours, rhythms and mystery. Performing in Arabic, Sudanese and English, music is the vehicle for her stories of extraordinary life experiences as a refugee, exiled from her homeland.
Singaot Sista is a tribute to female creativity, cultural diversity, beauty and endurance and is accompanied by a unique collection of musicians, the kings of Melanesian funk, Tribe of Jubal, led by Ben Hakalitz (Yothu Yindi). Director, Vicki Gordon, is well known for her dedication to women in the music industry, having produced the first Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women’s Contemporary Music Festival and the first All Girl Rock Festival in Australia.
This event is presented as part of the Brisbane Powerhouse world music and dance program, Planet, an initiative supported by Arts Queensland, and will include FREE pre-show entertainment from 5pm on the Turbine Platform co-presented with BEMAC.
For more information call 07 3358 8600 or go to brisbanepowerhouse.org Brisbane Powerhouse is Brisbane City Council’s leading arts performance venue helping to deliver a vibrant and creative city.