STACK #203 Sep 2021

FEATURE MUSIC

Gurrumul and Michael Hohnen performing in 2014

The coastline of Galiwin'ku (Elcho Island), Gurrumul's birthplace and home, as shown in the music clip for Wiyathul (Longing For Place)

Nebbie Burarrwanga as the leadWiyathul in the clip for Wiyathul (Longing For Place)

Nelson. The dancers are all in a show called Bunggul that travels nationally, when COVID allows us. It is a major festival project that [presents] every one of the songs from the last album Djarimirri (Child Of The Rainbow) set to dance and vision with a live orchestra.

to this release; who Gurrumul is, and how his story came about. I feel fortunate for us, but also

the fire, on the beach, or in the church. He was used to harsh environments. Whenever we performed, he always wanted the best of what was there. His ultimate was a really big PA system and competent tech people, to fully justify the effort he would put into performances – which from his perspective, was always the best he could possibly do. One day I remember having to perform in The Egg, more formally known as the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), located in Beijing, China. It was at a world “folk” festival. We got on the stage and there was no microphone, no PA, no speakers, nothing. After some consternation we just went ahead and did it, because every other performer was doing the same thing. It is a beautiful concert hall, so the sound did carry through the auditorium. He did love Carnegie Hall in NewYork though! It was generally understood by the public that Gurrumul saw his role as that of a singer, not as a proxy spokesperson for his elders – which is why he didn't really give interviews. How did you understand your role throughout Gurrumul's career, and how has it changed since his passing? Reluctantly, I try to answer things as best I can. He would always defer to his uncle, or to me. I prefer when Yolngu people speak for Gurrumul. But Yolngu were rarely on the road with us, and that’s where a lot of musical experiences happen. His family are happy for me to speak, but

It felt like there would only be one of this type of person, ever

for Gurrumul’s family and his fans, that he committed to this documenting of some of his life, because it felt like there [would] only be one of this type of person ever. A lot of Yolngu (his own family) say the same thing to me

sometimes.

The deluxe CD edition includes a DVD which features music clips, and a 25-minute documentary. Does this doco utilise footage from 2017's incredible Gurrumul film? The 25-minute documentary is based on the full-length documentary about Gurrumul. It has less detail and narrative than the full-length, but tries to fully educate and provide a background

The DVD's clips include the official video of Gurrumul and Paul Kelly's version of Amazing Grace (from The Gospel Album ).There is footage online of the two performing the track live in a television studio (with yourself in the rhythm section!). From your perspective, did the

type of environment in which Gurumul was performing – like thisTV studio for broadcast, versus a small venue, versus a large outdoor stage, versus a recording room – have any affect on Gurrumul's comfort or playing? Not usually. He grew up on an island where a lot of singing is outside, on the ground... around

Scenes from Bunggul, the tribute show to Gurrumul's music, above at the Perth Festival, below at the Sydney Opera House (early 2020)

we are now performing Bunggul live in theatres

across the country, where they get to

present the full stories. So I hope to take a lesser and lesser role as they take much of the legacy into the future for this special man and their culture.

The Gurrumul Story by Gurrumul is out Sep 10, via Decca/Universal.

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