Aside from the music, the thing I appreciate the most about First Nations artists is their storytelling abilities.
So every time I get a press release from one of my contacts working with Aboriginal acts, I’m super curious to find out what they’ve cooked.
Needless to say, I’m rarely disappointed. But this time, Andrew Gurruwiwi Band have really outdone themselves. Here’s why.
PART 214 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE
When I first heard “Go To Sleep (The Legend Of Ŋamini Baŋ’ Baŋ’)”, I was blown away.
This song is so irresistible that you’ll have it on repeat in no time. But it’s not for the reasons you might expect. No, it’s not an electronic banger. It has no rhymes by influential First Nations hip-hop artists, either. In fact, it’s not even sung in English.
Nowadays, it’s not always easy or obvious to come across a track incorporating elements taken from very different music aesthetics in SUCH. A. BADASS. WAY. In this song, you get heavy rock guitars, a dynamic brass section, a sweet violin, a haunting keyboard, and a super catchy melody. And the best part is that – even though you don’t understand the tongue – the lyrics are delivered in a super convincing way. So you instinctively get the story.
No wonder. The act behind the release, along with the plethora of amazing collaborators, is known for delivering one-of-a-kind compositions.
I wrote about one of the band’s previous releases here last year. Back then, Andrew Gurruwiwi Band shared a happy, good-feel track. They were also about to drop their debut record, Sing Your Own Song and officially launch it live at the Clancestry Festival.
And it made quite an impact. The record was selected as a feature album on various radio stations and music platforms, including Triple R, PBS, 2SER, RTR FM, 4ZZZ, AMRAP and Apple Music (NAIDOC Week Special). Koori Mail dubbed it “utterly extraordinary”. And Double J claimed it is “a strong sampling platter of the band’s many strengths”.
“Go To Sleep (The Legend Of Ŋamini Baŋ’ Baŋ’)” is one of the songs from that highly-acclaimed album. And it’s fair to say it’s the band’s heaviest offering from it, a proper horror-rock opera.
Inspired by a popular Yolŋu children’s story, it is sung from the perspective of Ŋamini Baŋ’ Baŋ’. That nightmarish creature is driven by the desire to kidnap little children who refuse to go to sleep. It then takes them away into the night to live with her in place of her own children she’d lost many lifetimes ago.
Soaring vocals, blaring horns, and an absolute shredder of a lead break, this song is immaculately delivered to once again showcase the power, depth and ferocity of the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band. Their ability to slay across genres is undeniable.
The song’s arrangement is outstanding, hands down. Apart from all the awesome artists who perform the track, it has much to do with those involved in its creation. It was produced by Andrew Grimes and Julian BelBachir, whose “future-desert-blues-dub” album I also covered on this blog.
But there’s another aspect that makes this release exceptional. Accompanying it is a cinematically spooky clip produced by Aris & Grimes. What I love about it is how it sets the scene for what we’re about to witness. It’s made like a proper movie, with an introduction that goes something like this:
“The [story] takes place on a quiet evening in North East Arnhem Land as everyone prepares for bed after a long day hunting. A grandmother sings to her grandchildren the old tale of Ŋamini Baŋ’ Baŋ’ as she’s done many times before. Except this time is different: the Creature is on the move, hunting for crying children. Drawn by the sound of her name being spoken, the Creature approaches…“
If you’re also loving this song’s vibe, I’ve got good news for you.
Andrew Gurruwiwi Band are currently touring the Pacific region. You can catch them at the St Kilda Festival in Melbourne in mid-February, as part of WOMADelaide in March and during the Earth Day Festival in the Marshall Islands in April.
Judging by the reaction to the gigs that have already taken place in January, it’s a real treat to see the Aboriginal group live. So don’t miss it!
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