Saltwater Band
Encyclopedia
Saltwater Band are an Indigenous Roots band from Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island, around 560 kilometres from Darwin. The members are Yolngu
and they sing mostly in language. Their songs are a mixture of traditional songs and reggae/ska influenced pop. One member of the band, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
, is a close relative of Mandawuy Yunupingu
of Yothu Yindi
and is a past member of Yothu Yindi
.
Saltwater Band's first cd Gapu Damurrun, sold more than 10,000 copies, a then record for an independent NT act Their album Djarridjarri was nominated for the 2004 Best World Music Album Aria Award
. The album also received a Deadly
for Album Release of the Year.
Yolngu
The Yolngu or Yolŋu are an Indigenous Australian people inhabiting north-eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Yolngu means “person” in the Yolŋu languages.-Yolŋu law:...
and they sing mostly in language. Their songs are a mixture of traditional songs and reggae/ska influenced pop. One member of the band, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is an Indigenous Australian musician, who sings in the Yolngu language.He was born in Galiwin'ku , off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia about 350 miles from Darwin. He is from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu and his mother from the Galpu nation...
, is a close relative of Mandawuy Yunupingu
Mandawuy Yunupingu
Mandawuy Yunupingu , born 17 September 1956, is an Aboriginal Australian musician, most notable for being the front man of the band Yothu Yindi.-Early life:...
of Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi are an Australian band with Aboriginal and balanda members formed in 1986. Aboriginal members come from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory's Arnhem Land...
and is a past member of Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi are an Australian band with Aboriginal and balanda members formed in 1986. Aboriginal members come from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory's Arnhem Land...
.
Saltwater Band's first cd Gapu Damurrun, sold more than 10,000 copies, a then record for an independent NT act Their album Djarridjarri was nominated for the 2004 Best World Music Album Aria Award
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
. The album also received a Deadly
The Deadlys
The Deadlys are an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Vibe Australia hosts the awards, which for have been held at the Sydney Opera House since 2001. The first Deadly awards were held in 1995...
for Album Release of the Year.
External links
- Deadly Vibe Issue 110 April 2006 A Royal Occasion
- Land Rights News Soft harmonies of Saltwater Band
- Ididj Australia Barra'kuwuy Yunupingu