Tiddas
Encyclopedia
Tiddas are a three piece all-girl folk
band from Victoria, Australia
.
, led by Saunder's brother Richard Frankland
in 1990. The group were invited to perform at a musical celebration for women's artistic achievement, 'Hot Jam Cooking', in Richmond, Victoria
. Their performance was well received and inspired Ruby Hunter
, Archie Roach
's partner, to dub the trio Tiddas, which is Koori
English for the word sisters.
After performing together for over a year the band came to the attention of Paul Petran, host of ABC National Radio show 'Music Deli', who assisted Tiddas to record their debut EP
, Inside My Kitchen in 1991. Inside My Kitchen was released in October, 1992 and received two nominations, for 'Best New Talent' and 'Best Indigenous Talent', at the 1993 Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Awards
.
Tiddas quickly became live favourites, touring with Sweet Honey in the Rock
and Midnight Oil
, adding didgeridoo player Tim "Froggie" Holtze for their first album Sing About Life. The album peaked at #36 on the ARIA charts
, achieved gold record sales in Australia (35,000 copies sold), was nominated 'Breakthrough Artist - Album', and won 'Best Indigenous Record' at the 1994 ARIA awards
. The album National and international tours followed, including several WOMAD concerts. Sing About Life was released in the United States in September 1995, spurring tours of North America and Europe.
The group felt so strongly about the direction and voice they had found in the interim they bluntly called the second album 'Tiddas', which was produced by Joe Camilleri
. The album was released in Australia in August 1996. Tiddas reached #26 on the ARIA charts
and was nominated for 'Best Indigenous Release' at the 1996 ARIA awards
. The first single, "Ignorance is Bliss", was reputedly inspired by an argument with Bob Geldof
while touring in 1993. Backing musicians on the album included the Black Sorrows' Jen Anderson on violin, Joe Camilleri on sax (on "Waving Goodbye"), Peter Luscombe on drums, Steven Hadley on bass, and Weddings, Parties, Anything's Mark "Squeezebox Wally" Wallace on piano accordion. A second single "Walk Alone" was released in 1997.
The third album, 'Lethal By The Kilo', was recorded in Melbourne's ABC studios in late 1998. The album received almost no promotion from the record company, which led to the band almost breaking up. Tiddas however went on to record a fourth album, pointedly named Show Us Ya Tiddas, which was recorded live at the Continental Café on 11 September 1999, in front of an invited audience. In May 2000 Tiddas did break up, spending months on a national tour to say farewell to all their fans. In 2000
Tiddas were awarded a Deadly Award
for 'Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music'.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
band from Victoria, Australia
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
Biography
Originally the three women, Amy Saunders (a Gunditjmara woman from Portland), Lou Bennett (a Yorta Yorta woman from Echuca) and Sally Dastey (from West Heidelberg) combined their vocal talents as backing singers for Aboriginal band DjaambiDjaambi
Djaambi were a band from Melbourne, Victoria containing both Aboriginal and white members formed by Richard Frankland. Three other members later formed the band Tiddas Djaambi released a selftitled album in 1990 and supported Prince on his Australian Tour in 1991.Djaambi were the subjects of the...
, led by Saunder's brother Richard Frankland
Richard Frankland
For the nonconformist minister, see Richard Frankland Richard Joseph Frankland is an Australian playwright, scriptwriter and musician. He is an Aboriginal Australian of Gunditjmara origin from Victoria. He has worked significantly for the Aboriginal Australian cause.-Biography:Richard J. Frankland...
in 1990. The group were invited to perform at a musical celebration for women's artistic achievement, 'Hot Jam Cooking', in Richmond, Victoria
Richmond, Victoria
Richmond is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
. Their performance was well received and inspired Ruby Hunter
Ruby Hunter
Ruby Charlotte Margaret Hunter was an Australian singer and songwriter. She was a member of the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal nationality, and often performed with her partner, Archie Roach, whom she met at the age of 16, while both were homeless teenagers...
, Archie Roach
Archie Roach
Archie Roach is an Australian musician. A singer, songwriter and guitarist, he survived a turbulent upbringing to develop into a powerful voice for Indigenous Australians, a storyteller in the tradition of his ancestors, and a nationally popular and respected artist.- Biography :In his own words,...
's partner, to dub the trio Tiddas, which is Koori
Koori
The Koori are the indigenous Australians that traditionally occupied modern day New South Wales and Victoria....
English for the word sisters.
After performing together for over a year the band came to the attention of Paul Petran, host of ABC National Radio show 'Music Deli', who assisted Tiddas to record their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Inside My Kitchen in 1991. Inside My Kitchen was released in October, 1992 and received two nominations, for 'Best New Talent' and 'Best Indigenous Talent', at the 1993 Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Awards
ARIA Music Awards of 1993
The Seventh Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 14 April 1993 at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney. Host, Richard Wilkins, was assisted by presenters, James Reyne, Elle Macpherson, Billy Birmingham, Tim Finn, Neil Finn and Daryl Somers to distribute 24 awards...
.
Tiddas quickly became live favourites, touring with Sweet Honey in the Rock
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Sweet Honey in the Rock is an all-woman, African-American a cappella ensemble. They are an American Grammy Award-winning troupe who express their history as women of color through song, while entertaining their audience. They have together worked from four women to the difficult five-part harmony...
and Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
, adding didgeridoo player Tim "Froggie" Holtze for their first album Sing About Life. The album peaked at #36 on the ARIA charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, achieved gold record sales in Australia (35,000 copies sold), was nominated 'Breakthrough Artist - Album', and won 'Best Indigenous Record' at the 1994 ARIA awards
ARIA Music Awards of 1994
The Eighth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 30 March 1994 at the State Theatre in Sydney...
. The album National and international tours followed, including several WOMAD concerts. Sing About Life was released in the United States in September 1995, spurring tours of North America and Europe.
The group felt so strongly about the direction and voice they had found in the interim they bluntly called the second album 'Tiddas', which was produced by Joe Camilleri
Joe Camilleri
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Camilleri, aka Jo Jo Zep or Joey Vincent, is an Australian vocalist, songwriter and saxophonist. Camilleri has recorded as a solo artist and as a member of Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows...
. The album was released in Australia in August 1996. Tiddas reached #26 on the ARIA charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
and was nominated for 'Best Indigenous Release' at the 1996 ARIA awards
ARIA Music Awards of 1996
The 10th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 30 September 1996 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre...
. The first single, "Ignorance is Bliss", was reputedly inspired by an argument with Bob Geldof
Bob Geldof
Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
while touring in 1993. Backing musicians on the album included the Black Sorrows' Jen Anderson on violin, Joe Camilleri on sax (on "Waving Goodbye"), Peter Luscombe on drums, Steven Hadley on bass, and Weddings, Parties, Anything's Mark "Squeezebox Wally" Wallace on piano accordion. A second single "Walk Alone" was released in 1997.
The third album, 'Lethal By The Kilo', was recorded in Melbourne's ABC studios in late 1998. The album received almost no promotion from the record company, which led to the band almost breaking up. Tiddas however went on to record a fourth album, pointedly named Show Us Ya Tiddas, which was recorded live at the Continental Café on 11 September 1999, in front of an invited audience. In May 2000 Tiddas did break up, spending months on a national tour to say farewell to all their fans. In 2000
The Deadlys Award winners 2000
-Music:*Excellence In Film or Theatrical Score: Wesley Enoch Sunshine Club*Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music: Tiddas*Most Promising New Talent: Stiff Gins*Male Artist of the Year: Troy Cassar-Daley*Female Artist of the Year: Ruby Hunter...
Tiddas were awarded a Deadly Award
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 'Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music'.
Albums and EPs
- Inside My Kitchen (EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) - Independent (ID 0002-2) (October, 1992) - Sing About Life - PolygramPolyGramPolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
(518 3482) (1993) AUS #36 - Tiddas - Black Pig/Polygram (532799-2) (5 August 1996) AUS #26
- Lethal By The Kilo - Mercury Music (538 277-2) (1998)
- Show us ya Tiddas - Festival Music (23768185) (1999)
Singles
- "Real World" - Polygram (8561922) (1994)
- "Ignorance is Bliss" - Polygram (5782672) (1996)
- "Walk Alone" - Polygram (1997)