East Journey

EAST JOURNEY ON THE RISE
By Tony Hillier
November 7 2012
November looks like being a notable
month for the North East Arnhem Land
community of Yirrkala in particular, and
Yolngu music generally, with plaudits for
the old and new guard in prospect. Preceding
Yothu Yindi’s anticipated induction into the
ARIA Hall of Fame during the annual awards
ceremony in Sydney, will be a showcase in
Melbourne at the Australasian World Music
Expo (AWME) that has the potential to set
their natural successors on the path to similar
success overseas.
East Journey has strong familial and
musical ties with the ‘80s trailblazers.
Indeed, lead singer Rrawun Maymuru is
a grandson of Yothu Yindi’s frontman and
founder Mandawuy Yunupingu, who has
mentored the young group. All of his nine
bandmates are blood relatives. Like Yothu
Yindi, East Journey combines aspects of
ancient Yolngu culture – language, chants,
yidaki (didgeridoo), bilma (clapsticks)
included – with modern pop music, guitars,
keyboard and drum kit. Maymuru, who
performed with Yothu Yindi as a teenager,
has a versatile voice that on ballads can
sound as angelic as nephew Gurrumul’s or
on East Journey’s more upbeat numbers as
raunchy as his grandfather’s.
“He’s always been a good singer,” declares
the band’s lead guitarist PJ White, a heavy
metal fan who can shred with the intensity
of his heroes Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe
Satriani and Steve Vai. Formed just two
years ago, East Journey is the fulfilment of
a longterm pledge from PJ’s older cousin,
a fine songwriter who penned ‘Bayini’ in
Gurrumul’s platinum selling album Rrakala.
“When I was still at school, Rrawun said to
me, ‘I want you to learn guitar and when
you’re finished I want to form a band with
you’.”
Like Maymuru, White had been inspired
as a kid sitting around in Yirrkala listening to
Yothu Yindi rehearsing. He was blown away
when he saw them formally perform at the
local Garma Festival in 2006. As taken as he
was with their music and the costumes they
wore, it was the fact that Yolngu culture was
being shown in a different way through rock
and world music that really impressed him.
East Journey’s sound is a palpable
derivative of their renowned predecessors.
“It’s a fusion of traditional music with
reggae and rock,” PJ expands. “The band’s
songs draw on our connection to the sea
and to the land. The music is in our blood;
it’s in our songlines.” Some of the band is
closely involved with ceremonial and funeral
business through manikay (song), bunggul
(dance) and playing yidaki and bilma – a
cultural responsibility that is interspersed
with East Journey business.
Members will be taking a couple of weeks
break over the New Year period to go out
bush, hunt, live off the land and generally get
back to basics.
The band’s commitment to cross-cultural
dialogue and exposing their heritage to
the world at large is expressed not only in
their music but also in their own spin-off
organisation, the East Journey Aboriginal
Corporation (EJAC), which PJ works for
full-time. “It’s a foundation for the future,”
he asserts. EJAC’s mission is to foster and
develop talent amongst Yolngu youth, using
music to promote social ideals, including
education, employment and health. “We
hope to mentor other young musicians, so we
can help the next generation tour with us,”
White adds. And would like nothing better
than to follow in Yothu Yindi’s footsteps. As
he admits, “We also want to see the world
and experience all different cultures.”
They took a step in the right direction
earlier this year with the release of a debut
album that garnered glowing reviews in the
national press and they’re already working
on new songs for a follow-up recording
next year. Recorded in two separate weeklong
visits to Sydney from their remote
Northern Territory base, Guwak also earned
the band an outstanding achievement award
at the 2012 National Indigenous Music
Awards (NIMAs). “Getting the award from
Mandawuy Yunupingu in Darwin made it
really special,” says the guitarist. “It was like
bringing it back to the family.”
The band duly celebrated with a live
performance that brought the house down.
PJ White believes they can improve. As he
readily concedes, “We’re all still learning.”
They’ll assuredly be striving for a new
personal best performance at AWME this
month as a springboard to Australian
festivals such as WOMADelaide and big events overseas.
- National Indigenous Times

EAST JOURNEY ON THE RISE
By Tony Hillier
November 7 2012
November looks like being a notable
month for the North East Arnhem Land
community of Yirrkala in particular, and
Yolngu music generally, with plaudits for
the old and new guard in prospect. Preceding
Yothu Yindi’s anticipated induction into the
ARIA Hall of Fame during the annual awards
ceremony in Sydney, will be a showcase in
Melbourne at the Australasian World Music
Expo (AWME) that has the potential to set
their natural successors on the path to similar
success overseas.
East Journey has strong familial and
musical ties with the ‘80s trailblazers.
Indeed, lead singer Rrawun Maymuru is
a grandson of Yothu Yindi’s frontman and
founder Mandawuy Yunupingu, who has
mentored the young group. All of his nine
bandmates are blood relatives. Like Yothu
Yindi, East Journey combines aspects of
ancient Yolngu culture – language, chants,
yidaki (didgeridoo), bilma (clapsticks)
included – with modern pop music, guitars,
keyboard and drum kit. Maymuru, who
performed with Yothu Yindi as a teenager,
has a versatile voice that on ballads can
sound as angelic as nephew Gurrumul’s or
on East Journey’s more upbeat numbers as
raunchy as his grandfather’s.
“He’s always been a good singer,” declares
the band’s lead guitarist PJ White, a heavy
metal fan who can shred with the intensity
of his heroes Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe
Satriani and Steve Vai. Formed just two
years ago, East Journey is the fulfilment of
a longterm pledge from PJ’s older cousin,
a fine songwriter who penned ‘Bayini’ in
Gurrumul’s platinum selling album Rrakala.
“When I was still at school, Rrawun said to
me, ‘I want you to learn guitar and when
you’re finished I want to form a band with
you’.”
Like Maymuru, White had been inspired
as a kid sitting around in Yirrkala listening to
Yothu Yindi rehearsing. He was blown away
when he saw them formally perform at the
local Garma Festival in 2006. As taken as he
was with their music and the costumes they
wore, it was the fact that Yolngu culture was
being shown in a different way through rock
and world music that really impressed him.
East Journey’s sound is a palpable
derivative of their renowned predecessors.
“It’s a fusion of traditional music with
reggae and rock,” PJ expands. “The band’s
songs draw on our connection to the sea
and to the land. The music is in our blood;
it’s in our songlines.” Some of the band is
closely involved with ceremonial and funeral
business through manikay (song), bunggul
(dance) and playing yidaki and bilma – a
cultural responsibility that is interspersed
with East Journey business.
Members will be taking a couple of weeks
break over the New Year period to go out
bush, hunt, live off the land and generally get
back to basics.
The band’s commitment to cross-cultural
dialogue and exposing their heritage to
the world at large is expressed not only in
their music but also in their own spin-off
organisation, the East Journey Aboriginal
Corporation (EJAC), which PJ works for
full-time. “It’s a foundation for the future,”
he asserts. EJAC’s mission is to foster and
develop talent amongst Yolngu youth, using
music to promote social ideals, including
education, employment and health. “We
hope to mentor other young musicians, so we
can help the next generation tour with us,”
White adds. And would like nothing better
than to follow in Yothu Yindi’s footsteps. As
he admits, “We also want to see the world
and experience all different cultures.”
They took a step in the right direction
earlier this year with the release of a debut
album that garnered glowing reviews in the
national press and they’re already working
on new songs for a follow-up recording
next year. Recorded in two separate weeklong
visits to Sydney from their remote
Northern Territory base, Guwak also earned
the band an outstanding achievement award
at the 2012 National Indigenous Music
Awards (NIMAs). “Getting the award from
Mandawuy Yunupingu in Darwin made it
really special,” says the guitarist. “It was like
bringing it back to the family.”
The band duly celebrated with a live
performance that brought the house down.
PJ White believes they can improve. As he
readily concedes, “We’re all still learning.”
They’ll assuredly be striving for a new
personal best performance at AWME this
month as a springboard to Australian
festivals such as WOMADelaide and big events overseas.
- National Indigenous Times

The event formerly known as the Australasian World Music Expo is now proudly Worldwide, according to the logo. It makes sense. There are certainly those who sniff at modern fusions and crossover acts as foreigners to the world music category. Yet by embracing cultural hybrids alongside the ancient and pure, we far flung beings can expand our connections in the old fashioned way – music and ceremony!
And in further deadly news (I love to say ‘I told you so’), young fellas from Arnhem Land, East Journey were the toast of the town with an infectious meeting of yesterday and today plus awesome dancers at ground level.
AWME’S inaugural keynote speaker, the redoubtable Michael Chugg, held a packed Playhouse crowd on Friday in the palm of his hand as he dispensed wit and wisdom in equal portions, and with characteristic candour. Prompted by The Australian’s Iain Shedden, the International Music Person of the Year regaled delegates with tales of his “good friend and great enemy” fellow impresario Michael Gudinski, his admiration of Robbie Williams and AC/DC, his association with Coldplay and Radiohead, and how he did his dough cold on a Santana and Red Hot Chili Peppers tour (“I was the only promoter in the world who lost money on that one,” he revealed), and with the more recent tenth anniversary Long Way To The Top show.
While castigating commercial radio for its stubborn reluctance to play Australian music, ‘Chuggy’ delivered an optimistic report on the current domestic scene, applauding the amount of talent around. He commented on the strength of the local live music scene and predicted that tours will continue to burgeon despite a downturn in that department in Europe caused by a profusion of festivals (“The tyranny of distance here is to our advantage,” he declared). Internationally, he remarked that Australian stocks have rarely been higher. “A lot of people around the world are saying that Australia, and New Zealand, is a hotbed of what’s going on”.
Tony Hillier - Rhythms Magazine

The event formerly known as the Australasian World Music Expo is now proudly Worldwide, according to the logo. It makes sense. There are certainly those who sniff at modern fusions and crossover acts as foreigners to the world music category. Yet by embracing cultural hybrids alongside the ancient and pure, we far flung beings can expand our connections in the old fashioned way – music and ceremony!
And in further deadly news (I love to say ‘I told you so’), young fellas from Arnhem Land, East Journey were the toast of the town with an infectious meeting of yesterday and today plus awesome dancers at ground level.
AWME’S inaugural keynote speaker, the redoubtable Michael Chugg, held a packed Playhouse crowd on Friday in the palm of his hand as he dispensed wit and wisdom in equal portions, and with characteristic candour. Prompted by The Australian’s Iain Shedden, the International Music Person of the Year regaled delegates with tales of his “good friend and great enemy” fellow impresario Michael Gudinski, his admiration of Robbie Williams and AC/DC, his association with Coldplay and Radiohead, and how he did his dough cold on a Santana and Red Hot Chili Peppers tour (“I was the only promoter in the world who lost money on that one,” he revealed), and with the more recent tenth anniversary Long Way To The Top show.
While castigating commercial radio for its stubborn reluctance to play Australian music, ‘Chuggy’ delivered an optimistic report on the current domestic scene, applauding the amount of talent around. He commented on the strength of the local live music scene and predicted that tours will continue to burgeon despite a downturn in that department in Europe caused by a profusion of festivals (“The tyranny of distance here is to our advantage,” he declared). Internationally, he remarked that Australian stocks have rarely been higher. “A lot of people around the world are saying that Australia, and New Zealand, is a hotbed of what’s going on”.
Tony Hillier - Rhythms Magazine

At the recent National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin, the East Journey Band took centre stage, performing LIVE and picking up SOME awardS of their own. It Was an important milestone in the evolution of the band from North East Arnhem Land who combine traditional music with reggae, rock and dance.
The members of East Journey hail from the community of Yirrkala, located on the north-eastern tip of Arnhem Land, and draw their musical inspiration and material from ceremonial song, poetry, traditional melodies and instruments. They formed in October 2010 and last month were nominated for no less than five National Indigenous Music Awards.
Singer Rrawun Maymuru is a serious song writing talent. He penned the song ‘Bayini’ on Gurrumul Yunupingu’s platinum selling album Rrakala. A new version of this song has recently been released featuring the vocals of Sarah Blasko. Rrawun also picked up the award for New Emerging Talent at the 2011 National Indigenous Music Awards.
Their debut album Guwak was recorded at Darwin’s Subsonic Studios, and Level 7 Studios in Sydney, then mastered in L.A. The first single, ‘Song of Arnhem Land’ features a very catchy chorus that talks about the apprehension the band feels when they travel to new places, countries and cultures. While tours and music pull them away, their family, culture and country calls them home.
Upon release ‘Song of Arnhem Land’ was picked up by triple j, ABC Local and Radio Australia for airplay during NAIDOC week.
- Vibe magazine

At the recent National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin, the East Journey Band took centre stage, performing LIVE and picking up SOME awardS of their own. It Was an important milestone in the evolution of the band from North East Arnhem Land who combine traditional music with reggae, rock and dance.
The members of East Journey hail from the community of Yirrkala, located on the north-eastern tip of Arnhem Land, and draw their musical inspiration and material from ceremonial song, poetry, traditional melodies and instruments. They formed in October 2010 and last month were nominated for no less than five National Indigenous Music Awards.
Singer Rrawun Maymuru is a serious song writing talent. He penned the song ‘Bayini’ on Gurrumul Yunupingu’s platinum selling album Rrakala. A new version of this song has recently been released featuring the vocals of Sarah Blasko. Rrawun also picked up the award for New Emerging Talent at the 2011 National Indigenous Music Awards.
Their debut album Guwak was recorded at Darwin’s Subsonic Studios, and Level 7 Studios in Sydney, then mastered in L.A. The first single, ‘Song of Arnhem Land’ features a very catchy chorus that talks about the apprehension the band feels when they travel to new places, countries and cultures. While tours and music pull them away, their family, culture and country calls them home.
Upon release ‘Song of Arnhem Land’ was picked up by triple j, ABC Local and Radio Australia for airplay during NAIDOC week.
- Vibe magazine

In 1988, Yothu Yindi, Australia’s first Aboriginal band to combine mainstream rock with traditional Aboriginal song cycles – making them translatable to Western ears – were on the rise.
They had won a contract with leading record label Mushroom for their debut album Homeland Movement, and were killing a 32 date tour schedule of the United States and Canada with stable mates Midnight Oil. It wasn’t until 1991, however, that they really began making some serious noise. The catchy anthem Treaty, penned in collaboration with Midnight Oil and Paul Kelly to call attention to the Australian Government’s failure to act on a promise of a treaty between black and white Australians by 1990, rocketed up the charts and onto mainstream radio stations. Young people around the country were inspired by this new sound, and were singing along in union with the cause. One of these young people was 15-year-old, Rrawun Maymuru – the grandson of Yothu Yindi’s lead singer Mandawuy Yunupingu. Now years later, he is flying the flag for his people, with band East Journey: the first Aboriginal band to combine traditional song cycles, dance and instruments, with Western rock, since Yothu Yindi. They call this cool sound Saltwater Reggae.
East Journey’s debut album, Guwak, was the subject of five nominations at the National Indigenous Music Awards for 2012, taking out the GR Burarrawanga Memorial Award, and NT Film Clip of the year for Ngarrpiya. Two thousand, five hundred fans even stampeded their performance on the showcase.
BY HEIDI LEIGH AXTON
EAST JOURNEY play the Australasian World Music Expo (AWME) on Saturday November 17. - Beat Magazine

In 1988, Yothu Yindi, Australia’s first Aboriginal band to combine mainstream rock with traditional Aboriginal song cycles – making them translatable to Western ears – were on the rise.
They had won a contract with leading record label Mushroom for their debut album Homeland Movement, and were killing a 32 date tour schedule of the United States and Canada with stable mates Midnight Oil. It wasn’t until 1991, however, that they really began making some serious noise. The catchy anthem Treaty, penned in collaboration with Midnight Oil and Paul Kelly to call attention to the Australian Government’s failure to act on a promise of a treaty between black and white Australians by 1990, rocketed up the charts and onto mainstream radio stations. Young people around the country were inspired by this new sound, and were singing along in union with the cause. One of these young people was 15-year-old, Rrawun Maymuru – the grandson of Yothu Yindi’s lead singer Mandawuy Yunupingu. Now years later, he is flying the flag for his people, with band East Journey: the first Aboriginal band to combine traditional song cycles, dance and instruments, with Western rock, since Yothu Yindi. They call this cool sound Saltwater Reggae.
East Journey’s debut album, Guwak, was the subject of five nominations at the National Indigenous Music Awards for 2012, taking out the GR Burarrawanga Memorial Award, and NT Film Clip of the year for Ngarrpiya. Two thousand, five hundred fans even stampeded their performance on the showcase.
BY HEIDI LEIGH AXTON
EAST JOURNEY play the Australasian World Music Expo (AWME) on Saturday November 17. - Beat Magazine

Newly formed Arnhem Land band East Journey, who have been guided by Yothu Yindi’s legendary Mandawuy Yunupingu, took out two highly contested awards. They won the NT Film Clip of the Year for the super stunning film clip ‘Ngarrpiya’, which was filmed around their home country in Yirrkala. East Journey also picked up the prestigous G.R. Bururrawanga Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to the NT music industry – which was proudly presented to the band by Mandawuy Yunupingnu on the night.
The night was filled with unique sets including the highly anticipated East Journey who lived up to the hype with frontman Rrawun Maymuru and traditional dancers providing a spectacular show. - Vibe magazine

Newly formed Arnhem Land band East Journey, who have been guided by Yothu Yindi’s legendary Mandawuy Yunupingu, took out two highly contested awards. They won the NT Film Clip of the Year for the super stunning film clip ‘Ngarrpiya’, which was filmed around their home country in Yirrkala. East Journey also picked up the prestigous G.R. Bururrawanga Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to the NT music industry – which was proudly presented to the band by Mandawuy Yunupingnu on the night.
The night was filled with unique sets including the highly anticipated East Journey who lived up to the hype with frontman Rrawun Maymuru and traditional dancers providing a spectacular show. - Vibe magazine

MANDAWUY Yunupingu had his sucession plan worked out 15 years ago. In the lobby of a Perth hotel, even as he talked up Yothu Yindi's progressive new single, Superhighway, he was clear his position was finite.
Younger members were being groomed to take over, to continue with the music and the message, said the lifelong educator and one-time Australian of the Year.
Treaty, co-written with Paul Kelly, was the first song in an Aboriginal language to reach the music charts and the first top-40 hit by an Aboriginal band.
It hit number six on the US Billboard club chart too, and put a procession of Arnhem Land musicians on the international touring circuit for a decade.
The recent success of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, from nearby Elcho Island, has not so much eclipsed as built on that legacy.
East Journey's debut album, Guwak, was released in April.
Such cultural and career foundations are obviously strong, though Maymuru is keenly aware that the next step involves a song as clear and powerful as Treaty.
He has not written it yet, he says, but he thinks he knows the title: Unity. ''Maybe it's the bloodline that runs from our great-great-great grandfather right up here that we are all musicians in this family in our own rights,'' he says. ''Because in a tribal way, we know we are strong people that can carry our culture. And we can sing.''

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/healing-stone-gathers-no-moss-20121116-29hkq.html#ixzz2HXvxiavV - Sydney Morning Herald

MANDAWUY Yunupingu had his sucession plan worked out 15 years ago. In the lobby of a Perth hotel, even as he talked up Yothu Yindi's progressive new single, Superhighway, he was clear his position was finite.
Younger members were being groomed to take over, to continue with the music and the message, said the lifelong educator and one-time Australian of the Year.
Treaty, co-written with Paul Kelly, was the first song in an Aboriginal language to reach the music charts and the first top-40 hit by an Aboriginal band.
It hit number six on the US Billboard club chart too, and put a procession of Arnhem Land musicians on the international touring circuit for a decade.
The recent success of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, from nearby Elcho Island, has not so much eclipsed as built on that legacy.
East Journey's debut album, Guwak, was released in April.
Such cultural and career foundations are obviously strong, though Maymuru is keenly aware that the next step involves a song as clear and powerful as Treaty.
He has not written it yet, he says, but he thinks he knows the title: Unity. ''Maybe it's the bloodline that runs from our great-great-great grandfather right up here that we are all musicians in this family in our own rights,'' he says. ''Because in a tribal way, we know we are strong people that can carry our culture. And we can sing.''

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/healing-stone-gathers-no-moss-20121116-29hkq.html#ixzz2HXvxiavV - Sydney Morning Herald