CAAMA Music searching for new crop of indigenous singer/songwriters

Alice Springs-based indigenous record label CAAMA Music is searching for the next crop of indigenous female singer songwriters from around the country.

It has launched the national Alukura Music Competition (Alukura meaning ‘women’ in the native Arrernte language) in partnership with triple j Unearthed, giving ten winners the chance to be flown to the red centre in the first week of April for ten days of preparation and recording. Full details at www.caamamusic.com.au/alukura/.

The preparation includes songwriting, performance and music industry master classes by Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs of the award winning Sydney-based Stiff Gins.

The ten will also visit the local community of Ntaria to share in cultural exchange with traditional women elders. The resultant tracks will be part of a compilation CD to be released in late 2015.

Nardi Simpson said, “We want to urge all young women who love to write and play their own music to put themselves out there and enter the competition. We are so delighted to be part of this amazing artistic and cultural project. To assist and inspire the future song women of our communities not only enriches our creative lives, but helps us to fulfill the responsibilities of keeping song, story and culture alive and thriving for all our mobs.”

The mentorship will extend beyond the competition, to ongoing professional advice and support.

Entrants must upload at least two original songs to their triple j Unearthed profile by Thursday December 11.

Lachlan Macara, triple j Unearthed’s Senior Producer, said, “Indigenous Australians are some of the best storytellers in the world. We’re stoked to be involved in creating opportunities for the next generation of songwriters and can’t wait to hear what they create.”