Desert Pop, Lock & Drop Release- Producers Blurb & Popportunity Project

Popportunity:

Stephie Harrison: REFLECTION: I loved being involved with the project, especially having the opportunity to extend my skills and knowledge in the area of Production, Promotion and Publicity. I felt apprehensive at the start of the project that we were not going to get the numbers of participants to make it successful, but we ended up with a great team and the group dynamics were strong straight away. A small group was easier to manage as we had to do a lot more songwriting than we had envisaged, and this took up quite a lot of time. ………………………………….Despite all these frustrations, I am stoked with the end product and the way the production team pulled together to get the job done, although perhaps sacrificing a little sanity in order to do so.

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Micka Etheridge:  Popportunity was bonza!  Spending most of our time in Yuendumu at the PAW Media studio, we had a really productive time with the fellas.  Special word ups to all the bush bands (at least 5 others) that had to pull out of the project last minute because of the ol’ swine flu sweeping through the communities… keep your ears peeled for the next instalment of new generation desert sounds by CAAMA music…this is just a taster…oh but how sweet it is!

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 Mei Lai Swan:“Working on Popportunity as a producer was a fulfilling, challenging and entirely inspiring role. It was amazing to see the amount of talent amongst the youth in Alice Springs and Yuendumu, and it was a privilege to help nurture that talent and see a wonderful, supportive and committed group develop amongst the 8 Alice Springs songwriters involved. I’m looking forward to seeing their future songwriting careers blossom! Popportunity is a fantastic project and I hope it sees a second incarnation to continue nurturing the incredible and unique talent that exists in the Central Desert.” 

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 Fraser Montgomery:“Popportunity provided me with my first experience recording music with Indigenous artists on a community. We had such an amazing time at Yuendemu working with guys out there. Not only did everyone who participated get a song recorded, but we came away with some pure “Popportunity Gold”, particularly from Esau, Sebastian and Scotty. It was great being able to spend the time and work on their songs and get them to a place they may not have previously thought of. Their hospitality and enthusiasm was great, and I can’t wait to go back. Working with the production team and Bill was also a rewarding experience. Everyone brought something different to the table which created a diverse but cohesive unit. We all complemented each other perfectly. Having just finished mixing and currently mastering the album here in Melbourne, I am stoked with the final product and I can’t wait for all those involved to hear it. Thanks to Bill and CAAMA for including me, in the project and I hope to be involved again some-time soon.”

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in Music Development Programs on December 16 2009.

CAAMA MUSIC “SING IT UP” Learning Support Program - AREYONGA April / May 2009

in Communities Music Music Development Programs on May 13 2009.

CAAMA MUSIC “SING IT UP” Learning Support Program - LARAMBA April 2009

Laramba School became the hub for musical activity over the two weeks we spent in Anmatjerre country. The doors were opened to teaching middle school kids how to write a song, Sam Chen (Stream 2) joined the CAAMA team to work with these kids and inspired songwriting both the boys and girls classes. Student numbers were strongly bolstered by Will Cheesman’s (Stream 1) truancy wrangling, his morning visits to peoples houses and gentle persuasions towards attending school bumped up numbers and returned many kids that hadn’t been scene by the teachers for a while. Matt Hill (Stream 3) ran a very successful Music industry training program with many dedicated mature age strudents keen to upskill. photos and words by Matty Day CAAMA team leader

in Communities Music Music Development Programs on May 13 2009.

CAAMA MUSIC “SING IT UP” Learning Support Program ATITJERE March / April 2009


Atitjere community welcomed the Sing It Up program. Will Cheesman joined the team delivering Stream 1 sporting activities with focus on re-engaging and mentoring of at risk youth. Rodney Mitchell worked with the middle school delivering Stream 2 to the boys and girls at Harts Range School. Stream 2 develops literacy skills using songwriting and music craft, the middle school class performed the song they wrote in class at the community concert. Matt Hill from Batchelor Institute instructed many of the communities men in certified music industry training. They learnt how to look after the music gear, set it up properly and get the best sound out of it. The highlight for all involved was when Ben Pope a 70 year old man signed up for the course, the icing on the cake was when he performed his original songs at the community concert. photos and words by Matty Day - CAAMA team leader.

in Music Music Development Programs on May 12 2009.

CAAMA MUSIC “SING IT UP” Learning Support Program - AMPILATWATJA March 2009


Day three was breakthrough day for our learning support program. With the excellent encouragement of the staff at Ampilatwatja School we worked with 31 secondary students today on writing lyrics for new songs. The girls’ group have written a verse for their song called Women are Strong. We started by brainstorming words associated with strength and found ryhming words and synonyms to go with it

The boys’ group are working on a song for the up-coming football season. They have been working on writing lyrics for a song using part of a chord progression that was brought to class by Tarantino. After school some of our most keen instrumentalists had a practical session on guitars and bass with men from the community who gave of their time to support the program. words by Rodney Mitchell photos by Matty Day CAAMA team leader

in Music Music Development Programs Radio on May 12 2009.

Music and Dance for Life 08

Music and Dance for Life: A celebration of music, dance, life and identity in remote Indigenous communities

CAAMA Music is excited to have rolled out the first Music and Dance for Life workshops last week at Ikunji.  Music and Dance for Life is a combined rhythm, vocal and dance project that will be delivered to young people in six Indigenous communities in Northern Territory between April and June 2008. The workshops aim to inspire young people towards further engagement and training in music and dance programs.

Three professional performing artists – a percussionist, dancer and musician - will teach up to 20 students using a special circle workshop structure developed at CAAMA Music. The project runs for two weeks at each community. Each day there will be one workshop within school hours and one after school, so all the kids in the communities can get involved.

“The Music and Dance for Life workshops are a fantastic opportunity for young people in remote communities to get performing arts skills from dedicated and talented professionals.” Says Bill Davis, the manager at CAAMA Music. “Music and dance is such a powerful way of exploring and expressing identity. The project has huge potential to empower and inspire young people out bush.”

The workshops will culminate in a community concert at the end of the two weeks where the young people will perform what they have learnt. The performance will reflect local language, story and culture as well as local forms of movement developed through the workshops. Local bands will also be supported to present a night of entertainment for the community.

As part of the project each community will also receive a donation of music equipment including a PA sound system, mixer, guitars and drums. This equipment will allow communities to continue to play and develop music with their own local flavor.

The CAAAMA Music workshops are funded through the Indigenous Coordination Centres and Central Australia Petrol Sniffing Unit. They will be held at Ikunji, Willowra, Areyonga, Aputula and Titjikala.

View video below presenting workshops in multi art-form rhythm, vocal and dance.  The target group for the workshops are indigenous young people between the ages of 10-18.

Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.

in Music Music Development Programs on December 16 2008.

Alice Desert Festival 08 - Many Roads One Voice



The Alice Desert Festival HUB Space will resound with the sublime power of the human voice when one of the largest choirs ever assembled in Central Australia gathers for one night only at the “Many Roads One Voice” choir event, produced by CAAMA Music.

Four of Australia’s leading vocal talents will converge in Alice Springs to work with 8 Central Australian choirs - the Alice Springs Choral Society, Asante Sana, Titjikala Choir, Areyonga Choir, Yipirinya School, Yirara College, Steiner School and the Living Waters School - over 200 voices in all to present a tapestry of songs that express the cultural diversity of the Central Australian community. The song material will pay special tribute to the contribution that Indigenous people make to Central Australia through choral arrangements of many of the classic songs recorded at the CAAMA studios over its 25 year history.

Indigenous singer/songwriters Kutcha Edwards and Emma Donovan, from the highly acclaimed production Murundak - The Black Arm Band, will entertain us with their powerful, soulful and inspirational voices. They will be joined by ARIA award winning singer/songwriter Kavisha Mazzella, well renowned for her incredible work as founder and conductor of the vivacious Melbourne based Italian Women’s Choir, “La Voce Della Luna” and Rachel Hore, “one of Australia’s finest singers” and one of the most highly sought after community choir leaders in the country.

“Many Roads One Voice” is the theme of the Alice Desert Festival 08 and reminds us that while culturally we have walked many different roads, there is a multicultural community that speaks with one voice for equality and justice for all.

in Music Music Development Programs on December 16 2008.

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