As we mark the end of NAIDOC Week, we turn our spotlight on a handful of some of our favourite First Nations artists and their latest releases.
Blak Britney – Miss Kanina
You’ve probably heard of Miss Kaninna by now – When an artist confidently asserts the moniker of ‘Blak Britney Spears’, it’s hard not to give them your undivided attention. Hailing from lutruwita, this proud Yorta Yorta, Yirendali, and Kalkadoon woman discovered a passion for poetry in her formative years that ultimately sparked her journey into the world of music.
From her early days as a backing vocalist for Kudu Joy, to her role as Cynthia in the live production of The Sapphires, Miss Kaninna has always been honing her craft as an artist and performer.
The culmination of her artistic journey thus far arrives with the release of her debut single, Blak Britney. The anticipation surrounding the release of Blak Britney has been palpable, as audiences eagerly echoed Miss Kaninna‘s lyrics back to her at every local festival she performed at. Now, as the winner of Triple J’s Treaty Day Out Festival competition, she prepares to grace the stage:
“I was in complete shock because sh*t like this doesn’t happen to people like me. Knowing that I’m going to be able to show the full range of what I can do in front of my mob, who I care about most, and talk about treaty, that’s really important to me.”
(ABC News. 2023.)
Promise Me – South Summit
After embarking on an extensive debut headline tour that took them to packed venues across the country, South Summit has wasted no time in sharing their latest offering, Promise Me. Brimming with reverb-soaked melodies, the hero of the track is undoubtedly Isaiah Reuben‘s soulful vocals. The song’s themes explore the exhilaration of falling for someone’s idiosyncrasies at the start of a new relationship. The track was conceived during an impromptu jam session in 2021 and meticulously crafted in collaboration with highly regarded producer Dave Parkin (Spacey Jane, Tired Lion).
Promise Me was released earlier this NAIDOC Week, and South Summit has since been dubbed “indie rock role models for reconciliation.” The band has demonstrated a growing sense of comfort in exploring their Indigenous and multicultural heritage, maturing alongside each significant milestone they achieve. As part of NAIDOC Week celebrations, South Summit performed in schools, prisons, and youth detention centres across Western Australia.
Velvet Trip and the Six Moon Skies – Velvet Trip
Bringing camp and vintage sartorial leanings to Gadigal Country is Velvet Trip – a lively, unpredictable project led by Zeppelin Hamilton and Clayton Allen. Dripping in sixties nostalgia, Velvet Trip offers a lavish expedition into the past, replete with mind-melting guitar stylings reminiscent of Jimmy Hendrix.
Having received guidance from notable Indigenous talents such as Mo’Ju and Tasman Keith, Velvet Trip has also been lauded on stage alongside luminaries like Emily Wurramara and Parcels.
Their debut EP, Velvet Trip and the Six Moon Skies, is a mix of fiery riffs, harmonious keyboard swells, and intriguingly mellow interludes. Recorded live in one take, the EP is a promising glimpse into their high-energy live performances.
Rain – JK 47, Jay Orient, Adrian Eagle
Finally, we have the new collaboration from Bundjalung rapper, JK-47, North Coast producer Jay Orient, and Triple J sweetheart, Adrian Eagle – Rain. Rain is a song of hope, with JK 47 revealing that the lyrics carry our collective intent to communicate that within each struggle, lies the potential for transformation.
JK-47 has been on an ascendant trajectory since his debut album, Made For This hit our speakers in 2020, with his sophomore album Revision For Regrowth selling out shows across the country and landing him on the bill for some of our biggest festivals – including Wildlands, Beyond The Valley, and Field Day.
Don’t forget to tune into Triple J tomorrow night (July 9) to catch the recordings from 2022’s First and Forever Festival – A Celebration of Blak excellence presented by Mushroom Group, the Victorian Government, and Bad Apples Music. You’ll hear sets from King Stingray, Thelma Plum, Sycco, Baker Boy, Budjerah and more.