BY MIRANDA ILCHEF, LEAD WRITER
Sanctuary, which comes to Elisabeth Murdoch Hall this NAIDOC Week, is well and truly jostling our expectations of what a Melbourne Recital Centre performance might entail. More festival-like in nature, Sanctuary takes place over two days and immerses the attendee in a “sonic exploration of reflective, thoughtful and meditative music.”
Neil Morris was tasked with curation of First Nations artists in Sanctuary. To Neil, the power of curation goes beyond the event itself — it becomes “a cultural expression as part of a cultural continuum”.
Neil says the roles of “First Nations artistic practitioners can be cultivated and presented in ways which consider cultural connectivities that pre-date the present; and consider factors which carry importance that cannot be underestimated to both ancestral lineages, and into the now and beyond for future generations”.
Neil programmed James Howard’s electronic soundscape performance Ancestral Redux, which takes place on the Friday evening, as well as hip-hop/jazz artist Lady Lash (Crystal Clyne) who performs on Saturday afternoon as part of the Sanctuary Suite. Neil describes “two deeply considered and thought-provoking artists who bring profound cultural considerations into their work”.
Lady Lash, a Kokatha woman with Greek heritage from SA (now based on Kulin lands), makes boundary-pushing music with strong influences from a variety of genres. Neil was particularly taken with her recent release.
“Spiritual Misfit [2021] was to me a culmination in what has been building for some time,” Neil (pictured below) shares.
“This project harnessed the powerful synthesis [of her] genre-bending artistry, from spoken word, new wave, hip-hop, industrial indie electronic and ambient explorations.”
To Lady Lash, music is a way to honour two ancient cultures – Kokatha and Greek. She says her Sanctuary Suite performance will be “inspiring, reflective, and soul spirit moving between the space of the beautiful Elisabeth Murdoch Halls”.
“My music is an extension of my life, so growing up it had a massive impact with my overall being,” Lady Lash shares.
“Music and writing, it’s like a spiritual diary that evolves constantly: understanding who I am and what I would like to put out into the universe, especially as a Kokatha woman with Greek heritage.”
Lady Lash (pictured below) feels the projection of First Nations voices through local events like Sanctuary to be essential.
“It’s vital, it’s connection, it’s our spirit and voices speaking from one of the oldest living cultures on the earth and beyond our existence.”
James Howard describes his own art as “an ongoing conversation” with his Jaadwa ancestor Arthur Wellington. James is still on a journey to understanding his heritage: growing up, he was less aware of the Jaadwa culture and community and it was through the family history research of his grandmother, senior Jaadwa elder Aunty Beth Lyons, that he learnt more about the story of Arthur Wellington.
Arthur had travelled around the country on horseback trying to convince his offspring to hide and deny their Aboriginal heritage to save themselves the discrimination he had endured. James (pictured below) reflects on his ancestor’s position.
“To survive in the Australian colony, you didn’t want to be a Blakfulla,” James says.
“In a way, my work is an ongoing conversation with him. I’m on my own journey to dismantle the protective shields that he erected. I’m working to replace them with an outward pride and acknowledgement of where we came from, and our ongoing connection to this land.”
James’ music is soothingly meditative and quietly nostalgic, as can be heard in his piece Yulendji: Future.
“I’m interested in the way that music can elicit an emotional state that can transport the listener to another time and place. Hearing songs and sounds from another time, it’s like time travel. You’re simultaneously in the present moment, and elsewhen.
“My only tangible connection to Arthur is a photograph, so the work I’m making is really my attempts to open a line of communication. To form a link where we can have conversations and rediscover our responsibilities and lore.”
James hopes audiences will find Ancestral Redux enjoyable and thought-provoking.
“I would simply like the audience to enjoy themselves. To hear some great, live electronic music. To reconsider what ‘Aboriginal art’ is. To reflect on what their own stories are on this Country.”
Sanctuary Suite begins at 2pm July 9, and continues through the afternoon in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre.
Explore the full Sanctuary series online, including James Howard’s event Ancestral Redux on July 8.
First Nations audiences can access free tickets to this event – simply use the promo code FIRSTNATIONS when booking.
READ NEXT: Composer-performers Mindy Meng Wang and Nat Bartsch talk about Sanctuary’s support for local music.
Images supplied..
