PRESS RELEASE
The stunning original soundtrack of Perth Festival’s 2023 special opening spectacle Djoondal is now available on all streaming platforms.
The six-track collection of brand-new Noongar songs was the pulsing heart of Djoondal, the immersive light, laser and drone show that opened Perth Festival 2023 to great acclaim on the shores of Lake Joondalup.
A kaleidoscope of textured synths, colossal beats and soaring vocals, the tracks on Djoondal take listeners on a musical journey through the story of Djoondal, the spirit woman with the long white hair who created the Milky Way.
‘A beautiful encapsulation of the 2023 Perth Festival’s theme of Djinda (the Noongar word for ‘stars’), Djoondal was … memorable, beautiful and inspiring.’
– Richard Watts, ArtsHub
Composed and sung by Ian Wilkes with lyric support from Rubeun Yorkshire and in collaboration with award-winning composers Ned Beckley and Josh Hogan, along with the amazing supporting vocal artists (Charley Caruso, Della Rae Morrison, and Tehya Makani) remixed as an EP. Album artwork is by Rubeun Yorkshire.
These tracks are a scintillating expression of Noongar Futurism. They feature Noongar language backed by glistening beats all wrapped around the magical stickiness of Noongar loops. It is music that speaks to the truth-telling of our past and a map towards our future with a resurgent Noongar language at its heart.
The Djoondal EP, which has been named RTRFM’s Local Album of the Week,is a thrilling and inspiring call to pay attention and heed ancient wisdom and future dreaming.
Ian Wilkes is a Noongar man with connection to the Wadjuk and Ballardong people. He is a multidisciplinary artist, theatre maker, director, performer, writer, and dancer.
Rubeun Yorkshire is a Wajaari Yamatj, Noongar and Wongi man. He is a visual artist, dancer, stage combat choreographer, and actor.
Ned Beckley and Josh Hogan are composers and sound designers who run a bespoke studio called Envelope Audio, creating and producing award-winning music and sound for film, TV and immersive events.
Djoondal was a free family event held over three nights in February on the banks of Lake Joondalup at Yellagonga Regional Park, linking Noongar stories of the cosmos with the beauty of the lake and its natural surrounds.
Stream the album on your preferred platform here.
Find out more about the songs and their meanings here.
Perth Festival 2024 returns from 9 February to 3 March, 2024. The Festival program will be announced in October.
