West Australian Music (WAM) is incredibly proud to share the debut singles from its fifteenth regional recording compilation – Demos from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands and Esperance. The double album is the first of its kind in the series, showcasing talent, songs and stories born from two vastly different landscapes and music communities across WA’s expansive Goldfields-Esperance region.
Recorded in two locations separated by a 1,200km drive, WAM worked with project partner Wilurarra Creative to spend nine days recording artists in the remote Warburton (Mirlirrtjarra Community) on the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. Wilurarra Creative are a community hub, creative incubator, and arts space, providing an enormous contribution to the members of this remote community. WAM then set-up shop at Esperance’s historic Bijou Theatre on Nyungar boodja to record the nine coastal artists that would form the second compilation within Demos from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands and Esperance.
The first of the two singles from the double album – ‘Flowers Blooming (In the Night)’ – comes from Esperance singer-songwriter Rachel Vibart. A local audience favourite, Rachel has been penning songs since the age of twelve, 
with her soulful music driven by references to the moments and relationships evolving around her. Rachael’s first official release, ‘Flowers Blooming (In the Night)’ emits vivid and emotive imagery inspired by a close friend, with Rachael noting ‘to me the song is a sweet craving of a summer romance, those feelings of wanting it to be more than just a summer fling, and not wanting to let it go’. The single will be coupled with release of a mesmerising seaside music video next week.
The first sounds off Demos from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands come from Anthony Westlake with his song ‘Missing Home, Mirlirrtjarra’. The song is an ode to home, with Anthony noting ‘thinking of home when away, 
thinking of family, country and community’. It’s one of the many infectiously fun desert-reggae songs emanating from the central desert areas of Australia – a genre orientated phenomena exploding in the early 1990s in central Australia. Anthony, a multi-instrumentalist, is featured on bass across a number of other artists’ tracks on the album.
The captivating artwork featured on the cover of Demos from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands was created by Phillipa Butler, a young Ngaanyatjarra woman who lives on Ngaanyatjarrra Lands and creates artwork derived from her culture, families, and home (ngurra). Demos from Esperance features the piece ‘Blue Haven’s Haven’ from Esperance-based artist Allira Henderson. The scenic piece is inspired by the hidden gem of Esperance beaches, Blue Haven, and its crisp turquoise water and lush white sand.
Check out ‘Flowers Blooming (In the Night)’ by Rachel Vibart on SPOTIFY and SOUNDCLOUD
Listen to ‘Missing Home, Mirlirrtjarra’ by Anthony Westlake on SPOTIFY and SOUNDCLOUD
The Demos from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands and Esperance double compilation album will be released on streaming platforms and limited-edition CD in April 2022.
Demos from Ngaanyatjarra Lands and Esperance is supported through the State Government’s Contemporary Music Fund and is delivered with the ongoing support of WA State Government Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. WAM is grateful to the support of valued sponsors Wilurarra Creative, Regional Men’s Health Initiative, Goldfields Esperance Development Commission, Hertz and media partners ABC Goldfields and Esperance.
The post WAM drop debut singles from upcoming ‘Demos from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands and Esperance’ regional recording double album appeared first on WAM.
