West Australian Music (WAM)’s regional recording program is heading back to the Goldfields-Esperance region for one of its most remote projects to date, Demos from Ngaanyatjarra Lands and Esperance. The double album will be the fifteenth in WAM’s regional recording series and aims to shine a light on the breath-taking diversity of landscape, stories and people through-out the expansive Goldfields-Esperance region – from the red desert sands of the remote Ngaanyatjarra Lands to the Recherche Archipelago of Esperance.
WAM are proud to be working alongside Wilurarra Creative to record and share the original songs of nine acts from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands of Western Australia. Established in 2004 and located in the very remote Mirlirrtjarra (Warburton) Community, Wilurarra Creative have developed a strong Community Arts and Cultural Development framework, delivering a diverse range of community driven activities and creative programs co-created with 16-30 year old Ngaanyatjarra people. The Wilurarra Creative studio will play home to WAM’s pop-up studio in August.
Following a 1,200km drive via the Gibson and Great Victorian Deserts, WAM and award-winning WA producers Andy Lawson (Debaser Studio), Matt Gio and Dan Carroll (Rada Studios), James Newhouse (Real2Reel Studios) and Sean Lillico will be setting up shop in 
Esperance’s historic Bijou Theatre to record nine artists from the coastal town. Built in 1896, the heritage-listed theatre has been a community hub for entertainment and creativity, with the compilation the first contemporary music album to be recorded within its walls. The exciting batch of artists featured include, The Arid Ones, Rachel Vibart, Dr Tasty, Bodes, Johnathon Ratcliff, Grand Casual, Car Park Social, David Vooght-Simpson and Manasseh Blues Band.
Demos from Ngaanyatjarra Lands and Esperance form the fifth of nine regional projects set to record up to 90 regional artists across WA’s nine regions over three years. Since commencing the state-wide regional recording series in 2006, WAM have showcased over 150 original artists, with songs garnering airplay and rotation on national ABC networks, including ABC Local, Double J, Triple J and across community radio in all states and territories. Many compilation tracks have featured in local television and film, tourism campaigns, with multiple artists selected for festival and showcase opportunities including Bigsound, Perth International Arts Festival and Nannup Music Festival.
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, Wilurarra Creative, Goldfields Esperance Development Commission, Regional Men’s Health Initiative, Hertz, ABC Goldfields and Esperance, and WAM organisational partners.
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