This week’s PBS Feature Album is Sing Your Own Song, the debut album from multi-talented Northern
Territory musicians, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band.
A high-energy, eight-piece funk band who have honed their chops on the beach at Birrtjimi and in the dirt of Yirrkala, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band write real funk jams in their native tongue, Yolngu Matha.
Visionary, joyful, eclectic and impossible to stop dancing to, Sing Your Own Song is "about making our own sound, our own music." Gurruwiwi says. "Every time when we play music, we listen for the big sound – then we change it. Do it a different way. Different style. Whether it’s the bass, or the keyboard, or the guitar or the bongo, we change it round, until we can get the right beat, the
right rhythm. Our sound."
The band hails from one of the remotest corners of Australia, in northeast Arnhem Land, but that hasn’t
stopped them assembling a world-class ensemble to pull together the most exciting release from the north since Yolŋu surf rock combo King Stingray’s self-titled debut album in 2022. Fronted by Andrew Gurruwiwi (who’s also a popular broadcaster on Yolŋu Radio in Arnhem Land), Sing Your Own Song
is laden with infectious grooves and impressive musicianship, destined to take Australia’s festival circuit by storm in 2024 and 2025. Gurruwiwi’s influences are wider than the Arafura Sea – among his inspirations are the rhythms of Africa, Jamaica, India, Mexico, blues, rock and flamenco.
Tune in all this week to hear tracks from Sing Your Own Song and PBS Members have the chance to win a copy of the album on CD, simply email your name and membership number to before midnight Sunday July 14.
Not a PBS Member? Join now!
TOP TRACKS WE'RE LOVING THIS WEEK
Miss Kaninna - 'Push Up'
Queenie - 'Everything Sucks'
Ta'sia - 'Dub 2'
Barkaa - 'Preach'
Kaiman Jimenz & Kobra 3000 - 'Mapalé Del Jacaré'
Telenova - 'Discothèque Inside My Head'
Commad D - 'Heavy Clouds'
Turiya feat. POW! Negro - 'Solace'
Emily Wurramara - 'Lordy Lordy' ft. Tasman Keith
The Saints - 'Break Away'
