This week in Australia, from July 8th-15th we celebrate NAIDOC week, a celebration of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander culture. This year’s theme is "Because of Her We Can”, celebrating the role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women play as pillars in our society.
I have been thinking about all the Indigenous women that inspire me, and the very first on my mind at the moment is Alice Skye. If you listen to Triple J, you will have heard this young woman’s name all over the station this week. If not, let me enlighten you.
Alice is a 22 year old singer-songwriter with a beautiful, haunting voice and songs that sparkle with sensitivty. She is a Wergaia woman, growing up in country Victoria and now calls Melbourne home. She credits Missy Higgins as one of her biggest inspiration, the very reason why she learnt to play piano. Alice describes song writing as something she started doing for her own sanity to deal with emotions of the past, not expected her lyrcis to be shared with people when she wrote them.
Her EP “Friends with Feelings” has been featured on Triple J and this week Alice was selected to collaborate with Perth rapper Ziggy Ramo and iconic rapper and producer Trials (A.B Original) to put together a track in one week as part of Naidoc Week 2018.
Check out the incredible track they put together below.
Triple J holds such a special place in my heart, for the variety of music they play and the way they support new Australian talent like no one else. I remember not being allowed to listen to Triple J when I was at school because of all the bad language, so after school I would sneak home and turn it on while painting in my room then quickly have to turn it off when my mum walked in the door, and my love really started from there. Music is such a huge part of my life, as they saying goes “When words fail, music speaks”.
I’d love to hear more about the music that influences your life, and who inspires you...
Let me know in the comments!
Love,
Cass xx