Esteemed musician and proud Yalanji woman, Deline Briscoe is part of the first artist announcement for the 2020 National Folk Festival (staged in Canberra).
Deline has been performing for over 20 years, frequently collaborating with some of Australia's most revered blues and roots vocalists, and ensembles. “I guess the main focus from the beginning of my career has been about preserving, learning and teaching Yalanji language, culture and stories,” Deline says.
“It quickly became a part of other projects with other language groups that are preserving their languages and cultural practices. . . It's the healing that music brings. Real change happens in the heart first, and then the mind follows.
“So if you can reach straight into someone's heart with the music that you make, you plant the seed of change there. That's why it's so important to continue the way I practise music.”
With the notion of preserving culture so fiercely interwoven into all of her collaborative works to date, Deline embarked on a solo project which saw its debut in 2018.
Deline's album, 'Wawu', takes aim at your heart strings as it delves into the many levels of human and nature interconnectedness. “'Wawu' is heart and spirit, and all of these connections between people and land, past and present and future.
“The only other thing that comes close to best describing this word, was when I heard an ultrasound of a baby in the womb – that heartbeat. It sounds just like 'wawu wawu wawu'. It's the closest thing that I can think of that sounds the same.”
Deline has performed at National Folk Festival (NFF) with other performance groups before, but next year’s event will be the first time she will be taking to the stage with her solo material.
“It's such a beautiful festival to be a part of. A community of performing artists who come together and just share. You spend a lot of time sharing stories and culture, and I think the beauty of that festival is that it creates an atmosphere that people feel safe and open to share in. I think that's the most important part.
“A lot of folk festivals are like that, but the NFF have it sorted. They know how to make the artists so comfortable, and the audiences are just so receptive. I'm so looking forward to it.
“I noticed there's a strong line-up of Indigenous female artists already on the bill – and I know all of them; I'm looking forward to catching up with them, especially in this setting.
“The NFF is very well organised, and as an artist, all you have to worry about is bringing your best performance to the stage.”
Deline's ethereal storytelling and unbridled vocal delivery bleeds Deline's own truth: The collective heartbeat of Yalanji people everywhere.
“I've been really blessed to be a part of projects that are in line with my belief system. There's a lot more pressure on the artist when you're telling your own story. But I've been doing that all along.
“I always put myself in it, I don't separate it. I think that's why I have had so many different opportunities. I have always brought something real. I make sure that I give all of my creativity to my projects.
“As an indigenous artist, we step on stage and we carry the responsibility of the voice of all of our people. When I'm in Australia, when I have that platform, it's not me there: I'm standing there with all of my family, all Yalanji speakers.
“When I'm overseas, I stand there as the representation: 'This might be the only time that people will be able to hear and feel things from our mob back home', and I carry that responsibility with great pride and respect. So stepping out on the stage is a massive responsibility to carry with you.”
