The debut EP from indigenous singer-songwriter Jessica Wishart brings together her love of country, soul and folk music with a strong passion for preserving her cultural heritage.
Though based in South Australia, Jessica is a proud Bidjara woman (from Queensland) who has drawn deeply on her own experiences to write songs that express personal stories on her debut EP, 'My Black Boy'.
“'My Black Boy' is an EP with six songs written about personal stories from my life, and the inspiration behind the stories is a lot about family,” Jessica says.
“The main single, 'My Black Boy', in particular was written about my son and his journey as a young Aboriginal boy and him figuring out his place in life and what it means to be who he is.
"It's really giving him a message and instilling within him to be proud of his cultural background and that he's Aboriginal, where he's come from and what his stories are.”
Jessica worked partly with singer-songwriter and Barkindji woman Nancy Bates, who shared her own process for writing meaningful stories from a place of personal experience with Jessica. “One of the songs, 'My Sweet Music', was written with my mentor Nancy Bates who's also an established artist,” Jessica says.
“When we wrote that song together it was the first time she showed me her process of songwriting and how she would lay out the alphabet and where she would start strumming, like the sound of something and how she would put lyrics to that and the message behind what she wants to sing about.”
While a large part of Jessica's work pertains to preserving the language and culture of her people and ensuring her son's place in the world, she also strives to connect with her listeners and relate her experiences to their own. “'A Mother's Cry' is also a very personal story,” she says.
“It's about my brother, but it's more about a song from my mother and my mother's perspective of having a son who's had to deal with a drug addiction for so long.
“I thought it was really important to get that message across because there would be so many mothers in her place, especially in today's society. I write songs that are very personal to me and my family, but also songs that can relate to so many other people.”
In October, Jessica launches 'My Black Boy' at The Wheatsheaf Hotel accompanied by her producer John Baker, Nancy Bates and Vonda Last. “We've got a big night planned,” Jessica says.
“A lot of it is going to be narrative and storytelling, and storytelling about my songs.
“First up they'll be able to hear the voice of Vonda and Vonda's story of her songs around the country. John Baker will perform straight after her and then I'll be up. There will be a set where Vonda, Nancy and I will do some songs together and really promote Aboriginal women in the music industry.”
