A celebration of surviving, thriving, culture and creation, Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute have brought together a host of First Nations creatives led by Larrakia nation hip hop artist Jimblah to create an empowering music video – 'Still Stylin' 2020'.
With the blessing of Christine Anu, Jimblah set to work creating the project (a mash-up featuring four of Anu's most popular songs: 'Island Home', 'Stylin' Up', 'Sunshine On A Rainy Day' and 'Party') with his fellow artists and the team at Tandanya.Jimblah directed, filmed and edited the video, and also composed the music.
"There is nothing like working with an entirely Blak cast, an entirely Blak production team, on an entirely Blak space, on an entirely Blak vision," Jimblah says. "The level of solidarity is so empowering and inspiring."
The video was filmed on Ngarrindjeri Country, Kaurna Country and Peramangk Country, with many of the scenes filmed on-site at Tandanya ensuring that the space was well utilised and maintaining strong community engagement during closure.
"It was really important that while Tandanya is closed to the public, we continued to engage with artists and give them paid opportunities to create new work within the space," Sasha Zahra, Tandanya Creative Producer – Performance and Events, says.
"'Still Stylin' 2020' was also about engaging with a broad range of South Australian First Nations artists – both established and emerging, from a number of art forms, creatively activating and utilising the many spaces and resources within the Tandanya venue."
'Island Home' was performed by Ellie May, and was covered by Christine in 1995 – it was originally written and released by the Warumpi Band as 'My Island Home' in 1987.
'Stylin' Up' features Adelaide hip hop crew Sonz Of Serpent giving a new lease of life to the title track of Christine's 1995 debut album.
'Sunshine On A Rainy Day' showcases the voices of Nathan May, Katie Aspel and Zaachariaha Fielding of Electric Fields. This song was the first single from Christine's 2000 album 'Come My Way'.
'Party', Anu's most popular and highest charting single, closes out the music video in Tandanya style with J Milla X and Zaachariaha Fielding.
Adelaide-based visual artists, Thomas Readett, Elizabeth Close, Shane Cook and Carly Dodd, are captured creating individual artworks commissioned by Tandanya, which feature strikingly in the clip and will hang in the gallery space after re-opening.
Rikki Milera-Wilson, Amber Ahang and Wakara Gondarra (of dance troupe Djuki Mala) provide the dance vibes to Rikki's inspired choreography.
Rikki Milera-Wilson (left) and Amber Ahang - image © Jimblah
The Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute plans a full re-opening from 1 October, 2020.
